I’m always a little melancholy at the end of a rally. We are, after all, travelers, not settlers. Our destination is the journey. Still, seeing the occupants of a “silver city” evacuate is sobering.

This part of Silver City was just the little neighborhood parked in front of Exhibition Hall. Around 900 Airstream trailers made up the city in total.

Every time we go on a road trip, or attend a rally I tell myself not to do so much. It’s not possible to see everything, or do everything, and it’s frustrating to try. I much as I realize this, I always fail. I never give myself the opportunity to do absolutely nothing.

Every moment is filled with activity and priorities. Patrice makes her list of to do’s, like that’s actually going to help, but then I always end up running around like a chicken with its head cut off. It’s not a pretty sight.

Yet, we both managed to have a good time and I have quite a few highlights to remember and backup onto the computer in case I forget.

In the next few posts I’ll mention some of them, but I’ll start with a big thanks to Dave Schumann, General Manager Customer Relations of Airstream in Jackson Center. He made Wally Byam’s gold-anodized trailer available to me to photograph, measure and generally poke, prod, and crawl over and under. I was told that this was the first time in the last two years that it has even been opened. Airstream has kept it parked in a fenced lot south of the main factory. This kind of access was a real privilege. I proposed a floor plan review of it. Unfortunately, the interior was refurbished, not restored, and is not how Wally and Stella had it. Still, it was exciting and a real privilege to have that kind of access.

The gold anodized Airstream in the service bay at Jackson Center.

Simonton Lake Drive-In, when I was a boy, my grandfather treated me to ice cold root beer here. It is little changed and is a genuine blast from the past. The root beer and hamburgers are just the way I remember them.

Mackinac Bridge and Mackinaw Island – the bridge is easily one of the most beautiful and elegant in the world.

Mackinaw Island blew me away with its lilac bushes. Never in my life have I seen bushes of such size and bloom. They were everywhere. I often tell Patrice that lilac is what Heaven must smell like. It is intoxicating. The flowers on the island ranged from white to royal deep purple and each color had its own subtle, but distinctive sweet scent.

The scent of lilac is heavenly.

Let’s face it, if you’re not interested in Airstream history, then likely you’ll find Jackson Center, Ohio a dull place. Certainly, there are even Airstream owners who only want to go there for the service center and perhaps the factory tour. Past that, the area has little appeal for them.

As for me, I could easily spend an entire season there. You would find me either camped at the Terraport (free Wi-Fi), or at the east end of the village, in the back lot of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International headquarters. There alone I could spend considerable time just going through the history archive.

There are other things of interest in and around JC though. Directly across the street from WBCCI HQ is the Wally Byam Memorial Park, at the corner of State Route 274 (Pike Street) and Parkwood Drive. The park features a municipal pool with a spray park, sheltered patios, restrooms, picnic areas, lighted tennis courts, basketball courts, and playground equipment.

The sheltered patios are available for a mere $25. Each has picnic tables, power and can accommodate 50 to 60 people.

There is GKN, manufacturer of the Henschen Axle on the north side of the village at, 522 N Main St. It is a non-descript long metal sided building. Tours have been available in the past, but right now, with the slow down in the economy, the factory looked inactive. If you want to see how the rubber torsion axle is assembled, call first, (937) 596-6125.

The Bicycle Museum of America

About fifteen miles west of JC, is New Bremen, Ohio, where you can find the highest point of the Erie Canal and the most excellent Bicycle Museum of America (419-629-9249). The museum is at 7 West Monroe St. (ST RT 274), which is nearly dead center of the town. So, it can’t be missed. Every stage of bicycle development is represented, including one of the unicycles used in the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in China. Be sure to go to the third floor and look at the replica of Alfred LeTourner’s Schwinn Paramount. He set a land speed record of 108 mph on it, and he is the bicyclist Wally Byam hired to photograph pulling an Airstream trailer in 1947. That photo is the iconic image Airstream Inc. still uses today to identify its product.

Alfred LeTourneur towing Airstream Liner, courtesy WBCCI Archive

Just up the Interstate from JC is the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta, Ohio. It is also easy to find, being just a few hundred yards northwest of Interstate 75 exit 111 (SR 33). Obviously, named to honor Astronaut, Neil Armstrong, for being the first man to set foot on the moon, but it also chronicles Ohio’s contributions to space flight. Among the items on display are an F5D Sky Lancer, the Gemini VIII spacecraft, Apollo 11 artifacts and a moon rock. The museum’s Astro-theater runs multimedia presentations.

