Argosy Redo

[rugjenkins]

Started restoration on 28ft Argosy. Camper was gutted when I bought it. I do have pics- will post. A big shout out to Purman for all the step by step on his camper:"Take Two for the 68" his thread is one of my favorites.

List of what is done.
1. Camper gutted- Big oh yeah to PO.
2. Gantry's built today
3. Belly Pan and Banana wraps undone.
4. POR-15 purchased and ready to go
5. Interior fabric purchased-last yr.
6. Advantec subfloor purchased

Will copy Purman's layout. Bath in rear. bunk beds in middle that fold down to make a couch for the dinning table. Then kitchen with the queen bed up front with short side bench to change shoes or something. Plan on custom paint job for the exterior since argosy's are painted.

Good news is that I first practiced on a 24ft argosy- but ended up having to recycle it. Took all the parts off I wanted. Now it is a 24ft flat bed trailer. Now the fun really starts.

Hope to see some of ya'll when we go camping.....in a few....

[TouringDan]

Looks like a great project trailer and you know where you are going. Purman did a great job of showing you the way. Now just follow his lead. Hope to see you out camping some time.

I will be looking forward to seeing what type of a paint scheme you come up with.

Dan

[rugjenkins]

Finally got to work on the camper today. Rained for two days. Camper in position to lift the shell. Quick note on gantry's. The 4x4 cross beam should be 10ft long. I have 9ft they are little tight but will work.

If you are going to make gantry's here is a wood list. This will make 2.
4- 4x4x12- posts
2- 4x4x10- upper cross beam
8-2x6x8- bottom support legs
8-2x4x8- long angle supports on bottom
8-2x4x2- short angle supports on top

will post a pic later

btw- i have a 2x6x16 board to lift the shell off. I aready had it. Noticed everyone else used 2x8x16 or so. Will this matter?
plan to have shell off by this weekend.

[rogerdodger]

Welcome rugjenkins, I have the same Argosy. Fortunately for me, the floor on mine is good, but PO gutted living area and bedroom. Bath intact, I just finished all new pex plumbing, refrigerater tested ok with new heater coil. My next project is axles. Keep us posted, lot of pictures. Maybe someday, we will be able to camp and compare Argosy's.

[rugjenkins]

Chain Hoist- check
Chain Hoists in place-Check
Vent Cover Pins removed- Check
2x6x20ft board in place and reinforced- Check

Lift Off is no go for two weeks while soccer practice and games happen-2 kids playing now. Plus I had an emergency trip to Atlanta (Mom and Dad's transmission went out) with car trailer- 10 hrs trip both ways.Have you ever wonder if the Lord is trying to get your attention. I truly believe the Lord wanted it clear that He will be 2nd to No One or Thing- including camper. So plans were rearranged and camper put into proper place- Number 2.

Here are some pic of my progress. Lift Off next week Lord willing.

[rugjenkins]

Got to work on the camper today. All day-love it. Today was very productive.

1. Removed elevator bolts from outriggers
2. Removed rivets from hold down plate in front and back.
3. Separated shell from frame
4. Removed and ground down screws in c-channel into decking. They had rusted completely. Had to grind down threads so new floor can go in without anything in the way.
5. Bolted shell to 2x4's bolted to concrete. No flying argosy.
6. Moved gantry's out of way- ready to used on frame.

Next is to get the frame repaired and painted with POR-15.

[TouringDan]

Great job on the shell lift. Thanks for posting photos.

I really miss going to my kids soccer games. That has been my favorite chapter so far.

Dan

[rugjenkins]

Thanks for the encouragment. Kids are really picking up the game now so its more fun watching them. Have more pics will post tonight after work. Ready to work on the frame.

[VeggieBullet]

good progress here! keep it up and thanks for sharing.

