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rostam · 09-21-2014, 08:53 AM

There is so much a moisture detector can do. One of the members recently bought a trailer. He used a moisture meter to look for floor rot; the meter did not detect anything. He found out that he has massive floor rot only after he bought the trailer.

Floor rot is a major headache, and the solution is very simple. Why Airstream does not do anything about this is beyond me.

ttbikes · 09-21-2014, 08:59 AM

At one time in my life I was a sign painter. One thing I did to extend the life of plywood out of doors was to putty the edges of the plywood. I would sand and prime the edges with exterior oil primer. Then use window putty to fill the edges smooth and repaint with 2 coats of exterior gloss. Un-puttied rough edges allows water to stand in the small gaps in the plywood edge and that would start to degrade the plywood over time. I would also never use anything but marine grade plywood outside. Epoxy would be a good idea also. Water and wood should never come in contact with each other. Any thing to help prevent that is a good idea. As I read about replacing the plywood on Airstreams (I am getting ready to) I often wonder if people are paying enough attention to the edges. It is where the plywood is most likely to fail.

shannon · 09-21-2014, 09:09 AM

I have heard said that the guys working on the floor at Airstream in the 50's & 60's probably never imagined/realized we would be fretting over floor construction (of a trailer!) - fifty-sixty years after the fact. As I began building mine back, I slowly moved away from, "It'll last a lifetime!" - to "I'll give it a 50-year warranty, and start again when I'm 102." I call it my Fifty Year Rule, and it's real hard to stick to it, but I am guessing that actually will be a lifetime - MINE!

Chris C · 09-21-2014, 09:12 AM

Well, I'd check into the Coosa Composites link shown in post #10 if I ever needed to replace the floor. Of course, I've no idea how expensive it is.

AWCHIEF · 09-21-2014, 09:56 AM

Airstream does quietly recognize there may be possible issues with the plywood they use. They paint the edges of the flooring before install approx 1 foot all the way around with a black paint of some kind. I asked and was told that this was a "sealant".

Chris C · 09-21-2014, 10:08 AM

I have a wooden teardrop trailer I built from the gound up. (I'm a custom furniture builder, so it's not only cool to look at, but it's built the right way!) When I built the insulated floor, I thoroughly coated 5 sides with a thinned solution of roofing tar while the floor was in the hot sun. (left the top side clean to coat with epoxy paint.) I continued coating all 5 sides until it wouldn't soak in any more. Then I applied one unthinned coat to the bottom side. Water won't be a problem. You'd think they'd do more than the edges and the first foot of wood all round. I can't believe they've not received plenty of complaints over the years.

dkottum · 09-21-2014, 11:04 AM

The black material Airstream paints around the perimeter is to discourage wicking of minor leaks on the surface plywood, not a sealant. If the plywood edges and surface are sealed, small quantities of water that enters through screw holes and cracks in that sealant will be essentially be trapped inside. It cannot dry out.

I see two problems on our Airstream (or any other rv), a shell that leaks sooner or later due to age and use, and a vinyl floor covering that does not allow it to dry out when it does. The solution I have is to monitor the plywood subfloor for dampness and find and repair the leak when I find one. Using a moisture detection meter with a probe into the subfloor is incredibly easy to do, and I do it every few months.

It is highly unlikely someone would probe a wet floor and see no indication. Unless the floor was already destroyed and then completely dried out. If it's wet it will register.

The only floor modification I would do is to remove the vinyl finish flooring, at least near the perimeter, and replace it with something that looks good, wears decently, and will easily let the floor dry out when it gets wet. The only thing that comes to mind is the removable thick Japanese tatami mats used in traditional Japanese homes. Any other ideas out there?

TinTin · 09-21-2014, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkottum

Any other ideas out there?

One suggestion would be to leave the floor uncovered beneath the cabinets, water pump space, vanity etc.

I removed the vanity in our unit to check for leakage at the rear (still dry). When I replaced it I cut out the linoleum as far forward as possible, and painted the floor with a couple of coats of deck/floor self-priming paint.

dkottum · 09-21-2014, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinTin

One suggestion would be to leave the floor uncovered beneath the cabinets, water pump space, vanity etc.

