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JimGolden · 01-21-2007, 11:20 AM

Hey everyone,

This is probably a really dumb question, and I'm about 99% sure I already know the answer. But, on my '77 Excella, what is under the wide blue band down the side?

I should think it is just the aluminum panel that I see below and above. Should I expect it to be in better shape or worse shape than the rest of the aluminum if I pull the blue plastic piece off?

When I redo the body, I was thinking of eliminating the band and polishing the area in between. I may do away with the two trim bands (one above, one below) as well.

Not sure, just thinking. I like how the older trailers (say in the 50's) were very clean and devoid of all the trim. Just smooth aluminum. I like that look

smily · 01-21-2007, 11:30 AM

Nothing inder there but virgin aluminum with lots of sticky residue.
The trim however has lots of rivet holes under it.
I have seen a unit where the trim was removed and rivet plugged into the holes. Looked good.
Ken

myboyburt · 01-21-2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smily

Nothing inder there but virgin aluminum with lots of sticky residue.
The trim however has lots of rivet holes under it.
I have seen a unit where the trim was removed and rivet plugged into the holes. Looked good.
Ken

We had the blue band taken off of our 93 Excella as it was in sad shape. We didn't have any rivet holes to deal with, it is all smooth aluminum.

We are very happy with the look of our trailer, looks vintage now (with the addtional changes that were done).

If anyone is interested the work was done by GSM Vehicles in Plattsburg, NY.

Road Ruler · 01-21-2007, 12:39 PM

That Airstream blue colour certainly dates the trailer. Some folks don't care but others do. It would look cleaner without the blue colour. Charcoal grey colours go well with the aluminum too.

Jimarq · 01-21-2007, 12:47 PM

Our motorhome (Seymour) doesn't have the red/or blue band either. Fortunately, all of the sticky stuff was gone when we got him. We do still have the molding brackets above and below it but approximately 1/2 of the molding is missing. We too were wondering what we should do with that area but like your idea of just leaving it off - it does make it look more Vintage.

A previous owner had painted the nose of Seymour the charcoal gray color.

JimGolden · 01-21-2007, 01:44 PM

Sounds good! Any recommendations on what to use to get the sticky residue off? Would that Goo-Gone stuff be the right thing to use? WD-40? Anything I shoult NOT use on aluminum in the line of goop removers?

Thanks!

Lumatic · 01-21-2007, 03:24 PM

If you are talking about the lower trim, the rub rail, if you take off the blue strip you will find it riveted to the skin. Under that there is a joint where the side wall skin is riveted to the lower skin which curves under the body. Since this joint was not intended to be visible it is kind of rough, at least on mine.

Lumatic · 01-21-2007, 03:28 PM

PS
I just looked at your photo and saw what you are talking about. Try a heat gun to soften up the goo and plastic putty knives. There will still be a gooey film left you should be able to get off with a solvent.

JimGolden · 01-22-2007, 08:03 AM

Yeah, I figured I'd leave the rub rail on, although I need new plastic moulding on it pretty much all the way around. I was thinking of removing the two that border the big blue band.

Of course my wife is a big WVU fan and she wanted to leave the blue band on and paint half of it gold. We'll see.....

I did concede to her that since I need a new awning, we could do a blue and gold striped one

Yeah, I'm a Mountaineer too

rickandsandi · 01-22-2007, 08:25 AM

Jim-

Actually, there is rumor that one of the Airstreams has a map to the National Treasure hidden under the blue. Perhaps yours has it! When getting ready to remove the vinyl use a heat gun to help warm up the adhesive.

These are availabel from U-Line for around $60. The secret is to get the vinyl warm enough for the adhesive to loosen without getting it too hot that the vinyl will melt. Once it is all off Acetone does a fine job of getting the remaining adhesive off.

SwampBillies · 01-22-2007, 08:26 AM

Go Wvu!!!

JimGolden · 01-22-2007, 10:41 AM

Hey Swampbilly, did you make it to the Gator Bowl? Great game!

My wife has a WVU bottle opener that plays the "fight song" every time you crack one open. I try to play it for her as much as I can

She was a "Bandor" and so likes to join all the other old crazis up there for Homecoming games to play her horn on the field. One of biggest uses I see when I get the Stream back on the road is to become a fixture at the coliseum parking lot with all the other RV nuts for the games up there. Those guys party pretty well. Plus, saves you $300 per game over what the local hotels get!

Rick I'll be looking for that map!

Thanks for the guidance!

Fyrzowt · 01-22-2007, 10:49 AM

Has anyone that has done this had any issues with a ghost stripe - similar to the complaints you hear about removing club numbers? I've removed vinyl graphics from vehicles but never aluminum.
Dave

01-22-2007, 11:03 AM

I had a terrible time removing the stripe from my 94 Classic. I tried everything starting with a heat gun and platic scraper to every solvent and stripper in my shop. None of it took it all off. I finally had to sand the final grey residue off.What a pain.

Fyrzowt · 01-22-2007, 11:17 AM

Some are not easy!
There is a "feel" to using the heat gun - not too fast, not too slow. I had the best luck in getting a piece "started", then slowly heating as I pulled. Pull too fast and it tears, too slow and it begins to melt. I try not to use the putty tools except to get the handhold.
Dave

rickandsandi · 01-22-2007, 11:21 AM

Once you get the vinyl to start peeling point the heat towards the glue against the AS side. This way you are getting more heat into the glue rather than try to get the heat through the vinyl.

nvestysly · 01-22-2007, 11:27 AM

Don't know if Motsenbocker's will work on the big blue stripe but it has worked for me when Goof-Off and other solvents will not work. Motsenbocker leaves a slightly oily residue so be prepared to wash it throughly with soapy water. You may even have to wash more than once.

I've used Motsenbocker's on painted surfaces and other metal surfaces with no signs of damage. I have never used it on aluminum so try it at your own risk.

Welcome to Motsenbocker's Lift Off

Lucius

ROBERTSUNRUS · 01-22-2007, 06:40 PM

Hi, leave the blue stripe on; That is what makes it look good and classy. We paid to have a set of blue stripe decals installed on our trailer. It looked so Plain Jane next to the Excella's.

Swanny · 04-02-2007, 10:53 AM

Our Excella 1000 has a stripe that appears to be a sticker/decal instead of the vinyl mentioned in this post.

Any tips on removing this without damaging the clearcoat?

The stripe is fading and is still on the AS. What do you think about spraying clear coat on top of the stripe to reduce the impact of the fading?

Mitch

MarkWilde · 06-07-2009, 06:49 PM

Funny, I was just explaining how I want to remove that UGLY blue stripe. I am only planning on removing the bottom piece of trim though, as I have a bent piece.

Any advise on removing that bottom piece of trim? I know I will have to replace the rivets...Should I use aluminum rivets? and are they standard rivets?