Visit our Popular Forums

Aage · 04-28-2013, 10:59 PM

Oh my, doesn't she clean up good!

Nice job.

Sprouty · 06-02-2013, 08:53 PM

Good news the original 1973 Dometic refrigerator is up and running in my Argosy. I had plugged it in earlier and though it was not working since I could not hear anything. I was talking to my father in law and he informed my that they did not make any noise and I should leave it plugged in for awhile. He was right the refrigerator is cold and the ice box is now frosty! Time to buy some Spotted cow and put it in the and share it with Ralph.
I also decided to get to work on replacing the rotten front floor area. I was able to pull out the seats and water tank and pull up the first section of floor. Next I want to get some POR-15 on the frame. I think I will investigate how to seal up the front windows before I replace the floor as well as the door and rest of the windows. I am also going to replace at least part of the belly pan as I work on the floor. My new axles should be here soon as well. I wish I had more time to work on it I am enjoying it a lot.

newsgauger · 06-04-2013, 07:43 PM

Hi Sprouty,

Are those 1x4 lumber that are under your front floor?

I'm currently working on the back portion of my 28' Argosy and like yours the edges have rotted away in places.

Looking at your pictures, my front plywood is in the same condition, so I'm interested in seeing more as you progress through the front repair.

Please let me know if those pieces of, what looks to be 1x4 planks, we put there by you or are original.

Chris

Sprouty · 06-05-2013, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newsgauger

Hi Sprouty,

Are those 1x4 lumber that are under your front floor?

I'm currently working on the back portion of my 28' Argosy and like yours the edges have rotted away in places.

Looking at your pictures, my front plywood is in the same condition, so I'm interested in seeing more as you progress through the front repair.

Please let me know if those pieces of, what looks to be 1x4 planks, we put there by you or are original.

Chris

They are 2X4 and there is also some 15" X 4" pieces of the same martial the floor is made out of running side to side as a bridge under the plywood for added support.

Sprouty · 07-01-2013, 06:52 AM

I am slowly working on the Argosy and pulled the rear area belly pan off Sunday to find a good amount of rotten flooring and a rusted cross member. I already have plywood and POR-15 ready to go. I have my own welder so it looks like I will try my hand at replacing the cross member if I need to. I started pulling apart the bathroom and will just keep plugging along as I have time. I really have to resist the temptation to redo every thing. I have been thinking about Pecs tubing, changing the layout of the trailer, and thinking about a cool new paint scheme. This is going to be a minimal fixer upper so we can use it this fall darn it!

247stream · 07-02-2013, 05:57 AM

Jeepers, as far as i'm concerned you already passed by the 'minimal fixer upper' stage. and wow, did it clean up beautifully and look at that cool oven color, love it!

In any case, it sure looks like a great find and i'm glad to see it being brought back to use. keep the posts coming

Sprouty · 07-02-2013, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 247stream

Jeepers, as far as i'm concerned you already passed by the 'minimal fixer upper' stage. and wow, did it clean up beautifully and look at that cool oven color, love it!

In any case, it sure looks like a great find and i'm glad to see it being brought back to use. keep the posts coming

I don't think there are many "minimal fixer upper" trailers to be had in this area now that I know a little bit more about them and how they are put together. Its turned into a project that's for sure but since I got it for $400.00 I think I am OK. If I get it on the road as just a glorified tent this fall I will be happy. I want to take my time and do things right as I go. I really enjoy working on it and figuring out what to do. Its great practice for my next project which will be the 1959 Avion Rover single axle I have. That one will get the full frame off luxury treatment.

Sprouty · 07-02-2013, 06:30 AM

I think I forgot to post I have the new axles and tires installed as well.

