Floor Rot

[labalope]

Labalope here, ,Still looking at Airstreams, have a question for the group why do Airstream trailers have a problem with floor rot, aside from the obvious leaks from water appliances and roofs? Do they splash water up from the road while they are in a rain storm and the floor gets wet and how do the axels get rotted out so quick? I am looking for a unit that is 7-8 years old when do I have to worry about the above mentioned problems, I am 74 years old and have gotten tired of driving down the road with a bus that weighs 55,000 pounds not including the toad, but my wife and I and our black lab still like to travel to see this great country, but with out a lot of unnecessary problems? Labalope from Virginia

[CRH]

Floors rot from undetected leaks that go on for too long.

The axles are generally good for at least 20 years.

[Belegedhel]

Floor rot is not unique to Airstream trailers, or to old trailers. There are threads on this forums where people have experienced rot in trailers that are only a few years old. A 40 year old vintage trailer that spent its life in Florida or Washington State will very likely have a rotted floor. Just a matter of probabilities that go up with age and environment.

The water comes from leaks in the shell, bad window, door, and hatch gaskets, bad plumbing vent stack gaskets, etc. (and internal plumbing leaks). Water that gets into the bellypan might have some contribution as well, but it is likely minimal compared to the water that forms a puddle under a cabinet somewhere and is never noticed or dried up.

Not sure what you are referring to in terms of axles rotting out. Most axles are torsion axles with rubber rods inside that provide the spring-force. They don't last forever, and after about 25 years or so, the rubber hardens up, and they lose their springyness.

So, a newer trailer should be safe from axle problems for many years to come, but preventing floor rot will be a matter of routine maintenance, and constant vigilance.

Good luck!

[labalope]

Originally Posted by Belegedhel

Floor rot is not unique to Airstream trailers, or to old trailers. There are threads on this forums where people have experienced rot in trailers that are only a few years old. A 40 year old vintage trailer that spent its life in Florida or Washington State will very likely have a rotted floor. Just a matter of probabilities that go up with age and environment.

The water comes from leaks in the shell, bad window, door, and hatch gaskets, bad plumbing vent stack gaskets, etc. (and internal plumbing leaks). Water that gets into the bellypan might have some contribution as well, but it is likely minimal compared to the water that forms a puddle under a cabinet somewhere and is never noticed or dried up.

Not sure what you are referring to in terms of axles rotting out. Most axles are torsion axles with rubber rods inside that provide the spring-force. They don't last forever, and after about 25 years or so, the rubber hardens up, and they lose their springyness.

So, a newer trailer should be safe from axle problems for many years to come, but preventing floor rot will be a matter of routine maintenance, and constant vigilance.

Good luck!

Thanks for the quick reply, I do not understand the axel with a rubber rod in it are they not solid axels that go all the way across the unit with springs?

[Monza]

Nope they are a different type of axle with a rubber core.
http://www.inlandrv.com/axles/