EVERY AIRSTREAM LEAKS 💧 How to Reseal an Airstream, RV, or Travel Trailer

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EVERY AIRSTREAM LEAKS 💧 How to Reseal an Airstream, RV, or Travel Trailer

Рет қаралды 23,015

Күн бұрын

🆘 We were alarmed to discover several small leaks in our Airstream after getting caught in the summer monsoons. We wanted to address the leaks ASAP, so we rented a covered storage spot and got to work resealing!
🤷‍♂️ Resealing your RV or travel trailer can seem intimidating. Although removing and reapplying sealant is a laborious process, anyone with enough time on their hands can tackle this job!
⏰ Our initial goal was to reseal the entire roof, but we quickly found that removing old sealant and resealing with the new stuff is SLOW work. Instead, we decided to focus on the spots that were the most likely culprits.
💦 We resealed the front and rear endcaps, the clearance lights, the rear awning, and the bathroom exhaust fans. For good measure, we also took care of some suspicious-looking sealant around the TV antenna and black tank vent stack.
👉 In this video, we'll share the tools and strategies we used to remove the old sealant and apply fresh sealant-without making a huge mess of our travel trailer.
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🔧 For this job we used the following:
• Sikaflex 221 White Sealant amzn.to/3yiRkJW
• Sikaflex 221 Gray Sealant amzn.to/3ff5DYt
• Dicor Self-leveling Sealant amzn.to/3xcYcHG
• Caulk Gun amzn.to/2V5Uh2g
• Plastic Razor Blades (like these) amzn.to/3C2hyTc
• Mineral spirits, shop rags, and razor blades purchased from local Ace Hardware
📝 Let us know in the Comments if you have questions or feedback! We're always glad to help others, and to learn from your experiences, too.
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Пікірлер: 82

@charliek9493 Жыл бұрын

Had the same moisture build up at the shower and bathroom fans. Tightened down/compressed the gaskets and solved the problem. Will add a bead of sealant as you suggest for good measure. Thanks for sharing!

@ThisWyldeLife Жыл бұрын

Our motto is "seal everything!"

@paulfriend4804 Жыл бұрын

Nice call and smooth job with the tape!

@levipack3835 4 ай бұрын

I'm a lucky one. 1988, no leaks.

@tdgdbs1 Ай бұрын

Older ones are much better built; I am holding on to my 1982. No roof leak but there some soft spots on the floor, big job so I just removed the carpet and put thick flooring planks on top.

@2marice2 2 жыл бұрын

This was a good video. Owning an Airstream means taking care of it and you guys have.

@ThisWyldeLife 2 жыл бұрын

Very true. Just like anything worth keeping over time, they do need routine maintenance.

@dsonyay Жыл бұрын

The is a really good waterproof spray that can be used… transparent too.

@2000talon 3 жыл бұрын

Good job🙂 huh I must have the only 1962 globetrotter that never leaked New subscriber from 🇨🇦

@ThisWyldeLife 3 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear your '62 is still dry! How often do you have to reseal it? Thanks for subscribing :)

@2000talon 2 жыл бұрын

@@ThisWyldeLife nope never, I should get up their check my seals

@fliptherx3865 Жыл бұрын

Just bought a 62 and was kind of freaking lol ....but mine is a complete rebuild so I'm expecting leaks....everywhere

@patrickholmes1044 3 жыл бұрын

All of your videos should be filmed shirtless. 😂 Thank you for the great video - I’m seriously considering going full time in an airstream and your videos are helping with that decision.

@ThisWyldeLife 3 жыл бұрын

Lol we could make that happen! Glad to hear our videos have been helping with your decision. Airstreams are wonderful trailers for full-timing-the size, floor plan, and decor of our 27FB in particular made downsizing much easier than we expected. The leaks were frustrating, but any RV that is used long enough will develop leaks. The key is staying on top of seal maintenance, and addressing any leaks as soon as they appear. Good luck with your decision and feel free to ask questions!

