Snow, Salt and the Camp-Inn Teardrop

Steve & Ellen

Steve & Ellen

Novice
I am interested in the effects of salt / snow on our teardrop. I have the chance to leave this evening on a hunt and want to take our TD. I will likely just leave in the morning. It is a one day hunt. We have had snow for a couple of days and I am sure the roads are salty.
Should we avoid the salt? Surly some have used their TDs in salt. What is the story? I can avoid salt, but don't want to.
Thanks,
Steve
 
Those white spots are aluminum oxide, not salt, where the salt has been eating the aluminum.

I would give it a shot IF I had a coat of Woody Wax AND the Metal Protectant on the tear. However, I would leave the bra home and give it a bath as soon as I got home.

It will be interesting to hear how Jim's 560 made out on the trip back from Maine.

Hilditch
 
My 560 is now on the way back from Rhode Island to Albuquerque, faithfully tagging along close behind my daughter and her family in the Highlander (I'm in Northern California). From all the traffic in earlier threads on this board about how bad salted winter highways are for Camp-Inns, I dread seeing it when I get to Albuquerque week after next. I did put a coat of wax on it before taking it into harm's way, but I don't expect that to do a lot of good. I'll try cleaning it up right away so as to minimize the exposure time and damage, but still.... I'll report back when I know.

Sighhh....
 
Barry,

The underside is completely sealed. There is no exposed wood underneath. Though I too would also worry about underneath, anywhere the paint may have been knocked off the frame or something. Those will rust up quick.

Living in a word of road salt like I do it is something I am forever dealing with. I had to remove the bed mounted tool box yesterday from my pickup so I can transfer it over to the newer pickup I just acquired. Couldn't break the bolts free for nothing to get them out because they were locked tight by rust underneath. Ended up firing up the old hot tipped wrench (AKA cutting torch) to remove them. I am still smelling the burnt hair this morning from a little mishap doing this. Oops.

As for Steve's question. I would find car washes and hose it off as soon as possible anytime salt is sprayed up on the trailer. You have a pretty short time period before it starts doing it's thing to the metal.

Cary
 
So is it possible to apply and undercoating the same as with a TV. I'm sure i read somewhere else on this forum that you could not do this as the wood could not breath and would swell in the cabin?
 
Once the trailer is built there is a good risk of sealing off pockets between the body and the frame.

He have changed our process a short time back and now apply a undercoating the side wall areas under the trailer. These are the only areas to really be concerned about mostly.

Cary
 
Cary,

My first reaction was no, need to worry about underside because not protected. Second thought is the sides are covered with skin, thus do not breath and dry like bottom.

When did you begin adding the undercoating side wall areas?

Jean
 
Jean, that is a good point you bring up about the sides. That is why we have to be so super careful that all the edging and such is sealed completely. Because any moisture that gets trapped behind the skin can and will do damage to the wood for the very reason we are talking about.

The undercoated side walls started I think around the beginning of November, very recent change. I think I mentioned before the part of the wood that is most at risk is always going to be the end grain of the plywood. The flat surfaces you see under the trailer could be bare and really at no risk of rot damage. But, if the edge of the wood were to get wet it will quickly do damage. We put alot of effort into making sure tp seal the bottom edge of the side walls with sealant and the body edging. Even still it an area that we are always worried about. This is why we added the extra step of the undercoating.

Cary
 
Ken,

The undercoating won't help after the fact. About all that could be improved would be an additional Sikaflex sealant bead applied after trim installation that we have been doing for sometime (still do). Not sure if yours has it or not. If you ever stop by for updates ask us about it and we could do that one.

Like I say, there are typically monthly improvements in the process. We are big believers in belt, suspenders and a safety pin or two.

Cary
 
Jim<

Got back yesterday from picking up our Raindrop. The Raindrop was CAKED with road salt. The only thing that saved us was the CI wrapping for shipping. Our Jeep tow vehicle was cover in the stuff. If you can I would consider stopping at one of those self sever car washes or anywhere you can just hose it down after it is safely out of the snow/salt belt. Hope you do not have the experience we had with the salt.

Benn
 
Cary said:
Ken,

The undercoating won't help after the fact. About all that could be improved would be an additional Sikaflex sealant bead applied after trim installation that we have been doing for sometime (still do). Not sure if yours has it or not. If you ever stop by for updates ask us about it and we could do that one.
Click to expand...

Thanks Cary, will do.
 
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