sealing gaps and holes

[yesitsmedoug]

Hi. I have been trying to find answers on how airtight an airstream can be without much luck. I know there are holes from cabling, hoses, wheelwell, etc. I would like to seal these up as much as possible without causing any new issues such as holding in moisture, etc.

The reason for my query is that when traveling down dirt roads we find a light coat of dust in the camper.

Does anybody have an answer as to how airtight is too airtight?

I have thought about using a smoke test to smoke the inside and watch outside to find holes to fill. ( I would obviously need to find a no residue/odor smoke to use) My main concern with doing this is that I am not certain how airtight is too airtight. In other words, are there gaps and holes purposely left so the AS can breath a little?

Does anybody know if we can completely seal off all holes?

[Dingo Girl]

There are places that will pressurize the inside of camper to find leaks

[yesitsmedoug]

Originally Posted by Dingo Girl

There are places that will pressurize the inside of camper to find leaks

Thanks. Is this to say it is safe to fully seal it with no leaks, no air exchange at all?

[Tim A.]

There are many possible entryways for dust. If I remember correctly, Ray Ekland has more than one thread on the subject. Here is one I found easily: https://www.airforums.com/forums/f38...on-243176.html. There are other threads about dust such as: https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...st-226117.html.

Tim

[yesitsmedoug]

Thanks Tim. Guess the keyword I should have searched for is "Inhaling"

Good information on attempts but seems it is not possible but at east now with all the attempts people have made and no comments about NOT making it airtight lead me to believe that if you could it is ok, but that it is unlikely possible. I take that as a challenge. Crawling, bending, and stuffing while at home is much better than wiping every horizontal while on a fun trip.

[Tim A.]

Bruder, the Australian trailer manufacturer, offers positive interior pressurization of at least some of their trailers to help keep out dust. It's mentioned at about 2:48 in this video. An interesting concept, but perhaps not applicable to an Airstream product!

Tim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSV_RGdaTeM

[Dingo Girl]

https://rvleaks.com/testing-locations/

[805Vet]

My dust is carried in on the backs of mice. I am trying to plug every hole I find

[Bubba L]

If you want to seal a larger hole in the belly pan you could use aluminum wool (similar to steel wool but aluminum). Mice don’t bite through it. Good luck

[Keys Dave]

There's also Stainless wool that might be better, also impervious to mice and won't corrode away in salt environments.

[Tim A.]

Aluminum and/or stainless steel wool won't keep out dust, which is what yesitsmedoug wants to accomplish.

Tim

[SailAS]

Mixing Aluminum and Stainless Steel even in small quantities is not usually recommended. On boats, for example, mixing those creates corrosion issues (galvanic corrosion takes place).

It may not be as much an issue with the AS but it still exists.

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by Tim A.

Aluminum and/or stainless steel wool won't keep out dust, which is what yesitsmedoug wants to accomplish.

Tim

You could put in the wool first to fill in large openings, then caulk over it.

[Dingo Girl]

You could rivet patches over the holes on the belly pan and not worry about it again.