Working at height on the motorhome

Bleau’s said:
Look at a warehouse step platform set with wheels at one end most of the trade use them try one of the army surplus auctions they often have them.
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i got one
 
I got one of those off ebay and to be honest didnt feel at all safe ...not very well made and i gave it away in the end.
 
denisejoe said:
I just use a ladder and climb on to roof with bucket sponge and hose watch though as climbed up front worked to back pulled hose and knocked ladder down had to carry on working until someone came out of a house and got them to put ladder back up as Denise was out shopping😀
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Been there done that, always make sure I have my phone with me now.
 
I was chuffed when a Cornish "mate" gave me an aluminium 6ftx4ft scaffold tower, its very light & stores quite well.(y)
It was when I went to use it to put a load of 6" shiplap UPVC cladding on the front & back of the house I realised why he gave it to me.:rolleyes:
Its ok putting it together, its taking it apart that's the hard part. Its obviously been tight, so he has "persuaded" it with a hammer, which has flattened the spars, and brought the two male & female ends inwards & out of alignment.:swear:
It did get the job done, was OK moving sideways, its just when you try & dismantle it, you hit a problem.
They Scots are tight, well the haven't met a Cornishman, is all I can say.:giggle:
This is the same mate that gives you stuff, then years later when he needs it, he drives over and says "Remember that tool I lent you", can I have it back, I've got a job on.:rolleyes:

My advice would be to get a Steel Scaffold tower, heavier yes, but can take a lot more stick, and last a lot longer.

PS: I recently managed to get a length of that thick round scaffold pole safety protector, its yellow foam, like big pipe lagging and spares your head should you walk into it. That's what I shall place on the rungs of my ladder next time I do work or clean the van roof.
LES

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Vikdikdok said:
Why clean the roof ?
I can't see if it's dirty or not . . . and I don't care
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With you on that one...
I only clean solars and roof lights.. Don't see point in doing whole roof.!!
 
TinaL said:
I was chuffed when a Cornish "mate" gave me an aluminium 6ftx4ft scaffold tower, its very light & stores quite well.(y)
It was when I went to use it to put a load of 6" shiplap UPVC cladding on the front & back of the house I realised why he gave it to me.:rolleyes:
Its ok putting it together, its taking it apart that's the hard part. Its obviously been tight, so he has "persuaded" it with a hammer, which has flattened the spars, and brought the two male & female ends inwards & out of alignment.:swear:
It did get the job done, was OK moving sideways, its just when you try & dismantle it, you hit a problem.
They Scots are tight, well the haven't met a Cornishman, is all I can say.:giggle:
This is the same mate that gives you stuff, then years later when he needs it, he drives over and says "Remember that tool I lent you", can I have it back, I've got a job on.:rolleyes:

My advice would be to get a Steel Scaffold tower, heavier yes, but can take a lot more stick, and last a lot longer.

PS: I recently managed to get a length of that thick round scaffold pole safety protector, its yellow foam, like big pipe lagging and spares your head should you walk into it. That's what I shall place on the rungs of my ladder next time I do work or clean the van roof.
LES
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My Youngman Minimax scaffold tower is cast Aluminium. Light, rigid and strong but not cheap! :LOL:
 
I use a workbench.

Working height (so standing height) is only 1m, but that's enough for me to work on the roof of most vans I need too.

The bench is 2.2m x 1m and solid as a rock. It's also on locking wheels so easy to move around.

If I do need extra height, a small step ladder on top works fine.

20220228_055033024_iOS.jpg


(ignore the mess, about to clean the place for the week)
 
Wissel said:
I use a workbench.

Working height (so standing height) is only 1m, but that's enough for me to work on the roof of most vans I need too.

The bench is 2.2m x 1m and solid as a rock. It's also on locking wheels so easy to move around.

If I do need extra height, a small step ladder on top works fine.

View attachment 590232

(ignore the mess, about to clean the place for the week)
Click to expand...
What mess????
 
86BDE7A0-043F-42D2-8AC7-7C530AF4D5AC.jpeg

Sometimes you don’t get a choice on spotting how dusty your solar panel is!
 
Bleau’s said:
Look at a warehouse step platform set with wheels at one end most of the trade use them try one of the army surplus auctions they often have them.
Click to expand...
We bought one of these at a local auction for £35 plus commission.

