Our 1976 28' Argosy (Gussy) renovation

[my3sonsdad]

Hmmm, so would you have seen the frame separation if you had not removed the subfloor?

[dhbinkley]

No mine was visible from the side once the belly pan was off.

Here she is all naked....

Frame stripped and ready to get it media blasted and welded back together.

Ok, looking for input, I'm thinking of adding the brackets to raise the frame and put 16" wheels and tires on. I've seen people do it on other airstreams, but not an argosy. My thinking is to give me more bottom clearance to enlarge the Grey tank and maybe the black one too. Instead of having the waste valve exit the frame I would lower it and put it right below.
If anyone has done the 16" wheels and lift bracket please share your thoughts.

[rugjenkins]

Argosy and airstreams are exactly the same. The lift would be no different. I plan on doing a 3 inch lift on mine also with 32 degree down angle on the axles. My tanks sit inside the frame rails. The waste valve is below the rails.

[my3sonsdad]

Ok, maybe there’s more than one way to skin an Argosy, but I think I’ve read elsewhere to leave the U channel attached to the outer skins Vs the subfloor (as in post #15).

Does it make a difference?

[rugjenkins]

Nope none at all.

[dhbinkley]

Starting to get back to work on Gussy.

The welder is almost done with the frame repairs and I was wondering if anyone have the outrigger position dimensions for a 28' center bath?

The main ones I want to make sure are correct are the wheel well and the step dimensions.
All dimensions are center to center of outrigger:
Wheel Wells 86.5" apart
Steps 24" apart

Starting at the front main channel end and measuring down to the middle of the outriggers.
10",34",58"(step),82"(step),106",123.5"(wheelwell) ,190"(wheelwell),210",
238.5",250"

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Racer_Vol]

I was going to offer to help but after looking at my measurements your center bath and my 28' 1974 twin appear to be quite a bit different. I will double check my dimensions tomorrow to make sure I didn't do anything stupid. I also live relatively close to you in Concord in the event a physical double check would be of benefit to you.

Oh, and hopefully this will still prove helpful but I have found that Citristrip will soften the Vulkem significantly and make it quite easy to scrape off. Use it generously and cover with cling wrap for a few hours and it helps a ton.

RV

Originally Posted by dhbinkley

Starting to get back to work on Gussy.

The welder is almost done with the frame repairs and I was wondering if anyone have the outrigger position dimensions for a 28' center bath?

The main ones I want to make sure are correct are the wheel well and the step dimensions.
All dimensions are center to center of outrigger:
Wheel Wells 86.5" apart
Steps 24" apart

Starting at the front main channel end and measuring down to the middle of the outriggers.
10",34",58"(step),82"(step),106",123.5"(wheelwell) ,190"(wheelwell),210",
238.5",250"

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[dhbinkley]

Thanks Racer Vol for the tip using citristrip on the vulkem!

As I was lining up the rear JC channel it didn't make sense to me why there are no outriggers closer to the rear to support the floor?
So my thought would be to move the last outrigger closer to the back to give more support. In my picture I would move the last outriggers to be inline with the last support that goes perpendicular to the main frame rails...
any thoughts of why not to do this?

[IMG]20181115_172629.jpg[/IMG]

Hoping to be done with the frame by the end of the month...cross your fingers!

[dhbinkley]

I have some questions I hope someone knows the answers to.....
1. can someone tell me the inside distance between the 2 outriggers for the steps?
I ordered a new style step release from ODM and it is different than my steps. http://odmrv.com/catalog/index.php?m...roducts_id=222
the part of the top step that fits into the outrigger is about 22.5" and the new step release is about an inch wider.
2. Has anyone used the curved channel from ODM for the front and back.
http://odmrv.com/catalog/index.php?m...oducts_id=1002
this has the channel for the flooring, but my original did not. Anyway the curve is a little bit off and before I cut it to match the original I wanted to check first.
thanks in advance!

[Short563]

Looks great! Do you have any more pictures of the with the tanks installed?

[Caracola]

Now I see why you ask me about cleaning...my Argosy did not have that glue and my endcaps are in fiberglass so no rust

[dhbinkley]

Finally I'm done (almost) with the POR15 on the frame

Short563...I haven't installed the tanks yet, I'm going to do that after I get the shell back on to make sure I have the layout that I want.

