Two containers and 6 cans of Citrastrip later.

I keep joking that I need to buy stock in citrastrip, but it's the truth!

2 large containers of citrastrip,
umpteen paper towel,
6 spray cans of Citrastrip later and I have finally cleaned all the tar/adhesive off!

 This picture is just one endcap but it took me the better part of 4 days to do the entire trailer. I actually think there were two types of black gunk . The spray adhesive removed really easily, but the black goo that they painted on the seams was tougher.


Initially, I painted on citrastip and just started scrubbing with a green scotchbrite. Took forever and made a real mess.  I felt like a creature from the Black Lagoon, but I had a respirator instead of gills!

Time to rethink the approach.

I painted the citristip on , covered it with the thinnest plastic sheeting I could find from the big orange box store. The next day I was able to wipe it off with paper towels. Way easier and not quite as messy.

I can actually see the rivets and seams now.





 One of the coolest discoveries was that Citrastrip now comes in spray cans. These were excellent for doing the overhead panels because painting Citristrip on the ceiling was like painting with jello... best left for Kindergartners

Isn't she pretty? Eh. maybe you should squint a little.

While I didn't enjoy the process I am glad I did it because I discovered one of my panels  must have been replaced at some point - it was all Olympic rivets! The tar had covered up the hollow stems.  I'll have to drill these out and buck rivet them properly later.


Other things I discovered along the way:

Four days in rubber gloves does a number on your hands,  mine are still peeling!

The Airstream workers were sloppy about quality control = big surprise! NOT


Rivets too close to the edge  - think these leaked?

Rivets way away from the edge (plus large gaps as a bonus).

Don't put Citrastrip in plastic cups, and especially don't leave it overnight!

Lastly, don't use Citrastrip in the presence of bees, it confuses them and they persist in looking for the citrusy smelling flowers.   No pictures cause I'm allergic and I was too busy running away!

Next I need to strip the door and get the weather seals on before it rains and start sealing all the interior seams and rivets.

This little guy greeted me as I left the house actually he wasn't little -, he was kinda big, that's a full size brick he's on!

I've never sen one of these before. Its a yellow spotted newt that lives underground, evidently they only come out in the Spring to lay their eggs.

 I'm glad my daughter is grown cause this is the kinda thing she would stick in her pocket to bring home when she was younger. Imagine finding that!