Minuet Floor

[GeocamperAS]

What year and/or model Minuet had an aluminum floor? And would that help prevent frame rot?

[overlander64]

Greetings tiger!

Originally Posted by tiger

What year and/or model Minuet had an aluminum floor? And would that help prevent frame rot?

As with Airstream, there are few absolutes with Argosy travel trailers from the first generation. The 6.0 Metre Minuet (1977-1979) is the most common coach with the composite aluminum floors, but not all of these coaches came with these floors. The 6.7 Metre Minuet (1977-1979) constitutes a small number of the coaches with the composit aluminum floor . . . it seems, however, that more 6.7 Metre coaches have plywood subfloor rather than the composite aluminum. The 7.4 Metre Minuet (1977-1979) does not appear to have been produced with aluminum composite floors as I am unaware of any reported 7.4 Metre coaches having aluminum composite floors.

I am afraid that I can't anwer your question about problems with interaction between the steel frame and the composite aluminum floors. The biggest problem that I have heard reported with the composite aluminum floors is a tendency for "ruts" to form in high traffic areas that can complicate the installation of laminate floor coverings.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

[Argonaut20]

The aluminum floor MIGHT help prevent frame rot, but I wouldn't count on it. The rust I've seen on frames came from water getting onto and staying on the frame. That was from leaks from the back running down inside the frame. Folks that have redone the floor in their Argosy might chime in here as they would have seen evidence that the wood floor was hard on the frame.

[GeocamperAS]

Kevin and Argonaut, thanks for the input.

I noticed you both have a 78 6.0 Do either of them have aluminum or wood?

[overlander64]

Greetings tiger!

Originally Posted by tiger

Kevin and Argonaut, thanks for the input.

I noticed you both have a 78 6.0 Do either of them have aluminum or wood?

My Minuet 6.0 Metre has the composite aluminum floors. I am the second owner of the coach and it has had regular seam sealing so leaks have been kept under control. The bellypan has only been off of a small portion of the coach below the rear bathroom and there was no evidence of rust . . . there was a little surface rust where the paint had been scratched on the frame. I don't know whether the factory placed an paticular type of material between the frame rails and the composite aluminum floors, but with my limited visual inspection there didn't appear to be an excess of corrosion on either surface. The problem with "ruts" is minor in my coach, and the interior floor covers is Armstrong laminate flooring with Armstrong Quiet Step Underlayment.

Kevin

[Argonaut20]

I have had the rear belly pan off my '78 and I didn't find much indication of corrosion or rust on the frame. I owned a '79 with a wooden floor and there was surface rust on the frame attributable to water running down from the hose/electrical pigtail storage compartment and being held on the frame by the belly pan. POR15 or Rust Encapsulator is a good paint to put on the frame whenever you drop the belly pan.

As for the floor, I, too, have put laminate floor down and have no trouble with hills and valleys in the floor. I would say that laminate flooring is a 'must have' for those aluminum floors.

[GeocamperAS]

Thank you both for the info. Now I need to find one at a reasonable price. Love my 28' but would like to have a 6.0 also.

[Becky B.]

Originally Posted by tiger

Thank you both for the info. Now I need to find one at a reasonable price. Love my 28' but would like to have a 6.0 also.

There's one listed in the forum classifieds right now.

[GeocamperAS]

Originally Posted by beckybillrae

There's one listed in the forum classifieds right now.

Are you talking about the 1977 for 10k. Ah yah....a little out of my price range

[Becky B.]

Originally Posted by tiger

Are you talking about the 1977 for 10k. Ah yah....a little out of my price range

That's the one I was talking about. Hope you find something in your price range.

[GeocamperAS]

Thanks Becky for keeping an eye out. I did a shell off floor replacement and complete renovation on my 28' and enjoyed every minute of it. I hope to find a minuet that's needs some work but this time keep it as original as possible. I just hope I have the patience to wait for the right deal.

[GeocamperAS]

Did the 1972 20ft Argosy's come with aluminum floors?

[mutcth]

Nope - but that 1972 is a foot wider, which helps it feel more spacious than the Minuet. (You do also give up a second streetside window and the grey water tank.)

Tom

[GeocamperAS]

Originally Posted by mutcth

Nope - but that 1972 is a foot wider, which helps it feel more spacious than the Minuet. (You do also give up a second streetside window and the grey water tank.)

Tom

Do they use the black tank for the gray water?

[mutcth]

No. It goes straight out to the ground, likely into the portable blue boy tote tank of your choice.

[overlander64]

Something else to consider is that a 6.0 or 6.7 Metre Minuet's graywater tank only collects waste water from the kitchen sink and bathroom vanity as the tank is mounted on top of the floor in the bottom of the streetside rear wardrobe (I haven't thought to ask owners of 7.4 Metre Minuets about the location of the graywater tanks on the largest Minuets). Some Minuet owners have added a graywater tank below the floor that collects just the shower waste water, but I am not familiar with the details of how this modification was accomplished.

Kevin