Caracola...Yes my end caps are steel, I had a welder try and cut out some of the rusted areas and reweld in a patch...the first guy I used warped the part where the 3 marker lights are in the front the second guy tried to correct the first mistake and was able to get it pretty close...hoping it works when riveting it back one.

If anyone can send me pictures of the steps, step latch and the distance between the outriggers I'd really appreciate it!

After Christmas time to start the flooring...officially starting the reconstruction...so excited!

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

[Short563]

Your painted frame looks great! Do the steps bolt on or are the welded to the frame?

[dhbinkley]

Thanks!
The steps are bolted on (2) and then there is a special outrigger that has a slot for the steps to slide in and out.
I'll post a pic when I get a chance.
David

[dhbinkley]

Both axles POR15'd and reattached with the lift kit.

New tongue jack from etrailer going on tmw.

As I mentioned earlier the new front and rear channels were a little different that the originals that Gussy had, so I had to make some partial cuts to form the channel to the same as the old ones.


I'm using 3/4" Advantech...Hindsight I would have just used the 5/8 so I didn't have to use the router to make the edge that goes in the channel 5/8", also the Tongue and grove seemed like a good idea, but it was harder than I thought to get them fit together...removing the tongue on most the sheet and will use a biscuit jointer to add a little strength.
Not sure if anyone else has had this problem but trying to get everything square is a pain, I finally just started measuring from the front of the 2 main rails to make sure I'm getting to far off. Taking the frame back to the welder Friday to fix some of the outriggers that were not welded on level with the frame rails
Goal is to have the channel and subfloor 100% down by the end of the weekend!

I couldn't find a coupler repair kit so I cleaned up and POR15'd the old one.


Gotta say enjoying putting her back together much more than wire brushing the frame...

[my3sonsdad]

How is Gussy going?

[dhbinkley]

Thanks for asking...I see you have a new project, the 30 footer looks really nice!

Lots of updates on Gussy.
In late Jan I was able to get the shell back on and brought her home. Bad news is that I didn't think about towing it home (short distance) without the endcaps and front and rear windows in. I took it slow but it bounced some and wrinkled some of panels on the ends....duh!
After I got it home I removed some of the panels that are on the sides of the panoramic windows and will make new ones. there were 2 that were cut wrong and had very little overlap on the window frames...a leak waiting to happen
http://www.airforums.com/forums/atta...0&d=1557364705
http://www.airforums.com/forums/atta...1&d=1557364705
I cleaned all the caulking off the front rib and shell where the end cap will go back in so that I get a good seal and can get to the back of the rivets. Ended up using a propane torch to heat the rib and then scrape the caulk off..best way I could find!

I have the front endcap painted with 2 coats of por-15 and I'm almost ready to it back together.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/atta...3&d=1557364705

[my3sonsdad]

Good to hear you’re still at it!

[dhbinkley]

Gussy needs some new shoes...(she has the Dexter lift kit)
I have learned much from reading this forum, but would love to hear from Argosy owners....
She has Carlisle ST205/90D 15's on now. Not sure what the factory size was?
Load - 2600 lbs
Dia - 29.4"
Width - 8.1"

I have 2 options as I want the Sendel wheels S20 wheels
1. Buys some used 15" wheels (1/2 cost of new) and put on Michelin LTX 235/75 R15's (215's don't support enough weight)
Load - 2271 lbs = 9084lbs
Dia - 28.8"
Width - 9.25"

2. Buy new 16" wheels and put on the Michelin LTX 225/75 R16's
Load - 2679 lbs = 10716lbs
Dia - 29.2"
Width - 8.86"

Being a 28' Argosy I think either option will give me plenty of room in the weight dept, I'm most concerned about the width, going from current 8.1" to 9.25.

Your thoughts....

[my3sonsdad]

Pics of the lift ... or it didn’t happen! LOL

Will you need new steps? Actually I’m really curious how the profile looks with the lift. I’ve started towing with an Excursion which has modified springs that give it a couple extra inches in lift. I think it might be good to have the Argosy raised as well...we bottomed out on several sites & gas stations on the last trip out.

Sorry, I can’t offer advice on the wheel/tire options but definitely interested in the feedback of others as well.