There are numerous other attractions within an afternoon drive of JC, such as glass museums, and the fabulous Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH, but the surprise for me was that Airstream Inc. has not worked these connections more to its favor. That is, the LeTourner exhibit ought to have at least a photograph of Alfred pulling an Airstream with a bicycle, but it doesn’t. He was among the most famous of bicyclists in his era and one would think that, being practically neighbors, Airstream Inc. and the bicycle museum would want to make that connection, yet they don’t. The Neil Armstrong museum likewise has a photograph of the Apollo 11 astronauts talking to President Nixon through the window of the Airstream built Mobile Quarantine Facility. Would it not make sense for both the museum and Airstream Inc. to make the connection with just a note that the MQF was another of Ohio’s contributions to the space program and was built just down the road?

President Nixon talks to Astronauts housed in the MQF

It’s just nuts. Sure, I know Airstream Inc. touts these accomplishments in its sales brochures, but I think they also need to get together with their neighbors so that the general, non-RV‘ing, public can appreciate the connection when they tour the museums.

The harshness of Denver weather isn’t its severity, but its wild fluctuations. Yesterday, Sunday, was mild and pleasant in the morning, but cool and rainy in the afternoon. By ten o’clock it was snowing heavily. The forecast for today is heavy snow. Last Friday, the high was 75 and I was sure that we wouldn’t see any more snow. I was wrong, but I’m in good company. No one can accurately predict Colorado weather more than three days ahead.

This same pattern was repeated earlier this month. On the 15th the high was 71 with beautifully clear blue sky, but on the 18th we had a blizzard. The following day, it reached 50 and most of the snow melted.

This is pattern is often referred to as, “the warm before the storm.” We live in a high desert plain. January and February are often dry and mild. Our heaviest snowfall traditionally comes in March and April. What is cruel about this is that our mild winter weather lulls us into thinking that we should be camping. When spring arrives, we are chopping at the bit to do just that, but just when we think we will, the hammer drops. It’s frustrating.

There are benefits to this kind of weather though. I believe the fluctuation between warm and dry, to wet and cold, and back again, helps keep the insect population in check. Also, our weather here isn’t boring. I lived in Hawaii for a year. The weather there was so predictably the same that I tired of it. I remember how much I looked forward to my return to Colorado where there are seasons.

View from my window.

Especially now that I live in a condominium where I don’t have to shovel sidewalks, I’m able to appreciate the snow. Right now as I write this, it is beautiful out. There are still a few snowflakes falling and yet it is sunny with some blue-sky showing. The streets are wet, but clear. The trees are draped in white. Certainly, our farmers appreciate the moisture and it will green everything up nicely. It does make camping difficult though.

I’ve just recently bought a GPS navigation device. I suppose I’ve been slow to adapt, but for a long time it just seemed a little extravagant. My wife has been my navigator for years, but after she had her stroke, I realized a GPS might be a good thing. She didn’t become dyslexic, but for some reason she sometimes says left when she means right, or vice versa. This has caused some tension and stress, for both of us.

On one trip my wife told me to turn left. I asked her, “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she said, “turn left. I know where we’re going.”

I let up on the gas pedal and we begin to slow. “What are you doing?” She asks.

“I think we’re supposed to go right.”

By now we’re almost to the intersection. “Go left, go left, or we’ll miss our turn.” She said.

“Okay, don’t get excited.” I start a left turn.

“What are you doing?” She gasps, “You’re going the wrong way!”

Now I start weaving down the lane line like a drunk driver. “You told me to turn left.”

“No, I told you to go that way,” she says, pointing to the right.

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph!” I exclaim, “We can’t go both ways!”

“Don’t yell at me!” Her eyes start to tear, “I’m doing the best I can.”

So, when Circuit City announced it was going out of business I waited until the last week of their closeout sale to shop for a GPS. There weren’t many left by that time, but I was able to get a Garmin Nuvi 260 at half price. I’m impressed with what it does. It has replaced my vintage Airguide dash compass and altimeter.

To be fair, it’s easy for me to be absent-minded and miss a turn while I’m talking to someone in the car, but I can also do that even when I’m by myself (I daydream). With the Garmin though, it interrupts and reminds me.

