"Problems Poll" Cont.

[Janets Husband]

In this poll we will try and clarify what was identified as the number one maintenance problem "Skin Rips/Cracks/Dents" in our previous poll.

[Janets Husband]

I forgot to add two other items.
Corrosion and clear coat problems.
Any comments on these?

[maxandgeorgia]

Aware that our AS had probably not had polishing for a long time and that having to store it outside meant that leaf debris and bird poop were sure to happen, I decided to tackle wash and polish to add some protection to the skin. After spending the past week and a half polishing our AS up close and personally, I am aware of our clear coat problems, but really have no idea of solution. I have read in past posts about peeling clear coat. I see no peeling, but it seems as though it has just worn away in high places (up above, between awnings and white roof gutter) and on end caps and along the street side panels between sofa windows and center bath area. Some areas look like ghostly trickles have run down the side; others polish up after tons of hand rubbing to shiny bare metal. I see no single problem, just an assortment of clear coat issues. Any suggestions are appreciated. I was using Blue Magic, a bushel of cut up sweatshirts and blankets for polish/rub cloths, and more elbow grease than I thought I had! A surprise, when I reached the rear, above the red WBCCI numbers, I found 4 white stars and a shadow of a fifth one. These had been obscured under the layer of grime and corrosion. What do you suppose this means for our trailer and its first owner? The AS is only a '95 and we are its 3rd owner.

[overlander64]

Greetings Max and Georgia!

Originally Posted by maxandgeorgia

A surprise, when I reached the rear, above the red WBCCI numbers, I found 4 white stars and a shadow of a fifth one. These had been obscured under the layer of grime and corrosion. What do you suppose this means for our trailer and its first owner? The AS is only a '95 and we are its 3rd owner.

The stars associated with WBCCI membership denote that a previous owner had been a WBCCI member for 25 years or more as each star represents 5 years of membership. I will soon be able to display two stars as it won't be too long before I will have been a member for ten years.

Kevin

[dmreilly10000]

Originally Posted by Janet's Husband

I forgot to add two other items.
Corrosion and clear coat problems.
Any comments on these?

I agree with Janet's Husband. My biggest problems are corrosion and clear coat problems.

[dscluchfc]

I fail to see how a dent is a maintenence problem. Dents result from objects striking the trailer, or you driving the trailer into something.
There is nothing to "maintain".
Clearcoat failure is a maintenence problem.
Leaks at seams, and vent & skylight entry points, windows, awning hardware attachment points is a maintenence problem as you repair it, then after time, you have to maintain it to keep it functioning properly.
just my 2 cents....

[InsideOut]

Don't really consider it a problem....but we spend the most time maintaining the polish ~

Shari

[71_safari]

Yes, definitely clearcoat problems - it seems all the older ones have it, at least on top, unless thay have become manually polished "Objet's d' Art".

I'm too lazy and cheap for that

john

[mtpalms]

I think we have almost all of the listed problems except skin rip and seam leak. Mos of them are minor, and are on the 'get to them when we get to them' list. Our biggest problem is that the PO(s) replaced missing rivets with screws (not always stainless either) and they are constantly falling out. Usually the trim pieces around wheel wells and access doors, so we re-rivet as they go. That goes hand in hand with loose seams and exterior items.

Last time we got home from a trip, a piece of the belly pan was also hanging loose (unzipped) on the curb side. And the AC shroud had come loose - I guess it's not surprising, considering the wind blew 50 mph all the way home from Bishop to Joshua Tree.

The most annoying PO problem we have is a mismatched SOB plexiglass shade over the back window. We can't remove it without leaving a couple dozen screw holes that hold it and its bracing in place. It doesn't look bad as it is, but it doesn't look right, either. If you know what I mean.

It needs a wash and polish, and we got the stuff, but we're just too busy right now to get to it. Hopefully when we get my father-in-law's house done, we will have time.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Janet's Husband

I forgot to add two other items.
Corrosion and clear coat problems.
Any comments on these?

Corrosion. I have it, not much, but enough to be a problem. At least I don't have to worry about clearcoat!
Terry

[wahoonc]

Filiform corrosion under the clearcoat and freakin' silicone that some PO must have gotten the case load prices on! I have a 31' Sovereign. I swear there is over 300 linear feet of silicone bead on it! And so far the only way I have found to remove it is painfully slow. All the rest of the items can be handled. Of course I come from a sheet metal background so I have a head start on that.

Aaron

[maxandgeorgia]

What is "filiform corrosion under the clearcoat"? Is this what I called ghostly trickles that seem to be under the surface? What is it, causes it, what do you do for it? I noticed quite a lot developing, if this is what you mean. Thanks.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by maxandgeorgia

What is "filiform corrosion under the clearcoat"? Is this what I called ghostly trickles that seem to be under the surface? What is it, causes it, what do you do for it? I noticed quite a lot developing, if this is what you mean. Thanks.

Filiform is a hard crust "pocket" about the size of a bb that forms up under the clear coat. Somone posted a picture in a thread a while back. It may have been in the one about polishing. It will also occur quite frequently where the panel seams are. Not sure of the causes of it, but it requires heavy polishing or even sanding to remove. When I get home I will try to remember to post a picture of it.

Aaron

[Janets Husband]

It looks like we have 4 hits for corrosion of the skin.
Does anyone have ideas on how to deal with aluminum oxidation.
I have seen oxidation killers solutions specifically for aluminum but I have not used any. Does anyone have experience with them? Brands, Types, Methods of aplication...