@patrickholmes1044 3 жыл бұрын

@@ThisWyldeLife thank you! I’m so glad I found your channel because it is giving me another important perspective. I stayed in a trailer like yours for a long weekend and absolutely loved it. I considered that type of trailer for a while and then got hooked on the new interstate x for a while and then thought about a basecamp after visiting a dealer. Now I’ve gone full circle and am back thinking about a larger trailer like yours. Im curious, do you feel limited by its size? I know you got the 3” lift, which I imagine helps a lot with boondocking. I was drawn to the interstate x because of its off-road capabilities but that wet bath is so small! (I’m 6’2” and not nearly as fit as Mr. Shirtess.)

@ThisWyldeLife 3 жыл бұрын

@@patrickholmes1044 Spending a few nights in the RV(s) you're looking at is a great move. It really helps you imagine full-time life and play out different scenarios like lounging, cooking, working, sleeping, etc. To pull a 27FB safely, you need a 3/4 ton pickup or a very carefully optioned 1/2 ton. We are 49' in length, and it's a lot of rig to move around. Whether that's a limitation depends a lot on where you'll spend most of your time camping. If you're planning to stay in RV parks, size really doesn't matter. We've also don't feel limited when in comes to dispersed camping in WY, CO, UT, AZ, and NM. With careful research on Campendium, we are able to find plenty of epic spots that aren't too rough for the Airstream (but yes, the 3" lift is essential!). On the west coast, where dispersed camping is more limited, we do feel more constrained by our size. It's often necessary to stay in paid campgrounds, and the state or federal campgrounds often have a limited number of long sites. Combined with our inability to make reservations, we've found that region difficult. We've heard the Northeast is similar. In these situations, a Basecamp or van would be an easier option. We're actually considering transitioning into a van this winter to open up some new opportunities. That said, we are 100% happy that we started out in our trailer. A van seemed impossibly small when moving out of our house. A year later, as we've continued to simplify, it seems much more doable. The trailer's biggest advantage is the ability to park it somewhere for a couple weeks, and just explore in our truck. It's nice to come back to our Airstream at the end of the day, and have a tiny home waiting for us. A van doesn't provide that luxury, but it does make other things easier. In short, there's no perfect option! If you do go the van route, also consider upfitters other than Airstream. There are floor plans out there that make better use of the space, and you can do a custom design to meet your needs (like a bigger shower).

@patrickholmes1044 3 жыл бұрын

@@ThisWyldeLife thank you so much for the great info!!!! My luck, I’m a bit stuck on the west coast as I work in California and have to go into work sometimes. But I’d definitely like to venture further East and that’s good to know those states have lots of dispersed camping. I recently spent time in Arizona and noticed there were a lot more camping options there. You’ve given me a lot to think about!

@ThisWyldeLife 3 жыл бұрын

@@patrickholmes1044 glad to help! Good luck with your decision, and feel free to ask more questions as your plans evolve. Camping can be tricky in California, but it's one of the most beautiful places in the country. Good area to be "stuck" in!

@DavidLaFerney 3 жыл бұрын

I will say this - many RVs have a flat membrane roof that actually holds some water or at least takes a relatively long time to drain off which really exacerbates an otherwise minor leak. An airstreams curved shape and crowned roof causes it to drain and dry off instead of seep water for days after a rain. Also - when we were shopping for our RV I looked at one AS that had sat outside unused for 20 years and had no apparent water damage. Maybe (quite possibly) there was hidden damage, but even in its neglected state it was a usable camper. This was not true of any other used RV that I looked at which had sat outside. So I’m not sure that All ASs leak is entirely accurate.

@cameronwylde703 3 жыл бұрын

That's a great point about the curved roof. That does help minimize the severity of any potential leaks because water is moving past the leak point, not pooling on it. Airstreams that sit unused are actually less likely to leak. As the Airstream is towed down the road, the frame and skin are constantly flexing. Over time, this can cause seals to break loose.

@roddraym Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your extensive research and application on this! Love the roller-toasters: 1994 Sovereign

@ThisWyldeLife Жыл бұрын

Glad you found it helpful! Enjoy your '94!