It’s still new enough for me to find it entertaining and I’ll turn it on to listen to it’s directions even if I’m only going to the grocery store. The female voice sounds unemotional to me, but I know some people think their GPS gets angry when it says it’s, “recalculating.” I think they’re imagining that.

This isn’t to say the text to speech software doesn’t have its quirks. It will tell me to turn on, “Sym Aaron street,” when the name of the street is, “Cimarron.” That tickles me every time.

I think many people are naturally inclined to give their GPS a name. It’s understandable to name something that seems to have a personality, talks, and gives instructions. A friend of mine named his Magellan GPS, “Maggie.” That’s a cute abbreviation. Some users name their GPS after an ex-wife, for obvious reasons.

Remember the computer game; Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? The game taught geography and history by having the player chase clues around the world to catch the thief, Carmen. I’ve chosen that name. Carmen Garmin might be an annoying alliteration, but I like her even more now that she has a name. What do you call your GPS?

Carmen Sandiego

I’ve taken the plunge. I bought a digital SLR camera setup several days ago. I searched eBay, Craig’s List and local stores, but the prices scared me. It’s not the camera and one lens. That kind of package deal is readily available at what seems like an acceptable price. It’s the accessories that make the price tag go through the roof. I knew I’d have to buy used and I’m reluctant to do that over the internet. I’d rather have the camera in my hands to examine before buying.

So, I went to a pawnshop and found what I was looking for. It was almost a complete setup: Nikon D70 with strap and two batteries; an AF Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-45G ED zoom lens; an AF Nikkor 85mm 1:1.8 D portrait lens; Nikon Speedlight SB-800 flash unit; 62mm UV filter; a LowePro Micro Trekker 200 camera backpack; and assorted cables, instruction manuals, and misc items. All are only lightly used. There are no scratches, or even wear marks. Everything looks to be in pristine condition and (so far) functions perfectly. I got it all for $680.

The only things missing are the Nikon Picture Project CD’s and a battery charger. It looks like I can pick the CD’s up for around $15 and a charger from $10 to $25 off eBay. Other than a few filters, there is only one other item I want (for now) and that is a wide-angle lens. I’m looking at a Nikon Nikkor 28mm f2.8 D AF for around $150.

That should be all I need for quite some time to come. Whew! Just learning all the nomenclature and acronyms that goes with Nikon cameras and lenses should keep me on a steep learning curve for the next couple of years.

I’ve always been a bit leery of buying things from pawnshops though. I suppose it’s because of the poor reputation they’ve inherited from the past when so many of them were nothing more than a fence for stolen goods. Today though, there are laws in place, at least here in Colorado, that keep such illegal activity on a pretty short leash. Still, I was suspicious enough to give all the serial numbers and previous owner’s name to my son, a police detective, to check on. Everything came back clear. I suppose this extra measure of caution was due to finding the previous owner’s U.S. Passport secreted away in the camera backpack! I can’t imagine leaving that behind, can you?

It looks like we have ended our traveling and camping season for the year. This week temperatures are expected to dip below freezing, and usually this area of Colorado has its first snow by the end of October.

I bought RV Anti-freeze for the Excella. It will be the first time for me to use anti-freeze. Our Globe Trotter’s plumbing is so simple that I’ve always been able to just blow the lines out and drain the P-traps. But the plumbing on the Excella is much more complicated with longer runs, holding tanks below floor level, and inaccessible P-traps. Will five gallons be enough?

Our last rally was in Loveland, Colorado, at “The Ranch,” which is the official new name of the Larimer County Fairgrounds and Event Center. It is an extensive complex and includes the Budweiser Event Center, home of the Eagles hockey team.

Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate and nearly every day was cold, overcast and rainy. There were no hookups and the rally was dry camping. After a couple of days those relying on solar panels for power found themselves either having to hook up and idle their tow vehicles to recharge, or borrow a generator. But everyone shared and helped out. We didn’t need good weather to have a good time. There was an interesting mix of Airstream owners from Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona, both with new Airstreams and vintage.

I did a presentation on floor replacement that was well received because it included information on newer Airstreams and not just vintage. From the questions asked it is apparent that vintage owners are not the only Airstreamers to have floor problems..

About 32 Airstreams attended the rally despite the poor weather. In the forground is an Airstream “Wally Bee” fiberglass trailer, or what remains of it, brought in on a flat bed trailer towed by a vintage firetruck owned by Luke Bernander.

