Re: [A/S] RV Cover-- Alcoa Aluminium Coating

[Airstream12557@xxxxxxx]

My 1999 Airstream has the "new" Alcoa coating on the exterior aluminum 
panels.  I purchased the trailer new in early 2000.  It has spent the first four 
winters in Florida and the past winter in California.  It has spent its last two 
summers in a storage yard.  All this was in the open without the benefit of 
shade.  The trailer spent its first three summers in a storage barn, when not in 
use.  With that history, my coating shows no signs of deterioration on the 
flat or stretched (curved) panels.  There are a couple of small areas (one 
square inch or less) where the coating has pealed.  These areas are where Airstream 
either cut a panel or made a penetration through a panel.  For example, one 
area is at the corner of the stove hood vent.  I can only assume that the 
factory damaged the coating in these areas.  

I think we are still early in the live of the "new" Alcoa coating, but it 
appears that it will have a longer effective service life than the previous 
plasticoat coating.

Sam
WBCCI 12557