Skin Corrosion - Another Road

[Another Road]

We have a 2011 23' International and the skin at each end of the clearance lights is showing signs of corrosion/electrolysis. The unit has been stored under roof since we brought it home. Has anyone else experienced this?

[dkottum]

Everyone with the 2011 and early 2012 models have or soon will. This is new l.e.d. fixture that was designed to fit universally, so it has a curve in the bottom to fit the curve of trailers. But the ends of the fixture dig into the clear coat, breaking through and exposing bare metal which soon corrodes. Later models use the same light, but have a gasket under them.

We have the lights on ours, I saw the problem and began treating immediately and regularly with CorrosionX or Boeshield T9, which prevented corrosion. You will see it on new Airstreams at dealers if they have been there awhile. I am going through Jackson Center next month and will challenge them to fix it. Corrosion is something outside of warranty so we'll see how it goes.

It is a good idea to treat any Airstream on a regular basis for corrosion, and repair if it is spreading badly. More so if you live in damp climates, and even more so if on the coast near salt air.

doug k

[dkottum]

Contact your dealer for repair and to install gaskets.

doug k

[No. 13]

Originally Posted by dkottum

Everyone with the 2011 and early 2012 models have or soon will. This is new l.e.d. fixture that was designed to fit universally, so it has a curve in the bottom to fit the curve of trailers. But the ends of the fixture dig into the clear coat, breaking through and exposing bare metal which soon corrodes. Later models use the same light, but have a gasket under them.

We have the lights on ours, I saw the problem and began treating immediately and regularly with CorrosionX or Boeshield T9, which prevented corrosion. You will see it on new Airstreams at dealers if they have been there awhile. I am going through Jackson Center next month and will challenge them to fix it. Corrosion is something outside of warranty so we'll see how it goes.

It is a good idea to treat any Airstream on a regular basis for corrosion, and repair if it is spreading badly. More so if you live in damp climates, and even more so if on the coast near salt air.

doug k

Doug,

How do you remove the amber lens without breaking it? I can pull it out part way, but I am afraid of breaking it. Any trick to getting it out in one piece?

Gene

[dkottum]

Gene, I pulled out my lens part way and found the lens and led lights/circuit are all one unit. The base is separate. The lens/light assembly has sealant where the wires pass through the base, so I did not want to break this seal. I'm going to let Airstream deal with it at Jackson Center because we are going that way next month.

I asked my local dealer about it; the service rep was rude and disowned me at the service department. We bought two new Airstreams there. The ba$&*%ds will never see me again. Try your dealer for repairs, can't be as bad as ours.

doug k

[Another Road]

Thanks so much for your input, it has been VERY helpful. This is our third Airstream unit, but the first new one. We have always enjoyed the Airstream design, and had to do minor work on the earlier used models we bought, but were pleased with what we had for what we paid. I have to say, right now I'm not feelin' the love with the new unit. We are finishing now,hopefully the last of the problems, mostly by our labor, that you would think our dealer would be responsible for.
We just hit the road from here.