1976 ARGOSY 24 Double
V.I.N. 24DV1922C
Essentially a one-owner vehicle, this trailer has been stored indoors for all of it’s Canadian winters.
It is in a perfectly useable state, but I want to “contemporize” it as a design and ‘life on the road’ project.
This will be accomplished largely with the use of industrial quality paint finishes, applied professionally, INSIDE and OUT, probably in the Pepper White and Black colours of my 2005 Mini Cooper.
I am not going to change the layout. It works for me. It will just be cool new paint, new lighting, new fabrics and new flooring.
If you want to see the Argosy as it is now go to
http://argosy24.jerrwood.com/.
I want to haul the Mini on a flat bed truck, pulling my New Argosy.
The leading candidate for the job is the new Dodge-Mercedes Benz 3500 Sprinter, cab and chassis, probably in the 158” WB.
If hauling the Mini is decided to be impractical, maybe I will trade it in for a 118” or 140” WB Sprinter van, the new tow vehicle and the Argosy both painted Brilliant Blue or some such.
Good design is one of my interests.
That’s why I so much admire the iconic Airstream -Argosy shape and what Airstream has done in recent years with the CCD line.
I recognize that very little of the money put into this project will ever be recovered except by the pleasure of my having done it and being able to use it.
Looked at it another way, this will give me the cool, hard edged look of contemporary Airstreams, with their aluminum and stainless interiors, at less cost.
The deprecation taken on a new trailer or the money put into a wonderful old one are going to be a similar figure in the end so it’s really the adventure that makes the difference.
The exterior AND THE INTERIOR will be painted with a durable, two step automotive enamel.
( Maybe LATEX for the inside walls if I opt for a softer finish or find enamels unworkable)
The bathroom will be sprayed in a two-step epoxy.
There will be new faucets and shower hardware.
The small kitchen cabinet will be replaced. There will be a stainless back splash wall, a CoraLite or stainless counter and a new round sink and faucet.
Other things I think I want:
New tires and maybe new Alcoa wheels.
Banana wraps for the body
New ceramic toilet.
Macerator system for sewage.
System monitor updated.
In line instant water heater.
Industrial quality designer vinyl, rubber or linoleum flooring.
Air conditioner with heat strip.
New awning fabric at minimum; more likely a new Zip Dee
Fantastic fan.
Power jack.
New battery (batteries, if a way can be found to add additional ones).
Newer Inverter / converter system.
New aluminum LP bottles and new Airstream style cover for bottle area.
A new fridge ( or maybe painting the existing one)
going 110 v will be considered
Microwave and TV.
Additional halogen lighting.
new upholstery fabrics.
The truck possum belly will carry a generator or a deep battery system large enough to power the A/C. and have a proper patch panel for trailer hook-up.
There will be auxiliary tanks for fresh and black water; maybe a frame mounted LP cylinder for the generator.
The idea is self-sufficiency. I want to see the inside of a trailer park as little as possible.
Until now, I have been a person to do much of this sort of work by myself, sometimes hiring professional help. I’ve sprayed furniture, built kitchens, laid floors. The last four years seem like an endless renovation to one thing or the other.
But I’m 69 years old now. I had better hire others to do this project if I ever want to get out on the road.
I’m taking the trailer to WILTSIE TRUCK BODIES at Aylmer, Ontario.
They are old friends of mine. Twenty five years ago they built an entire European styled one ring circus for me; more than 20 pieces of rolling stock, some of the trailers 45’ long.
They do quality work and have a spray booth big enough for a highway tractor.
CAN-AM, the large Airstream dealer, is 30 minutes from Aylmer. They have already checked the systems out and made initial needed repairs. Can Am may be a source of supply and expertise even if they are sloppy about answering emails or returning phone calls.
The project will be done when it’s done. Then I am going to head out on a two or three year long first journey.
I have never lived in a trailer except long ago, in the circus. It was 45’ long and pulled by a big road tractor not driven by me.
I do not have real world Airstream Argosy experience.
Advice or comment, therefore, most gratefully received.
Sergei