galvanic corrosion

[teemack]

I have just taken the bananna wrap off and see that i have several areas that have corroded enough that the rivets will not hold the bananna wrap to the outriggers the way i would lke them too. i thought about taking an aluminum strip about 1 inch wide by whatever length and using it as a backing to attach the rivets through into the outrigger. what do you think about this and do you have any suggestions. teemack

[nickcrowhurst]

Teemack, earlier Airstreams had aluminium wraps, and more recent trailers used plastic. Wherever the aluminium skin touches the steel frame, there is the likelihood of galvanic corrosion. This can be minimised by the use of non conducting gaskets or paste (e.g zinc chromate) between the two dissimilar metals. Although your method could be made to work, I would prefer to strip out all the wraps and get a skilled welder to repair the damage. While the wraps are off you can rust proof all the visible frame members. After using a good rust-proofing paint system, you will have preserved the trailer for another generation, AND you will know you've done a great job! Nick

[eubank]

Originally Posted by nickcrowhurst

Teemack, earlier Airstreams had aluminium wraps, and more recent trailers used plastic. ... Nick

Holy, Mooly! Plastic banana wraps? How can they get them to dent in the front? I mean, it just can't be an Airstream trailer if it doesn't have dents in the front banana wraps, or?

Lynn

[nickcrowhurst]

Lynn, if your front wraps have the authentic dents, we could use them as a mold to make glass-fibre "dented wraps". Although these would not be in the correct material, it would spare the embarrasment of those like me whose wraps are currently undented. Nick.