[VAC] Re: Argosy Question

[Roy Lashway <rlashway@xxxxxxxxxx>]

My observation is that if you cannot see any corrosion on the exterior 
you don't have any. You can certainly strip all the paint for repainting 
but question if it is necessary.  The exterior of an Argosy can be 
treated much like an auto and preping the existing paint for a new paint 
coating is probably all that is necessary.  If the body of the trailer is 
not peeling off that means you have a good undercoat and thus you will 
actually take some risk in removing it unless you have a body shop that 
really knows how to handle priming  aluminum.  The steel end caps can 
also be sanded and repainted in similar fashion. I have repainted my 
front cap twice. Originally the painted at flaked off at front and got it 
repained.  They used a poor undcoating and it was coming off within a 
short time and had to be stripped clean, recoated and repainted.  Not at 
my expense however. 

It is doubtful you need to reseal joints, at least on metal roof and side 
paneling unless you already have known  leakage as the painting pretty 
well does this.  You could have leakeage around the lower rub rails which 
would show around floor on inside.  These can be chalked at the top.  I 
had leakeage at rear of unit which was acombination of rub rail leakage 
and  loss of seal between bumber storage unit and body of trailer. The 
bumber storage lid funneled water right into the floor where the vulkem 
seal had lost adhesion.
 You should also considered resealing around the vents and other roof 
openings as after all these years the Vulkem sealer may not be as tight 
as it should be.

Roy Lashway
'78 Argosy,'56 Bubble
WBCCI 1610     VAC
rlashway@zianet.com
web site: www.zianet.com/rlashway
   (polishing report included)