We have a 2019 22FB that we’ve owned for about 9 months and I’m a little dismayed that the door handle is already corroded. Has anyone else experienced this?
I sanded all the clear off...finished with 800 to 1500 wet paper and polished with 3m Aluminum polish.👍
Didn't bother to re-coat...just lightly polish when needed.
BTW...it was done 14yrs ago.
Bob
🇺🇸
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I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
Yes. I'd replace mine but I don't see how to get it off.
Mine's not as bad as yours, but it was bad from day one. (2017)
I'm going to try some "Simichrome". I bought it for stainless polish for removing surface scratches on used firearms. It takes some elbow grease and time but it works. It looks like toothpaste, you put a tiny dab on a cloth and work. Wipe and repeat. About a hundred times.
I used it on a scratch on my aluminum skin. I was worried about cutting through the clear coat, but I was careful and it made the scratch disappear.
More aggressive than auto polish, less so than sandpaper.
I might start with Green Scotchbrite.
My 2018 FC26U has the same problem. My handle is a twin sibling to yours. Very discouraging considering the high quality one would expect from that company. I plan to remove it and try to restore the metal. I think it can be removed from inside the trailer.
Corrosion has long been an Airstream problem on taillight bezels, door hinges and handles and along factory cut edges of exterior aluminum. There have been hundreds and hundreds of posts about it and a very long thread started more than ten years ago. Robert Cross is something of an expert on this, so listen to him.
First, however, I would try to get a warranty fix because Airstream has not fixed this well and should pay for it. They might blow you off claiming it is "cosmetic" or some other garbage, but keep after them. They have fixed it in the past.
Moving to the desert also helps—less road salt and far from the ocean.
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Gene
The Airstream is sold; a 2016 Nash 24M replaced it.
That part has been outsourced at since AS started using it.
It's been corroding for exactly the same length of time.
Maybe AS has replaced it under warranty, but I doubt it.
It's not all that easy to remove, I found it less of a hassle to just tape around it. I did the same for the door hinges for the same problem.👍
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
At some point, Airstream used the lexan handles, at least in the Classic.
I'd be happy with a plain Jane black plastic handle, it would be better. Or make removing it possible without surgery.
(BTW, the plastic ones develop internal cracks, then one day break in your hand. I broke someone else and felt terrible. Then later I broke mine too)
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