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Jr1974 · 05-24-2012, 03:00 PM

Have had my new Eddie Bauer 25 for 6 days. Yesterday while getting it ready for the maiden voyage I noticed a small leak coming out from under the alum panel in the wardrobe. Are Airstreams the Land Rovers of the trailer world? Stylish, expensive, rugged, but leak like an old wooden rowboat.

I figure it must be from the solar panel installation as that is the only thing that has been done to it. What kind of sealant can I use? It is more of a hassle to bring to a dealer then it is worth if i can just put a little caulking up there.

BigGrey · 05-24-2012, 03:25 PM

Sorry to hear of your leak, I too am a NEW AS owner and no problems thus far. Wish I could give you a good sealant but am not really familiar with what to use and what not to use so will not go there either.

As far as you taking care of it, unless it is really causing some damage I would at the very least bring it to the dealers attention, you never know what could occur down the road from a warranty standpoint.

Hope things work out !

John

HowieE · 05-24-2012, 03:33 PM

If it is new and the Stealer put the solar panel on I would take it there. If you do something and later need more work they will try and void the warranty.

Bruce B · 05-24-2012, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jr1974

.... Are Airstreams the Land Rovers of the trailer world? Stylish, expensive, rugged, but leak like an old wooden rowboat....

Oh, please,please,please don't tell me my Airstream is like a Land Rover!!!!
I have worked on Land Rover products for 30 years and I know about Land Rovers....

Please, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no!
Bruce

JFScheck · 05-24-2012, 03:40 PM

These are hand built with a butt load of rivits & screws while made out of alumnium - thus they are going to develop leaks.

After one year of water tight service - mine sprouted a minor leak, quick trip to dealer and all good!

valmog · 05-24-2012, 03:43 PM

Ah...you're from Washington...we're in Oregon...and yes, these do leak. Ours is a 2012 and we've had a few leaks that we've seen over the winter after a heavy rain. We've brought ours to the dealership and they found the places and took care of it. We noticed another place that it looked to have leaked last week so back to the dealer for us. Our leaks have all been near the windows or the hood vent.

Good luck to you!

Jr1974 · 05-24-2012, 03:51 PM

Problem is the dealer who installed the panels is 300 mi away. The local dealer is 10 miles away, but not sure if they would work on it under warrantee if they did not install the solar panels....plus they are probabably still upset that I did not buy from them.

BigGrey · 05-24-2012, 03:56 PM

Give Airstream NW in Kent a call can't hurt, If you purchased in Portland they are the same owners.

John

**jcanavera** · 05-24-2012, 03:59 PM

Hmmm....since this was an add on and if the leak is from the solar panel install, I'm afraid the dealer who installed these is the the one you have to deal with. I don't think your local dealer will touch this for free. With the cost of gas and a 600 mile trip, it might be better to pony up and pay the local dealer's labor to fix it.

Jack

c_lewis77 · 05-24-2012, 04:40 PM

I guess we will have to send the guys at JC back to "aluminum" school!

SilverRanger · 05-24-2012, 04:52 PM

"These are hand built with a butt load of rivits & screws while made out of alumnium - thus they are going to develop leaks."

In six days? That leak "developed" at the factory, and is unacceptable under any circumstances. I have a 1968 AS Trade Wind that hasn't developed any leaks.

I also have a 2005 AS (with a solar panel) that doesn't leak. While I've had quite a host of quality control issues, from what I've read on this forum, I consider myself fortunate that it still repels water.

If Airstream is getting this kind of pass on basic quality control, will this sub-standard work become acceptable?
I hope not.

xrvr · 05-24-2012, 05:24 PM

OP said dealer installed, not factory. jim

ccbrand · 05-25-2012, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce B

Oh, please,please,please don't tell me my Airstream is like a Land Rover!!!!
I have worked on Land Rover products for 30 years and I know about Land Rovers....

Please, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no,, no, no, no, no, no!
Bruce

Hey! I resemble that remark

So now that I own an Airstream and a Landy, I guess I'm going to be really expert at spotting leaks. Can I use Vulkem on the Landy?

Goin camping · 05-25-2012, 07:42 PM

Take it to the local dealer. They get paid by the factory to fix things. Should not be a problem since the panel was installed by another dealer.

robert claus · 05-25-2012, 07:46 PM

If you tour the factory during working hours, you'll get to see the high pressure soaking garage that the trailers get pulled through before the interior is installed. Certainly not fool-proof, but a respectable effort. No leaks in my 2000 skin, but the now-obsolete windows were leaking because of bad gaskets - now replaced.

robert claus · 05-25-2012, 08:12 PM

You might as well get up there and see how it is put together - you'll have to sooner or later. You could put a dab of Sikaflex 221 (it's what my closest A/S dealer provided to me when for the Shur-Flo power vent I got from him) over the mounting screws and around the brackets for the panels where they meet the roof, if it looks like it was missed during the install. You might find them already slathered in sealant, and will need to look elsewhere. At least you'll be dealing from a position of knowledge when you talk to either dealer.

Kosm1o · 05-25-2012, 08:17 PM

If you ever watch the "how its made" video on Airstreams , you will wonder why there any that don't leak.

robert claus · 05-25-2012, 08:20 PM

Maybe you should dump it on some unsuspecting sucker, like me! Damn, that Eddie Bauer is one fine unit.

danlehosky · 05-25-2012, 10:42 PM

Bruce,
I love Range and Land Rovers. They are a tinkerers delight. I've never owned a new one so I don't know about new quality. The old ones would break if you looked at them.
Having said that I live on the rainy side of the mountains and I've had my new FC for about 5 months. Knock on aluminum. I agree with the advice regarding the dealer fix. I plan on leaving mine uncovered for the warranty period so any leak problems I may have will show up.
Dan

dkottum · 05-25-2012, 11:05 PM

I'm with you dan'. Expose the new trailer to the elements and use the heck out of during the warranty period, find the assembly flaws. After that I'll probably store it under cover.

doug k