Corrosion problems with new Airstreams

[AtomicNo13]

Can anyone certify the aluminum Airstream uses to build these trailers is actually Alcoa aluminum? A factory tour once gave me reason to think not. Alcoa is very proud of their name and appears on their product, in this case the protective film.
Banding on a new shipment I saw did not reveal their name, rather a tag of foreign origin sans the Alcoa name, branding or logo. The cheapest source wins as new owners know. As far as I know, Airstream does not publish country of origin info on any sales lists...

[Zybane]

(Asked about the effects of President Trump's recently imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum, Hansen deflected, saying: "It's too soon to tell." Officials at Pittsburgh-based Alcoa, which supplies aluminum to Airstream, have been critical of the tariffs, arguing for a more global approach to unfair trade from the Chinese.)

https://www.cleveland.com/travel/201..._factor_1.html

[wulfraat]

As of 2016 Alcoa Inc. is Arconic Inc.

According to their site they still supply aluminum to airstream.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arconic

https://www.arconic.com/global/en/wh.../airstream.asp

For what it is worth my 2017 has spent 2 years of its life so far living in Colorado and there are zero signs of filiform.

[Countryboy59]

I’ve been wiping down the edges of the aluminum on our 2018 with Corrosionex and Fluid Film since new. No issues in 2 years in Michigan.

The plated tail light housings are very lightly pitted. I should’ve sprayed them too. Have since sprayed with corrosionex.

Michigan is a unique environment. Making stuff last here is an art.

[Howard L.]

Originally Posted by wulfraat

As of 2016 Alcoa Inc. is Arconic Inc.

According to their site they still supply aluminum to airstream.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arconic

https://www.arconic.com/global/en/wh.../airstream.asp

For what it is worth my 2017 has spent 2 years of its life so far living in Colorado and there are zero signs of filiform.

The heat treated polymer coating, that is now applied to the AL surface—see www.acronic.com above, is why the coating is holding up so well. “Polymer." It is not quite clear however. There is a pigment mixed in also. Our present day Airstreams (since the AlClad days prior to 1982) are grey alloy. You could polish them shiny and then clear coat, but they would be shiny grey not silver.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Lots or errors in the previous post to correct . . . in no particular order.

Wally Byam died in 1962.

Airstream was then owned by the Board of Directors.

In mid 1966 Airstream became a publically traded company.

Airstream was sold to Beatrice in December 1967.

Airstream was sold to Thor on August 29, 1980.

All Airstreams have been clear coated since 1964.

In the late 1980s (I am thinking about 1988), the clear coat was changed to a more environmentally friendly, but less durable water based formula due to government regulations.

In the very late 1990s or very early 2000s(?) Airstream stopped spraying on the clear coat themselves and transitioned to precoated aluminum and the clear coat durability dramatically improved.

Overall there were both plusses and minuses for Airstream during their periods of Beatrice and Thor ownership. Too big a topic for this post.

Thanks for the corrections on the dates. A board of directors cannot own a company as directors, but may own it as individuals owning stock. Most likely the board had to approve the sale to Beatrice. I think Wally's heirs owned the stock until the sale and was under the impression they did not have the financial resources to keep the company going plus didn't have the marketing skills Wally had. Wally had skills as both an innovator and marketing expert and not a lot of individuals could pull off what he did. I thought the clear coat came later may be confusing that with the change in the late 1980's to the clear coat that pealed over time. I think the earlier clear coats were shinier than the one used for about 20 years. And the aluminum was even shinier without clear coat I thought. A thorough analysis of Airstream's ownership issues would take a book or books.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Gene

Thanks for the corrections on the dates. A board of directors cannot own a company as directors, but may own it as individuals owning stock. Most likely the board had to approve the sale to Beatrice. I think Wally's heirs owned the stock until the sale and was under the impression they did not have the financial resources to keep the company going plus didn't have the marketing skills Wally had. Wally had skills as both an innovator and marketing expert and not a lot of individuals could pull off what he did. I thought the clear coat came later may be confusing that with the change in the late 1980's to the clear coat that pealed over time. I think the earlier clear coats were shinier than the one used for about 20 years. And the aluminum was even shinier without clear coat I thought. A thorough analysis of Airstream's ownership issues would take a book or books.

Stella Byam sold her shares of Airstream that she inherited from Wally in January 1963 about six months after Wally's death. At that time the newly reformed Airstream was owned by six members of the Board of Directors via stock shares. There were other Directors that did not own stock.

Dale Schwamborn belives the company went public to attract a corporate buyer that ultimately was Beatrice. Beatrice did dump quite a bit of money into Airstream in the early years helping to build new plants, etc. Everything I have heard suggests Beatrice for the most part stayed out of product decisions, like the lightening of frames in the mid-70s as attempts were made to make the trailers easier to tow due to the gas crisis.

[Silvertwinkie]

Originally Posted by Gene

Silvertwinkie, there are active threads now complaining about the same quality issues that you and I and many others were reporting about 10 and 15 years ago. The same complaints started when this Forum was created and apparently there were similar problems before 2004 (isn't that when this started?) But, it does seem corrosion is less of a problem, perhaps thanks to this thread and the suggestions made here. For those seeing this thread for the first time, look for posts made by Bob Cross of Buffalo—he has done well with his solutions to corrosion. And, Silvertwinkie, isn't it time to change that quote from the Times?

I've seen the multiple threads on the quality issues. Just wondering really if owners of the last 5 or so years are still seeing this. I was at an RV show a couple of years ago, and they had a brand new unit at the show and I saw a few spots on it, but my guess is that it may be reduced as I think the factory started to do something about it....just don't know how successful they've been as I've not had my finger on the corrosion pulse for a while.


