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02-28-2006, 08:31 AM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member
1979 31' Excella 500
Detroit Area
, Michigan
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 498
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How prevalent are leaks in late 70's era airstreams?
Are they something that all trailers of this era are going to experience if left outside long enough. Do you have to reseal all the seams up top ever year? Is it a must to build a pole barn steel type over-roof if the trailer is to be left outside?
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03-01-2006, 07:15 AM
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#2
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4 Rivet Member
1979 31' Excella 500
Detroit Area
, Michigan
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 498
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Based on the response to this, I guess they are not too prevalent. Good news.
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03-01-2006, 07:56 AM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 84
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Mine leaks in a few places (that I know of). I'm really wanting to build a pole barn or some type of carport to cover mine up. I'm not sure that re-sealing every year is required but you can do a search on this site and find plenty of posts on leaky AS's and not just the late 70's. Mine is a 76. I can't find two of my leaks.
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03-01-2006, 08:08 AM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member
1979 31' Excella 500
Detroit Area
, Michigan
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 498
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Yeah I guess if you are going to park it outside for a long period of time a pole barn steel peaked roof of some kind would be a wood idea.
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03-01-2006, 08:44 AM
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#5
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Site Team
1964 26' Overlander
1964 19' Globetrotter
OlyPen
, Washington
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,930
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We had one leak - around the TV antenna mount. The gasket material failed. Was was really weird was were the water appeared inside - over the kitchen sink - halfway down the trailer. It wicked down a wire between the skins and came out a electric socket.
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03-01-2006, 08:44 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1979 30' Argosy
Havelock
, where we park it
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,652
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Regular maintenance
Hello... The trailer should be checked each year .. ie get up on the roof and check the antenna .. and the vents .. and generally check all over the trailer for need for silkaflex or parbon.. I believe not enough attention is paid to the putting parbon above the rubrail... Annie
__________________
Marvin & Annie
Niki (fur baby)
1979 Argosy 30 (Costalotta)
WBCCI 10103
"Happiness is a warm Puppy" Charles Schulz
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03-01-2006, 09:37 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1972 25' Tradewind
North Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,421
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Happycampers
Hello... The trailer should be checked each year .. ie get up on the roof and check the antenna .. and the vents .. and generally check all over the trailer for need for silkaflex or parbon.. I believe not enough attention is paid to the putting parbon above the rubrail... Annie
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Forgive my ignorance, but what is silkaflex and parbon? Are they gaskets, or sealants? Also, can one safely walk on the roof of these trailers without causing damage to them? Or is there a prefered method for getting up there to inspect seams and whatnot? Thanks!
__________________
Cameron & the Labradors, Kai & Samm
North Vancouver, BC
Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Mame Dennis
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03-01-2006, 09:47 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1979 30' Argosy
Havelock
, where we park it
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,652
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Hello again
Parbon is used on small areas less than 1/8" and Silkaflex or Vulkem is used on larger areas ie above the windows or door , at bumper edge meeting trailer.. Do not ever use silicone on aluminum...as to getting on the roof.. best to use scaffolding ... safer and you must only put put your weight on the areas where the ribs are.. ie rivets going across.. a lot of leakage comes in thru the antenna .. we have removed all on our past 3 trailers.. we use satelite... Annie... do a search under parbon or vulkem..
__________________
Marvin & Annie
Niki (fur baby)
1979 Argosy 30 (Costalotta)
WBCCI 10103
"Happiness is a warm Puppy" Charles Schulz
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03-01-2006, 10:09 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1973 23' Safari
1977 23' Safari
2018 25' Flying Cloud
Palmer Lake
, Colorado
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,092
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scaffold for getting on roof
see my scaffold at http://www.airforums.com/forum...tos-20568.html
the ladders are cheap and all you need is 8' of 2x10 for the shelf. a little foam protects the trailer and there really is very little compressive force on the trailer sides. I tie the top and bottom of the ladders together for added safety.
Question: what's the deal with silicon? does it hurt the metal? or does it eventually peel off, or is it that you can't get it off? I have made that mistake and wonder what to do about it, if anything.
Roger
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03-01-2006, 10:30 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1972 25' Tradewind
North Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,421
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3isnotenough
see my scaffold at http://www.airforums.com/forum...tos-20568.html
the ladders are cheap and all you need is 8' of 2x10 for the shelf. a little foam protects the trailer and there really is very little compressive force on the trailer sides. I tie the top and bottom of the ladders together for added safety.
Question: what's the deal with silicon? does it hurt the metal? or does it eventually peel off, or is it that you can't get it off? I have made that mistake and wonder what to do about it, if anything.
Roger
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Thanks for the scaffolding tip, Roger!
I don't know how silicon affects sheet aluminum, but I see it more of a maintenance issue than anything. Too many people think silicon is forever, but it breaks down very quickly with exposure to UV rays and chemical exposure. As an Architect, I see the structural damage caused when people think they can apply a sealant and forget about it. Simple inspection, removal and re-application regularly can save lots of money in the long run. I've seen caulking of various types used against aluminum window and door frames on many of my projects with no ill effect to the aluminum itself. Plain old silicon on its own may be a different story though.
__________________
Cameron & the Labradors, Kai & Samm
North Vancouver, BC
Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Mame Dennis
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03-01-2006, 05:36 PM
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#11
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Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,615
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My 75 Trade Wind is currently has no leaks (knock on wood ). I had a leak at the kitchen exhaust recently, but I repaired it. I keep my trailer at a covered storage yard, not to keep it dry but to keep it out of the sun . We are currently at 134 days without rain.
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Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
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03-01-2006, 05:43 PM
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#12
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Rivet Monster
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azflycaster
My 75 Trade Wind is currently has no leaks (knock on wood ). I had a leak at the kitchen exhaust recently, but I repaired it. I keep my trailer at a covered storage yard, not to keep it dry but to keep it out of the sun . We are currently at 134 days without rain.
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az...it won't leak when it doesn't rain must suck being a roofer in AZ at the moment
My 75 does leak, but I strongly suspect it is due to neglect by PO's. I have been removing gobs of silicone and replacing it with Vulkem and Parbond. The leaks are going away...slowly.
Aaron
__________________
....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
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03-01-2006, 06:27 PM
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#13
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4 Rivet Member
1977 25' Caravanner
Jeffersonville
, Kentucky
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 490
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My 1977 has no leaks ,,,, (knocking hard on wood) I am the 3rd owner, I feel lucky
__________________
Movie Stars and Film Crews come to Me from hundreds of miles enticed by My knowledge, My imagination,expertise, creativity and innovations!
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03-01-2006, 08:37 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1986 25' Sovereign
Southern Middle
, Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,319
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wacnstac
Are they something that all trailers of this era are going to experience if left outside long enough. Do you have to reseal all the seams up top ever year? Is it a must to build a pole barn steel type over-roof if the trailer is to be left outside?
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My '77 31' Excella had a leak around the street side Vista View window. It leaked into the inside by the window shades and dropped onto the foldout table. I had to clean out the old caulk on the outside and install new (Silkaflex).
__________________
Craig
AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
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03-03-2006, 06:46 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1972 25' Tradewind
North Vancouver
, British Columbia
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,421
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There was a very simple solution in another thread that I found to be quite good:
http://www.airforums.com/forum...tos-20568.html
Good Luck!
__________________
Cameron & the Labradors, Kai & Samm
North Vancouver, BC
Live! Life's a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death! - Mame Dennis
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