Exterior river missing

[s1000pre]

How often do exterior rivets need replacing?

[BayouBiker]

Ideally never, but it happens. Are you having other interior items coming loose also? If so look at your tire pressure (trailer and tow vehicle) and your WD tension. Might want to make the combination a bit more forgiving. Given the location, it also could have been stress from a slamming door or too much tension on the stabilizer jacks, just food for thought.

[Tim A.]

Buy a few Olympic rivets, goop up the hole and the rivet with gray Sikaflex (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1), and insert and seat rivet. The wipe off all of the squeezed out Sikaflex and again wipe that area with a paper towel or shop towel wetted with alcohol (uncured Sikaflex wipes off with alcohol). The Sikaflex left inside will prevent leaks and, because it is flexible and a good adhesive, will help prevent the same thing happening again.

Tim

[s1000pre]

Any idea what size Olympic rivet?

[s1000pre]

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

Ideally never, but it happens. Are you having other interior items coming loose also? If so look at your tire pressure (trailer and tow vehicle) and your WD tension. Might want to make the combination a bit more forgiving. Given the location, it also could have been stress from a slamming door or too much tension on the stabilizer jacks, just food for thought.

I think it’s dumb luck. My weight dist is good and I only run my stabilizers down to the point of connecting with the ground, nothing more.

[Tyler2you]

Originally Posted by s1000pre

Any idea what size Olympic rivet?

Should be 5/32" and a #20 drill bit if required.

https://www.vintagetrailersupply.com...f-100-vts-179/

[BayouBiker]

In any case, it's unfortunate, particularly if you don't have a rivet gun and head shaver suitable for olympic rivets. I think the hand operated guns are about $45-50 and the shavers are in the $200-300 range. I think 5/32 is the right size but I am not certain. The Airstream manuals give the correct sizes in the maintenance section.

[jeffmc306]

Stewart, is this on your 2021 trailer? If so, shouldn’t that be covered under warranty? Something the local dealer can take care of at no cost since the tools are pricy.

[Ndcctrucks]

Use a regular aluminum rivet, SikaFlex or gray RTV the rivet before it goes in, then fill the hole with same after setting the rivet.

It ain’t kosher, but the cost of tools for me ain’t worth it for one or two rivets. You can’t see it unless you look for it, anyways.

Or, do it like original.., your choice.

[s1000pre]

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

Stewart, is this on your 2021 trailer? If so, shouldn’t that be covered under warranty? Something the local dealer can take care of at no cost since the tools are pricy.

Yes, it’s my 2021. The good news: I just met a fellow Airstreamer in Key West who has the tools, and willing to help replace the rivet tomorrow.

[Tim A.]

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

In any case, it's unfortunate, particularly if you don't have a rivet gun and head shaver suitable for olympic rivets. I think the hand operated guns are about $45-50 and the shavers are in the $200-300 range.

Originally Posted by s1000pre

The good news: I just met a fellow Airstreamer in Key West who has the tools, and willing to help replace the rivet tomorrow.

Great that you found somebody to help.

The tools need not be expensive. Serviceable "pop" riveters are available for about $10 to $20 on Amazon and they will set an Olympic rivet. For a single Olympic rivet, a shaver is not necessary. A little work with a file or rotary tool will smooth out the rivet head adequately. Will the job be perfect? No, but it will not be visible from more than about 5 feet away.

Attached is a picture of the replacement porch light I installed in place of the original on our trailer. The aluminum patch is held in place by Olympic rivets smoothed out without a head shaver.

Tim

[BayouBiker]

That's good information to know Tim, thanks. I have a super cheap manual rivet gun, guessing an upgrade would be worthwhile, but in a pinch it may work.

[TR Anderson]

How often should they be replaced?



As often as they come out, and no sooner.

[Fungus]

Each bag of rivets I carry contains the drill bit needed to install the rivets in the bag.