Can anyone help me. I am a new Airstream owner(2008 Safari SE). I recently was camping when a pine tree fell and damaged the right rear panel.My insurance company wants to send it to Out of Doors Mart NC for repair. My concern is the type of rivets they will be using. They say they repair it from the outside using Olympic spread rivets and then a Parvon sealer. The Airstream manufacturer said that they use bucket rivets and repair it from the inside out. Can anyone elaborate on this for me? I want the the repair to be as good as new.
Can anyone help me. I am a new Airstream owner(2008 Safari SE). I recently was camping when a pine tree fell and damaged the right rear panel.My insurance company wants to send it to Out of Doors Mart NC for repair. My concern is the type of rivets they will be using. They say they repair it from the outside using Olympic spread rivets and then a Parvon sealer. The Airstream manufacturer said that they use bucket rivets and repair it from the inside out. Can anyone elaborate on this for me? I want the the repair to be as good as new.
To use "buck rivets" you must tear out the inside of the trailer. Putting it back the way it was, has it's risks.
If you use Olympic rivets, they do just as good a job, but you do not have to disturb the interior, at all.
Olympic rivets have been used for over 35 years, and if the work is done correctly, you would have to really know what to look for to tell the difference.
Out of Doors Mart can certainly do a first class proper replacement of that segment.
The sealers used are Vulkem and/or Par-bond.
If your at the dealer when they open, you can take the trailer back home the same day.
If it were me I would want it repaired to be exactly like it was originally. And originally there were no olympics used. I would insist it be done using buck rivets. There has been huge debate over the two types of rivets and I always return to "if olympics are so great, why does Airstream not use them to build the trailers?"
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Frank Yensan The Airstreamer's Club MD-1 founding member "we're dead serious about having fun"
"if olympics are so great, why does Airstream not use them to build the trailers?"
At the RMVAC rally Mr InsideOut was talking about different rivets and I was very impressed as to the holding power of them. Why are buck rivets used, because they can on an empty shell and $$$$.
Thanks thats what is worrying me. Any info out there on the rivet debate that I can use to coax my insurance company. They want me to use a repair shop more locally which is Out of Doors Mart and they use the Olympic's. I think I would prefer the original which means the unit would have to go to JC
If it were me I would want it repaired to be exactly like it was originally. And originally there were no olympics used. I would insist it be done using buck rivets. There has been huge debate over the two types of rivets and I always return to "if olympics are so great, why does Airstream not use them to build the trailers?"
Your question as to why, is the easiest answer of all.
Airstream can buy 200 or more "buck" rivets for the same cost as "one" olympic rivet.
Thanks thats what is worrying me. Any info out there on the rivet debate that I can use to coax my insurance company. They want me to use a repair shop more locally which is Out of Doors Mart and they use the Olympic's. I think I would prefer the original which means the unit would have to go to JC
Your absolutely correct. You can force your insurance company to have the inside of the trailer dismantled to use buck rivets for the segment replacement.
They will hate you, and depending on who they are, they may cancel your policy when the find out that the total cost to replace that segment using olympic rivets, is about $1200.00.
Triple to quadruple that when you rip out the inside, and use buck rivets.
Next problem, is the inside rear will more than likely show signs of being removed, up to and including the overhead end cap.
But, you will have buck rivets, and a scarred inside.
Instead of a 6 (six) hour job, you will force it to be perhaps 35 to 40 hours.
If you were paying for the repair yourself, out of your pocket, which would you choose?
Airstream sheet metal replacement using olympic rivets has been more than industry acceptable for almost 40 years.
If you were to have the capability to take the interior out yourself where the damage is, you could have a shop do the panel replacement with buck rivets, and then replace the interior yourself. It isn't that hard to do.
There is a new trailer repair place opening in MD no too far from you I hear.
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