Floor Question

[siox]

Is there a year start when Airstream started using sub-flooring that did not rot? Like marine grade plywood, I want to buy one that is sorta rot resistant.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Nope.....sorry.

Bob

[perryg114]

The best there is as far as rot resistance would be an aluminum floored Argosy. Not all of them had the aluminum floors so I don't know what model and year to tell you to look for. I don't think any Airstreams have true marine plywood and even that is not rot proof. Treated plywood is not used because of corrosion.

Rot is most likely found at the rear of an Airstream where the bumper plate funnels water under the sub floor. Many Airstreams also have a rear bathroom that adds stress and more water from plumbing leaks. The second place to look is to the right of the door. Also you will find rot at the 4 corners of the trailer where the straight walls meet the curved sections.

Starting in the 80's, Airstream used OSB which is has terrible rot resistance.

Perry

[overlander64]

Greetings!

The composite aluminum floors were limited to two models in the Minuet series, and even then not every coach in those two models came so equipped. The Minuet 6.0 Metre and the Minuet 6.7 Metre coaches were the only two models that might be so equipped during the model years 1977 through 1979. Far more 6.0 Metre Minuets seem to have been so equipped than 6.7 Metre Minuets.

Kevin

[siox]

Thank y'all for your reply's. The Caravel that I have has a tremendous amount of rot and rusty frame. At this time I don't want to do a shell off restoration. Wouldn't know how to take it off anyway. So I am looking for a bigger trailer around a 25 foot Execello with twin beds. I looked at one this week and the owner said it never leaked and the floor was fine. I opened a side hatch and felt around and I was able to push a couple of fingers through the floor next to the outer shell. So that got me to thinking they may have gone to a marine ply at some time. I will keep looking.

[perryg114]

Just about all trailers have problems with floor rot unless they are meticulously maintained for the last 30-40 yr which for all intents and purposes ain't going to happen. The center bath models are easier to fix the floor on because there is not bathroom at the back. It is also easy to inspect the floor by pulling the mattress up and then the carpet. When a rear bath model has floor rot and 99% of them do then it is a shell off restoration.

Perry

[siox]

Thank you very much Perry. I will look for a center bath model.