Yea, I thought about changing it, but it's cute and still kinda works (for me).

[perryg114]

Why can't the seems be sealed with clearcoat with something like a touch up brush? If you can cover the exposed edges then the problem should go away.



Perry

[Silvertwinkie]

Originally Posted by perryg114

Why can't the seems be sealed with clearcoat with something like a touch up brush? If you can cover the exposed edges then the problem should go away.



Perry

When I was at the factory many moons ago, they got out of clearing due to EPA issues and effectiveness. I do as you suggest with my Safari when I get the occasional small spider leg pop up, but it's not pretty. Luckily for me, it's not too big or noticeable since I nip it in the bud.



Given the issues described over the years here on this forum, some transcending over a decade and even things as simple as forgetting to caulk sometimes, I can't see them coating all the cuts properly, but that's just my opinion....and by the time you realize it got missed, you are either out of warranty or you get the dreaded "it's a maint issue, warranty claim denied." Pretty big gamble with a $100k trailer IMHO.

[Howard L.]

Originally Posted by perryg114

Why can't the seems be sealed with clearcoat with something like a touch up brush? If you can cover the exposed edges then the problem should go away.



Perry

Perry, somewhere back in this thread, I posted to do just that (for the polymer coated Airstreams of the last 20 years). In short, I recommend using the clear polymer coating "Nyalic". Apply to all bare edges with a small artist touch up brush. The edges and rivet holes are the bare metal caused by Airstream construction after the Alcoa Polymer coated sheets arrive. You can’t get to the rivet holes, but a coating of Corrosion X on the edges and rivets from time to time will help also.
Be aware, that even though the edges and rivets are the main filiform demon, it can show up on the sheets also. It’s usually on the end caps. It’s my guess that when the pre coated end caps are formed, the polymer gets stretched and to some degree compromised. A highly corrosive environment can get to those panels also. Polish and corrosion X on those areas will protect also.

[coltnkat]

So, after reading this thread and treating most of my AS accordingly, I found an area that seems to defy the common/accepted explanations for filiform and where it occurs (seams, rivets, chips in clearcoat, marker lights etc). Any ideas as to what's happening here?




Is this an indication of a bad/loose wire in the 30 Amp connector? Trying to figure out what action to take.

[Tim A.]

Looks like filiform to me. Probably due to something like small rocks or coarse sand being thrown up against the trailer and dinging the clear coat. Our trailer has something like that in a couple of places because of a desert sandstorm.

Tim

[coltnkat]

Originally Posted by Tim A.

Looks like filiform to me. Probably due to something like small rocks or coarse sand being thrown up against the trailer and dinging the clear coat. Our trailer has something like that in a couple of places because of a desert sandstorm.

Tim

No question that it's ff. I guess I'm wondering if there's significance to where it's occurring. Could a wiring issue be causing it? Should I remove the connector to see what's going on?

Or are you saying that isolated spots like this can happen when the wind picks up? It's a really odd cluster in that one spot.

[Tim A.]

I don't think it has anything to do with the wiring. Filiform corrosion is simply under the clearcoat originating at locations where that coating has be compromised.

The location near the electrical connection is probably fortuitous. My guess is that gravel from spinning tires, a lawnmower, a weedeater, or some similar source hit that area at some time in the past. Such little dings would remain unnoticed until the filiform starts.

Tim

[Gene]

In the thousand years or so this thread has been around, I think at least once it was shown electrical issues cannot cause corrosion on an Airstream. So long as the company is run the same way it has been for decades, corrosion will be a problem. Best to live in a desert and never tow anywhere there is salt on the roads.

[rodsterinfl]

Best to live in a desert and never tow anywhere there is salt on the roads.

i agree. I have FF in several places. I believe that it is 1) inevitable, 2)hastened by moisture, 3) compromise can come by way of any physical impact or chemical contact with surface.

I have a place where a tree limb scratched the upper side when I first got the stream. A place that there is about a 4 inch scratch that I thought was just a surface mark. I have filliform there. There are several places in the past few years that I have it bad similar to Coltincat's picture- a spattering of spots. There isn't a lot you can do with things like that. I believe spots can be sanded and paint/coated but unless you are willing to paint panel sections, you accept it as age spots! Oh, and for those reading this that are Airstream wannabes, never fear, while Airstreams may have surface imperfections with age, other trailers delaminate and become moisture laden.

[Gene]

Laminates have their own problems, but they can be made well and last. They have far superior insulation. Ours does have some issues and the manufacturer is going to replace side even a couple of years out of warranty. How many RV manufacturers will stand behind their products without a fight?

I remain in the desert even without aluminum.

[Howard L.]

There is a post and photo somewhere in this thread from years ago of an airstream that was towed through snow and chemically salted roads. It ended up with filiform spots all over the panels. The slightest imperfection in the clear coat will allow filiform if exposed to something as caustic as that trailer went through.

Best advise still is: if you know of a scratch or clear coat damage, touch it up with clear coat of your choice. If camping near salt air, or, heaven forbid, you tow through a mess like listed above, give the thing a Corrosion X bath after a wash job.

[Joe15601]

My 2009 only had minimal corrosion with only regular washing and waxing.

I picked up my Globetrotter last December and drove it 450 miles on treated roads. The next day I spent 3 hours washing it in a 38 degree snowstorm. Once moved inside I did the initial Glare Professional Polish+ treatment and have been washing it using Glare Ultra Wash since. Will soon be using the Polish again, but in 10 months, I have zero corrosion. Fingers crossed!