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martin300662 · 03-22-2016, 02:34 PM

Some of you may know that last weekend I could resist the temptation to bid on a non-running 1977 red-bath 20ft Argosy on Ebay.

The Argosy, it turns out was in need of some TLC, but was previously owned by balrgn on the forum, who also turns out to be in the same WBCCI unit as me. Balrgn charted his work on Peanut on these hallowed pages (http://www.airforums.com/photos/showimage.php?i=11033).

The current (now previous) owner also posted on the site a few times, reporting starting issues and as well as coming together with a tool booth on the first journey home.

Well the tow truck collected Peanut this morning; and $250 for the tow, two new batteries, 3 hours labor to clean all the fuel from the tank and lines (Ed the shop owner reports the tank was 1/4 full with water), clean the carb $25 bucks of fuel and she is running great!

Total spend so far $3100, needs a set of tires and some parts from my donor, but Peanut is back on the road and ready to head to Brads place. Some photos from the Ebay listing.

Lily&Me · 03-22-2016, 02:40 PM

Pretty cute!

Love those little Argosy motor homes,

Maggie

chiefair · 03-22-2016, 02:56 PM

Congratulations, great buy!

Isuzusweet · 03-22-2016, 05:36 PM

Now I'm confused.

Bought Argosy, rebuilt Argosy, using parts from another Argosy, to be shipped back to the UK when you get mustered out of the US; and now you've bought another Argosy, which is been driven by someone who's rebuilding his own Argosy.

Why did you buy this Argosy? Are you into M&M's? You're hoping to save on insurance by having multi car coverage?

Cheers
Tony

martin300662 · 03-22-2016, 05:48 PM

That about sums it up Tony....

Don't you see the logic? My wife struggles as well, I wish people could keep up!

martin300662 · 03-22-2016, 08:48 PM

Well maybe I should explained....

Bella is being rebuilt for our retirement, we hope to keep her for the next 20 years. Once complete and we have toured a little, she is getting shipped to Europe because that is where we will retire to.

However that doesn't mean we will have done everything we want to do, and seen everything we want to see in the US so when we/Bella ship out, we plan to leave a 'presence' here (holiday home, RV lot with a cabana, etc) and Peanut is part of that. We need a place to park Peanut, that we can fly into, that can be a base, but that we can tour from.

So how did poor Brad get roped into this craziness? Part of selling up and moving back to Europe, is selling up. So Brad is allowing us to park Peanut there whilst we sell our place in MA and while we decide where our base is going to be. If Peanut is at his place and he is coming to the Get Together but Penn Wood wont allow tents, why not take Peanut????

Does that make more sense?

I also figured it will be easier to sell Peanut in a few years time if it is repaired (using more parts from the third Argosy) and in routine use; we don't plan to do anything other than keep it on the road and use it when we are here.

bkahler · 03-23-2016, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin300662

That about sums it up Tony....

Don't you see the logic? My wife struggles as well, I wish people could keep up!

I'm keeping up....

overlander63 · 03-23-2016, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin300662

That about sums it up Tony....

Don't you see the logic? My wife struggles as well, I wish people could keep up!

One is too many, and two are not enough...

bkahler · 03-23-2016, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

One is too many, and two are not enough...

Ya know, there's a strange sort of logic about that statement that makes total sense

bpg_austin · 03-23-2016, 05:17 AM

Pretty much awesome.

Nice work guys, Love it.

martin300662 · 03-23-2016, 05:42 AM

I would keep you head down Ben... Austin area is one of the places we are looking at for our 'home away from home'!

bpg_austin · 03-23-2016, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin300662

I would keep you head down Ben... Austin area is one of the places we are looking at for our 'home away from home'!

Martin. We love Austin, come on down. Its not the small town it used to be though, so find yourself a nice suburb or place in the hill country to get away from the hussle. Summers are insanely hot, but evenings are where its at in central Texas. You can wear a sweatshirt for most of the winter which is amazing, and the BBQ is out of this world. Please join the cult.

martin300662 · 03-23-2016, 10:31 AM

Any recommendations Ben?

I've been looking for a plot either SW (Canyon Lake area) or NW (Bucahanan Lake or Horseshoe Bay areas) - there seems plenty of options but everywhere seems already designated as a 'community' with local by-laws.

I'm looking for a plot, with some views, water/sewer (but can live without power, as we are looking at total solar power) for a custom park home, with RV port.

bpg_austin · 03-24-2016, 05:14 AM

Well, being a Minnesotan I don't know the surround areas as well as some true locals..

But, if I were looking to be in the hillcountry I'd want to be on/near a constant level lake. We go in cycles here, and while Lake Travis is stunning when its full, we have years where the reservoir can be way down. Times like this make your lake front/lake view property not as attractive. I'd look at Inks lake, Bucahanan (upper) and Canyon personally. They're all stunning locations and all within an hours drive of Austin Airport. I'm sure other more knowledgeable folks can chime in here as well. The surrounding hill country is gorgeous, summer or winter. You would not be disappointed. Hope you decide to make this area a second home base.

martin300662 · 03-31-2016, 12:20 PM

Anyone travelling on I-75 from Tampa up towards Richmond, KY today/tomorrow may get a glimpse of Peanut being shipped up to Brad's place.....hopefully to meet up with some new wheels/tires this weekend.

bkahler · 03-31-2016, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin300662

Anyone travelling on I-75 from Tampa up towards Richmond, KY today/tomorrow may get a glimpse of Peanut being shipped up to Brad's place.....hopefully to meet up with some new wheels/tires this weekend.

Oh good!

My new parts source is finally going to show up......

martin300662 · 03-31-2016, 12:45 PM

I was going to offer to let you use Peanut as a test bed for that new engine/trans?

bkahler · 03-31-2016, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martin300662

I was going to offer to let you use Peanut as a test bed for that new engine/trans?

Touche

mayco · 03-31-2016, 03:19 PM

Ha!!!

bkahler · 04-01-2016, 06:21 PM

The Peanut has arrived!

I'll leave it to Martin to provide his thoughts and impressions once he gets here tomorrow. Suffice it to say some things don't always go as planned