AirSteamless here
We've been looking fo an Airstream or Argosy, 24' or less. The Argosy that is now on Ebay Auction looks intriguing....not sure if it would be worth the effort to restore it. It does have a unique floor plan which the wife and I both like, however I could not find any record for such a floor plan. How would such a floor plan affect the weight distribution? Hope the link works.
A few of these were made and I agree with you it is my favorite floor. We looked for one of these for a long time and finally got a smaller model. By the e-bay description -I would count on replacing all the plumbing and water lines, repainting and eventually replcing axles - they just get old. This is the second time this trailer has been offered on e-bay - last time there were no bids. We e-mailed the person who posted this ad about a private sale but never got a repsonse. You might get it cheap!Any 30 year old trailer will need work - We've spent a fair amount of time and money on ours and love the result. Check the argosy forum for rough ideas of the costs of paint - per foot, axles, and other essentils. I'd figure around $4500.00 (if axles needed) or more to fix this one up. But remember - you can spreead the cost over timeand do the work yourself. Go for it!
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77 Argosy Minuet, 6 metre
77 Argosy 24, Rear door
AIR 3181, WBCCI/VAC # 5575
does have a unique floor plan which the wife and I both like, however I could not find any record for such a floor plan. How would such a floor plan affect the weight distribution?
The Rear Door Model Argosys were unique in the Airstream family line it is one Argosy feature that did not make it into the Airstream line so far as I have been able to learn. It was a model offered in either 22' or 24' coaches 1974-1977. The coaches with the Rear Door Model floorplan typically weighed approximately 400 pounds more with a hitch weight of about 150 pounds less than with the typical front door model. I have attached a scan of the page from the 1975 borchure showing the Rear Door Model 22':
I don't have access to the full model line 1974 data, but the floorplans of similar sized trailers were generally very similar from one year to the next in both layout and weight.
I agree with Janet, if the floor is in good condition not requiring repair that something between $4,500 and $5,000 should restore most systems depending upon how costly painting is in your area - - my local bodyshops have given me estimates of from $150.00 to $175.00 per linear foot for repainting my Minuet 6.0 Metre. A new water heater for my Minuet installed by my Airstream dealer was just short of $500.00 - - a replacement shower and valve was approximately $150.00 installed by my Airstream dealer. Repairing the refrigerator shouldn't be a big problem, if indeed all that it needs is the linkage for the lightling device.
Good luck with your investigation!
Kevin
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Kevin D. Allen WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC/Free Wheelers #6359 AIR #827
1964 Overlander International/1999 GMC K2500 Suburban (7400 VORTEC/4.11 Differentials)
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre/1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible (8.2 Liter V8/2.70 Final Drive)
Wow!!! some great info! Just a few more questions: 1) Wife likes A/C...how hard to add A/C to this unit?; 2) We have a 2004 Suburban, 1500, 5.3 liter, 3:70 final drive....Good enough to tow this unit?
Our last trailer adventure...we pulled our 26' Sportsman bunk house with our 1980 GMC 1500 Suburban. Once we arrived at our destination, I had to unhook the unit and drive my wife home because of severe migraine. (She didn't ride so well while towing, the kids and I were just fine) Returned to the campground and spent the long weekend , me and the kids, enjoying the outing. Had the trailer sold before we returned home. And to think we will be celebrating 32 years of (bliss?) this year.
Really thinking about this one...22' Argosy
Dave
__________________ You never know what you can do until you try to undo what you did.
You've got pleny of power to tow this trailer. It has tandem axles and should handle really well. I took a closer look at the e-bay photos. It looks like the axles probably need to be replaced - the wheel well is lower relative to the tire rim thatn it should be. we bought a 6 metre with trashed axles and DID tow it several 100 miles to get it home. The ride was OK but the trailer interior really takes a pounding - everything shakes. The leaky hot water tank and valves are to be expected. You could do the plumbing and hearer replacement jobs yourself if your somewhat handy. The copper and brass fittings at the hot water heater on ours actually cracked apart after a rough dirt road ride. We have replaced everything with pex. If the pipes have frozen in the trailer you will probably also need to replace the faucets. Stock plumbing parts from lowes fit.
