Let’s face it, weatherstripping is not the first thing that comes to your mind when you decide to restore a classic vehicle, RV, or boat. However, unknowingly for most – proper weatherstripping is a crucial element to keep your investment in good shape for the long haul.
What is Weatherstripping?
Weatherstripping is a seal, mostly made of rubber, that keep outdoor elements like rain, debris, and pests out of your vehicle, or stow areas in an RV or watercraft. Why is it so important? Not having adequate weatherstripping can lead to many problems, including but not limited to:
- Water leaks
- Wind noise and window rattling
- Damage to interior of your classic car or truck, or RV
- Causes air leaks, making it difficult to keep a stable interior temperature
- Sluggish or dragging windows
When do I Need to Replace my Weatherstripping?
Over time, weatherstripping will show signs of aging just like everything else. So, how do you know when it’s time to replace your current seals? We’ve got compiled this list of things to lookout for.
- Visible wear and tear – it’s dried out, cracking, discolored, deteriorated or drooping.
- If your classic car or truck is over 25 years old and still has original weatherstripping. When that vehicle was manufactured the rubber compounds used to make these parts weren’t as good as they are now.
- Noisy ride – wind noise, rattling windows and in some cases amplified road noise.
- Water leaks – if you find water inside your vehicle, RV, or compartments, trace it back to the origin. It could be a number of things, though weatherstripping is typically the culprit.
- If the window edge seal is pulling from the corners or sides of your RV or camper.
- If your slide out seal wiper is ripped, cracked, or missing. Same for the bulb seal.
- Lost its shape – looks deflated or flattened so much that it isn’t creating a positive seal. How to tell if your rubber has a positive seal? Here a step-by-step of the Dollar Bill Test.
- No give – visibly it may look fine, but it’s brittle and hard as a rock.
- If the insert trim or screw track cover on your RV or boat has shrunken, and exposes the track hardware.
For a more detailed description of the list above, check out our full article When to Replace Your Weatherstripping.
Weatherstripping Maintenance
We don’t recommend using any lubricants or chemicals on any of our weatherstripping. This is because unlike vinyl or thermoplastic seals, ours are 100% EPDM rubber which has excellent resistance to UV, Ozone, and all-weather conditions. Additional lubricants, ‘preservatives’, ‘softeners’, or similar chemical products are not necessary and can break down the rubber compounds, causing the seals to deteriorate.
So, keeping your weatherstripping in good shape is easy! Avoid prolonged sun exposure when possible, and only use soap and water to clean your seals.
At Steele, we’re more than just high-quality products, we’re your trusted resource for completing your weatherstripping projects with confidence.
Whether you’re working on a classic car or truck, street rod, RV, or boat, our expert team is here to help. If you have questions about weatherstripping or need product guidance, we’re just a call or click away.
📞 Call us at 800-650-4482
📧 Send us an email
💬 Chat with us live on our website
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