@Hawk89gt 9 ай бұрын

I'm wondering is a strip of eternabond would have been a bit easier? I've used it on ruber/vinyl roofs, and once that's on, it is not coming off.

@DavidLaFerney 3 жыл бұрын

When we aren’t traveling our 2011 airstream stays under a carport, but we’ve been through torrential rains and long steady ones as well - and we’ve never seen ANY sign of a leak. What exactly indicated to you that you had a leak?

@cameronwylde703 3 жыл бұрын

Our leak appeared as a very slow drip from the top of the screen on the back window during heavy rains. We also were feeling a little bit of moisture on the handles of the shower and toilet exhaust fans, which is why we resealed around the fan roof penetrations. Bone dry ever since. It's a good idea to open access panels to periodically peak under cabinets wherever you can, and look for signs of water on the plywood subfloor. We do this under our wardrobe and bathroom sink, where there's also a lot of plumbing.

@123JumpingJacks 7 ай бұрын

How often so you guys so this?

@_Circus_Clapped_ Жыл бұрын

Just saying, working on these as detail, the roof is very flimsy compared to its competitors, the front end is extremely flagile to power wash reliably so doing it by hand is a must

@fliptherx3865 Жыл бұрын

So avoid car washes and stick to a hose? New AS owner !

@nursegilbey Жыл бұрын

You didn't need to do anything with the AC gasket?

@MajTom-wd2yt Жыл бұрын

"Several small leaks" and you went the full monty. Our '04 Classic also had several leaks, we just covered the suspect areas with blue painters tape, hosed down to confirm and re-sealed with 3M 4200. "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is."

@ThisWyldeLife Жыл бұрын

We went crazy taping off areas and thinking that we had isolated the leak, only to find that we still had water intrusion. Eventually we decided to just reseal the end caps entirely.

@SpencerLewis-vp4dw Жыл бұрын

How many tubes of each did you use?

@propatriabellum Жыл бұрын

Unrelated question: is your solar an add-on or from AS?

@TheIceStormof1906 Жыл бұрын

What year is your Airstream? Wondering how often does this need to be done?

@ThisWyldeLife Жыл бұрын

2015. A safe bet is every 5-10 years depending on how often it's towed and if it's stored outside. Towing causes flexing and vibration, which deteriorates the seals more quickly.

@mnapier61 Жыл бұрын

Looks like Verde Ranch RV Storage 😀

@ThisWyldeLife Жыл бұрын

Good eye!

@mnapier61 Жыл бұрын

@@ThisWyldeLife I had mine there for about a year. I also got caught in one of those storms. 😎👍🏻

@donniehelmly4920 Жыл бұрын

What year and model is your air stream?

@projet2907 2 жыл бұрын

I noticed you took off some rubber strips on the parts that go across front and back, then You put dome grey Sikaflex between the painter's tape about 1" wide. Why didn't you put back the rubber part on the rivets like the original way? Thank You for this video :-0)

@ThisWyldeLife 2 жыл бұрын

Are you referring to the bits we're removing at 1:14? Those are actually the original Sikaflex. It comes off in what looks like rubber strips.

@projet2907 2 жыл бұрын

@@ThisWyldeLife Yes, also at 0:22 to 0:34, and on my own roof, It sure looks like rubber strips. I would love to see how they make those at the Factory! Gook Job on yours, How old was your seals?. Mine are 2017, (or 16 !!). I can see it's sort of thinning and I can see the rivets shape through. Thnak you for your reply!

@projet2907 2 жыл бұрын

@@ThisWyldeLife Also what caulking did you use for it? I forget :-0)

@ThisWyldeLife 2 жыл бұрын

@@projet2907 it depends on the area that we were addressing: • Sikaflex 221 White Sealant amzn.to/3yiRkJW • Sikaflex 221 Gray Sealant amzn.to/3ff5DYt • Dicor Self-leveling Sealant amzn.to/3xcYcHG The gray works best on the aluminum surfaces because it blends in a little better.