We have also had to replce dump valves recently - age related failure.
The pics on e-bay show an older trailer in not great shape - fixable - but work to make right. If the body is in good shape and the floor is sound I would go for it. But understand that you have a lot of stuff to fix. If you buy it and are planning on towing it home be sure that the bearings are newly/recently packed. We had ours done where we bought it before we hit the road. I would be concerned about the condition of the floor - ask the owner to certify that it's in good shape or see if someone from this forum could inspect it. There is a thread of members locations and willingness to do inspections. Good luck.
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77 Argosy Minuet, 6 metre
77 Argosy 24, Rear door
AIR 3181, WBCCI/VAC # 5575
Wow!!! some great info! Just a few more questions: 1) Wife likes A/C...how hard to add A/C to this unit?; 2) We have a 2004 Suburban, 1500, 5.3 liter, 3:70 final drive....Good enough to tow this unit?
Our last trailer adventure...we pulled our 26' Sportsman bunk house with our 1980 GMC 1500 Suburban. Once we arrived at our destination, I had to unhook the unit and drive my wife home because of severe migraine. (She didn't ride so well while towing, the kids and I were just fine) Returned to the campground and spent the long weekend , me and the kids, enjoying the outing. Had the trailer sold before we returned home. And to think we will be celebrating 32 years of (bliss?) this year.
Really thinking about this one...22' Argosy
Dave
A/C not installed at the factory. Argosy's came either with or without the A/C prep package, which consisted of the drain pan, wiring, and drain tube installed in the roof. If this trailer has all this stuff, it would be pretty easy to install an A/C unit, if not you will have to get creative about running drainage, or let it drain over the outside of the coach, and run electric to the unit.
I tow my 1972 20' Argosy with a 1995 Dodge Dakota, it tows with no problem, but lets me know it is back there. The Suburban has been the tow vehicle of choice for Airstreams for a long time.
Also, from the pictures of the unit, it does need axles, and sooner rather than later.
Terry
1) Wife likes A/C...how hard to add A/C to this unit?;
This shouldn't be a tremendous problem if the coach was pre-wired for air condtioning. Starting in the early 1960s, the Airstream line was standard with pre-wiring for air conditioning; but the for the Argosy line it is not a clear issue - - according to my information (at least for the Minuet 6.0 Metre in 1978 the pre-wire was optional) it may not have been standard across the board for Argosy. One indicator of the existence of the pre-wire is the existence of an unused circuit breaker in the main service panel - - another indicator is the existence of a drain hose (typically found exiting from the bellypan near one of the wheels usually on the curbside). If the pre-wire is there, the air conditioner is installed into an opening cut in the roof a measured distance from the front main bow (where the front dome meets the main roof panel). Unlike other RVs of the era, Airstream and Argosy did not install their air conditioners in an existing opening - - the air conditioner was typically installed directly over the axle(s) or ever so slightly ahead of the axle(s)).
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2) We have a 2004 Suburban, 1500, 5.3 liter, 3:70 final drive....Good enough to tow this unit?
You should be within the factory guidelines. The empty weight of the 22' rear door entry coach is approximately 3,720 pounds with a GVWR of 5,800 pounds. If my notes are correct with the differential you mention it was tow rated for 6,800 pounds (2WD) or 6,500 pounds (4WD) and in either case the coach when loaded to its full GVWR would still be more than 700 pounds below the tow rating. I would be hesitant to go much larger in coach size with a 1/2 ton tow vehicle especially with less than 6.0 liters of displacement.
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Our last trailer adventure...we pulled our 26' Sportsman bunk house with our 1980 GMC 1500 Suburban. Once we arrived at our destination, I had to unhook the unit and drive my wife home because of severe migraine. (She didn't ride so well while towing, the kids and I were just fine)
Argosy and Airstreams tend to be among the smoothest towing trailers available, but as with any trailer the quality of ride relys upon several factors.
