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11-28-2017, 05:15 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2007 31' Classic
Gulf Breeze
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 500
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Floor rot
Today begins my bedroom floor rot repair. So far I have removed the bed platform and the diamond plate from the storage locker. There is substantial rotten sub flooring extending about four feet into the trailer. The discouraging thing is that the floor is still soaked...even after I have sealed the “bumper joint” plus all windows, lights, etc. when I removed the diamond plate from the storage compartment there was moisture on the bottom of the plate. We have not had any rain for a month and I wonder if this moisture could be condensation.
Now I need to remove the closets. Any suggestions? I don’t see any fasteners holding them in.
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11-29-2017, 01:22 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2007 31' Classic
Gulf Breeze
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 500
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Many thanks to Vinnie at Vinnies Northbay Airstream for some phone coaching. I got the side closets removed and now ready to begin demo of the rotted sub floor. What a mess but I can take my time and work a few hours each day.
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11-29-2017, 01:24 PM
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#3
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4 Rivet Member
2005 30' Safari
Montgomery
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 385
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Thanks for following up! I didn't have any advice to offer, but our coach looked much like that (2005 30' Safari) in the front and in the back--though the back needed the most new subfloor. Good luck and keep up posted! Take lots of pics of the process!
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11-30-2017, 02:58 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2007 31' Classic
Gulf Breeze
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 500
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11-30-2017, 03:08 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2007 31' Classic
Gulf Breeze
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 500
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Two things that jumped out at me today. There is no insulation in the belly pan...just a thin sheet of bubble wrap. The belly pan is totally clean. I have read of pans that were full of rodent droppings, dirt, leaves, etc. but mine is clean. Thankful for small things.
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12-01-2017, 03:31 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2007 31' Classic
Gulf Breeze
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 500
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Day three and good progress. All bad floor is removed and I have just 3 more feet of C Channel to clean. For those attempting this project I found that a Dremmel with a wood burr works really well to get deep into the channel.
I don’t know why my photos turn sideways.
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12-01-2017, 04:41 PM
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#7
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3 Rivet Member
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Mercer Island
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 146
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I had that bubble wrap insulation under my floor too. It was full of water - actually was a part of the problem. There are other threads here where folks replaced them with 'hard' foam insulation boards (i just removed the old and didn't replace).
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12-01-2017, 05:28 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1967 17' Caravel
Oak Creek
, Colorado
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,552
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trumpetguy
Day three and good progress. All bad floor is removed and I have just 3 more feet of C Channel to clean. For those attempting this project I found that a Dremmel with a wood burr works really well to get deep into the channel. Attachment 300135
I don’t know why my photos turn sideways.
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If you crop them just a bit they will be right when you post.
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12-02-2017, 07:21 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2007 31' Classic
Gulf Breeze
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by btowntincan
I had that bubble wrap insulation under my floor too. It was full of water - actually was a part of the problem. There are other threads here where folks replaced them with 'hard' foam insulation boards (i just removed the old and didn't replace).
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I noticed the same thing. Water in the bubble wrap. I do not plat on replacing it. I will lay some pink stuff insulation in the belly pan though. Should help with temperature.
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12-02-2017, 07:23 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2007 31' Classic
Gulf Breeze
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dingo Girl
If you crop them just a bit they will be right when you post.
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Did you have to install the new sub floor in sections? I can’t see how to avoid it because the floor needs to be wider than the interior skin so it can fit into the C Channel.
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12-02-2017, 09:34 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2008 27' International FB
Petaluma
, California
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,343
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Floor woes
Nice work so far. My wet floor tale starts about half way down page 18
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f396...-56099-18.html
I have some shots of how I replaced the insulation. I was lucky that my wood was strong enough to save with epoxy.
Keep up the good work, steady as she goes. Glad you found Vinnie he is the voice of reason and gladly delivers guidance backed by experience.
Brad
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12-02-2017, 10:37 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2009 27' FB Flying Cloud
1982 31' International
1991 35' Airstream 350
Jay
, Oklahoma
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,706
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I would suggest against placing fiberglass insulation in the belly pan.
Airstream quit this several years ago in favor of the bubble wrap
The fiberglass bats hold water worse than the bubble wrap and are the cause of the rotted frames on the older trailers.
Regards,
JD
__________________
Jeff & Cindy
'09 27FB Flying Cloud;'82 31 International
'91 350 LE MH; '21 Interstate 24GT
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12-02-2017, 01:03 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2007 31' Classic
Gulf Breeze
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 500
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JD. Thanks for that tip. Vinnie did say that if Airstream had just made a small slit in the bubble wrap they would have avoided a lot of problems. I guess that would allow moisture to wick out into the belly pan.
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12-02-2017, 01:10 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2007 31' Classic
Gulf Breeze
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 500
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Wow. The C Channel is clean. What a back breaker. The little Dremmel with a cutting bit proved to be the absolute best tool. I cut the old flooring off even with the wall then used the Dremmel to make a plunge cut. Pressure up and Down eventually cut through the plywood from top to bottom. I made many cuts about two inches apart then used a screwdriver to pry the bit out. Tedious but effective.
Question. Is it best to use tongue and groove flooring or will standard 5/8 sheeting suffice. The floor where I stopped removing is a tongue piece which I can cut off the tongue or just use a square piece and fill the gap with Bondo.
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12-02-2017, 01:16 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2007 31' Classic
Gulf Breeze
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 500
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Ready for flooring.
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12-02-2017, 01:20 PM
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#16
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4 Rivet Member
2018 28' International
Renton
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 291
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Wow, this scares the heck out of me. We picked up a 2009 27FB this fall. Now that its started raining I need to get a moisture meter and start checking the floor under our dinette (in the rear).
__________________
Walt
2018 28 International Serenity
2013 F150 Ecoboost
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12-02-2017, 02:44 PM
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#17
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2 Rivet Member
2002 30' Classic
Ocala
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 81
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Did you find the source of the leak? Doing all that work and not fixing leak you'll have the same problem again.
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12-03-2017, 07:11 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2007 31' Classic
Gulf Breeze
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 500
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Floor rot
I believe the source of the leak was where the rear bumper meets the trailer. This is a common problem with my unit. Airstream sent me a technical bulletin on how to correct the problem which envolved removing the belt molding and belly band, then caulking with Vulkem. I have also sealed the windows, exterior lights, etc. My next step is to place some light blue paper towels along the rear walls and douse the trailer with water. The location of the rotted wood makes it clear where the intrusion was...right under the storage locker which is where the lack of caulking has been problematic on these units.
If you own a 2007 be sure to inspect the area described.
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12-03-2017, 08:20 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1967 17' Caravel
Oak Creek
, Colorado
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,552
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The sides will push out to do the center sections & the ends will slide in under the channel .
Don't split your sheets down the middle or it weakens the structure & strength of the monocoque design.
It takes a bit of finagleing to get them in but they will go.
I did mine by myself. I'm tall so I have a large wing span to pick up the sheets. :-)
Take your window screens out of the side windows & open the side windows. I saw where it would be really easy to wreck either of these.
Hope this helps more than hinders. ;-)
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12-03-2017, 08:23 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1967 17' Caravel
Oak Creek
, Colorado
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,552
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This was in reply to Trumpetguys question
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