@ThisWyldeLife 2 жыл бұрын

@@projet2907 I think the factory uses the same technique we did; they're just more practiced at making it look good! Our seals were from 2015. They looked to be in good shape, but we wanted to err on the side of replacing more than necessary.

@j.clement8476 3 ай бұрын

no sealant around anything that did not have sealant around it from factory

@johnsims709 3 ай бұрын

Are you referring to the running lights on the rear roof? I was wondering about whether or not to throw some sealant around those or just get new 3m tape. I think thats what is used from factory ?

@j.clement8476 3 ай бұрын

@@johnsims709 Yeah. I was told do not seal lights. The theory is that you can cause the bulb/lens to sweat which will lead to corrosion.

@123JumpingJacks 7 ай бұрын

Had no idea you could sit on the roof of an airstream

@Kecarter1 3 жыл бұрын

What year airstream do you all have?

@ThisWyldeLife 3 жыл бұрын

Hey, Karen. Thanks for watching! It’s a 2015.

@stevemuise6315 3 жыл бұрын

Nice video! Helps alot

@ThisWyldeLife 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Steve. Glad you found it helpful!

@kurtschulmeyer1041 2 жыл бұрын

All rvs will leak without routine maintenance.

@ThisWyldeLife 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely true! Keeping up with the seals it key.

@janetbard1231 2 жыл бұрын

You pay $150,000 for a trailer that leaks? ;o

@ThisWyldeLife 2 жыл бұрын

Well, so does every RV at some point. Preventative re-sealing is a must.

@durango8882 Жыл бұрын

Every RV leaks. You are both very thin guessing 130? How about much heavier people?

@israelcontreras5332 Жыл бұрын

I just cant see myself spending all that money only to get bad quality.

@dsonyay Жыл бұрын

A guy with man bun preparing to use tools… not a good sign. :)

@thomasucc 3 жыл бұрын

Did I just see a lady drink pickle juice? Emily Bronte would faint and I just had to look away. I subscribed away just to see what ye get up to

@ThisWyldeLife 3 жыл бұрын

Victoria swears it's essential fuel for any RV resealing project...

@philliphutcheson4219 3 жыл бұрын

Lolololol nope. All airstreams leak when amateurs try to fix them. When professionals seal them that stops.

@ThisWyldeLife 3 жыл бұрын

It’s really not hard to lay some sealant on a seam. Any careful DIYer can handle the job. There are just a lot of seams and rivets to keep up with.

@philliphutcheson4219 3 жыл бұрын

@@ThisWyldeLife which is why it’s better to let the pros handle it. Plus they typically have liability if you have problems later on.

@ThisWyldeLife 3 жыл бұрын

Again it’s not a difficult job. It just takes a lot of time. If someone has the money to pay a tech to do the job, that’s great. If someone has the time to DIY it, they shouldn’t feel like it’s a difficult feat. When it’s time to reseal again, we might look into paying someone to save us the time.

@protonneutron9046 3 жыл бұрын

Duh! with the number of moment connections with soft metal and rivets you will NEVER seal the leaks for long. The construction is 70 years out of date plus WAY overpriced. Not to mention wood flooring that will rot and fiberglass bat insulation that goes less than useless after a while.

@ThisWyldeLife 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your thoughts 👍

@protonneutron9046 3 жыл бұрын

@@ThisWyldeLife Not my thoughts. Simple fact. I don't have any "thoughts" about science/engineering. What is, is.

@robdgarza 3 жыл бұрын

most every RV leaks after time makes no difference in the construction. Joints leak when seal, gaskets, sealant degrades. My question to them is how long (year/months/days) did your RV last until you had to seal.

@protonneutron9046 3 жыл бұрын

@@robdgarza Not what I I'm talking about. This is specific to Air Streams. For instance, monocoque fiberglass trailers do not have this problem. Thanks for playing though.

@robdgarza 3 жыл бұрын

@@protonneutron9046 so other RV's do not leak at the joints is your statement correct? I am stating most joints will leak given time regardless of construction.