Sprouty · 08-09-2013, 04:21 PM

I have been plugging away on the Argosy and thought I would put an update on the thread. The rear cross member was pretty rusted as well as the hold down plate. I removed both of them and had new ones made at the local metal shop. Last week end I welded in the new rear cross member in after some initial problems with the welder got fixed and positioned the new hold down plate. I also cut about 12" of the rear panel off since the area that was against the hold down plate was corroded pretty bad. I plan to paint the new cross member this weekend and POR-15 the rest of the rear frame area. I have new L.E.D. tail lights here to wire up and have new L.E.D. clearance lights, back up lights , a new 7 pin trailer cable , junction box and break away switch ordered so I can get it all wired up before I start replacing the floor and inner panels. I will try to post some pictures of what I have been dealing with below. Wish me luck! I love tinkering on the thing but I need to have it road ready by Sept 12th for a vintage trailer rally . I plan to just have it as a shell at first and keep working on it. After I get the front and rear floor replaced I plan to pull the rest of the floor up and replace it as well as the insulation.

rkittyreed · 08-13-2013, 05:21 PM

Wow, she is turning into a real beauty! I have a 72 22", same inside color scheme. I love seeing your trailer come around. I did so much work on my little trailer, and now think I need to tear it all back out and replace the insulation. Why didn't I do that when it was all torn out the first time? Thanks for these updates, they are great, good luck with your Sept. 12th rally!

Sprouty · 08-13-2013, 06:32 PM

Thanks for the comments. I did get the cross member painted and POR-15 on the rest of the rear frame. I have removed almost all of the rotted plywood and I have been taking out pretty much any plywood area that was discolored as well. I have one small area to remove and I will be done. What I have left should be very solid. I plan to seal all the old and new plywood with poly to help it stay nice. I ordered a new converter today after I realized if I was going to get all the wiring set up before I finished the floor replacement I better get one on the way soon.

Sprouty · 08-13-2013, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkittyreed

Wow, she is turning into a real beauty! I have a 72 22", same inside color scheme. I love seeing your trailer come around. I did so much work on my little trailer, and now think I need to tear it all back out and replace the insulation. Why didn't I do that when it was all torn out the first time? Thanks for these updates, they are great, good luck with your Sept. 12th rally!

The insulation I have seen in my trailer as I was taking apart was pretty nasty so I just removed it and plan to replace it with new closed cell sheet insulation . The stuff on the upper part of the trailer seems good so I am not taking the inner panels out above the mid line of the trailer.

Sprouty · 08-31-2013, 04:09 PM

I got the wiring figured out and made cover plates to cover the old holes left by the original taillights and my wife and I buck rvivted them in place and sealed them up.

mtbguy · 09-03-2013, 10:35 AM

I used your idea as inspiration.

Just finished removing ugly broken plastic light housing off the rear of mine and fabricated aluminum cover plates, then installed new LED lights.

It turned out great and is much brighter than before. I know its not original anymore, but lights are for safety, and I always hated the way that plastic piece looked.

Sprouty · 09-06-2013, 07:36 PM

Man those things are bright. That's just the running lights. I still need to install the rear corners and front clearance lights.

jbsails · 09-08-2013, 07:00 AM

Wow...your Argosy is turning out great. The rear taillight fabrication looks terrific! Thanks for keeping us updated.

Sprouty · 09-08-2013, 09:29 AM

Some day time pictures

Sprouty · 03-16-2014, 08:05 AM

The bad spots in the floor have all been replaced and all the plywood old and new was sealed with poly. The insulation was replaced where we had interior panels off. We sealed up the areas/seams in the spots I replaced the exterior skin and tail lights from the inside. All the wiring is done and that includes an new inverter/charger, fuse panel and wiring for the brakes ect. We have started to put the interior back in and are looking forward to some camping this summer. The black tank was no good so we tossed it along with the toilet. Since the trailer never had grey tank we came up with a plan to make the reconstruction simpler. We are going to just get a blue tote for the gray water and buy a nice porta potty and not worry about installing a black or gray tank for now. I bought the tools for installing pecs plumbing upgrade and some fittings. I bought new washers and O rings for the faucets since I hope to clean them up and reuse them. I cleaned the water tank and checked it for leaks and at least that is in good shape. I need to buy a new water pump and I might upgrade the water heater to a new tankless set up. I am still researching that. here are a few pictures and I will update as more gets done.

You might notice that I changed the design of the rear end trunk area set up. I made a panel that slips up under the skin on the back of the trailer and seals it off so water will no longer be able to migrate off the trunk lid and under the trailer skin soaking the plywood. I have replaced the rear bumper and trunk but did not take a picture as of yet.