Are these weepholes in our C-channel?

[Minno]

We're putting the rest of the elevator bolts in the floor this weekend, and have "discovered" what looks like weepholes in the outer bottom edge of our C-channel all the way around spaced a couple of feet apart. No way would you be able to get an elevator bolt in them since they are in the "corner", but they are that size. Weren't for screws either for the same reason. All we can come up with is weep holes, but why and should we leave them open or Vulkem them closed?

Kay

[truckasaurus]

Can you get a photograph?

[wasagachris]

Kay could they be rivet holes from the wrap or lower belt trim? I can't imagine A/S drilling weeping in the channel unless they wanted the belly to fill up with water. Wait a minute yes I can.

[Minno]

Here's a pic of one of the mystery holes. They are too large for a rivet, and they acutally go down thorugh the bottom of the c-channel. They are spaced about every 24 inches all the way around the trailer, including the curved c-channels at the front and back.

[Minno]

Bumping to see if we can get an answer.

[mwells4654]

My overlander had the same holes.

[wasagachris]

Spped holes to make it go faster. lol

[truckasaurus]

Interesting, I still have no idea, but it's odd that they are in the radius of the channel. I'd leave them open though as water in the bely pan area is probably safer than water in the walls.

[MarkR]

In the early 70's they discovered that the mice living in the walls were dying from asphyxiation, so they added these little "breather" holes to make sure they were getting enough oxygen . . .

Actually I do think it was "a measure" they took to deal w/moisture (maybe not actual water draining but to help w/condensation). If it's cold outside and hot/warm inside then I think it's always going to be moist in the walls which promotes the dreaded galvanic action between the aluminum and the fasteners. On my trailer the Aluminum Channel was completely corroded away at every bolt connection (to the end of the outriggers), and at each screw it was almost corroded through.

I was thinking of adding holes to my new Channel, so I'm curious to know what yours looked like at each fastener. Did the holes help?

Thanks for posting your project.
MarkR

[Aerowood]

My 71 GT did not have them. Not a bad idea though.

[Minno]

There was a little corrosion in the C channels at the elevator bolt holes around most of the trailer. Just enough so you knew where the elevator bolts had been, but not enough to worry about. The C channel was worse around the back where we also had had leaks and there was virtually no floor either.
If we get mice in the walls, we certainly DON'T want them dying in there! Mice reek with a very distinctive smell when they die (I can smell them a mile away). Yuck.
Now we'll look for some itty bitty teeny weeny little fans to install in the holes so we can improve ventilation and keep the mice alive! Any ideas where we can find some?

Kay

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Minno

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Now we'll look for some itty bitty teeny weeny little fans to install in the holes so we can improve ventilation and keep the mice alive! Any ideas where we can find some?

Kay

It would probably be easier and less costly to rig up a large fan in a plenum and then run a hose from each hole to the plenum. If any mouse did die, you could reverse the fan and suck all the smell out through the holes.

Regards,

Ken