!!!Check Your AS - Potential Leak!!!

[dufferin]

I would advice any of you that have that we called the Wide Body or equivalent shell shape to check your vent caps gasket.

If you have the cap in the image below you have a lot of chance (is it really chance) to have the gasket shown below.

This gasket was in use - the fact is that they are still used no matter what the vent look like - for the aluminum vent caps used before the so called wide body. AS must have bought a gazillion of those gaskets and then why not use them.

As you know a square peg in a round hole does not really work.

LEAK guaranty at 90%. And you may not even notice it.

Also because of that gasket the cap bottom is wavy (see image) and it does increase the risk of leak.

Airstream cut that far in their cost. With the potential damage it can create. For you then to pay for it.

So I would advice you to check and have it replace ASAP. Ask to have it done at the Factory expense.

This is done intentionally and it should be covered by the Factory no matter what.

I had myself a leak... see watermark on image.

[ROBERT CROSS]

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f456...ent-35651.html

Your not supposed to go up there...

Been there done that....at least yours were not butted right up against the fridge vent.

Does anything change at JC?

[dufferin]

looking at yours shows that the same gasket were used... unbelievable.

If there is something that change at JC? doesn't look like.

But if many owner can have the gasket change at the factory expense, due to the cost of the fix, JC may consider to go with the proper gasket. It'll be cheaper for them instead of using their old stock.

We can be responsible for the change. We need to put pressure on the Factory.

That can be related to the corrosion problem.

I am pissed off because those in charge of AS today rely on the vintage and the acquired reputation to sell the new ones.
I had two vintages before and think they were better built.
Better aluminum - not the one rated for license plate - better details etc...

But what they are doing now is just in a medium term killing what AS has always been.

Today they only have good press but if it ever happen that an article start to dig into what AS is today it will be hard for them to correct the trend. And at high price.

[ROBERT CROSS]

I know exactly how you feel...

I sold this to make room for the new one.

I sure miss the old girl.

I can't help but wonder how the 03 will look in 45yrs.

[Inland RV Center, In]

We reported some 15 years ago, to watch that gasket for leaks.

That particular gasket only lasts 5 to 6 years, or so.

We sell hundreds of that gasket, every year.

It cannot be replaced with something superior, since that pipe moves when you tweak the trailer.

Window and entrance door gaskets, in time, must also be replaced.

Andy
Andy

[dufferin]

Andy,

the main problem I mention here is more about the shape of the gasket for the vent.

If you look at that image you'll see that the gasket is not big enough for the vent to sit on it. Look at the ghost of the cap on the gasket... it simply missed it.

This gasket as you know better than I are suppose to be mounted with the aluminum vent cap. It is certainly not made for that cap.

[BDandTTs]

These vents and gaskets were used on our 2005 22' CCD as well. It is not a wide body. As discovered during a recent leak test at everyone's favorite northeast Airstream restoration/repair facility, an oblong gasket is not compatible with a round hole.

I've attached a few photos. The first is of the original Airstream installation. We purchased the trailer new in the fall of 2006. I was really concerned about the globs of caulk.
The second shows the very large hole in our roof, the oblong gasket and the round vent. Yes, it bubbled vigorously during the leak test.
I also wanted to show the beautiful, neat caulk job on the new metal vents, but forgot about our weather -- it snowed a bit last night and is still hanging around. Believe me, there is no messy caulk under the snow.

I know there have been other threads about this problem, but we keep hoping that our trailer will not be affected.

[dufferin]

Originally Posted by BDandTTs

These vents and gaskets were used on our 2005 22' CCD as well. It is not a wide body. As discovered during a recent leak test at everyone's favorite northeast Airstream restoration/repair facility, an oblong gasket is not compatible with a round hole.

I've attached a few photos. The first is of the original Airstream installation. We purchased the trailer new in the fall of 2006. I was really concerned about the globs of caulk.
The second shows the very large hole in our roof, the oblong gasket and the round vent. Yes, it bubbled vigorously during the leak test.
I also wanted to show the beautiful, neat caulk job on the new metal vents, but forgot about our weather -- it snowed a bit last night and is still hanging around. Believe me, there is no messy caulk under the snow.

I know there have been other threads about this problem, but we keep hoping that our trailer will not be affected.

That is why I talked also about the new shell shape and not only wide body.

I have the same replacement. They look nice.

Again it is important that anyone goes to his dealership and have the fix done.
JC wanted to save couple of bucks on gasket... let them pay for the proper fix.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by BDandTTs

These vents and gaskets were used on our 2005 22' CCD as well. It is not a wide body. As discovered during a recent leak test at everyone's favorite northeast Airstream restoration/repair facility, an oblong gasket is not compatible with a round hole.