The steps fold away into it if that makes sense and so it stores away quite well. Several people have used it for cleaning motorhomes but also neighbours borrow it to fix shed roofs, paint higher than they would want to go up ladders, cut branches off trees etc. All at their own risk of course.
 
Monzer, have you considered hiring a wee scaff tower over a weekend ? I see you are in the shire and there is a lad that hires them out beside Kemnay, he also delivers and collects his equipment. I tend to save up any roof jobs then hire a tower and do all the jobs at once. Wise hire on face book is who I use, he’s between kemnay and Kintore.
 
monzer said:
Has anyone got a permanent solution to getting up high to the motorhome roof for washing etc?

I've used the forklift at work recently but still a bit of a faff. I'll be wanting up soon to give it a wash and polish, remove the sat dish and eventually add a solar panel or 2. Been looking for small platform scaffolding but nothing coming up for a decent price.

Found this on ebay but not entirely sure it's as robust as they say it is...

www.ebay.co.uk

Aluminium Scaffolding Ladder Work Platform Multi Combination Multi-purpose Step | eBay

3-in-1 ladder: leaning ladder, step ladder and work scaffolding. Combination Ladder Aluminium Foldable Platform Scaffold Multi-Purpose 3.5M UP. It can be easily converted into a ladder, double ladder or working scaffold.
www.ebay.co.uk

Storage is not really an issue as will be stored at work.

Anyone got anything for stable access to the roof?
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That Ali scaffold tower would be ideal for your needs as long as you have space around the MH

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RowleyBirkinQC said:
Simply instruct the Ginger Roof Monkey*, available for hire at very competitive rates (plus travel time & expenses). ;) :LOL:

View attachment 590246

*Working at height certified, allegedly.
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Satellite dish carefully positioned so we don't comment on her posterior but those cables should be in trunking. :rofl:
 
Vikdikdok said:
Why clean the roof ?
I can't see if it's dirty or not . . . and I don't care
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I only wash my m/h twice a year; April and July.
I wash the roof because rain run-off drags dirt and debris down leaving stubborn black streaks on the sides.

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Be careful when using a lightweight scaffold tower without steadies any force you put when pushing a mop or brush puts the same force outward as you push inward.
 
Vikdikdok said:
Why clean the roof ?
I can't see if it's dirty or not . . . and I don't care
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The slope at the front of my Elddis started to "grow" algae & moss. If you're happy looking at that, good luck. I had to get up a ladder and bleach it off. A long-handled brush wouldn't shift it.
 
Scotch mist said:
At 1.6m high max , I’d say it’s to low , I have much higher & wider aluminium scaffolding & that’s just large enough
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monzer said:
I thought the same and to be honest the description says max height is 1m so I presume they don't advise on putting the platform section up as high as the top 2 rungs. Think I'll pass although it is reasonably priced.
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I have one and yes, it is too low for the van and unstable if the platform goes higher than shown, I've tried it. I use an 8 tread step ladder as well as a padded lean to ladder to to do one side with too much moving.

I'm currently planning how to reach the front of the overcab above the windscreen to reseal a section that I think is leaking. Size 3 trestle each side linked with a heavy duty youngman board or similar is the latest thought.
 
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I used these ladders from Screwfix, less than £100, Adjusted the stops so that I can raise one extra rung and tie the side of the ladder to the wind out mechanism of the awning

www.screwfix.com

Mac Allister 4m Combination Ladder - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Versatile aluminium combination ladder. Can be used as a 2-piece "A"-shaped (step) ladder, or converted to use as an extension ladder. Features high resistance steel hinges, enabling simple and safe extension and safety locking straps to avoid accidental opening of...
www.screwfix.com www.screwfix.com

Edit: it also fits in the garage
 
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Tickles me having been a scaffolder for decades when people talk about "Working at heights" on a 3 mt van.
But course anything off the ground is at height.
Safety first.
 
I work in the construction industry.
If that was one of our employees working at height (any height) I would have to prepare a method statement, carry out a risk assessment, fit edge protection, provide safe access and supply full PPE.
However, the same person could then go home and climb onto the wet roof of his motorhome when wearing flip flops and carrying a bucket of water up a wobbly ladder. It is a strange old world!!

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