>I have a 1997 Safari 25 and a large section of the top front center
>panel has shed the clear coat.
Hi Ernest and welcome. I would suggest you reconsider the WBCCI. You
can join as a member at large and thus not feel obligated to participate
in a specific unit activity. The advantage for the $55.00 per year
is
that you will keep in touch with the Airstream world, receive its
publications, and on occasion when you want attend a Rally or an event.
You have a relatively expensive rig that will last a life time and
I look
at WBCCI membership as really a small piece of insurance to keep me
abreast of how to care for the trailer.
To your original question about your clearcoast. Airstream has had some
quality problems with the clearcoat the past few years and are now
using
a new one, as well as some new finished aluminum, as I understand it.
First you might check with Airstream Co. and see if your trailer coating
is still under warranty. Probably not. However the clearcoat can be
repaired and suggest you contact your dealer before you take it in
at
Easter to insure he has some clear coat on hand. It can be had in spray
cans for small jobs such as yours. They can remove the dryed, peeling
clear coat and spray on some fresh. I would have them do a large enough
area or enough panels so the new fresher coast does not look out of
place.
Clearcoat has some elasticity in it so that it expands/contacts with
the
metal as it flexes due to temperatures and road movement. However,
the
coating does deteriorate in time and looses this elasticity and starts
cracking up and peeling. In your 97 model I would suspect you got some
of the bad formula that just dried up rapidly. I suspect you will have
still more trouble later on. Be aware however that the clearcoat should
be treated at least once a year with a conditioning material, available
from Airstream, that helps it retain its elasticity. I am a bit
surprised because it seems the majority of owners think the aluminum
finish is somehow immune to any problems and of course that is not
true.
The aluminum needs more care then any painted RV but it is easier to
maintain its surface with a little annual attention and by cleaning
the
surface (washing with a Dawn detergent ) every couple of months. Have
your dealer show you what they do with the clearcoat so you can learn
you can do the job yourself if more of the clearout goes bad.
Keep tuned to this list and you will learn a lot about maintenance of
finishes and ask questions you don't see the answers to.