To Seal, or Not to Seal....

[Bartowski]

Hello!

Ramping up on the reno for our 1978 Argosy 24' twin (our first "Airstream!"), and the previous owner mentioned that we might want to consider getting it "sealed" prior to winter. We live in SW Colorado, which is high desert, and get only about 10" of total precipitation a year. My big question is: should I go to a professional RV place to get sealed, or is it something we can do ourselves, and is it even necessary? Side notes are since it's an argosy, without a ton of visible seams, do we we even need to do this (outside of windows and vents, etc.).

Thank you!

[CRH]

I don't reseal anything unless it is leaking.

[TheGreatleys]

If you're doing the renovation yourself, resealing is something you're going to want to do yourself, too. It's not that hard, it just takes a little technique and practice. It's a skill you're going to need throughout the life of your trailer.

Check all of your rubber gaskets around the windows and doors. Are they in good shape? Still supple, or compressed and cracking? Can you see daylight past them? You may want to replace them if they're old.

Check the condition of the seals around all of the windows/doors/vents/etc. Did some previous owner put piles of sealant on them? Is there any evidence of leaks inside the coach? If the friend you bought it from suggested sealing it, that makes me think there's a reason.

If you're going to be investing a lot of time and money into a renovation, being certain you're sealed up tight is worth the time. It's right up there with having a solid floor and a solid frame. In fact, if it's leaking, you won't have a solid floor or frame for very long.

[Bartowski]

Originally Posted by TheGreatleys

If you're doing the renovation yourself, resealing is something you're going to want to do yourself, too. It's not that hard, it just takes a little technique and practice. It's a skill you're going to need throughout the life of your trailer.

Check all of your rubber gaskets around the windows and doors. Are they in good shape? Still supple, or compressed and cracking? Can you see daylight past them? You may want to replace them if they're old.

Check the condition of the seals around all of the windows/doors/vents/etc. Did some previous owner put piles of sealant on them? Is there any evidence of leaks inside the coach? If the friend you bought it from suggested sealing it, that makes me think there's a reason.

If you're going to be investing a lot of time and money into a renovation, being certain you're sealed up tight is worth the time. It's right up there with having a solid floor and a solid frame. In fact, if it's leaking, you won't have a solid floor or frame for very long.

Thank you - fantastic advice! No leaks that we have found or seen (despite having spent the last 7 years in Washington state), but I will check out all that you suggested! [emoji106]