I've attached a few photos. The first is of the original Airstream installation. We purchased the trailer new in the fall of 2006. I was really concerned about the globs of caulk.
The second shows the very large hole in our roof, the oblong gasket and the round vent. Yes, it bubbled vigorously during the leak test.
I also wanted to show the beautiful, neat caulk job on the new metal vents, but forgot about our weather -- it snowed a bit last night and is still hanging around. Believe me, there is no messy caulk under the snow.

I know there have been other threads about this problem, but we keep hoping that our trailer will not be affected.

Those vents are on our 1992 SOB B-van. All are secured to the roof with what is referred to as "Dum-Dum. When we got our van, all three vents leaked profusely, and the carpet was thoroughly soaked.
The "good" news is those vents cost about $5 from Camping World, with new Dum-Dum in the package. The bad news is, you will almost certainly need to replace them, as they will crumble to dust when you try to remove them to reseal them.

[WBCCI9898]

We have a 1997 34ft limited. We had a small leak by the stove vent and several dealers could not find the leak....low and behold we changed the vent and discovered....NO GASKET. We had the vents changed last week. It has since rained (horray NO LEAK)!!!!

[Devoman]

I just did mine several week ago.I just cleaned up around the area and resealed it.It works great now.I expect to do it again in a few years.The Florida sun can be brutal on things like this.

[dufferin]

As said the gasket used does not offer a proper seal. So I am not sure if you changed the gasket or if you just resealed your vents?

Taking care of the caulking is regular maintenance but having to deal with something that has not his place is not our responsibility but JC.

Between $50.000 and $110.000 that should not happen.

Here it has nothing to do with quality control or whatever.

This gasket should not be installed. Period. JC fooled us.

The combination wrong gasket with that vent is a killer.

You mentioned the Sun. Because of that the plastic tend to become wavy (see images) so it brakes the sealing you could have done. And as the gasket provide no real tight contact the leak occur.

REDOING THE CAULKING IS NOT ENOUGH.

Take action now... or pay for the damages in few years. And it won't be JC responsibility but you own $$$$

Originally Posted by Devoman

I just did mine several week ago.I just cleaned up around the area and resealed it.It works great now.I expect to do it again in a few years.The Florida sun can be brutal on things like this.

[Silverhobby]

There is also a metal plumbing vent stack cap that will replace the plastic one. It is made from galvanized steel and can be painted. I have replaced several on my trailer and they hold up well.

[Devoman]

What happened with mine was the sealer was finally giving up around the edges and separating.I just cleaned up the area really good but I never saw any type of rubber gasket under it.I did see gray stuff so I am assuming it is vulkum under there(or something else.)When I sealed it I covered everything up.All the way up the base of the plastic.It worked very well and I am not worried now.I just take a look every now and then when I am giving the camper a bath now just to be on the safe side.For me though this is an easy fix.

[Devoman]

Do you have a picture of this vent and where to get it by chance?

[Silvertwinkie]

Though I don't have a leak...yet.... I did notice that the caulk up on the roof in general is aging fairly poorly. Looks like I may have my work cut out for me in the spring (mine is parked indoors).

Is there a place that we can get the unmolested full size gasket?

I was talking to one of the guys at the factory and I seem to recall him saying that they use Silkaflex everywhere but the wheelwells...there they us Vulkem (sp?)

I wonder why they can't seem to cut a normal size hole for the vent pipe. I mean how hard could it be to get a hole cutter that cuts a proper hole in alum? Gasket or caulk to prevent scraping, then seal properly to the roof. Some of the holes in the pics looks like someone was just ticked off that day and took whatever cutter they could find.....

[Silvertwinkie]

I found these..but the don't look the same:

Ventline Metal Plumbing Roof Vent: Mobile Home Parts Store

[Silverhobby]

Devoman, Silvertwinkie posted a link to the type cap I have used. I also went to my local supplier, and got scraps of EPDM rubber roofing material and made my own gaskets. I was able to make these gaskets "round" to match my new caps. I sealed the screws with vulkem.

[ROBERT CROSS]

An old inner-tube worked great for us...

Along with the addition of six stainless screws that JC saw fit to leave out.

[eheffa]

This is quite helpful.

I think my caps are leaking too. When I see the cracks in the caulk & the shoddy job of applying the caulk it might explain why the space between the inner & outer skin is damp.

I've found a local source for the metal type caps & am going to install those.

-evan