Shocking roof caulking mess on new unit

[weirdstuff]

Anyone ever seen anything like this?

This is a brand new unit. Nobody seems to know what happened...why it's like this. It's a mess, and it's not even the same grey caulk color as everything else on the roof.

Factory mishap? Or, mishap during shipping? Covering up a leak or a problem?

Any theories?

EDIT: photo won't load...I'll keep trying...

[Bob Blarney]

Originally Posted by weirdstuff

Anyone ever seen anything like this?

This is a brand new unit. Nobody seems to know what happened...why it's like this. It's a mess, and it's not even the same grey caulk color as everything else on the roof.

Factory mishap? Or, mishap during shipping? Covering up a leak or a problem?

Any theories?

...?

[weirdstuff]

here's the pic....

This is the main awning, view from roof...

[Wingeezer]

Even with all the complaints about Airstream quality from the factory it is very hard for me to believe that would come from Jackson Centre that way. Nothing is i possible I suppose.

I think it may be more likely that at the dealership perhaps they saw some evidence of water ingress and sent someone - perhaps a very new employee? - out to add more caulk!

I'm no wizard at caulking by any means but sure hope I wouldn't have made mess like that!

A "wetted" finger and paper towel to deposit the excess fresh caulking can do wonders in making a much neater job, especially in conjunction with some masking tape to stp the stuff spreading too much!

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by Wingeezer

Even with all the complaints about Airstream quality from the factory it is very hard for me to believe that would come from Jackson Centre that way. Nothing is i possible I suppose.

I think it may be more likely that at the dealership perhaps they saw some evidence of water ingress and sent someone - perhaps a very new employee? - out to add more caulk!

This is what crossed our minds as well.

[Zybane]

Originally Posted by weirdstuff

Anyone ever seen anything like this?

This is a brand new unit.

LOL, all I can say is "Airstream". Nothing would surprise me.

[weirdstuff]

Hypothetical....if this was how YOUR new unit arrived, what would be your next step?

Have dealer clean it up and then accept it?
Reject the whole thing, since you don't know what might have been wrong?
Or...??????

So yes, this is my unit. We did not accept it. Waiting for answers as to what happened to it and why.

[Tim A.]

I wouldn't accept it until I got an official response from Airstream and not the dealer. In other words, send the picture to Airstream and see what they say.

Tim

PS I, too, can't believe the factory did this. Particularly with the caulk finger prints on the awning cover!

[HiJoeSilver]

That's a horrible job.

Since I've seen instances on here where gaps between skin and window (from cutting hole to big)were filled with sealant, I'd be very leery. Wondering what this could be covering up.
I wonder if there was a big gap where the roof panel went on and they just filled the heck out of it.
Who knows!

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by Tim A.

I wouldn't accept it until I got an official response from Airstream and not the dealer. In other words, send the picture to Airstream and see what they say.

Tim

PS I, too, can't believe the factory did this. Particularly with the caulk finger prints on the awning cover!

We sent photos and are waiting for a response.

We did a pretty thorough inspection, and found about 7 or 8 minor things that need attention.

The only other big thing we found was on the back by the bumper storage compartment. On the black metal, just to the right of where the storage lid closes...the top of that piece is badly scratched...lots of deep scratches that almost looked like small part of it was beginning to rust! Would need to be repainted...I don't think touch up paint would work, because there are so many scratches.

EDIT: Am I being dumb, thinking the bumper scratches can just be repainted? Is this common?

[weirdstuff]

pic of the scratches I mentioned above... sorry they're sideways....

[SeaLevel]

There is something very wrong here, and there is no way I would accept any of that on a brand new trailer.

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by SeaLevel

There is something very wrong here, and there is no way I would accept any of that on a brand new trailer.

I'm thinking the same thing. But I keep going back and forth between outright rejecting the trailer, and staying open to the idea that these things are fixable, and trying to give dealer a chance to make good.

Those deep scratches are even rusted. How long ago would that have had to happen, to rust? And how would that have happened??!!

[Zybane]

I caught video of the guy that did your caulk job on top of the Airstream (replace shovel with caulk gun):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x84GKqcpY4E

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by Zybane

I caught video of the guy that did your caulk job on top of the Airstream (replace shovel with caulk gun):

LMAO!!! Find that guy and bring him to me!! I've got some questions for him!!!

[TravlinMan]

I would reject it. No fun. Sorry this happened to you. Was probly the dealer but I have seen some real horrible caulk jobs on solar panels outta the factory.

[djarrett]

My 13 year old could caulk better than that. I have seen some pretty interesting caulking on top of our unit, but that really looks like it was done by either the dealer or someone after it left the factory.

[Zybane]

Originally Posted by djarrett

My 13 year old could caulk better than that. I have seen some pretty interesting caulking on top of our unit, but that really looks like it was done by either the dealer or someone after it left the factory.

The biggest question though would be: why did it leave the factory needing such a repair or did it get damaged in travel or at dealership?

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by TravlinMan

I would reject it. No fun. Sorry this happened to you. Was probly the dealer but I have seen some real horrible caulk jobs on solar panels outta the factory.

Originally Posted by djarrett

My 13 year old could caulk better than that. I have seen some pretty interesting caulking on top of our unit, but that really looks like it was done by either the dealer or someone after it left the factory.

Our best theory for now, is that it was not done at the factory. So, if the dealer did it...WHY did they do it? And, when and how did all those scratches happen? Also a dealer mishap?

This is like a mystery novel....

[Al and Missy]

You did right. There is no way I would have accepted these things on a new trailer.

Al

Originally Posted by weirdstuff

Hypothetical....if this was how YOUR new unit arrived, what would be your next step?

Have dealer clean it up and then accept it?
Reject the whole thing, since you don't know what might have been wrong?
Or...??????

So yes, this is my unit. We did not accept it. Waiting for answers as to what happened to it and why.