Cleaning the aluminum exterior of Airstream Trailers

Cleaning the aluminum exterior of Airstream Trailers

For units with clear-coated aluminum we recommend washing the exterior every 4 weeks or as needed. Wax with a non-abrasive mild wax in the spring and fall. Use a clean, soft cloth and always rub lightly with the grain of the aluminum.

sealants continued

Sikaflex® -221 GREY Part Number 360180

USE Sikaflex® -221 is a polyurethane based sealant. This fast curing product provides permanent elastic adhesion to a number of surfaces with excellent cut and tear resistance. Designed to resist the shock and abuse encountered over countless road miles, Sikaflex® -221 will maintain its strength and adhesion over the long haul. Sikaflex® -221 is weather resistant, approved for potable water and incidental food contact.

Clean Up--- Using a soft rag, Clean up with isopropyl Alcohol or Mild mineral Spirits. Always wipe in the direction of the grain
Use on Interior segment Seams

Sika 721-UV White Part Number 365294-01

Use Sikaflex® -721UV incorporations the latest technology in polyurethane sealants with silanes, which give great adhesion with little or no surface preparation. Sikaflex® -721UV is UV resistant, so it retains its color perfectly after years in the sun. White stays white, grey stays grey. Does not chalk or streak.
Clean Up--- Using a soft rag, Clean up with isopropyl Alcohol or Mild mineral Spirits. Always wipe in the direction of the grain
Use on All exterior components- Skylights, Awning Rails, Tops of Airstream Made Windows, Radio antenna, roof vents, Top of Main Door, TV antenna, Awning Rail,

Sikaflex® -221 Black Part Number 360180-04

USE Sikaflex® -221 is a polyurethane based sealant. This fast curing product provides permanent elastic adhesion to a number of surfaces with excellent cut and tear resistance. Designed to resist the shock and abuse encountered over countless road miles, Sikaflex® -221 will maintain its strength and adhesion over the long haul. Sikaflex® -221 is weather resistant, approved for potable water and incidental food contact.
Clean Up--- Using a soft rag, Clean up with isopropyl Alcohol or Mild mineral Spirits. Always wipe in the direction of the grain

All Hehr Safari Windows

Sika 721-UV Gray Part Number 365294-01

Use Sikaflex® -721UV incorporations the latest technology in polyurethane sealants with silanes, which give great adhesion with little or no surface preparation. Sikaflex® -721UV is UV resistant, so it retains its color perfectly after years in the sun. White stays white, grey stays grey. Does not chalk or streak.
Clean Up--- Using a soft rag, Clean up with isopropyl Alcohol or Mild mineral Spirits. Always wipe in the direction of the grain
Use on tops of Airstream Riveted windows, Main door eyebrow


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Airstream sealants

Acryl-r Seam Sealer Part Number 28430-W

Acryl-R is a joint sealant designed for sealing exterior seams on the travel trailer.  It remains ductile and has excellent adhesion to aluminum.  This sealant has excellent resistance to ultraviolet radiation and atmospheric oxidation.

Use to seal all metal to metal seams, including but not limited to, segment seams, sides and bottom of riveted frame windows, compartment door frames, marker lights, and tail lights.  Where a fine bead of gray sealant is needed.

Comes in Aluminum and White for different applications

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Determining carring weight of water and lp.....

How do I know how much weight is in my Airstream from water,Lp and fuel


Wet Weight=
The weight of the vehicle with the fuel, freshwater and propane tanks full.
To help in determining weights, the following should be useful:

Gasoline weighs 6.3 pounds per gallon
Diesel fuel weighs 6.6 pounds per gallon
Propane weighs 4.25 pounds per gallon
Water weighs 8.3 pounds per gallon


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Water leaks or pump runs alot

Checking your airstream for leaks in the water system

WATER TEST PROCESS W/ WATER
1. Make sure all lines are capped off at ends going to faucets.
2. Install water pressure gauge at end of water line at galley faucet hook up.
3. Once you have capped off all waterlines going to faucets and installed pressure gauge. You can turn water pump on to assure that the water lines and water heater are full of water.
4. Once water lines and water heater have been filled. Pump waterlines up with 100 p.s.i. (+ or- 5) using your air compressor and fitting that can be installed at the city water inlet.
5. Leave this on for 10 minutes. (Minimum)
6. If you see a drop in pressure find the source and properly fix it.
7. Once you feel item is repaired you need to go thru process # 3 and #4 again to assure this.
Fresh Water Plumbing Leaks Procedure W/O Water
1. Turn off all water valves
2. Place 35-45 psi of air pressure into city water hook-up
3. If unit does NOT hold pressure for _ hour- re-apply air
- A. Check for loose fittings
- B. Check all tubing or pipes for cracks or cuts
- C. Check for bad gaskets at faucets or toilet, etc.
4. Upon finding leak replace bad part- gasket, fitting, pipe, etc.
5. Re-apply 35-45 psi of air pressure to re-check entire system
6. Repeat as necessary

