5 year old 16 Bambi with Rotten Belly Pans

[bren_vt2002]

First post, first camper, first Airstream.

Bought, yesterday 2004 Bambi 16. Inspection of the underside showed the belly pan "tins" rotted to dust around the rivets for the thin side areas and the sheets going down the middle. Directly behind the tire, the pan had fallen down and the rainy drive home made the insulation extremely wet. I figure that the previous owner either towed in the fall / spring after salting and left it or some other phenomenon. Floor was replaced due to a window break and water infiltration. Any other ideas for cause, and is this common for a well traveled trailer?

Do I :

1) Leave it for now
2) Duct and leave it
3) Drop the pans and replace with airstream factory spec or
4) Drop the pans and replace with heavier gauge galvanized?

If I drop them, I'm going to brush and paint the frame and do a different kind of insulation.

Input is appreciated.

[53flyingcloud]

Bren_vt2002,
Welcome to the forum~I used to live in NH, so my question is based on that fact.
Do you have an heated building where you can work on the Bambi??
If not, then I'd say stick with plan 1) wait till Spring.
If you do have one available and decide to work on the frame.
Then repaint the frame, I'd recommend that you look up
POR15 for the best protection results.
The banana wrap is not supposed to be this bad that quickly.
I am not altogether sure that the insulation used by Airstream has been the best available.
I am of the mind set that,
there's been tonz of improvements in techniques and, products over the years that,
they have not kept up with.
I would say.. Don't be afraid to think outside the box..
Good luck in your quest.
ciao
53FC

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by bren_vt2002

First post, first camper, first Airstream.

Bought, yesterday 2004 Bambi 16. Inspection of the underside showed the belly pan "tins" rotted to dust around the rivets for the thin side areas and the sheets going down the middle. Directly behind the tire, the pan had fallen down and the rainy drive home made the insulation extremely wet. I figure that the previous owner either towed in the fall / spring after salting and left it or some other phenomenon. Floor was replaced due to a window break and water infiltration. Any other ideas for cause, and is this common for a well traveled trailer?

Do I :

1) Leave it for now
2) Duct and leave it
3) Drop the pans and replace with airstream factory spec or
4) Drop the pans and replace with heavier gauge galvanized?

If I drop them, I'm going to brush and paint the frame and do a different kind of insulation.

Input is appreciated.

Parking any Airstream trailer, near salt water, for a few months or more, can cause the same problem, and worse, when the salt also causes severe rusting of the frame.

Whatever you do, and whenever you do it, removing the entire underbelly would be a very good idea, so that you can inspect every part of the frame.

The longer you leave it, the worse it will become.

Andy