I took the leap and bought a 1987 Excella!

[carolynt]

Yep...I'm the proud new owner of a Airstream. Im very excited.
Frame and body are in great shape. No dents.. only a few minor dimples...a little surface frame rust. All window are intact and working, seals look great, new screens, inside partially gutted, cabinetry and ceiling painted.
I plan to park the trailer under a large lean to and use her as an office, spare bedroom and escape pod. No plans to take her across the country..just moving her across the state was scary enough.

Questions for the group.?

1. to treat surface frame rust has anyone used a product called Ospho?
2. one section of belly pan under back bumper badly rusted and coming off. can just that one section be cut off at seam. I realize theres insulation between. Again I don't plan on using the trailer for travel.
3. Front curved window needs to be resealed. What chalking to use.? PO removed plastic trim and it looks like he started to seal with marine white goop. ( I think its called 512)Again she will be covered but would like to seal her up.
4. Flooring is OSB. There is a 10 by 10 area of rot in front under curved window that needs replacing. Is that possibly caused by the window or the front seam?
5.Opinions on replacing vents with Fan-tactic fans. Vent fans and lights come on but fans don't seem to move any air. I hate to loose the cool lighting. Why couldn't you just replace with a new fan? Again I'm a newbie.

I'll post picture soon.

Thanks again for the earlier responses..so very much appreciated.
Carolyn

[blkmagikca]

Congratulations on your new-to-you 1987 Excella.

The rot under the front window was definitely caused by the leak from the window. That is one area which needs to be checked regularly. I have had the window seals on the front (including the curved sides) resealed at JC - the center one twice. I was fortunate in that it was caught early before the OSB floor started to rot.

Another item to consider doing is to use Captain Tolly's Creeping Crack Cure on the rivets where the end caps are joined to the shell. The stuff is inexpensive and works well. It is used to seal leaks on marine crafts and is easily applied by using an artist's paint brush or Q-tip to dab some on each rivet.

You can install Fantastic fans in place of the OEM vent/lights, but you may have to consider supplementary lighting, as those vents are also your ceiling lights. My 1987 has one FF in the front and the OEM fan/light in the bedroom. With the swag light over the dining table I have enough lighting in the front and the single FF does a good job of moving air.