Trunk box aluminum? Leave it out to prevent rot?

[Isaiah]

Have a 69 tradewind with rear end seperation and I'm putting everything back together after floor replacement. I know some of the problem is the aluminum sheet from the trunk box that wedges between the frame and hold down plate and ultimately draws water into the frame. I've also heard some folks just leave it out when they reassemble. How do you enclose the trunk box completely without that sheet? Or do you just leave it open?

[ALUMINUMINUM]

"How do you enclose the trunk box completely without that sheet? Or do you just leave it open?"


I eliminated the floor rotting flashing when repairing my '68GT. My experience is that it gets just as wet in there with or without the detrimental flashing design by Airstream. I don't store anything in the bumperbox that wouldn't benefit from a cleansing rain.

[2002sheds]

Hisaiah,
I am at about the same stage, in terms of eliminating that sheet metal and figuring out what to do.
I agree with Al (luminuminum) about the porosity of the slinky storage box. In my case, the only thing left of the box is the lid. I intend to use steel mesh towards the trailer and as the floor of the box and sheet metal elsewhere.


Thanks,
David

[TouringDan]

I elected to replace the section of aluminum sheet that carries water to the bottom of the floor and rots it out, but I caulked the joint with Trempro 635. I will monitor the condition of the caulking over time to make sure the seal is solid.

Dan