I removed the vanity in our unit to check for leakage at the rear (still dry). When I replaced it I cut out the linoleum as far forward as possible, and painted the floor with a couple of coats of deck/floor self-priming paint.

Excellent idea. I have also considered removing about three inches of vinyl all around the interior edge and replacing it with something that will not trap moisture, even encourages drying out.

AWCHIEF · 09-21-2014, 12:07 PM

Golly jee, I guess I was lied to by the worker.

dkottum · 09-21-2014, 01:10 PM

Here's a good description with photos about the Airstream shell construction, useful to those who may wonder how they are put together.

Michael, in the paragraph "Flooring" they describe the black material painted around the perimeter of the plywood subfloor as anti-wicking.

Shell Assembly | Airstream

TinTin · 09-21-2014, 01:20 PM

Doug, that's an excellent reference you provided. Haven't seen that one before.

This may be the stuff they use on the outside edges of the floor?

http://dolphin-company.com/TDS/coatings/DOLP7720TDS.pdf

dkottum · 09-21-2014, 01:38 PM

Airstream uses Boise Cascade's Sturd-I-Floor plywood:

Sturd-I-floor - Boise Cascade, LLC

TCwheels · 09-21-2014, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dingo Girl

We have a local military supplier here and they used at one time a very, very heavy type of plywood that had coating of fiberglass for the top and bottom ply and was also impregnated with a resin as well.

I had a piece of this stuff outdoors for many many years. It never rotted.

They used it for decking on military ramps and carriers.

I can see where the weight of this stuff would be prohibitive for use as floor material in my Caravel. The floor would weigh as much as the whole trailer.

Brooks and Perkins, now AAR, right? They also used on "expanded aluminum" honeycomb board that would be perfect as AS flooring. May have been proprietary to them.

"Don't let perfect be the enemy of better."

Chris C · 09-21-2014, 08:17 PM

That honeycombed stuff is frequently used in aircraft custom modifications.

dkottum · 09-21-2014, 08:26 PM

A flooring material must be able to hold all the assembly screws for the shell, partitions, cabinets and equipment as well as being somewhat flexible when moving down the road.

AWCHIEF · 09-22-2014, 05:50 AM

These folks use an aluminum frame, composite aluminum floor, furniture and shell. Apparently they have figured out how to attach interior furniture, etc. without it all coming loose. The flooring is fully waterproof, rot proof and light weight. If leaks do develop in the shell minimal if any damage results. If Livinlite can figure it out what is stopping Airstream? That was a rhetorical question. The reality is that it is the bean counters at Thor that are behind the lack of using modern materials and QC at Airstream.

Camplite Ultra Lightweight All Aluminum Travel Trailers | Livin' Lite RV

PharmGeek · 09-22-2014, 07:23 AM

I had that storage compartment leak and the moisture was detected with the meter (sonin 50211) - tripped the meter to full tilt - picked up edges of linoleum to inspect as best I could (area is under the wardrobe so cannot pick up much) - and found that to the touch it was dry but when probes tripped the meter - after the edges (had black paint) were exposed - they dried to where they no longer register moisture - but interior to that it still registers moisture - had hoped this would wick out and some no doubt has bit clearly not all.

The floor being this plywood would be less if an issue if the flooring material on top of it could be removed when needed and replaced as had been suggested (removable and individually replaceable floor tiles?)

Detect moisture - expose and dry out - and fix leak - but for now my detecting the leak often means removing furniture.....I'm under warranty and AS have agreed to address this in 2015. Beyond that new leaks I'll have to deal with it. Good news is - this one leak was the only one and now it appears there are no leaks - all is dry on the perimeter and it remains dry

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rostam · 09-22-2014, 07:42 AM

VINSTREAM VINTAGE AIRSTREAM TRAILER CUSTOM DESIGN RESTORATION SALE

They make aluminium chassis and subfloor for Airstreams that are being restored. If Airstream puts aluminium chassis/subfloor on their trailers, they would last forever.

PharmGeek · 09-22-2014, 07:57 AM

Also troubling is that airstream seems to offer no advice at all about moisture meters or owner floor inspection (other ways?)

When I asked how they would instruct owners to find leaks over time I was told something g to the effect "routine annual inspection of seams"

An alternative flooring would be great

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