I need a source for the orange vinyl inserts on my Argosy. Got them last Spring and put them on this Summer. They have turned yellow in the sun. They are actually worse looking than the 28 year old ones I took off. We do not have an Airstream dealer in the State of Oklahoma. I don't really want to say where I got my vinyl, because I'm sure they are not responsible for its quality. Could someone give me other sources and information on how their inserts are holding up.
Hi Juel, have you considered covering the vinyl inserts with wide pin striping tape? That is what I did on our '97 Excella. With the old insert off the trailer, I soaked it in mineral spirits overnight coiled in a bottom of bucket. This loosened all the old adhesives. Next morning I cleaned the insert from one end to the other. I'd purchased a roll of pin striping tape from Beacon Graphics, but you probably can get some from you local auto paint supply store. The tape needs to be wide enough so that it covers the face of the insert and still wraps around the back about 1/4" on each side. For me, that was about 1-1/2". It takes two people to put the tape on the insert. One to apply the tape and one to control the insert. Try to apply the tape pulled tight and without air bubbles trapped between the tape and insert. With the insert wrapped with tape, apply 3M double sided trim adhesive tape to the back side and reinstall on trailer. The 3M adhesive tape can be usually be found on Ebay, but it should also be available from the auto paint store.
It worked great! You can see the insert on post number 79 here:
Sounds good; however, the vinyl actually shrunk about 5 inches after letting it sit on the trailer for a week before cutting. I think I need more vinyl in order to do what you did. It does sound like a plan if all else fails. Thanks for the input.
Hello Juel... Have painted ours this summer and put in the new vinyl inserts and hubby put a rivet in each end... no problem yet.. we are in Fla for the winter.. it has faded a little but holding ok... we got ours at the Sarasota rally airstream store house for $19.00 . . enough to do the whole trailer , this was for both widths needed.. Annie
Before discarding the vinyl you have, it should be fairly easy to stretch it the 5" you need, as you put it back on the trailer. It is fairly elastic stuff!
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Got some pictures of the small and large vinyl insert. As you can see the large one is fine, the smaller one is not anywhere near the color it started out. It use to be the same as the painted end piece.
Sorry this happened juel. The most common suggestion and source is Oasis RV in Tucson. You may know that already ... so-o-o ... would you recommend anybody else use that info? Please save somebody else the same problem.
I'm away from the place where my renovation is taking place until next Monday.
We took all the mouldings off the trailer and will remount them with new, different coloured vinyl inserts.
You can have all the orange if you'd like it. I think it is in pretty good shape. There was also a box of brand new, newer used orange in the trailer when I got it. I don't know how much there is.
Send me your address PM and I will send it to you next week if you like.
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have done ours
. enough to do the whole trailer , this was for both widths needed.. Annie
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