1974 Argosy 28'

[dwntreader]

Well, it has been nearly three weeks since we brought our '74 Argosy home and two weeks since I was last able to make it up to the location where I'm storing her currently. This weather in Atlanta is really hampering my plans, but based on my reading here, renovation timelines are best if left very very flexible.

I'm still looking for some local Atlanta resources for parts, advice, and even a helping hand if so inclined. Aviator (Craig) has been kind enough to provide some useful input and even offered to come take a look at the Argosy. I greatly appreciate that Craig.

Anyone else in Atlanta want to throw out some of their favorite resources and maybe swing by to offer the benefit of their experience? I'm totally new to Airstreams and Argosys, but my wife convinced me would could tackle renovating our Argosy, so here we are. Ok, in all truthfulness, it didn't take much convincing. I love getting my hands dirty and building things. With that said, I recognize there will be a lot of work best left to the experienced or professional.

I've started carefully removing much of the interior pieces, which will be out aside for re-use, to sell, or to dispose of altogether. Our Argosy has the double bunks, which we doubt we'll keep, so if anyone is interested in those, let me know. I'm having a little trouble figuring out how to remove the Dometic refrigerator. I've been able to remove all the plates holding it in, but when I pull it out from the wall, I'm not sure of the proper way to disconnect the propane line. I'm sure I'll figure it out with enough searching on these forums.

The floor boards look horrible near the door and on both sides along the front near the side windows. My hammer fell just a couple feet off the top of the dinette and managed to go straight through the plywood. Not a good sign. I'm going to continue gutting the thing front to back. After which is when I know I'll need some assistance with determining the best way to proceed with getting the chassis & floorboards where they need to be before I tackle anything else.

Well, that is where I'm at for now. Thank you all very much for the tremendous resource that these forums are. There is obviously a wealth of knowledge and experience encapsulated here. I look forward to meeting the locals and not-so-locals once I get out on the road.

Obligatory pictures...















Even found a classic...

[Colin H]

Greetings & welcome to the Forums. Yeah, this is the place to be to find answers to all your questions. Another source is The Vintage Airstream Podcast | Vintage Trailer Restoration . Take lots of photos as you go & you'll do fine.
Good luck,
Colin

[AldeanFan]

Congratulations on your purchase,
I can certainly relate to having the weather interfere with working on the trailer, mine is buried behind a snow bank!

I've been planning to add bunks to my Safari, if you have parts you are not using consider me interested.

Mark

[Patk]

We just got a '76 model 28 footer Saturday. I have a great mentor who I believe can tackle and succeed at anything, but we're looking for all the right ways to proceed and that's where you all come in!
Ours may not be as rough as yours dwntreader but I suspect we both have quite a journey ahead of us. Wife and I plan to take 3 years if necessary, and retire into this one.
Let the adventure begin!

[dwntreader]

The gut job is just about complete. I still have the bathroom plumbing to deal with, once I figure out how it is all connected. I spent a good part of this past Saturday cleaning out all the debris and carefully chipping away at the rotted areas in the floorboards. I'll be watching the forecasts carefully, in order to find a few sunny days to begin the exterior work of stripping and sealing.

I haven't been good at creating a master plan, so I need to sit down with my wife and do that soon. My wife is big on lists, whereas I typically fly by the seat of my pants on projects. Of course, a project of this size and complexity isn't something to tackle without a clear plan... don't tell my wife I said that.

I forgot to take a picture of the nearly empty and somewhat clean interior, but here is what I have so far...

*** Sorry about the photos being sideways or upside down. No time to fix that at the moment! ***

Lovely countertop and nice green porcelain sink:



After I started removing the bathroom:



Hmmm... need to disconnect the tank:



I expected worse back here and elsewhere:

[dwntreader]

Hello again... I'm looking to contract out some of the structural work on my Argosy.

Any recommendations for folks in the Atlanta area that can do some welding to shore up the slightly sagging rear frame of my Argosy?

[paddle whisp]

I live in Griffin, GA. I gutted a 77 Minuet Argosy starting in May. We're putting it back together now. I've learned a lot of lessons and have found some great resources. Also, I have a "project manager / rv repairman" who is amazing... and a body shop large enough to facilitate a rv, should you decide to paint yours.
If I can help you, feel free to private message me.

[Luke55]

I got a 79 22' minuet last week. I didn't plan to do a whole lot more than grind the rust and repaint. But nothing much seems to work properly. I'm trying now to figure out how to remove the fridge. Then I need to learn why so much water is leaking out from underneath the entire back end.

[dwntreader]

Best of luck Luke55!

I'm still trying to figure out just how much to address on mine. I had an RV repair guy come out today to look over my project and hoped to get some guidance, but now I have more questions than answers. I thought I might need the rear welded to sure it up, but he said it wasn't needed. I thought I might need to address some rust spots, he said it wasn't needed. On and on and on…

I guess what 'needs' to be done is more a question of time and budget rather than some concrete standard. At least that is the impression I was given. I just know I want the thing to be safe for my family and functional for the two purposes I intend to use the Argosy for.