1.) Careful loading is necessary to maintain proper balance. Ideally, you want between 10% (absolute minimum) to 15% of the coach's weight on the tongue. With my Minuet, this means traveling with a full water tank as it sits right behind the hitch under the front gaucho insuring at least 15% on the hitch. I suspect that the water tank placement on the 22' Rear Door Model likely also has the front mounted water tank to assist in keeping weight forward and on the hitch for stability - - especially since it has a lighter hitch weight than the front door model of the same length.
2.) Tires with appropriate weight and trailer rating inflated to manage the loaded trailer weight help to insure stable towing.
3.) Functional shocks of the correct design for a coach. This is one place where Airstream is different from many coaches, all Airstream and Argosy coaches for several decades have been equipped with shock absorbers and when properly maintained, they help to insure a stable ride.
4.) Weight distributing hitch with distribution bars properly matched to the trailer's tongue weight also help to insure a stable, secure ride. I use the Reese Straight-Line hitch with my Minuet 6.0 Metre that includes the Dual Cam sway control to tow my 3,200 pound Minuet and the ride is stable and solid with 500 pound weight distributing bars. Hitch height adjustment is also critical to achieve a smooth stable ride - - this sometimes means a slightly lower setting than the factory recommendation to compensate for worn DuraTorque axles - - it was a problem with my Minuet - - had to have the hitch height raised about 1.5" after having the new DuraTorque axle installed last fall.
5.) Finally, if the DuraTorque axles are worn beyond tolerances, the ride will be impacted. Replacing the well worn DuraTorque axle in my Minuet brought about a very noticeable improvement in the stability of its ride (far less movement of contents while underway and a very slight decrease in movement noticed from tow vehicle).
Good luck with your investigation!
Kevin
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Kevin D. Allen WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC/Free Wheelers #6359 AIR #827
1964 Overlander International/1999 GMC K2500 Suburban (7400 VORTEC/4.11 Differentials)
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre/1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible (8.2 Liter V8/2.70 Final Drive)
wish I knew how to posts pictures on this forum,we have a really nice 1979 22ft,Argosy for sale.has no axle problem or any other problem expect booth cushions covers do need to be replaced. I will be glad to send pictures by e-mail if you would like to see them.has good paint and stripes..and of course since it is later than 1974 it has gray water tank.good tires...clean trailer... jimrogers@outdrs.net phone 870-932-2478
I know of someone in Virginia who wants to sell their '74 22' Argosy and have asked them to post an ad on this forum. It needs a lot of work but the more, the merrier, right?
__________________ Rog
May you camp where wind won’t hit you, where snakes won’t bite and bears won’t git you.
Just wanted to thank all those that replied. We've learned quite a bit in just a few hour. I'll post again when we make a decision. (still waiting for a reply from the seller)
Dave
__________________ You never know what you can do until you try to undo what you did.
This trailer is local to me and I drive by it every day on my way home from work. I went by yesterday and got to look around both inside and outside. Here are my observations.
1. It will definitely need a complete repaint. It is down to bare metal on the front dome and in spots on various other parts of the trailer.
2. It does not have A/C but it appears to be wired for it.
3. With the trailer empty, both axles are at zero angle. I suspect that it is usable as is but I wouldn't count on getting too much more use out of it without it needing an axle replacement.
4. It has the old Bowen water heater which, according to the owner, needs replacing. From the evidence of a drip I saw below the water heater, I believe that this is true.
5. All of the glass and screening appears to be intact and.
6. The awning appears to be complete but I didn't get a chance to determine it's condition or operation.
7. The dump valve appears original. I didn't test it.
8. Neither the upholstery nor the carpeting in the trailer is original. The upholstery is in decent shape. The carpeting is usable but wasn't installed very well.
9. There does not appear to be any soft spots in the floor.
10. Some of the cabinets need new latches. Bungee cords are being used to hold some of them closed.
If someone wants me to go by and check something in particular, let me know. It's being advertised locally for $2,200 with the weight distributing hitch included.
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