by Grummy » Wed Jul 24, 2019 8:16 pm
>>> So, you removed the screws with a protective coating that help prevent the formation of Galvanic corrosion.....
"that help" in my opinion is understood to be something that "helps" a STEEL fastener..... And without any doubt, a STEEL fastener needs all the "help" it can get when it is used with aluminum.
>>> and replaced them with un-coated screws of steel.....
STAINLESS Steel. A perfect match in heaven ? Certainly not. But, I have spent years working on Aluminum bodied class 8 trucks, a few years around aluminum hulled multi-million dollar yachts and numerous fully aluminum bodied step vans. There is a reason why they use Stainless over some "coated" product. Pull the curtain back on a 10-15 year old Utili-master or Brothertown bodied Step Van where they used a lot of steel structure and "coated steel" bolts, then do the same with a 35-40 year old Grumman body where they used stainless for structural fasteners and no steel inside and you will see quite the difference.
Sure, there is a galvanic reaction between Stainless and Aluminum no matter what, even more so in saltier environments. But some in depth study will point out that it is primarily a notable problem when stainless is the major mass and aluminum is the minor.
I've seen the "coated screws" on CT's a few years down the road.... I don't want what they offer. I doubt I have them laying around anymore.
For what little it is worth, all the screws I replaced that are holding on my 3" wide trim have had the holes sprayed with Fluid Film, had their threads dipped into thickened FF (I am a hands down BELIEVER in FF because of my years with coast to coast, privately owned class 8 trucks), AND have a UHMW thin washer under their heads... in some cases where a washer has been used, a buna-n bonded (to stainless) washer has been used.
The one regret I have is not taking the time to fully mist the inside of each and every aluminum tube cavity with FF.
>>> Otherwise the integrity of your totally sealed up trailer will be compromised within a year or less.
Huh... She just turned 1-1/2 ! Still here, still looks new. I keep it washed and under a cover when not in use.
Please understand that any reference to "Totally Sealed Up" along the way was and still is... that I AM NOT going to allow holes, gaps or cracks to let any water IN from the outside. I'm not sure why anyone would. If someone has that much WATER in their trailer, they may as well put those basement wall perimeter drains in when they are building (or just do what I did and figure out how to manage condensation). It's not rocket science.
