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06-03-2023, 12:04 PM
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#1
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3 Rivet Member 
2023 23' International
Englewood
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 153
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My solution for the rear storage rust problem - I hope
Completely disgusted by the rust in the rear storage compartment. Scrubbed that away. Plan 1 was to 3D print some tiles that would provide spacing - but I looked a the time and cost - said NO. Bought a package of six of these from the big "A". All I had to do was cut one for the end.
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06-03-2023, 12:15 PM
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#2
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Rivets?

1992 29' Excella
2010 22' Interstate
Van By The River
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,316
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That's an interesting floor you've installed. It will let the dirt fall to the floor and it can be flushed out easily - sort of like a grill in the bottom of a kitchen sink allows food particles and dirt to be flushed down the drain while having a load of dishes in the sink.
However, I don't understand how this relates to your comment about rust. I guess it allows most of the floor to remain dry after the hose dries. The many points of contact between the standoffs on the bottom of the tiles may continue to be a point of moisture concentration and therefore allow the floor to rust.
Is your floor made of steel? Mine is made of aluminum.
On edit: please provide a link, or better yet, the brand/size/etc. for the tiles you purchased. Thanks
__________________
Lucius and Danielle
1992 29' Excella Classic / 2010 Interstate
2005 Chevrolet Suburban K2500 8.1L
2018 GMC Sierra K1500 SLT, 6.2L, Max Trailering
Got a cooped-up feeling, gotta get out of town, got those Airstream campin' blues...
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06-03-2023, 01:22 PM
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#3
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,862
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One of the first 'improvements' I did on 'Cloudsplitter'
All compartments done...17yrs SFSG.
Here is a link to the 'tiles' I used on our boat...pretty much the same.
Bob
🇺🇸
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06-04-2023, 05:12 AM
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#4
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3 Rivet Member 
2023 23' International
Englewood
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 153
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The bottom in our 2023 is just sheet metal (less expensive than aluminum). With the solid mat that AS put on top of it there was complete contact. It also covered up the small drain holes along the front. After one of the few rains that we had there was still water ponded the next day. The tiles are plastic and the contact surface is small. I also used a step drill in each corner.
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06-04-2023, 05:23 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master 
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,334
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Quote:
Originally Posted by englewoodfl
The bottom in our 2023 is just sheet metal (less expensive than aluminum). With the solid mat that AS put on top of it there was complete contact. It also covered up the small drain holes along the front. After one of the few rains that we had there was still water ponded the next day. The tiles are plastic and the contact surface is small. I also used a step drill in each corner.
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I would suggest to you that you're not done with your fix. Although mine is a different layout, it is prone to the same exposure. I tried prepping and painting a couple times with rustoleum, it soon failed and the rust continued. A ton of prep and por15 is the answer. These are the stepped pics of repeated acid treatments with the por15 kit. After 4 years, I've had to touch up some chips, but no more pealing and rusting.
   
For some reason, I didn't take a pic of the painted final product, but it's black.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Airstream Forums mobile app
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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06-04-2023, 05:33 AM
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#6
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,862
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This is great stuff, won't hurt mother nature either.
Bob
🇺🇸
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06-04-2023, 05:58 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master 
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,334
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Englewood, it is very hard to tell from your initial post, but I would think that your compartment floor is probably galvanized (Robert's and mine are). Galvanized is notoriously difficult to adhere paint to. That is why the extraordinary prepping is required. I would add that, as a last step, once the acid no longer produced the black oxidation, was a mechanical etching of the surface with a mouse sander and 80 grit paper. Then a final wash, thorough drying and por15 paint with a brush.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Airstream Forums mobile app
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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06-04-2023, 09:34 AM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member 
Here and There
, West Coast
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 373
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Once aluminum now steel?
(The price increases were for?)
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06-04-2023, 10:25 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master 

