Holes in the floor of my 2019 Classic 33

[The Naker]

I removed the aluminum kickplate below the desk area while I was routing some Ethernet cable. I discovered two 2" round holes and could see through them right to the ground. Any mouse or critter could simply climb in and have full access to my trailer.

I sealed these holes but now wonder if there are more that I should fix. Anyone come across others?

Also, isn't there supposed to be some insulation in the floor? These holes show that part of the floor is just plywood and nothing else.

[Zybane]

Airstream has no quality control. As soon as you remove any cover or access panel, you find that out VERY quickly.

Aitstream's also do not have insulated flooring. Welcome to the jungle.

[turk123]

That picture disturbs me a lot. How is anything like this permitted in a $150,000 trailer? I would contact customer support and send them the pictures. Ask THEM how they are going to fix this issue.

I see you are from Canada. Have Airstream send the dealer you bought it from to your house with the "authorized" repair.

This is by far the most shocking, appalling, horrific, horrifying, horrible, terrible, awful, dreadful, grievous, gross, ghastly, hideous, horrendous, frightful, atrocious, abominable, abhorrent, outrageous; monstrous, nightmarish, heinous, harrowing, dire, unspeakable, shameful; flagrant, glaring, blatant, scandalous, unforgivable, unpardonable, intolerable issue I have ever seen.

Hallelujah! Holy shxx! Where's the Tylenol?

Open-air access to the inside of the trailer. Can you imagine if it is parked on the side of your house for a winter? Mice, bugs snakes . . . .

This really is not funny.

[turk123]

You sealed the holes? How is this not going to freeze? You have pipes that are normally protected by the heated tanks. No protection when the snow and wind are blowing into the space below the floor.

I would take a second look at this with your dealer or Jackson Center.

[The Naker]

Originally Posted by turk123

You sealed the holes? How is this not going to freeze? You have pipes that are normally protected by the heated tanks. No protection when the snow and wind are blowing into the space below the floor.

I would take a second look at this with your dealer or Jackson Center.

Good point on the freezing. I covered the holes for now so mice won't get in. I'll follow up with Airstream on this. BUT I am still also concerned about what I haven't found.

[pcskier]

Wow. Can you post a pic from the outside where the opening is?

[turk123]

Originally Posted by The Naker

Good point on the freezing. I covered the holes for now so mice won't get in. I'll follow up with Airstream on this. BUT I am still also concerned about what I haven't found.

I was being funny with my first post, but I am dead serious about this build quality. This truly disturbs me. Why expose your customers to frustrating spring when they find out all their plumbing has frozen and busted.

You really need to make JC aware of this issue. Your picture says it all. I'm sending an image to a little birdy I know.

[CWSWine]

Good find, how did you seal them up? I will check mine this week and see if mine looks the same as yours.

Originally Posted by The Naker

I removed the aluminum kickplate below the desk area while I was routing some Ethernet cable. I discovered two 2" round holes and could see through them right to the ground. Any mouse or critter could simply climb in and have full access to my trailer.

I sealed these holes but now wonder if there are more that I should fix. Anyone come across others?

Also, isn't there supposed to be some insulation in the floor? These holes show that part of the floor is just plywood and nothing else.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

That's how they do it and have done it for a long time. If you snug the pipes tight to the floor they "work" against each other and break. If you seal it up, do it with something that will flex a lot.

Bob

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

That's how they do it and have done it for a long time. If you snug the pipes tight to the floor they "work" against each other and break. If you seal it up, do it with something that will flex a lot.

Bob

X2^ I just stuff fiberglass insulation in these areas. However some are there for heated tank air return. Study closely before closing any holes. Also, the areas of flooring over the tank pans are not insulated. Other areas are....at least on mine..albeit only with reflective bubble sheet.

[The Naker]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

That's how they do it and have done it for a long time. If you snug the pipes tight to the floor they "work" against each other and break. If you seal it up, do it with something that will flex a lot.

Bob

Understood. I had used some 3M auto insulation and capped with flexible vinyl cut to fit (and taped with aluminum tape). Maybe I'll remove the vinyl and figure out how to seal up the underside instead.

[ghaynes755]

Just looked at mine on my 2020 Classic 33 and there is insulation (silver backed board type) and no evidence of opening to the outside.