Still, I wish the weather had been better for the out of state participants. Just prior to the rally and then just after the rally the weather was fantastic. Clear to partly cloudy skies, highs 68 to 72 degrees and lows in the 40’s. Perfect, so good in fact, that we couldn’t refrain from camping one more night and did so in Cherry Creek State Park, just two miles from our condo.

Cherry Creek SP looking south across the lake with Pikes Peak (14,110′) in the background (70 miles distant).

It was an opportunity to use full hookups to drain our tanks and also have two of our grandsons stay for a “sleep over.”

I took my grandsons, 5 and 3 years old, for a walk in “the woods” and to the lake to skip rocks.

It’s hard to believe that Cherry Creek SP is surrounded by the city. I think Rich Luhr and his family have camped here three years in a row. The camp sites are now all full hookup with level concrete pads. The interior roads are all paved, yet the area retains the look and feel of a rural area. There are deer, rabbits, prairie dogs, coyotes, fox, raccoons, eagles, hawks, cranes, and fish – wildlife galore. I believe I even spotted a wolf the other day, and my son tells me that there have been repeated sightings of bear. Wow, all that in the city?

Several Airstream owners were camped in the park while we were there. One was from Massachusetts. I don’t know who the owner of this Airstream is, but I thought it made for a nice photo.

It made me realize that I will always be able to go camping, anytime I want, regardless of fuel costs. It may seem a little frivolous to camp only two miles from home, but it works never-the-less.

If you read Hunt Jones article, Towing Vintage With Vintage, in the last issue of Airstream Life you might be aware that there are challenges. I tow our ’86 Airstream with an ’85 Chevy Suburban. Not quite vintage but nearly so.

I believe the ’85 Suburban was the last “Burb” with the 454 engine with carburetor and no smog emission controls. Subsequent to that year GM used a fuel injected throttle body. Still, our “Burb” passes the emission inspection and gets close to the same mpg while towing as the 2001 F-150 we used to have

We’re a one car family now too. The “Burb” is our daily driver and not just our tow vehicle. So, it’s important for me to keep it running.

In my previous post I wrote about the trip we just took where we towed our Airstream around New Mexico and southern Colorado. In all, the trip was about 700 miles. The day after we got back though, it suddenly began making a strange clicking and whining noise. This happened just as we were pulling out of the garage.

I immediately opened the hood to see what was going on and noticed gasoline pouring out of the mechanical fuel pump. For the last three afternoons I’ve been working on that problem. It isn’t something that should have taken anywhere near that much time, but I violated the number one repairman’s rule – do no harm.

The fuel pump on my “Burb” is in a tight location, between the right front wheel well and low on the engine. There are a couple of hoses that have to be moved to get to it, but all in all it wasn’t too hard to take off.

The real problem started when I went to install a new fuel pump. I haven’t worked much on cars for awhile as I simply haven’t needed to. But one of the reasons I went with an older tow vehicle was that I figured if something went wrong with it out in the middle of no-where I might stand a better chance of fixing it than I would if I broke down in a newer tow vehicle.

Let me explain why. I once tried to change the spark plugs on our 2001 F-150 and it took me an hour just to get the number one spark plug out. I gave up on changing the remaining seven plugs as I didn’t want to spend fifteen more hours taking out the old and putting back in the new. I couldn’t even see where there was room to get a wrench and spark plug socket onto the spark plugs at the rear of the engine. In fact, I couldn’t even see those spark plugs.

Certainly, this is partly due to the fact that I’m not the most practiced mechanic, but newer cars don’t seem to be made with the idea of the owner doing the maintenance. Shade tree mechanics are really challenged when it comes to working on cars made within the last decade or two. So, it isn’t just me. To change the spark plugs on some of today’s cars actually requires dropping the engine! They really are that tight.

Comparatively then, the “Burb” is a cakewalk, but it still helps if you know what you’re doing. I thought I did, but I didn’t. I figured the new fuel pump would go on the same way the old one came off. Wrong! I forgot to move the fuel pump push rod up and as a result I bent it. In doing that I also cracked the flanges on the new fuel pump. Yep, I broke everything that was involved! Do no harm? I’m a disaster package.

Because when I went to install the second new fuel pump I did remember to move the push rod up. Yes, I moved the bent push rod up, and it got wedged in the bore it travels in. You see, I just didn’t think a ½ inch piece of steel could be bent that easily, but again I was WRONG!

