RE: [A/S] Aluminum

[Roy Lashway <rlashway@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Preparation may be a problem but to often airstream owners think that 
they do not have to do any maintenance on the exterior, clear coat 
finish, which is not true.  The clear coat if not maintained annually (or 
more often) with  Walbernize drys out, losses its flexibility,  and 
flakes off.  The Walbernize is a treatment for the clear coat and keeps 
it soft and flexibile.  Different climates require more treatment.  Check 
your manuals and you may find instructions from Airstream.  From my 
observation most new trailer owners have never paid much attention to 
this and is why you see so many with bad finishes.  Their are two types 
of Walbenize, one I believe it is for pre 1985 models and one of after 
that period.  The pre-'85 stuff has some grit in it for cleaning purposes 
plus glaze  and the later stuff is just a glaze.  Check with your A/S 
dealer for correct brand.

Roy Lashway
'78 Argosy,'56 Bubble
rlashway@zianet.com
web site: www.zianet.com/rlashway