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J D HECKARD · 04-28-2012, 06:42 PM

We are newbees & just started on the floor of our '76 Argosy. After ripping out the front floor section we discovered an extra layer of aluminum between the wood flooring & the frame, just down the center. Is this common?

**azflycaster** · 04-28-2012, 06:46 PM

In the front of the trailer you might have a sheet of aluminum if you had the spare tire mounted there. This would keep the floor from being exposed to the elements since there would be no pan in that area.

J D HECKARD · 04-28-2012, 06:57 PM

Thanks for your quick reply. The belly pan is still attatched & there is no spare under there. We weren't sure why the extra piece was in there and if we should keep it in or not.

overlander64 · 04-28-2012, 07:33 PM

Greetings heckbo76!

Welcome to the Forums and the world of Vintage Argosy ownership!

Quote:

Originally Posted by heckbo76

We are newbees & just started on the floor of our '76 Argosy. After ripping out the front floor section we discovered an extra layer of aluminum between the wood flooring & the frame, just down the center. Is this common?

I have not heard of this extra piece of aluminum below the plywood subfloor but above the frame, but Argosy was something of a test bed for ideas that were under consideration for application in Airstreams . . . so this may be an example of something that was tried as an experiment . . . . or it may be something that was added by a prior owner or during a previous repair.

Good luck with your Argosy!

Kevin

P.S.: Argosy Minuets served as a test bed for composite aluminum floors just a year after your coach's production.

J D HECKARD · 04-29-2012, 02:32 AM

I can tell we are going to rely ALOT on this forum. Thanks for the info.

overlander63 · 04-29-2012, 07:18 AM

Every Airstream and Argosy from 1969 and newer should have that piece of aluminum between the plywood and A frame. That was so if a customer decided they wanted a spare tire holder installed, the dealer could simply cut out that part of the belly pan and not have to disassemble the front of the trailer to install that aluminum sheet.
I havevseen that sheet in trailers as early as 1965 models.

J D HECKARD · 04-29-2012, 10:45 AM

good to know, thank you. Today we found alot of ant damage & alot of live ants. Good thing we had a can of spray handy. We could see the trails they made through the insulation & the plywood.

rumrunner · 04-29-2012, 03:44 PM

ANTS! I THOUGHT MICE WERE BAD!
Seriously, toss in a couple of bug bombs and shut it up tight.
Next question is how much damage did they do and how do you repair it?

J D HECKARD · 04-29-2012, 04:33 PM

These ants are very nasty looking. They must have been in there when I brought the TT home from up state PA. These critters were between 1/4 to 1/2 long with big pintures . They tunneled through the fiberglass just like you would see in a kids ant farm. they also went up through the front walls . They put the insulation in the belly pan. they also made paths through the plywood the same way.They had themselves sandwiched between the plywood and aluminum panel an the floor. I will be dropping the belly pan next weekend so i can continue on the front floor replacement. Glad I had bug spray on hand. Do not know what else I may find as I continue remodel.