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03-18-2012, 07:14 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Georgetown
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 796
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Our Turn for Floor Rot - Do We go to Ohio?
Well, I guess it's our turn at a little floor rot enjoyment (sarcasm). Before we get too far into this thread, we have no warranty, we purchased a 2007 model year previously owned Airstream.
Today was a day for minor repairs, a trip to the car wash to wash the Airstream ... so I decided it was time to put that ice pic test to that little place near the door that has been worrying me. Well, needless to say, the pic easily went through and upon pulling the pic out of two little pic holes, a nice little puff of dust followed the pic from the two holes. It's apparent we have some floor rot. Photos attached.
The first photo shows the area of concern (outlined in blue painters tape ... and my hand next to it to give an idea of the dimension of the area of concern).
The second photo shows the area of concern (in relationship to it's location with the entry door).
The third photo shows the two places where I did the ice pic test (see the red circles).
I have a list of things we need to have done (repack wheel bearings, leak at the skylight needs addressed, need a flat screen tv installed in bedroom area, water pump is malfunctioning, door latch needs adjustment, want to purchase the new Airstream bike rack and have it installed). So I guess I could justify a trip to Jackson Center, OH ... would have to take some vacation from work ... but it's not really a trip I am eager to make.
So, given the size and location, I'm seeking some idvice on what to do:
1. Does this warrant a 22 hour drive (one way) to Jackson Center, OH?
2. Local Airstream service shop is not even open for discussion (will try to be nice on this one and say no more). A couple other Airstream service shops are within a 3 hour drive ... but I have never had any experience in using them.
3. Is the size of this floor rot going to neccesitate a sizable removal of flooring?
4. How will they patch the floor replacement with new lenoleum such that it will match and not look like a patch?
I sure would appreciate some input and advice if some of you wouldn't mind some guidance on what you would do in this situation.
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03-18-2012, 07:26 PM
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#2
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,977
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F & M,
Is the floor in that area soft to the foot?, any give in the area?
Is that the carpet pad?
It's really hard to tell the extent of the damage without exposing the wood floor completely.
Bob
__________________
"You don't know where you've been until you leave, enjoy life" RLC
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03-18-2012, 07:33 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Georgetown
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 796
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS
F & M,
Is the floor in that area soft to the foot?, any give in the area?
Is that the carpet pad?
It's really hard to tell the extent of the damage without exposing the wood floor completely.
Bob
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Yes, the floor in that particular area (only the area outlined in blue painters tape) is soft to the foot and there is give in the area.
No, it's not a carpet pad ... it's original Airstream leneleum that looks like cork flooring. I originally thought maybe there was some kind of underlayment that they had failed to install in that area ... but not so ... the ice pic easily went all they way through the floor ... about 6 inches until it stopped at the handle of the ice pic.
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03-18-2012, 08:23 PM
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#4
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Always learning
1972 29' Ambassador
1962 19' Globetrotter
1951 21' Flying Cloud
Central
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,881
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Mike,
Wow! I'm at a loss for words, really. Of course, you know I was skeptical of it being floor rot. As you thought, I thought it was some mis-laid underlayment. I'm a gasp. Don't fret, it is all fixable. It will require some work, but doesn't everything?
To answer your questions~
1. (I'm sure you can guess what I think about this one)
2. Uh huh.
3. It would be best to replace the rotted part outwards to the nearest outrigger/crossmember. Maybe a 20"x24" piece.
4. I'd say that enough of the cabinetry/furnishings would have to be removed to roll the vinyl out of the way to gain access to the rotten sub-floor. It is possible to make seams blend, but it can stick out like a sore thumb depending on the pattern.
The cause for the rotten floor must be found and rectified before any significant work is done to the floor.
We were in Pf yesterday. Thought about y'all.
__________________
Lance
Work is never done, so take time to play!
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03-18-2012, 08:45 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1966 24' Tradewind
1995 34' Excella
Lynchburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,225
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F&M
Sorry about your floor rot problem. I don't know anything about "TOP's" shop, but his response to your inquiry made a lot of sense to me.
Dan
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03-18-2012, 09:33 PM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member
2002 22' International
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 271
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I would vote for you planning a trip to JC. Nothing is cheap but they certainly do a good job. You do need to find the source. It's strange that you don't have a soft spot up closer to the door. Here's a list of those that we had fixed at JC.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f456...ter-59831.html
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03-18-2012, 09:59 PM
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#7
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Site Team
1963 26' Overlander
Hollis
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,647
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TankerIP
I would vote for you planning a trip to JC. Nothing is cheap but they certainly do a good job. You do need to find the source. It's strange that you don't have a soft spot up closer to the door. Here's a list of those that we had fixed at JC.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f456...ter-59831.html
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My vote is nay , out of warranty I'd be more than happy to let Lance do the work. Get a quote, y'all will be happy with the not paying the gas. This is not rocket science....
__________________
Shelly : TAC NH-6 | AIR 41359
Visit my blog!
Parts needed : Braund Antenna front tube fold down model!
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03-18-2012, 10:19 PM
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#8
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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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Really sorry for you. I think my first worry would be to find the leak(s). Especially this time of year. The folks at JC are great. But, it will be a week plus to get there, get the work done, and get home.