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Winterizing Your Airstream

Winterizing Your RV
1. Drain and flush fresh water tank
2. Drain and flush gray water holding tank
3. Drain and flush black water holding tank
4. Drain and flush hot water tank
5. If you have low-point drain lines under your RV:
o Open the hot and cold faucets in your RV
o Uncap the low-point drain lines; let water drain completely
o Recap Drain Lines
o Close the hot and cold faucets
6. Blow out the water lines:
(Note: If you have low-point drain lines, this may not be necessary)
o Screw on compressed air adapter onto main fresh water inlet
o Apply compressed air, keeping pressure to less than 60 psi
o Open each faucet, one at a time, to force water out of lines
o Drain water filter canisters.
o Depending on your unit you may have a washing machine, icemaker or
dishwasher; the lines to these would also have to be drained and blown
out. (Consult owner’s manual.)
o If you have a tank flush be sure to blow out also
o Make sure to open each faucet in the RV, including the shower and toilet
(Don’t forget the hand sprayer)
o Open hot water drain plug and blow out the water in this tank
o Remove compressed air and compressed air adapter
o Replace drain plug in hot water heater and close all faucets
7. Put Antifreeze in the water lines:
(If you were confident you have successfully blown out all the water from your
system, at this point you would add anti-freeze to all traps and the stool. One
cupful in each is usually enough, winterizing would be complete at this point. If
not proceed with following steps)
a. Use RV Non-Toxic Antifreeze ONLY
b. Approximately 1-2 gallons should be plenty
c. Make sure water pump is off and all faucets are closed
d. Close the Water Bypass Valve to your hot water tank
NOTE: If you don't have a Water Bypass Valve for your hot water
tank, seriously consider having one installed. Otherwise, in addition to
the water lines you will end up filling the hot water tank with
antifreeze. It's not harmful, but you'll use an additional six gallons of
antifreeze.
e. Disconnect the water line where it joins the fresh water tank
- or -
If your RV is so equipped, shut off the valve coming from the fresh
water tank and open the valve for the winterizing inlet line
f. Place the water inlet line (either from the main system or the
winterizing line) into the jug or other source container with the RV
antifreeze.
g. Switch on the water pump; it will start to suck up the antifreeze into
the lines
h. Open each valve of each faucet slowly, one at a time, until the red
antifreeze starts coming out. Once flowing shut off the faucet valve.
Note: If for some reason you can't drain the water lines using the lowpoint
drain lines and you can't blow out the lines with compressed air,
you will have to wait until the antifreeze pushes out the fresh water in
the lines before closing the valve. A rule of thumb; don't shut off the
valve until the antifreeze starts coming out.
i. Remember to also do this for the toilet and the shower.
j. Be sure to drain water filter. Remove filter before adding anti-freeze
and store in zip loc bag.
k. Shut off the water pump
l. Remove the inlet line from the antifreeze, then either:
Re-attach the water line to the fresh water tank
- or -
Close the winterizing inlet valve and reopen the fresh water valve, if
your RV is so equipped.
m. Pour a small amount of antifreeze down each drain to ensure that the
sink traps have antifreeze in them.
n. Pour a small amount of antifreeze in the toilet bowl also. Note: Don't
flush it into the holding tank.
8. You Are Done!

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information copied from Airstream's web site

Batteries and Dry Camping

Dry camping drains the camper battery overnight with very limited use of the 12-volt lights. The battery recharges okay while on landline. A sixty-mile trip did not recharge the battery via an alternator charge. Where and how should I continue to troubleshoot?
First be sure the battery is "fully" charged. Monitor the specific gravity of the electrolyte while charging and record the readings every two to three hours. A battery is considered fully charged when the specific gravity peaks and does not increase over a two-hour period. A fully charged battery will have a specific gravity of about 1.265. This may take awhile, so be patient. Do not charge rapidly. Stay below the gassing voltage of 14.3 volts during the complete charging cycle.
Once you are sure the battery is fully charged, look for drains on the system by using a volt-Ohmmeter with a minimum ten-amp scale. Here's how; turn all 12-volt devices off. Disconnect the negative cable from that battery and insert the meter in-line with that cable. Any current draw over 600-800 milli-amps indicates an excessive drain on the system. At the fuse block, remove each fuse, one fuse at a time. The circuit with the drain will be revealed when the current drain disappears as that fuse is pulled. The final step is to simply identify the components in that circuit to find the culprit.
If no drains are found, inspect the positive and negative terminals at the truck/camper connection. Be sure the positive and ground wires are the same gauge. Oftentimes technicians install a large positive wire, (as they should), but neglect to have a like-sized or larger wire on the ground side. Remember, in a DC circuit the negative side of the circuit is just as important as the positive or "hot" side. Look also for frayed wires in the charge line to the camper or the ground connection on both vehicles. Rusted fuse holders, incorrect butt splices, loose terminals, etc., can all contribute to poor charging. Check each inch if necessary. As a final check, have the alternator tested for proper charge output. Batteries should indeed last longer than overnight.

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information copied from Airstream's web site

Airstream how to's

We will post here how to's for your Airstrteam trailers and Airstream Motorhomes.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to ask and we will do the work to find your answer

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