Need help with corrosion

[SAMCPA]

Hi, I have a 2004 19' Bambi. I have corrosion forming on the exterior rear panels. The corrosion is only on the cut edges of the panels. I would appreciate any help to stop the spread of the corrosion and to mask the damage so that it is not so apparent.

Thanks
Samcpa

[StingrayL82]

Your trailer is 2 years old and you have corroding aluminum??????? Isn't that thing still under warranty?????

Frederic

[TomW]

Originally Posted by StingrayL82

Your trailer is 2 years old and you have corroding aluminum??????? Isn't that thing still under warranty?????

Frederic

SAMCPA,

Welcome to the forum.

Frederic was a bit intense for your first post, but he has a point.

Tom

[dmac]

My 2003 has the same problem. Search the forum and you will find my saga and photos. In summary:

- The clear coating on your aluminum may lift on the edges, around rivits, or wherever a stone chip has occurred. Corrosion will start wherever the clear has lifted.
- Filiform corrosion can start at any defect in the clear and spread under the good clear film (looks like worm tracks)
- Salt seems to aggravate this: salt air from the sea, or road salt left on the trailer.
- There is no good repair process. Replacing skins is one option, but even a factory replacement is not the same as new (I know this from personal experience!)
- I don't know how to stop it. You may be able to slow it down by keeping it on a low salt diet, frequent washing and Walbernizeing might help.
- Some have suggested ACF-50, a WD-40-like spray that is marketed to light aircraft owners for corrosion prevention. ACF-50 has not worked well on the aircraft I have owned, so I would not hold out much hope... YMMV.

[markdoane]

Samcpa,

Corrosion requires moisture. Is it possible the trailer is in the path of a lawn sprinkler or other source of water?

[wbrownrr]

Samcpa,
I have the same problem with my 2002 CCD. I have slight filiform corrosion (looks like worm tracks) around a few rivits and the door handle. I've tried ACF-50 and it seems to have slowed, and maybe even halted, the corrosion. I first applied it this winter and the trailer has been outside in our very wet weather. While the ACF-50 doesn't repair the problem, it does seem to halt the spread of the corrosion. You might try searching this site for ACF-50 posts and search the web for sources of the product. Good luck!

[raybell27]

Samcpa, I have a 2002 which had some small areas of corrosion near where other metal made contact with the aluminum skin. I called Airstream and this is what they told me to do. Take a small knife and scrape the oxidation away and then cover with clear finger nail polish. If it is small enough you can put a bead of silver joint sealer. They used Acryl-R SM5504 Narrow Joint Sealant made by Schnee- Morehead Inc.. I have since used the clear finger nail polish on a couple of other places. It has been over a year and it seems to work. I think the solution is to inspect the trailer often and catch any corrosion before it covers to large of an area. Good luck because its discouraging to see corrosion starting on your trailer. Ray

[StingrayL82]

Jeez, Samcpa, I didn't even see that it was your first post....sorry bout that, but it really steams me up to hear that owners of new A/S's have these problems.....they just don't build em like they used to, I guess. Tom's right, I can be a bit intense at times, but it's only because I have a passion for these tin cans.

Frederic

[CanoeStream]

Originally Posted by markdoane

Corrosion requires moisture. Is it possible the trailer is in the path of a lawn sprinkler or other source of water?

dmac's post about salt air is relevant. Onshore winds will deposit a fine mist that dries to a very thin salt layer. This attracts and holds moisture in humid conditions.

I would no more expect to encase an Airstream in clearcoat than I could expect to encase a wooden boat in epoxy. Edges/corners of sheetmetal would have the most thin and vulnerable clearcoat -- even before you get to considering friction from washing or fine road debris.