Calling on all Argosy Minuet Owners

COArgosy78 · 10-02-2008, 06:03 PM

I have been wanting to find out for awhile how many Argosy Minuet owners there are here on the forums & where they are located so thought I would start this thread.

Not that I want to leave anyone else out, but just thought it would be fun as a Minuet owner to have a place to see all other Minuet owners, which Minuet they have & their home base. Also, if they have done anything with their Minuet that might help the rest of us out - it would all be in one place (for instance, I keep looking for the little plastic pieces that fit onto the end of our gaucho slides, no luck yet on replacing those altho I might have a local guy here who can reproduce

, we will see). Anyway, would love to have the head count of Minuet owners on an ongoing basis.

**overlander64** · 10-02-2008, 06:58 PM

Greetings Leigh!

My minuet is a 1978 6.0 Metre and I am the second owner. It still has its original countertops, cabinets, refrigerator, furnace, water pump (rebuilt), and acrylic windows. Its axle has been replaced with a new one having 10% greater capacity. Mine was built at the Versailles, OH assembly plant in the early spring of '78 -- a special order for the first owner.

Since acquiring the coach, it has received the following:

New foam and upholstery, new draperies, floor covering, and credenza table by Fowler Interiors of Symsonia, KY.
New axle, toilet, air conditioner, bat wing antenna, Magnatec Converter, and water heater -- Ace Fogdall RV in Cedar Falls, IA.
Original Worthington LP Tanks recertified.
New Rockguard modified and installed by Ace Fogdall RV.

The only part that I am hoping to see available in reproduction form at this point are the ABS ARGOSY steel wheel center caps -- both of mine shattered and depositied themselves along I-57.

Kevin

myboyburt · 10-02-2008, 08:16 PM

We own one. Love it too.

It's not our everyday camper, our Excella is. The Minuet goes out for vintage rallies and was pressed into service for this year's NEU Caravan to PEI.

Janet's Husband · 10-02-2008, 09:14 PM

1977 6 Meter, New Inteli-Power, New plumbing black and fresh, new upholstery, new counter top, new dinette table, new axle, lots more.
Still have the composite aluminum floor and the paint is great.
The interior layout gets raves all the time. Lots of room and people are amazed at the large counter space.
I'm working on a 24' Rear door Argosy shell off restoration, but we will keep the Minuet.

myboyburt · 10-03-2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janet's Husband

1977 6 Meter, New Inteli-Power, New plumbing black and fresh, new upholstery, new counter top, new dinette table, new axle, lots more.
Still have the composite aluminum floor and the paint is great.
The interior layout gets raves all the time. Lots of room and people are amazed at the large counter space.
I'm working on a 24' Rear door Argosy shell off restoration, but we will keep the Minuet.

Having so much counter space is the bomb! And the layout and inside storage capabilities of our Minuet 6.0 is fantastic (outside storage does not exist). A lot of thought went into the design of this little rig. Only thing that makes me laugh is the lowness of the bathroom sink and toilet. I think it was designed for really short people.

Argonaut20 · 10-03-2008, 07:36 AM

1978 6 Meter with new bunch of stuff too numerous to list. I have the original manuals and price sheet for the unit. One word of advice for the Minuet owner: get a front window guard ASAP. Replacing that window was expensive and not fun!

COArgosy78 · 10-03-2008, 11:38 AM

Hey there your guys! Thanks for the posts so far.

Like the rest of you, we have a love affair going with our "Moonunit" and would not trade her for anything. We have done a few repairs - replaced hot water & inverter, fixed some of the aluminum dents outside, replaced the belt & rubline vinyl strips w/blue, repainted the "Argosy outside trim blue, redid the formica countertop in the kitchen & cleaned/repainted the inside of the stovetop w/a rustproof paint, pulled out carpet (will replace w cork) replaced gaucho cushion w/futon, and have a Moon,Stars,Sun theme going inside. Our next big item is the axle as she rides pretty low & everything gets shaken up when we take her out!

I should also mention that she is a 6.7metre that we purchased from a family in Canada who used her for camping, but she was also a Mother-in-law apt part time! She was all original when we got her - the harvest gold decor and in really good shape, considering.
She now resides on the outskirts of Denver, Co.
Hope to hear from more Minuet enthusiasts.

