1977 Argosy 28' trailer questions

[joegal]

Hi,
I discovered I actually bought a 1977 not a 1978 Argosy as previously posted. Anyway my FIL towed it do southern Oregon last weekend and all went very well. I spent three days cleaning the interior (the previous owner was a chain smoker and lived in it for seven months in his wife's driveway) throwing out the carpets, scrubbing the exterior paint work and resealing some of the exterior trim joins.

I have three questions:

1) The slight leak in the water valve seems not to be from the large brass valve I mentioned in a previous post, but from a smaller part of the plumbing. The unit is protected by a black plastic cap (visible in the top-center of this photo, to the left of the red faucet.) The blue plastic top has a pin hole in it, hence the leak, and it has some illegible words about PSIs on it. does anyone know what it is and how to replace it?

2) The electrical converter box makes an annoying buzzing sound when using mains electricity. Any idea how to cure that?

3) The thick black rubber seal around one of the roof vents is gone. It's about three feet long and goes around the square vent that is above the kitchen and has a fan in it. (Not to be confused with the actual kitchen hood vent.) Any ideas if this is sold by the yard? I can't find it on classic trailers site.

I am back in Portland now but looking forward to going down and installing some sort of vinyl flooring (there was only one spot of plywood rot), couches, and putting new curtains in this beauty. The taking the family in it to the coast.

Any help will be gratefully recieved.

Joseph

[Argonaut20]

The large device is a pressure regulator, the next one (with the hose) is a pressure relief valve. You can likely find these with a web search, though I think I would try Vintage Trailer Supply for openers. Replacement is usually a soldering job that is best done very carefully as the length of the pipes is critical (not much room!). There is usually a check valve in this string, too. It is to keep the water from flowing out the street connection when using the on board water pump.

[Argonaut20]

I see the check valve now. It is just before the pressure regulator. The buzz you speak of is the famous Univolt buzz, curable by replacement with more modern equipment.

[kennethowens]

joegal - that is a nice looking Argosy. For the seals---
Here are 4 links that I use for looking for parts....most have toll fre phone #s
Griffith RV Recreational Vehicle Service - Oklahoma City - (405)-495-2590
Inland RV Center Inc.
New Products : ODMRV , Out-of-Doors Mart
Vintage Trailer Supply - Vintage travel trailer parts and supplies!

[joegal]

Thanks Kenneth and Argonaut20, I just called Inland RV and they are looking for the two parts. Just to clarify, it's called the Pressure Relief Valve and has a piece of plastic hose attached to it (which runs out the back of the trailer)?
Thanks for the soldering tip, I think my FIL can handle that. I don't really want to take it in somewhere for little jobs like that. They also said they could sell me a new Univolt charger on sale at $195, though it apparently would hum when it's charging (but not when the charging is complete?) Hmm.
Glad you like the vehicle, here are some more pix.

Cheers,
Joseph

[nick6930]

Joseph,

Do not waste your money on another univolt!!! It will hum like the old one. Put in a new Progressive Dynamics 9260: 60 Amp Converter with a charge wizard. It is the same money, with no noise and the charge wizrd will not over charge you battery. It is money well spent and really easy to hook up. Either Inland or Vintage Trailer Supply - Vintage travel trailer parts and supplies! will carry it. The amount of amp needed vary I went with a 60 amp.

Good luck
Nick

By the way, you may want to close up that circle hole. I just found out last month those holes allow mice to get in. boy was the wife pissed when the mouse ran across the bed while getting ready for bed.

[kenny2]

I would recommend the Intellipower PD9160A for the univolt replacement. Should be able to find one online for $120 or close to that. Easy to install.Keep the univolt fuse panel, I think there is a thread w pictures on this install.

[kenny2]

Would love to see some more interior pics. I'm assuming your trailer has the rear bedroom. I think the 28 was manufactured in pretty small numbers.

[kennethowens]

If your Univolt charger is "buzzin", save the money and use it
for a while....if it works....I like mine - coz it works....nothing
like the 60cycle humm....Hertz that is!

[joegal]

Thanks for the info and knowledge, guys.
I will talk to Inland about the difference between a Progressive Dynamics 9260 and a Intellipower PD9160A. For now I expect we'll just switch to battery power at night as I know my wife won't be able to sleep though the noise. even for me, a heavy sleeper, it's more of an annoying buzz than a comforting hum.

As for that hole, it actually *was* plugged with some sort of grey goop which I threw out. Now I know why! The trailer also came with its own set of ants.

I didn't take very good interior pix as it looked like a dump, but here are a few more.

I'm also thinking of putting vinyl tile on the plywood floor, maybe in a bold color, for ease of cleaning. (2 small kids.) If anyone has any warnings (like it expands in weird ways, or smells, or peels off) I'd love to hear them. Ultimately I'd like to get the original folding beds/couches, so if you know of a used interiors place let me know. Until then I think it's 2x4s and more plywood.
Thanks and have a great weekend.
Joseph

[Argonaut20]

You might think of laminate flooring. It can be obtained relatively cheaply when one of the big box 'hardware' stores overstocks. It isn't too bad to put in and is very tough.

[Argonaut20]

There is an ad in the classifieds run by a person parting out a 1979 Argosy. Look under the parts and appliances. He says parts are at zip code 04096, wherever that is. Sounds like the complete interior is up.

[3Ms75Argosy]

Wow! Love the front and rear panoramic windows! Nice find! Don't worry about the furnature, the orginals are kinda cheesy, 70's laminate in BROWN. I'd just search some pics of trailers you like, and the resto threads out there, and see what you could make on your own. 2x4's are sorta heavy... you'll find most people make stuff out of 1x2's... Uwe has some nice threads (also search his www.area63productions.com), or some of the other older rebuild threads for ideas.

What's the big silver dome up high? Is that covering the rest of the old tv antenna up on the roof? Vinyl works well, as does laminate, or roll vinyl.
Have fun!
Search the wbcci western Oregon unit. BluePearl on the forums is one of the members. Nice group.
Marc

[joegal]

I've been away the last couple of weekends. Last weekend I borrowed a 2009 Airstream International and took it to the Oregon Coast. That made our Argosy look so ghetto, but it was inspiring too. Very automated, and quite stylish with the bamboo theme (on the sliding glass cabinets, cupboard pulls, upholstery).

Marc,
the silver dome is a mixing bowl - we're going to stick it on to keep the rain out of the TV antenna hole. When it finally stops raining in SW Oregon.

My FIL has cut out the rotten bits of the floor and is patching them with new plywood. He hopes to lay bamboo floor eventually, with tile in the bathroom. He is also investigating moisutre between the walls in the front end, discovered when he took the interior panels off to get out the floor.

We still haven't done anything about the electrics, but I hope to go down there in a few weeks.

Thanks.

Joseph

[joegal]

UPDATE: My father in law has patched the rotted plywood floor and installed 1/2 inch bamboo flooring. He's also got a carpenter friend who is recreating the 2 bench and flip-down table for the front of the Argosy. I'm going down to see it in 2 weeks. Pictures will follow then.
Joseph

[Al's cousin]

Hi Joe,
I acquired a 1977 Argosy rear bedroom actually manufactured in late 1976. What battery does your unit take? Dimensions? Type? Model name?
Mary