Leaking Skylight

[Brow324]

Got a small drip of a leak at the skylight. Need to re seal the top I guess.

What is a good product to get for re sealing? Do I need to get something from an RV supplier or will an auto supply store product work? Silicone?

thanks for your suggestions.

[Cracker]

Don't use silicone - a no-no around Airstreams! I'm sure that others will chime in with the correct sealant (----vulkem?) but make sure you check around each of the screw heads to see if the skylight is cracked. Over-tightening appears to still be a problem during assembly.

[Brow324]

The trailer is 5 yrs old...just started leaking a couple of weeks ago. Thought I'd climb up on top and re seal it. 3M Marine 5200 seems to be the ideal product.

[Alumaholic]

For that application, most of us would recommend a urethane-based caulk like Sikaflex but there are other equally good urethane caulks on the market. There must be a dozen threads and hundreds of posts on this topic.
Trial and error is not necessary.
An hour of reading will save you many hours of frustration.
Just promise never to use the "S" word ever again. It sends anyone who has ever restored an Airstream into apoplexy. The dirty word is "silicone" of course.

[nickmeloy]

Originally Posted by Brow324

The trailer is 5 yrs old...just started leaking a couple of weeks ago. Thought I'd climb up on top and re seal it. 3M Marine 5200 seems to be the ideal product.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You are about due for a sky light replacement. Reading the following thread may well prove to be beneficial.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f455...hts-53517.html

[ROBERT CROSS]

324,

As has been mentioned, the OEM Skylight WILL leak.
Got ours from Inland RV and changed it out last Spring, quality product, (came with Sikaflex 221).

While up there make sure to inspect the black tank vent, also a common source for leaks. Ours was installed improperly from the "factory".

Bob

[Steve & Susan]

Make sure that the skylight itself isn't cracked - they are famous for cracking by the mounting screws. The sun doesn't do nice things to the Lexan they are made from and the above post is right - about every 5-6 years you should expect to replace them. While you are up there, check everything!

[jcanavera]

We had two skylights fail on our Classic. The first over the center bath was under warranty and failed in the second year of life. The other in the forward area of the trailer failed at 5 years and was on my nickel. The dealer noted that both had failed due to overtorque of the screws used to secure them.

I'm sure outside storage also takes it's toll due to UV exposure. We've been storing inside for the last 6 years or so which should help a lot in extending the life of the skylights. I'm really not sure what the dealer used for replacements as to whether they are better than the originals. I should have asked at the time but didn't.

Jack

[Wingeezer]

Both our skylights started leaking due to cracks in the plastic emanating from almost every one of the screwholes in the flange.

I gooped up the cracks with a product called "Stormking" that I used to use on our previous non-AS trailer. it is a clear sealant for RV's that stays somewhat flexible, but not to the extent of Sikkaflex.

I'm not sure if it is sold in the US - quite common at RV dealers in Canada.

It did stop the leaks, but I was not at all happy with leaving things that way and so in teh end, bought a pair of the polycarbonate Maxim skylights with welded aluminum frames. A great product, and I doubt I'll have any more skylight problems.


Brian.

[Morgan guy]

My 2007 Classic has already developed cracks in the two skylights. One is more severe than the other. I have ordered a new replacement. One thing I found when I was doing my research is that the clear and bronze tinted polycarbonate lenses have a two year warranty. The white on the other hand has a five year warranty.

[Dan@LED4RV]

Having been in the service department for many years and worked on many Airstream units I had plenty of hands on with this very problem. You do not want to just seal that sky-light, it will fail again pretty soon. The best fix is taking the sky light up and redoing it with a metal flange on the top side to evenly destitute the pressure. If your sky light is busted like this

Then it needs to be replaced.
If it is 19.5x19.5 inch, the replacement kit from Airstream is # 381318-050
If it is 14.5x22.5 inch, the replacement kit from Airstream is # 381318-060
with those part numbers any dealer can get them. Google them.
If yours is not broken like the above picture then you can get a metal trim ring from any Airstream dealer (381318-100 19.5x19.5) "made by Airstream" Butyl Tape for between the sky-light and unit's frame, the screws, the metal ring, and the sealer YOU WANT TO USE, which is "white self leveling caulk"
Once the Butyl tape is down and the sky-light is in place YOU WANT TO PRE-DRILL THE HOLES. I think the metal ring has the holes already in it. If so, you can use the metal ring as a temp let and drill the holes in the sky-light. If not, you drill all the way threw the metal ring and sky-light.

Just sealing (no trim ring) and having it fail again allows water to cause other problems. Long term problems you won't be happy with.
A big thanks to Out-of-Doors Mart for supplying these pictures.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Good idea Dan, just don't use the OEM skylight, it's junk

Bob

[Flying Gypsies]

We changed out our skylights and replaced with Maxim skylights- Awesome product, great customer service- Kevin did a great job of documenting install on a thread here- just search Maxim skylight for thread- no comparison in quality between IEM and Maxim

[Alumitater]

Having same issue on my 07 Safari, will be ordering the Maxim skylight. Could anyone advise on how to remove the inside trim ring to examine source of leak? Thanks in advance.