2008 22' Safari
Spicewood (W of Austin)
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 2,620
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dznf0g
… Galvanized is notoriously difficult to adhere paint to……
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We have a rental property that the pest control svc placed galvanized sheet metal covers at various areas of trim to keep squirrels from knawing in attempts to gain access to the attic. When I asked the painter to paint them the same color as the trim in order to make them less visible…… he first painted them with vinegar (ascetic acid)… then when dry, painted them with ordinary exterior paint suitable for metal, computer-tinted to match. Been two years now and no peeling. Looks great.
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06-04-2023, 10:28 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master 
2007 30' Classic
Oswego
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,334
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxite
We have a rental property that the pest control svc placed galvanized sheet metal covers at various areas of trim to keep squirrels from knawing in attempts to gain access to the attic. When I asked the painter to paint them the same color as the trim in order to make them less visible…… he first painted them with vinegar (ascetic acid)… then when dry, painted them with ordinary exterior paint suitable for metal, computer-tinted to match. Been two years now and no peeling. Looks great.
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I question whether vinegar is.strong enough to etch adequately. Muratic acid, for sure. Time will tell for you.
My first washes were with vinegar, as the kit was short on por15 acid. Vinegar had some effect, but not much.
Sent from my SM-S901U using Airstream Forums mobile app
__________________
-Rich-
"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy." - Red Green
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06-05-2023, 05:01 AM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member 
2023 23' International
Englewood
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 153
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Por15
It's only a few months old so I'm hoping a cleanup of the galvanized will work. I had POR15 but I think it went when I took my reagent grade acids for plating to the county hazardous waste facility. I can get more.
AS obviously has lots of aluminum sheets - might just be a way to slightly reduce costs while making customers like me unhappy.
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06-05-2023, 05:38 AM
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#12
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4 Rivet Member 
2021 28' International
Knoxville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 319
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Why would you put the sewer hose in the back compartment? Still missing something in that rationale.
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06-06-2023, 12:52 PM
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#13
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3 Rivet Member 
2023 23' International
Englewood
, Florida
Join Date: Jan 2023
Posts: 153
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Extension
The regular sewer is stored in its place. Once with our Sprinter had to uncomfortable maneuver to get close enough. So that's why. Hopefully never have that again - would even be worse with the 23FBT behind.
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06-11-2023, 09:23 AM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member 
2018 25' International
2018 33' Classic
Ashburn
, VA
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 47
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Maybe if Airstream would make a sewer hose storage that could accommodate after market houses you wouldn't have to store the house in the rear compartment. The sewer hose compartment is too small for the rhino hose couplers. Hence I have to store mine in the back.
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06-11-2023, 11:26 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master 
2019 27' Globetrotter
Litchfield Park
, Arizona
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 543
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The rear compartment design on the newer trailers is stupid. The bottom is sheet metal (not galvanized as someone with an older trailer suggested), there are no proper drain holes, and they cover the sheet metal with a sheet of vinyl material that is made to look like diamond plate but is not. The lid for the compartment is open at each end so when it rains, water gets in the compartment and gets trapped beneath the vinyl sheet and the bottom and it rusts. Quickly.
I pitched the vinyl sheet, sanded the bottom down, drilled drain holes in the bottom sheet, primed with rust primer, and painted with bedliner. At least now the water drains out. Hopefully the rusting is slowed down.
__________________
Steve Jones
2019 Globetrotter 27 FB
2018 Chevy Silverado 2500 4WD LT
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06-11-2023, 12:11 PM
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#16
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4 Rivet Member 
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Sequim
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 493
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stevejones
The rear compartment design on the newer trailers is stupid. The bottom is sheet metal (not galvanized as someone with an older trailer suggested), there are no proper drain holes, and they cover the sheet metal with a sheet of vinyl material that is made to look like diamond plate but is not. The lid for the compartment is open at each end so when it rains, water gets in the compartment and gets trapped beneath the vinyl sheet and the bottom and it rusts. Quickly.
I pitched the vinyl sheet, sanded the bottom down, drilled drain holes in the bottom sheet, primed with rust primer, and painted with bedliner. At least now the water drains out. Hopefully the rusting is slowed down.
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Agree completely and did exactly the same procedure 2 years ago. I drilled additional drain holes in low spots and added a rubber open mesh matt by cutting a shop floor matt purchased at HD to size. The compartment remains in better than new condition. Another one of the silly cost saving ($5?) features of Airstream.
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06-13-2023, 06:52 AM
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#17
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2 Rivet Member 
2022 25' Flying Cloud
Ocala
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 98
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Should have taken a picture
After trying to find the source of the smell of something rotten, we finally found a very large and very dead toad/frog that had gotten into the rear compartment and couldn’t get out. It was about 4 inches long.
If you think you have problems with water intrusion and rust, imagine trying to find the source of the odor when you have a front bed trailer and a rear dinette. It took us two days to find the creature. Meanwhile, every time we ate we would get the faint odor of something dead.
Those compartments are definitely not sealed very well! LOL!!!
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06-13-2023, 10:30 PM
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#18
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4 Rivet Member 
Here and There
, West Coast
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 373
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Quote:
Originally Posted by One Smith
After trying to find the source of the smell of something rotten, we finally found a very large and very dead toad/frog that had gotten into the rear compartment and couldn’t get out. It was about 4 inches long.
If you think you have problems with water intrusion and rust, imagine trying to find the source of the odor when you have a front bed trailer and a rear dinette. It took us two days to find the creature. Meanwhile, every time we ate we would get the faint odor of something dead.
Those compartments are definitely not sealed very well! LOL!!!
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A trailer that's "toad" held together with "ribbetts", containing a croaked frog.......
(sorry, couldn't resist)
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06-14-2023, 05:42 AM
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#19
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,862
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveG
A trailer that's "toad" held together with "ribbetts", containing a croaked frog.......
(sorry, couldn't resist)
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Time's fun when you're having flies.
K. T. F.
Bob
🇺🇸
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06-14-2023, 05:57 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master 
2018 27' Globetrotter
Mooresville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 954
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stevejones
The rear compartment design on the newer trailers is stupid. The bottom is sheet metal (not galvanized as someone with an older trailer suggested), there are no proper drain holes, and they cover the sheet metal with a sheet of vinyl material that is made to look like diamond plate but is not. The lid for the compartment is open at each end so when it rains, water gets in the compartment and gets trapped beneath the vinyl sheet and the bottom and it rusts. Quickly.
I pitched the vinyl sheet, sanded the bottom down, drilled drain holes in the bottom sheet, primed with rust primer, and painted with bedliner. At least now the water drains out. Hopefully the rusting is slowed down.
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I have a 2018 27’ Globetrotter. In my rear storage compartment, I believe the diamond plate actually is metal. It appears to me the plate is larger than the opening so I have no idea how to remove it since it is not flexible. Anyone have any ideas?
__________________
2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax
Equal-I-zer Weight Distribution attached to the Gen-Y Torsion Flex Weight Distribution Hitch
"Roadrunner"
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