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Old 04-13-2008, 06:28 PM   #1
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Filiform Corrosion?

Ok....I just joined this forum earlier today, and have been reading entries ever since.
My wife and I are very interested in purchasing a new Airstream, but I am now very concerned about what I have been learning re filiform corrosion of the aluminum exterior.
Any soothing and/or reassuring words out there?
Any surefire way to prevent this from happening?
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Old 04-13-2008, 06:51 PM   #2
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Welcome from the Florida Panhandle

Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us.

Please keep in mind that you are reading about flaws in the best travel trailers in the history of the world. These Forums are very candid, and that is a good thing. Don't let the discussions scare you away.

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Old 04-14-2008, 12:00 PM   #3
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it's all here...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142...ams-31743.html

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Old 04-14-2008, 06:37 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Harper
Ok....I just joined this forum earlier today, and have been reading entries ever since.
My wife and I are very interested in purchasing a new Airstream, but I am now very concerned about what I have been learning re filiform corrosion of the aluminum exterior.
Any soothing and/or reassuring words out there?
Any surefire way to prevent this from happening?
We bought our 22' SS last August, it sits outside in the open without cover. Some have reported seeing this phenomena on the lot and some after a few months of ownership. We have seen neither. No leaks, no corrosion, nothing. Just happy campers.
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Old 04-14-2008, 06:51 PM   #5
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We try to stop the filiform corrosion but it is everywhere. So when people point and ask what it it we just tell em it's an Airstream.
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Old 06-08-2008, 08:54 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ahab View Post
We bought our 22' SS last August, it sits outside in the open without cover. Some have reported seeing this phenomena on the lot and some after a few months of ownership. We have seen neither. No leaks, no corrosion, nothing. Just happy campers.
Your dry climate in Arizona undoubtedly slows the growth of filiform corrosion. TBRich's trailer is also based in Arizona and shows no signs of filiform, yet.

Keeping oxygen and water away from aluminum is a good reason to apply a good wax periodically.
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Old 06-08-2008, 08:57 AM   #7
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And here: Filiform corrosion
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Old 06-08-2008, 10:45 AM   #8
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I take it a whole different way than has been posted here.

Had I known then, what I know now, I myself would not buy a new Airstream. I would still have bought an Airstream, but I would have bought a preowned one. I say this from the standpoint, I paid top dollar for what I thought was a well engineered product. It has been nearly nothing what I had expected for the price paid (nor was the 2003 Bambi I bought just before trading to the current unit, thinking the Bambi was a lemon). Corrosion is my main gripe, but there have been others. Take a look at the QC threads for example, this one that I link, has links to models back to 2004:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142...ity-41668.html

All that said if you buy a new one and even get the standard 19% off retail, in two years you will have a unit that has depreciated significantly. For example, I picked up my '04 which the base unit retailed at $39,143. The same model now retails for around $46k. My unit now, 4 years later (or 5 model years) is now worth about $24k. Now if I had a few issues, so be it, but as my corrosion issues get worse, it will further loose value.

Now in my mind, if I spent $25k on my unit now and it had some issues like it has, I would not feel as bad as I do, having spent around $40k on my unit and having this issue, which IMHO is a significant issue.

I totally agree that this issue alone if I were in your shoes would give me pause too, let alone some of the QC issues that still happen......
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