From the outside the daylight that you see in your first photo is the front side of the water service bay. That is also open on my trailer, worth sealing up. I'm guessing that one of the lines is for fresh water connection and the other is for the black flush line. If you take the cover plate off in the upper left under the desk you can see the back flush preventer valve. Also the same cover is used to get to one of the Alde bleeder valves.

[pcskier]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

That's how they do it and have done it for a long time. If you snug the pipes tight to the floor they "work" against each other and break. If you seal it up, do it with something that will flex a lot.

Bob

Expand the picture and have a look again...I think you missed it. He's not talking about the holes in the floor for the plumbing...if you look through the right hole down below you can see daylight and grass! That's what the concern was I believe.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Zybane

Airstream has no quality control.
. . .
Welcome to the jungle.

^^^^^ x2

Sorry for your troubles.

[JDG]

I had a similar problem with my 33 Classic within the first month. Mice got in through the opening where the wiring bundle goes through the floor up near the spare tire mount. The area was not sealed. Luckily I caught the mice the very next day and sealed the wiring bundle area with silicone sealer and steel wool. Went underneath on the belly pan area and sealed several large gaps with a combination of aluminum HVAC duct tape, silicone, and foam gap spray. There where many gaps or poor fit areas where the cold or small animals could get in. I haven’t checked the area you mentioned but will soon. Good luck with the fix.

[Mollysdad]

I don't understand how you saw the ground.
Isn't there a belly pan?
I'll bet we all have multiple holes we've never looked for.

[PirateChris]

OK, wow! Yet another reason its good they don't build airplanes.

As you address this issue, be sure to consider a couple of other points, such as

Try not to use a line-to-line rigid plate or other solution. As the trailer rolls down the road, it rocks, and if the plug solution is rigid, then the pipes will flex. Over hours and miles of travel, the pipes will be broken by the flexing.

An immediate solution is to pack the entire hole with copper wool. Like steel wool, but made of copper. Rodents and other vermin will not (so I'm told) chew through copper. Available at most hardware/plumbing supplies and used by my Orkin Exterminator to plug holes in my garage. Seems to be working.

Good luck and try not to let the crappy Airstream Quality Control ruin your fun.

Pirate Chris

Originally Posted by The Naker

I removed the aluminum kickplate below the desk area while I was routing some Ethernet cable. I discovered two 2" round holes and could see through them right to the ground. Any mouse or critter could simply climb in and have full access to my trailer.

I sealed these holes but now wonder if there are more that I should fix. Anyone come across others?

Also, isn't there supposed to be some insulation in the floor? These holes show that part of the floor is just plywood and nothing else.

[Kentbrookin]

It is a good thing you did not post this on Facebook. Because the answer from them would have been how dare you complain about an Airstream just sell it and go away we don't want you in our club.

[Antique Pedaler]

Originally Posted by JDG

I had a similar problem with my 33 Classic within the first month. Mice got in through the opening where the wiring bundle goes through the floor up near the spare tire mount. The area was not sealed. Luckily I caught the mice the very next day and sealed the wiring bundle area with silicone sealer and steel wool. Went underneath on the belly pan area and sealed several large gaps with a combination of aluminum HVAC duct tape, silicone, and foam gap spray. There where many gaps or poor fit areas where the cold or small animals could get in. I haven’t checked the area you mentioned but will soon. Good luck with the fix.

I use aluminum wool to keep mice out. Steel wool will rust.

[rsementi]

We were soooo close to taking the plunge to buy a new Airstream. And I even convinced two of my friends to buy theirs too. We wanted not only a great travel trailer, but a piece of American greatness. But after seeing this blatant disregard for the so called AS quality, we will not be buying a new Airstream. That’s a loss of three travel traveler sales. But I bet they don’t care. We’re not even a blip on their “record sales” reports. They’re just focussed on raking in the dough while the iron is hot.

So disappointed. And we thought that AS was the Last of the great American companies. I guess we will go with the Pleasureway brand. Better warranty too.

Originally Posted by The Naker

I removed the aluminum kickplate below the desk area while I was routing some Ethernet cable. I discovered two 2" round holes and could see through them right to the ground. Any mouse or critter could simply climb in and have full access to my trailer.

I sealed these holes but now wonder if there are more that I should fix. Anyone come across others?

Also, isn't there supposed to be some insulation in the floor? These holes show that part of the floor is just plywood and nothing else.