in the mean time

[funkill]

I have removed most of the silicone sealant from the seams, rivet heads and windows of Ophelia. Some areas (especially around the windows) still have a generous amount of gray sealant (vulkem?) that has separated from the aluminum. I intended to remove all the old stuff and then replace with vulkem and acryl-r. Problem is - storms are being forecast for the next two days. I'm afraid she's going to leak like a sieve. I know my neighbors will go ballistic if I throw a tarp on her, so I'm wondering what I can do quickly (i.e. after work today) to temporarily seal her up. It will probably take me two more weekends to remove all the remaining vulkem and be ready to reseal. I thought of duct tape but then remembered how it dried out in the FL heat rather quickly. Plastic tape? ???? Any ideas?

Also, I think I went a bit too far removing stuff from around the upper/vista windows (inside perimeter where the glass meets the surround - not the outside perimeter) as I noticed I could see the edge of the glass under the riveted aluminum surround/casement (or whatever it's called).... yikes. I stopped upon noticing that. How do you know when to just STOP?

Laura

[Distantdrummer]

Settle down Laura.
Either cover it or let it alone. That is unless you are prepped and ready to re-seal.
It might not leak as much as you are imagining. Then again maybe it will.
Actually if it does and you can monitor it inside the trailer then you will be able to better analyze the quality of the job you eventually do in sealing it.

From now on you might want to remove the sealer that surrounds joints & creases & crevices before coming back and doing the actual "money shots". I know that is double the set-up (scaffold or whatever) but when you get to the actual openings you can remove a few and re-caulk/seal as you go.
I have never polished a trailer (and never will), but removing the vulkem etc. is the hardest and most frustrating job I have ever undertaken. Polishing might be worse from what I read here.
I have read loads about it ( gunk-removal) and no one has come up with an easy way that I have ever seen. If you don't mind let us know your methods and their results.
Good luck.

[Silverwanabe]

On my 67, I've used parbond for the seams and vulcum now called Tempro for the roof vents.

Polishing is a pain, but the roof really needed it. White with corrosion spots.
Its cleaning up quite well.

Nuvite polish is worth the price.

[Minnie's Mate]

I'm in Atlanta and we have been having the rain that you are expecting. I'd say, pooh-pooh on the neighbors and put a tarp over it for the next couple of days. More important to protect your investment than to protect your neighbors' aesthetic sensibility. (It isn't often you get to use the words investment and protect in the same sentence these days.) BTW, not all tarps are Airstream Blue. You can find white ones or even large sheets of heavy mil clear plastic.

[Sixty3TW4US]

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

I'm in Atlanta and we have been having the rain that you are expecting. I'd say, pooh-pooh on the neighbors and put a tarp over it for the next couple of days. More important to protect your investment than to protect your neighbors' aesthetic sensibility. (It isn't often you get to use the words investment and protect in the same sentence these days.) BTW, not all tarps are Airstream Blue. You can find white ones or even large sheets of heavy mil clear plastic.

As long as there are no Just do it!!

[funkill]

Originally Posted by Distantdrummer

I have never polished a trailer (and never will), but removing the vulkem etc. is the hardest and most frustrating job I have ever undertaken. Polishing might be worse from what I read here.
I have read loads about it ( gunk-removal) and no one has come up with an easy way that I have ever seen. If you don't mind let us know your methods and their results.
Good luck.

I can already tell how hard the vulkem will be .. guess I'm just lucky that the mineral spirits is helping with the silicone.

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

I'd say, pooh-pooh on the neighbors and put a tarp over it for the next couple of days. More important to protect your investment than to protect your neighbors' aesthetic sensibility. (It isn't often you get to use the words investment and protect in the same sentence these days.) BTW, not all tarps are Airstream Blue. You can find white ones or even large sheets of heavy mil clear plastic.

Ahhh - clear plastic. I have loads of heavy mil plastic drop cloths in my Hurricane Prepardeness box!!! Thank you!

Originally Posted by Sixty3TW4US

As long as there are no Just do it!!

No HOA, but I'm sure there are city ordinances stating no RV's in the front yard anyway!!! To my benefit, a city counsel member has a huge motorcoach, a 30+ ft closed car trailer, and trailer with two jet skis in his front driveway. Other neighbors with trailers and boats too but, the house next door to me is for sale and the owner suggests the reason for lack of interest is due to my airstream. Whatever! She obviously doesn't have enough class to observe the benefits of having an American classic next door. Almost a better landmark than the ABC liquor store on the corner!!!

[Diesel1]

Be carefull covering your trailer!!!!!! The top of my 67 is black from a tarp rubbing it. It is almost immpossible to rub off. Adios, John