When the second new fuel pump didn’t pump it was because the push rod wasn’t moving. The opening that the push rod can be accessed is about 1 ½ by 1 ½ inches. It’s tight. So, the problem I faced was how to get the damaged push rod out.

I Googled “Chevy 454 stuck fuel pump push rod” and a couple thousand links to blogs and posts popped up. One horrifying poster testified that he broke three fuel pumps before figuring out what he was doing wrong. Another wrote that it took him TEN months to figure out how to get his bent push rod out. He ended up soldering a pipe to the end of it and with a make-shift handle attached was able to turn and twist it out. Good Grief, what had I done, and what was I to do? The people making these posts were all hot-rod fanatics. They worked on their cars just for the fun of it. It was a pastime. Some had done complete restorations, yet they were as stymied by the same little push rod as amateur me.

So, I called a friend who has a “Burb” and he called a friend who owns a “Burb” and is also a mechanic. “What should Forrest do,” he asked? The answer I got was, “its Hell to be Forrest.”

By now I realized I needed some help and I called my son. Some things I think happen for a reason. Why would our “Burb” (my son and daughters call it “The Beast”) run nearly flawlessly all this summer, towing for thousands of miles, only to break down in our driveway the day after we got back home? How does that happen, coincidence?.

Our 1985 Chevy Suburban Silverado, hooked up to our 32′ 1986 Excella.

My son and I ended up working an afternoon on the problem. It always helps to have a second set of eyes and another set of hands to help. Both of us tried using needle nosed pliers to get the rod out. No luck at all, it wouldn’t budge. Since he had a car he drove me around to get a new push rod, and mechanic’s work gloves (my hands were getting pretty scratched up, cut and bruised from knuckle busting slips). It was his suggestion to use Google to find an answer.

But what we ended up doing most was talk about some problems he was having in his life. We haven’t talked like that in a long time and especially these last few years where I’ve been unavailable with traveling and hospitals, etc. He really needed someone to listen and confide in and I think I was able to help him sort some things out and put them in perspective. He’s a great kid (okay he’s 32, but he’s still my boy). I couldn’t solve his problems but I hope it helped him just to be able to talk about them. That’s all a dad needs to do sometimes.

We wouldn’t have done any of that though if the “Burb” hadn’t broken down exactly where and when it did. The next day my son couldn’t get by to help me as he had to go to work and I was on my own again. I went back to using my needle nose pliers. On my first attempt I got a good grip on the rod and gave it a sharp tug. It came loose without a fight.

I was then able to insert the new push rod. By coating it with axle grease it stayed in the up position. I turned the engine by hand to make sure the cam the push rod contacted was shallow. That done, the fuel pump bolted on without difficulty. I was done in an hour. I turned the ignition and the engine ran like it’s supposed to, and there were no leaks at all. How does that happen when it’s Hell to be Forrest?

The neat thing about an Airstream trailer is that it is a fun attraction all by itself. You don’t even need to go camping in it to have a good time. I think that is why they are used as cabanas, offices, and for promotion purposes.

Yesterday, Patrice and I, for the first time ever, took the RTD light rail train from a station near our condo to Larimer Square in downtown Denver. BTW, the station (called Nine Mile) is bicycling distance from the camp ground Rich and his family usually stay at, Cherry Creek State Park – just another reason to camp there with an Airstream when visiting Denver.

Anyway, we really enjoyed ourselves. Going by train only took slightly longer than driving. Our Suburban is our only automobile now and it gets maybe 10 mpg (on a good day). Round trip is around 30 miles, so we would have used 3 gallons of gas or about $14. Parking would have been $10. The light rail and connecting mall bus was $12, so we saved $12! We saw Denver in a way that we’ve never been able to before, and we’ve both lived here nearly all our lives.

The reason we made the trip though, was that there was an Airstream trailer being used to promote one of our favorite TV shows, Pushing Daisies. The promotion company had the Airstream wrapped from top to bottom and end to end with a great vinyl graphic to mimic the restaurant where much of the action takes place in the show. The restaurant is a pie store called the Pie Hole. The entire concept of the show is cute and quirky, just a lot of fun. If you’ve never seen it you ought to. The season premier is Oct. 1. The show has a bunch of Emmy nominations and will win at least two or more.