George H · 10-03-2008, 06:29 PM

Hi...I'm new to this forum and have owned a Minuet in the past and it might be for sale again. Could anyone tell me the height of the 6 meter Minuet from ground level to top outside...assuming there is no air conditioner etc. added on top. I need to determine if I can fit it in a shipping container to send over to my winter home in New Zealand. Thanks for any assistance. Overall length and width would also be appreciated.....
George in Victoria, Canada

COArgosy78 · 10-03-2008, 07:08 PM

George - I just copied this from a previous post in the Argosy Forums. Maybe it will give you what you are looking for...

Minuet 6.7 Argosy
Hi! Our 6.7 Minuet with a newer axle. For reference the height to the top of the wheel well opening is 25 in. This will let you make adjustments for axle wear, tire pressure, tire type, etc. From the ground it is 9 ft. 4 in. to the top of the AC shroud (old Armstrong original type AC). From the ground to the top of the front vent is 8 ft. 5 in. Ground to the top of the antenna 8 ft. 11 in. Ground to the top of roof is 8 ft. 3 in. Ours is sitting on a concrete garage floor. We have a 10 ft. overhead door and it goes through with room to spare.
Larry....in frosty Ohio

loudruff · 10-03-2008, 08:23 PM

Larry and I have a 1978 Argosy Minuet with aluminum floors. We have been adding little by little. I have reupholstered the two gauchos, Larry replaced the carpeting, replaced the axle, the water pump, the water heater. We have done a bunch of little things. We are the second owners. It belonged to my parents and they passed it along to us. Still lots to do but we are out camping and enjoying it!!

COArgosy78 · 10-04-2008, 04:52 PM

Loudruff - Nice to see another 6.7metre add to this post

Again, if anyone has done updating, replacing, or parts finding & feel that it would help the rest of us in relationship to the Minuet, I, for one, would love to know. I hope that having it on a post relating to the Minuet will make it easy to find. It might help other AS owners as well, I don't know, but I will find it easy to find here.

For instance, I am researching axles right now and have gotten some mixed ideas about what to use on the Minuet. Even when giving the axle weight to some companies that install axles (Dexter, in particular) I have gotten different answers on which one to purchase. I have learned that if you order it, it is your, even with mistakes, so am anxious to hear from other Minuet owners as to what they know and can pass on.
Keep em coming!

loudruff · 10-04-2008, 05:57 PM

Leigh, we have been there and done that! Axles were NOT hard to do. Larry did it himself. Here is the link to our thread on that subject. PM us if you want to and I will give you our phone number.
Argosy Minuette 6.7 metre low rider

Janet's Husband · 10-04-2008, 08:14 PM

Direct replacement axles are available from Inland RV. Get them fully loaded hubs and brakes all new. Don't forget to get the shocks at the same time. They come with new mounting bolts and it now takes me about an hour to replace an axle.
You will need 4 jack stands if it has a single axle or if it is a double axle just roll up on a set up on boards to clear the tire for the axle being replaced. Then repeat for the other.
Disconnect the brake wires and one end of the shocks remove the 4 mounting bolts and lower it with the floor jack. Reverse the procedure to install.
A floor jack to hoist the axle into place is a must have. I would also recommend an impact driver with the proper sockets for the job, this tool makes it much easier. You can get a impact driver 1/2" drive from Harbor Freight and a set of impact sockets for less than $100.00. This is a good tool to have around the shop for tight bolts and tire lugs when repacking bearings.
3 axles later and all of the tools paid for themselves many times over.

COArgosy78 · 10-06-2008, 06:05 PM

Loudruff and Gary - thanks for that info on the axles. I think we have decided to wait until Spring to replace because I was also reading a post about not letting a trailer sit for long periods of time with weight bearing on the axle. Waiting will give a bit more time to figure it all out as well as not messing up a brand new axle by having it sit all winter, but what I read from you both was helpful. One thing I'm confused about is whether As is using Henschen or Dexter axels now? I've read posts that mentioned both.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone w/a Minuet using a Dexter axle for replacement as that is what they are recommending here locally.

Loudruff, one thing that caught my eye in your Lowrider post was the fact that you have all the original manuals. Is there any chance that if I paid the cost for reprint, I could get copies? I sent off for a manual thru AS, but could only get a copy of an Argosy manual, which refers more to the regular Argosy, not to the Minuet. Some things - like Vista view windows - just don't relate and some things just seem to be missing in the copy I have.