'77 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre

[duo_77340]

I just purchased this '77 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre. I am planning to renovate/remodel for my own personal use. I purchased from the daughter of the original owner. Everything in the unit was original and reported to work when purchased. However, the refrigerator was replaced by the owner with an electric only model, after I purchased it, but I have removed it and a gas/electric model has been ordered. I have decided to convert the front dinette to a bed on a permanent basis and have cut the sofa into two pieces to form a new dinette. I have stripped all carpet out down to the aluminum flooring. I am still undecided on a flooring...considering cork or a vinyl plank...but it will definitely not be carpet. The tambour under the sink was trashed, but I plan to replace it. I have it scheduled for service at a local repair shop, since the black water valve is stuck, and I am not feeling too confident in the longevity of the A/C. I am also going to have the wheel bearings checked, packed and brakes checked. In addition to new tires...they are pretty much shot.

Does anyone have any experience with marmoleum as a countertop replacement? Also, I have not found the TV antenna wire...where might it be located inside the unit?

I do plan to do exterior work...just trying to get the interior completed first.

[maxandgeorgia]

Hello, and welcome to our forum. Your Argosy is the twin of one I hope to find someday. We really admire these trailers. You've gotten off to an energetic start and you have a clear vision of your renovation plans. Thanks for posting pictures, and please, keep us updated! ~G

[azflycaster]

On my 75 Trade Wind the TV antenna connection was on a plate on the wall in the kitchen area. It has a 12 volt power plug and two small holes about 3/4 of an inch apart. A plug with antenna wire goes in those holes.

[Janet H]

You have a big list.

The tv wire terminates in a wonky looking plug just to the left of the sink (look up) on the underside of the overhead bins.

Try putting 2 bags of ice and a little water into the toilet and driving around for an hour or two - the 'stuck' might be fixed

And welcome to the forum!

[myboyburt]

We just purchased our 1977 Argosy Minuet from my sister and her husband.
Last year they ripped out the carpet and installed "Traffic Master" vinyl plank flooring in "ScatterBug" (the name they gave our Argosy). It's beautiful, it adapted to the uneven metal floor and it cleans up well. I recommend it.

[SmokelessJoe]

Duo:

This is MARMOLEUM used as a counter top in my Argosy renewal.



I used the same colour on the floor. It’s really marvelous there but I don’t have any real world experience with the counter top yet.

Perhaps more photos on my main thread here:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f227...ase-18448.html

Best wishes, good luck,



Sergei

[adore]

Originally Posted by duo_77340

I am also going to have the wheel bearings checked, packed and brakes checked. In addition to new tires...they are pretty much shot.

From what I see of the tire... the trailer seems pretty low. I would check the axle if I were you before doing any work on the wheel bearings or/and brakes. Your axle may well have to be replaced. I also own a 1977 Minuet and this is what I have to do...

[cameront120]

Were the aluminum floors in the Minuets just a single sheet of aluminum, or were they a sandwich panel of some sort? I'm assuming that this floor is structural in nature.

[duo_77340]

Thanks to everyone that has replied. I appreciate the information. This helps us out alot.

I will have them look at the axle first.

It is my understanding that the floor is plywood, sandwiched between two sheets of aluminum.

[georgezink]

The floor on our '77 six metre is styrofoam sandwiched between two layers of aluminum. The "sandwich" panels are joined together every 4 feet (front to back) with an aluminum spline which is rivited through the two adjoining panels. These rivited floor joints present a problem for flooring options as the rivit heads could "telegraph" through thin sheet products. Plus, the styrofoam sandwich floor seems to have more spring to it.

We're still in the process of remodel/restore and haven't gotten to the floor yet - but it would seem that a floating "click" floor with added underlayment would offer some firmness to the minuet floor as well as address the bumps from the rivit heads. I have found the "click" option in laminates, hardwoods, bamboo, cork, and linoleum. Some have an mdf core, some an hdf core. Some come with a foam or cork backing. Right now, I'm leaning towards click Marmoleum with an hdf core and a cork backing - I've ordered color samples. I would use more cork underlayment during the install.

Hope this helps...

George

[kenny2]

The floor on our minuet is also the Al/foam sandwich. I picked it up at a good price partially because the PO thought the floor was "rotten".
I installed a laminate floor from Sutherlands (a lumber/hardware chain) about four years ago and it has worked well. Also makes the floor seem firmer.
Replaced the Suburban furnace w an Olympian heater and love it.Quiet and no battery drawdown. Recommend these heaters highly!

[adore]

Originally Posted by kenny2

The floor on our minuet is also the Al/foam sandwich. I picked it up at a good price partially because the PO thought the floor was "rotten".
I installed a laminate floor from Sutherlands (a lumber/hardware chain) about four years ago and it has worked well. Also makes the floor seem firmer.
Replaced the Suburban furnace w an Olympian heater and love it.Quiet and no battery drawdown. Recommend these heaters highly!

I also took the carpet out and installed a laminate floor years ago and nothing has moved. The subfloor took care of the rivets so they didn't cause any problem for the installation and since then. What is size of your Olympian heater and where did you install it?

[duo_77340]

I would like to install a new dinette. I would like to attach the table to the floor instead of using the wall mounts. Is this possible given the aluminum styro sandwich construction?

[cameront120]

You could drop the belly pan and use a piece of plate steel on the underside and the top of the aluminum sandwich floor through bolted to create blocking onto which a table base could be attached. You could also use wood for the blocking. Pressure treated or treated plywood on the underside and maybe a nice piece of hardwood on the interior side. Basically, I think you need blocking of sorts that will have the integrity to support the table.

[kenny2]

Would recommend using the walls for the table support. I remove the supports for the Univolt/DC fuse panel and most of the screws just pulled out of the floor. On the other hand I placed carpet under the new dinette area and installed a threshhold w screws and they seemed to bite in just fine. Still no change four years later.

[duo_77340]

We have finished the interior and are leaving on vacation in the morning. The Minuet spent two weeks in the repair shop. We had a new AC, black and grey water pulls replaced, brakes, wheels, and axle checked. We replaced the tires and wheels. We are finished with the first part of the interior update.

[myboyburt]

Very nice! I really like the colors of the fabric and it's retro look.

Flooring is beautiful too.

[adore]

To duo 77340:
Nice interior indeed. It is always interesting to see other people's ideas. Could you tell me about your new refrigerator... brand and model. I would also like to know if you had to modify (enlarge / reduce) the space you had for it considering the size of the one you had before, and if so... then... how did you do it?

[duo_77340]

The new refrigerator is a Dometic RM2410. Although it is a very tight fit, the only modification I had to make was to use boards under the unit to raise it to meet the base of the countertop. I had previously removed the fournace air duct which ran under the old refrigerator as it is no longer needed. We are very pleased with the final result.

[biggoofball]

Your interior is beautiful! I'm always surprised how roomy the Minuet's are even with the narrower track. Here is a Dometic fridge cross reference from the dometic site.
http://www.dometic.com/71390b03-95e5...405775ef.fodoc