1979 Argosy 27'
Posted 05-09-2011 at 06:41 PM by Stumpjumper
Updated 07-30-2011 at 07:44 PM by Stumpjumper (Continuing saga)
Updated 07-30-2011 at 07:44 PM by Stumpjumper (Continuing saga)
History: Purchased in Dec of 2010 but not able to bring home until 2 weeks ago.
The PO had this unit for 3 years but never used it. They had also purchased local where it has sat on the edge of the woods for 10 yrs just being used for a spare bedroom. I'm guessing this spared it from a lot of road jarring, but for systems not being used such as plumbing, idleness can be worse.
I knew it would need tires (4), a water heater and a finish floor. The quick, in dead of winter, inspection didn't seem too bad for the price. No leaks evident, all glass ok, and PO said all appliances OK.
I don't know if the trip home shook it or what, but I soon discovered a few leaks, by antenna mount and around one window. Really, each time I had visited it during the winter, no leaks were evident. All these have been taken care of. The old antenna mount was removed and a patch sealed with butyl tape and Proflex at the patch edge should make a lasting repair. More Proflex at all window frames, really, a very small bead, looks like a million, cause you can hardly see them.
It will certainly need some plumbing, several fittings loose or disconnected. One thing at a time.
Between time and scratches, it will need a complete paint job. I have done a pretty good job on smaller units, will keep orignal color.
The interior really looks to be in pretty good shape, sans missing curtains and needing new upholstery.
5-7-11 Removed the old antenna mount on the outside, it was broken and leaking. The repair will be painted with the rest of the unit and should look OK.
7-17-11 Finally, starting in earnest to do what needs to be done. All my people visitors have gone home. Knew the frig needed to be replaced, lots of ammonia smell. Well, this ain't easy. First, removed screws that can be reached from outside access panel, screws going in from the sides from inside one cabinet, other side from side wall. Discovered you still have to take out the wall to get to the angle piece holding it to the floor and the the other angle piece holding at the top to the outside wall itself. Of course, you have to take out more screws from inside the trim of a tambor door storage area that is screwed to the wall that holds in the frig. Whew, now have a million screws, they'll never find their original holes! Now finally the frig seems to be free until I discover more wires coming out of the wall that I nearly pulled off (12 V feed I think).Anyway, 3 hours later I have the frig out on the way to the landfill.
Heck, I have time to take out the old water heater. Well this isn't any 20 minute project either. Two hours later it's out, but I can see I'll have to re-route the gas line. Airstream sure didn't build these things to be able to replace any componet without a whole lot of **##^. Well, anyway the floor under both units was still very sound, guess it could be worse. I'll be checking the structure much more thoroughly from underneath soon. At least I got out what had to be got out.
7-30-11 Spent this week's spare time removing old fresh water plumbing, as I will replace all. I also dropped the rear belly pan for access to the waste water system. Found small area of rot right at the rear bumper, under bath lav. Not to bad to repair, as soon as I can find source of water that runs out of where wiring comes out of the wall. Got the new lines, PEX, from the kitchen to the new water heater to the bathroom. As soon as I can all faucets will be rebuilt with new washers silicone plumbers grease.
The PO had this unit for 3 years but never used it. They had also purchased local where it has sat on the edge of the woods for 10 yrs just being used for a spare bedroom. I'm guessing this spared it from a lot of road jarring, but for systems not being used such as plumbing, idleness can be worse.
I knew it would need tires (4), a water heater and a finish floor. The quick, in dead of winter, inspection didn't seem too bad for the price. No leaks evident, all glass ok, and PO said all appliances OK.
I don't know if the trip home shook it or what, but I soon discovered a few leaks, by antenna mount and around one window. Really, each time I had visited it during the winter, no leaks were evident. All these have been taken care of. The old antenna mount was removed and a patch sealed with butyl tape and Proflex at the patch edge should make a lasting repair. More Proflex at all window frames, really, a very small bead, looks like a million, cause you can hardly see them.
It will certainly need some plumbing, several fittings loose or disconnected. One thing at a time.
Between time and scratches, it will need a complete paint job. I have done a pretty good job on smaller units, will keep orignal color.
The interior really looks to be in pretty good shape, sans missing curtains and needing new upholstery.
5-7-11 Removed the old antenna mount on the outside, it was broken and leaking. The repair will be painted with the rest of the unit and should look OK.
7-17-11 Finally, starting in earnest to do what needs to be done. All my people visitors have gone home. Knew the frig needed to be replaced, lots of ammonia smell. Well, this ain't easy. First, removed screws that can be reached from outside access panel, screws going in from the sides from inside one cabinet, other side from side wall. Discovered you still have to take out the wall to get to the angle piece holding it to the floor and the the other angle piece holding at the top to the outside wall itself. Of course, you have to take out more screws from inside the trim of a tambor door storage area that is screwed to the wall that holds in the frig. Whew, now have a million screws, they'll never find their original holes! Now finally the frig seems to be free until I discover more wires coming out of the wall that I nearly pulled off (12 V feed I think).Anyway, 3 hours later I have the frig out on the way to the landfill.
Heck, I have time to take out the old water heater. Well this isn't any 20 minute project either. Two hours later it's out, but I can see I'll have to re-route the gas line. Airstream sure didn't build these things to be able to replace any componet without a whole lot of **##^. Well, anyway the floor under both units was still very sound, guess it could be worse. I'll be checking the structure much more thoroughly from underneath soon. At least I got out what had to be got out.
7-30-11 Spent this week's spare time removing old fresh water plumbing, as I will replace all. I also dropped the rear belly pan for access to the waste water system. Found small area of rot right at the rear bumper, under bath lav. Not to bad to repair, as soon as I can find source of water that runs out of where wiring comes out of the wall. Got the new lines, PEX, from the kitchen to the new water heater to the bathroom. As soon as I can all faucets will be rebuilt with new washers silicone plumbers grease.
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