Billggski Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 What could possibly go wrong? Ladder up the side, long brush, caravan cleaner from Aldi, easy -peasy. Then the ladder starts to slip, 70 next month, replacement hip, wife out with friends, no-one to hear me, all this flashing before my eyes as I watch the ground approaching in slow motion. Just jump out of the way in time, land on my back, winded, twisted ankle, various bruises, lucky sod. Did I get any sympathy? I think you know the answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peter James Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 Billggski - 2015-04-01 6:20 PM What could possibly go wrong? Ladder up the side, long brush, caravan cleaner from Aldi, easy -peasy. Then the ladder starts to slip, 70 next month, replacement hip, wife out with friends, no-one to hear me, all this flashing before my eyes as I watch the ground approaching in slow motion. Just jump out of the way in time, land on my back, winded, twisted ankle, various bruises, lucky sod. Did I get any sympathy? I think you know the answer. Bad luck and Good luck both together :-) I got some Aldi 'Black Streak Remover' though and found it completely useless. Wheras Morrisons Savers (Cheapo) All Purpose Household Cleaner washed them off easily (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 I wonder if anyone has done a survey on how many elderly Motorhome and Caravan owners have 'come a cropper' trying to clean the roof of their van ? I very nearly fell off of mine, ( 3.03 metres to the ground !) but just managed to hang on, now i only do it from the sides with a long brush, could do with group of young lads (who bounce ?) doing a paid cleaning service for us 'Old Gits' (who no longer bounce). Mine has lasted the whole winter without the 'dreaded green Algae' on the roof, thanks to applying a wash over with Gardx protector, it works fine ( a 'leftover' from a dealer 'gift' package). But think it's available on E-bay ? Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted April 1, 2015 Share Posted April 1, 2015 I happen to have (from a former life) a very high step ladder, so I can climb that and then be chest/waist high with the MH roof. I have a garage so no problem with green or black stuff, so I can manage to clean the roof from the side with one of those extending brooms to which a hose pipe can be attached. The high step ladder can be a bit wobbly because I'm seriously overweight, but the OH usually insist on holding it steady, which helps a great deal. Unfortunately she moans a lot if she gets splashed so I have to take extra care not to do so until we've nearly finished. The high stepladder cost £69, about twenty five years ago. I knew an active and strong motorhomer who fell backwards from an ordinary household stepladder, only 5 feet, on to tarmac, landing on his backside. He broke his pelvis, got DVT in hospital, then a pulmonary embolus, then he suffered a major stroke. Came out of hospital in a wheelchair and died within a couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billggski Posted April 2, 2015 Author Share Posted April 2, 2015 I think there's a moral to this tale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 'Its no country for old men' ? Or 'Let the Algae grow and call it an eco roof garden' ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Joe90 Posted April 2, 2015 Share Posted April 2, 2015 There is forthcoming EU legislation to make it a criminal offence to use step ladders by anyone that has not been subjected to a risk assessment, with eye protection, a hard hat, hi viz vest, and a safety perimeter barrier to minimise the chance of landing on someone in the event of a fall. Probably easier to ban old farts from using them all together, for me that would have been about when I was around 55, when I went a right piss baller with a running chain saw in my hand doing a spot of tree pruning. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeIV Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Not easy to find gardx on line. Anybody any ideas? And yes, I have fallen off a ladder cleaning my old Autotrail. Not enough room to get the right lean on the ladder. No bones broken, and wisdom acquired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxer1 Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I use a motorhome/caravan product from autoglem it is also great for cleaning hard plastic areas on the door etc. Just spray it onto the top of the area and watch the dirt run off rinse down with water or damp cloth and all as good as new. Boxer1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolandrat Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Regarding high step ladders. I have a very high pair that are quite old, made of wood and can be a bit springy sideways so what I do is use "G" clamps and put an extra piece of 3x2 up each side, they then become very rigid and safe to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolandrat Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Well I've just been up on the roof and lubricated the roof vents, 4 in all and what a difference it's made, they're now so smooth in operation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjmike Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Several of my customers have given me tales of similar near miss/ accidents so please be careful. Despite what some people say the green stuff will do no harm BUT it will encourage black moss which can eat into the roof surface. I often wonder what drives people to use potentially damaging products on their motorhomes ( household cleaners, Brasso etc.), I know that a lot of products labelled "Motorhome" or " Caravan" are usually a rip off but at least they shouldn't do any (lasting) damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydney1 Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Billggski - 2015-04-02 8:11 AM I think there's a moral to this tale. Get onto the roof and clean from there? My favoured method Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Get on the roof through the Heki rooflight, after putting what you need on the roof with a ladder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 GeorgeIV - 2015-04-16 8:46 PM Not easy to find gardx on line. Anybody any ideas? And yes, I have fallen off a ladder cleaning my old Autotrail. Not enough room to get the right lean on the ladder. No bones broken, and wisdom acquired. How about here : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gard-x-protection-kit-/121631138456?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c51c7e298 Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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