Folks above are right, it ain't rocket science, mostly just takes a good spot to work and some time.
JD
__________________
Jeff & Cindy
'09 27FB Flying Cloud;'82 31 International
'91 350 LE MH; '21 Interstate 24GT
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03-18-2012, 10:21 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1957 22' Caravanner
1960 26' Overlander
1963 24' Tradewind
El Paso
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 945
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Take it to Top
Quote:
Originally Posted by reinergirl
My vote is nay , out of warranty I'd be more than happy to let Lance do the work. Get a quote, y'all will be happy with the not paying the gas. This is not rocket science....
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i second that! Why drive to JC for non warranty work when you have Top close by.
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03-18-2012, 10:32 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,367
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Floor rot.
Hi, I think that I would remove a few things so that you can peel back the vinyl to see this area better. Have you looked at it from underneath; Looks like it is where the step mount is. If that little area is the only place that got soft, [just guessing] you might be able to use a 5" hole saw to cut it out and by using the same hole saw on a good piece of wood, make a plug to patch it with. I think I would at least see the extent of the damage before crossing the country to have it fixed.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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03-19-2012, 05:06 AM
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#11
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,977
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X2
What Robert said.
Bob
__________________
"You don't know where you've been until you leave, enjoy life" RLC
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03-26-2012, 01:39 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Georgetown
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 796
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Lance (TOP here on the Forums) of Nomadica (here in Central Texas), is going to perform the service/repairs on our Airstream. Looking forward to getting the Airstream into his hands in a couple of weeks and taking care of everything.
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03-26-2012, 05:43 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,367
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank&Mike
Lance (TOP here on the Forums) of Nomadica (here in Central Texas), is going to perform the service/repairs on our Airstream. Looking forward to getting the Airstream into his hands in a couple of weeks and taking care of everything.
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Hi, see if you or Lance can take pictures of the process for the forum.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
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03-26-2012, 06:09 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2007 23' Safari SE
Central
, Connecticut
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,652
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My vote would also be to get it done locally. Instead of spending the gas money to go to Ohio, you can spend it on more upgrades to the trailer! (Although I wonder if AS would have covered some of it as a goodwill extension - less likely on a used trailer.)
I'm a bit surprised - recent posts have focused on the FB trailers leaking, but you have a 25SS, right?
Tom
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03-26-2012, 06:22 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
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Sorry to see that. We have a 2005 that I don't think has any rot yet, but then, maybe I haven't looked that closely!
We have experienced a couple of water leaks and as soon as they have appeared I have tried to immediately find and fix the cause - I don't think AS use marine plywood on newer trailers, but I do believe they use a type of plywood that requires a number of soakings before it will rot.
We have enjoyed our AS since we bought it four years ago - I might consider buying a new one, but I will never - EVER - buy a new one unless they replace that floor with some material impervious to rot! Other manufacturers now do.
All trailers leak, and the water will inevitably find its way down to the floor!
Why don't they do something about this built in problem????
Hope your fix isn't too costly - shouldn't be necessary on the Cadillac of trailers IMHO.
Brian.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
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03-26-2012, 06:28 PM
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#16
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Moderator
2006 19' International CCD
Olathe
, Kansas
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,224
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I'm sorry to hear about your floor rot! I know you take care of it and I thought you had it in covered storage? Maybe it's an old problem but I hope you find where it's coming in from. Keep us posted on the progress.
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03-26-2012, 06:53 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2016 27' Flying Cloud
Georgetown
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 796
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- Correct, our floorplan is the 25SS.
- Some photos of what is discovered could be interesting ... but I'll let TOP decide whether he wants to or not. I don't want to distract from his efforts.
- We purchased the unit 13 months ago and I noticed the spot when we purchsed it ... just never really thought it would be floor rot. Still hoping it turns out not to be floor rot and maybe just some bad subfloor that was originally installed (maybe wishful thinking????).
- The prior owner stored it in a barn. Since we have owned it we have had it in covered storage. So just seems peculiar that it could be floor rot ... but it also seems suspect that in that area underneath the unit ... where the step intersects the belly plan ... there is a section of missing weld (about 2 feet long) that looks like an opportunity for water to get in when traveling down the road in a rainstorm.
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03-26-2012, 06:58 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Florissant
, USA
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,083
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank&Mike
Lance (TOP here on the Forums) is going to perform the service/repairs on our Airstream.
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Good call.
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03-27-2012, 08:22 AM
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#19
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Rivet Master
1966 24' Tradewind
1995 34' Excella
Lynchburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,225
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank&Mike
- The prior owner stored it in a barn. Since we have owned it we have had it in covered storage. So just seems peculiar that it could be floor rot ...
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Very peculiar to me also. How much damage would there be if this trailer had been stored outside uncovered. It is unbelievable to me that this trailer should have any damage from water infiltration.
Dan
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03-27-2012, 11:29 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1957 22' Caravanner
1960 26' Overlander
1963 24' Tradewind
El Paso
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 945
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I'm wondering if it's an internal leak.
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