[rugjenkins]

Working on camper is slow. We are in the middle of soccer season and after it gets dark I have no motivation. Finally lifted the frame to one side and took of the belly pan. I got a really good look at the frame now. Not sure if I should cut and patch or rebuild new frame. Frame is rusted out more than I thought. I have a buddy coming over tomorrow to give advice on frame. He works at a company that builds semi trailers.

Trailer frame as it sits now:
4 cross members rusted out
8 outriggers gone
main rails rusted out and pitted on bottomed pretty good

Plan if New Frame:
2 x 5 x .120 steel tubing= main rails, cross members and outriggers
I will cut off the hitch frame and weld to new frame
rough estimate on cost = $600 materials

Plan if i patch the old:
2 x 3 angle on the bottom areas
fabricate new outriggers and cross members from 14 gauge sheet
rough estimate on cost = $300

Any advice is very appreciated.

[rugjenkins]

My buddy came over today. He said frame wasn't that bad. Nothing that angle iron couldn't fix. Plus he is looking into making outriggers and cross members. He also has access to a sandblaster. The frame was my biggest stumper...... not so much now. Hope to be done in a few weeks.

Matt

[Roadrunner]

Matt...any updates on your Argosy? How did the frame repair go? Reweld and Por 15?

Bob
TAC PA-5
WBCCI 4871[/COLOR]

[Hotpuppy]

You'd be amazed how much it will cleanup. I'm doing a 24 Argosy (1973) .... I've taken tons of pictures in case you need any reference on a smaller unit from the same line.

[rugjenkins]

My goal of having the frame done and shell back on by spring is not going to happen. But I have made some progress only I wish it was more. I have purchased a metal bender and 18 guage steel. Outriggers here I come.

[rugjenkins]

I had a 1973 24ft Argosy also. My wife did not like 2 campers in the driveway. So I recycled it and got all the useable parts I needed. Hard to do it, but promises had to kept. Thanks for the info on pics. I may need to look at them to get everything back together.

[rugjenkins]

Frame is coming home soon. I tried bending metal with a brake- no so easy!
So I scraped the idea of making my own outriggers but I did make 2. Instead, I bought 2x5 tubing and had it cut to length for new outriggers. This was faster and cheaper- $40 bucks. A friend of mine welded them to the frame. He replaced all but 2 of the outriggers.

Frame blasted and ready for paint.

Also purchased more Por-15, my other 2 pints are missing. No big deal, a local paint supply company had what I needed and it was cheaper than online-$26 a pint.

I will post pics soon.

[rugjenkins]

Got the frame back. It was not done. So I started welding it myself. I don't know why I was so stumped about welding. I love it.
This is what I've learned.

1. University of Youtube- awesome
2. I can't stick weld
3. Flux core welding is great- I bought the cheap Harbor Freight welder (if it didn't work out I figured I could take it back).
4. New found hobby- Anyone can weld with a flux core welder.

I'm placing new metal mostly on the bottom. Also a few of the cross members are rusted out. I'm using 1/8 x 2 x 2 angle iron for repairs. I will also box in the frame at the fulcrum points. Ready to order new tanks also. I don't like them (black and grey) in the very back. Plus they are too small. I will put the black tank under the flooring. It will give it a clean look. Planning on putting bigger grey tank or tanks close to axles. I'll post pics soon.

[perryg114]

You get better welds with a MIG and gas purge. It is still easy. Stick welding it hard to do on thin metal.

Perry

[rugjenkins]

Good advice. My plan is to sell my stick welder and bring back the cheapo harbor freight welder then by a good mig welder. 3 month warranty on HF welder, not sure its gonna last. My son is picking it up pretty quick, he's 10. I believe he will be better at it than me. It's never to early to teach your kids good skills.

[rugjenkins]

Tonight was very productive. My son and I made a new stair outrigger. The old one was rusted out. It came out pretty good.

Here are the pics.

I bent the metal first. Then used the old outrigger as a template. Next I drilled some holes. Then jigsawed the rest out. And finally welded it in place on the trailer.