But again, we went to get a closer look at the wrapped Airstream. Okay, we also went for the free pie the promotion was giving away. If it’s free, it’s for me!

It’s all a part of the great Airstream community. The weather was perfect (Is there any other kind of weather in Colorado?). We went just for the fun of it, and made it a day. Some of you might still be able to see the Pie Hole wrapped Airstream. Its next stop is in Dallas (9/20). After that it will be in Chicago (9/24), Philadelphia (9/26), and NYC (9/29). See http://www.thepiemaker.com/the-pie-hole-hits-the-open-road/ for more details.

This is a 2008 28′ Airstream Safari SE totally wrapped in vinyl graphic to depict the Pie Hole restaurant as seen in Pushing Daisies.

Sometimes small repair jobs are more perplexing than large ones. For instance, if a skin segment on an Airstream is badly dented or ripped open the only choice is to remove and replace (or cover up) the damaged segment with a new one. This can be expensive, yes, but there is no other choice and the repair is apparent.

Less apparent repair choices are those that involve minor but annoying damage. Small dents, scratches, tears and holes are examples. The dilemma is how to do the repair without turning it into a major undertaking or that requires professional help. Remember the first rule of restoration (and refurbishing or repair) is to do no harm. In other words, the fix shouldn’t create a bigger problem.

Just recently one owner was asking for ideas on how he could repair a small hole to the exterior skin of his Airstream. A very small hole, let’s say one that is less than a quarter inch in diameter, can often be patched or filled with a rivet. Since there are hundreds of rivets already in place an extra passes unnoticed.

In this case though, the hole was too big for a rivet. So, here are some other suggestions that can be done on your own.
Apply sealant then rivet a scrap piece of aluminum sheet over the hole. Use only aluminum rivets with aluminum mandrels such as Olympic rivets, or closed end blind rivets or equivalent water resistant blind rivets. Standard Pop style rivets that have an open end tend to let water in. This repair is rugged and effective but visually obvious. It might also be overkill since four holes for the rivets will need to be drilled just to cover the one.

An alternative is to use aluminum tape for spots where a hole or tear is too big for a rivet, but too small for patching with a scrap of aluminum sheet. Be aware that there are different thicknesses of tape, so shop around and get the thicker, heavier gauge. If a stronger material is needed or desired then stainless steel tape can be substituted. However, SS tape does not blend in as well since it has a different sheen.

Prior to applying the metal tape gently remove burrs to make the edges of the hole fairly smooth. For best results tape should not be applied to a cold surface. If it is a cold day then warm the surface with a hair dryer. Clean the surface around the hole with acetone to remove all oil or polish.

Most often the tape can only be applied to the outside. However, if you can get to the hole from the inside, apply a piece there as well. Then cut a small piece of scrap aluminum sheet to the same dimensions of the hole and place it in the hole just to act as a spacer. The tape on the inside will hold the spacer in place. Then apply a piece of aluminum tape to the outside. This sandwich makes for a stronger and somewhat better looking repair.

The tape can be removed and repositioned or redone (albeit with some difficulty) provided it hasn’t yet been smoothed down or left in one place for too long. Once positioned correctly, rub the tape firmly so that the adhesive is fully in contact with the surface. The adhesive becomes more permanent as time goes by and is water proof.

I taped a small hole in my trailer five years ago as a temporary fix, but it is still in place and in good condition. The repair is down low where the skin wraps under the trailer, so it is inconspicuous. This is an easy low cost fix and that is its advantage. Some purists may think that tape should only be used as a temporary fix, but it is never the less a practical solution especially on the road. Aluminum tape, and not just duct tape, should be in everyone’s toolbox while traveling.

Other suggestions for repairing or covering up small holes are to use an appropriately sized stainless steel bolt or screw with a backing plate and sealant.

More inventive suggestions are to turn the hole into something useful. Mount an antenna in that spot, or cover it with some sort of placard such as a manufacturer’s badge. If the hole is large enough, possibly an accessory, such as a courtesy light can be mounted and wired into place.

A previous owner left a dime sized hole to fill… so I filled it by mounting a CB antenna.

I’ve done this myself with a dime sized hole left by the previous owner. I mounted a CB antenna. In the accompanying photo you’ll notice that the cable has been looped. This is to keep water from following the cable into the trailer.

The main thing is that the hole should be patched so that it is weather proof and hopefully also aesthetically pleasing. Good luck!