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Sprouty · 04-10-2013, 10:52 AM

Years ago I noticed a travel trailer that looked like a painted airstream sitting at a house a couple of towns over. I was not interested in buying a trailer at that time and I forgot about it. Yesterday I went by the house and it was still there but now it seems to be shoved in the back and uncared for. I am sure it is a smaller Argosy. How weird would it be to stop in just to ask about it and see if they were interested in letting it go? I think I saw a for sale sign on it a one point but I may be wrong. My 59 Avion needs a lot of work and I am thinking if I can find something that is almost ready to go I could buy it and get it ready to use while I took my time working on the 59.
Thanks Steve

idroba · 04-10-2013, 10:58 AM

Nothing lost by stoping by and asking. However, if it has been sitting unused and unloved for many years it may not be in any better condition than your Avion. The last round metal Argosy was made in '78 or '79.

overlander64 · 04-10-2013, 03:17 PM

Greetings Sprouty!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprouty

Years ago I noticed a travel trailer that looked like a painted airstream sitting at a house a couple of towns over. I was not interested in buying a trailer at that time and I forgot about it. Yesterday I went by the house and it was still there but now it seems to be shoved in the back and uncared for. I am sure it is a smaller Argosy. How weird would it be to stop in just to ask about it and see if they were interested in letting it go? I think I saw a for sale sign on it a one point but I may be wrong. My 59 Avion needs a lot of work and I am thinking if I can find something that is almost ready to go I could buy it and get it ready to use while I took my time working on the 59.
Thanks Steve

You have nothing to loose by asking . . . you may find someone who is anxious to sell. If your karma is good, you may even find a 1977-1979 Minuet with composite aluminum floor and vinyl-clad aluminum cabinets meaning that there is very little that a leak might damage.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

Sprouty · 04-10-2013, 06:43 PM

I was in the area again today and there is a for sale sign on the property. I called the realtor and he said he did not think the owners were looking to sell the trailer but he would pass my info on to them. I pulled in and looked at it and it’s pretty rough. It’s a 24 ft. I am sure a weekend of scrubbing and a little work would make the outside alot better but I am worried about the inside the most. I opened the door and stepped inside and it looks like the carpet or vinyl flooring was pulled up and bare plywood is exposed. I could see some rot near the door and someone had a wood stove in it with the stove pipe going out the center vent on the roof. I snapped a couple pic of the outside. It would have to be dirt cheap for me to pick it up. I will update the thread if I hear anything back from the owner.

T4HALO · 04-10-2013, 07:25 PM

That bad boy looks like a Northern Wisconsin deer camp to me. I bet many a good hunting story (lie) was told in that Argosy.

Sprouty · 04-10-2013, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T4HALO

That bad boy looks like a Northern Wisconsin deer camp to me. I bet many a good hunting story (lie) was told in that Argosy.

That’s the idea I had as well. The house on the property is not inhabitable and it’s next to a big public hunting area. I think one of the sons pulled the trailer in for a place to stay when hunting. I guess the family is starting tp liquidate a bunch of the elderly Mothers stuff such as the property and some of her personal stuff but the trailer is owned by one of the sons.

Sprouty · 04-16-2013, 07:05 PM

Update… I spoke with the owner’s son and he is selling it for her. It’s been sitting for 20 years or more. He said they have the title and the original manuals for it. I can look it over any time I want so I think I will try to get over there tomorrow. He said all the original appliances and cabinets are still in it as far as he knows and that the carpet was getting nasty so he removed it. The big question is what the top and bottom end of its value. I did see the glass was in good shape. You can see by the pictures the rear taillight housing is broken up. They want me to make an offer and I really don’t know where to start.
Any input would be appreciated on a value.
Thanks Steve

idroba · 04-16-2013, 07:17 PM

If it has been sitting for 20 years, virtually everything will need repair, replacement, upgrading and so on. Axles, tires, electrical, plumbing, floor and flooring, exterior paint, and on and on and on. It would be very easy to spend $8K in materials and parts, then there is your labor. From what I see, $1500 tops.

My opinion of course. Last year I turned one like it down for $1500 and it was in very dry Arizona with little floor rot, if any. It finally sold for $1200.

overlander64 · 04-16-2013, 07:26 PM

Greetings Steve!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprouty

Update… I spoke with the owner’s son and he is selling it for her. It’s been sitting for 20 years or more. He said they have the title and the original manuals for it. I can look it over any time I want so I think I will try to get over there tomorrow. He said all the original appliances and cabinets are still in it as far as he knows and that the carpet was getting nasty so he removed it. The big question is what the top and bottom end of its value. I did see the glass was in good shape. You can see by the pictures the rear taillight housing is broken up. They want me to make an offer and I really don’t know where to start.
Any input would be appreciated on a value.
Thanks Steve

Based upon your photos and description, my guess would be that the Argosy is either a 1972 or 1973 and no later than a 1974. Given that it has been sitting for two decades or more, you would be facing the following in all probability:

New axles as the existing axles have likely taken a set and are frozen or nearly frozen in position meaning no suspension action. ($1,200 to $2,400 dependingy upon route taken for replacements)
New tires (wheels will likely be fine if they are the OEM factory wheels . . . split rims should have been long gone by the time Argosy production started) . . . ($400 to $600 depending upon tires selected)
New or recertified LP tanks . . . recertification of existing tanks $75 to $200 depending upon route taken . . . new tanks (aluminum around $300 steel around $150).
Adapting new tail lights for rear of coach as it looks like most of the originals are missing. ($50 to $500 depending upon route selected)
The domes will likely need new paint even if the body can be cleaned and buffed out . . . you might be pleasantly surprised by the resilience of the painted aluminum surfaces . . . unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any paint with good sticking properties for the galvanized domes.

My estimate of a realistic value for the Argosy in as-found condition would be somewhere between $1,000 and $2,500. I am guessing that the interior is going to require major refurbishing with the likelihood that all major appliances will need to be replaced as well as all fabrics and soft-goods.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

Sprouty · 04-16-2013, 07:37 PM

He said it was a 1973 so you are right on. If the floor is solid I will move forward. If its soft in many spots I might just pass or look at it as a salvage type trailer. I have a 1959 Avion that needs the whole floor replaced and one is enough. Is there any value to it in parts? I was thinking the curved glass may have some value as well as the rest of the windows. Would the original appliances be on value to anyone?

idroba · 04-16-2013, 07:48 PM

The glass is the most valuable part and the door lock if it is still good. Not much value in any of the old appliances.

TG Twinkie · 04-16-2013, 07:53 PM

I see the tail light lenses are lying on the cover of the rear storage compartment. If they are not broken, you can put new bulb sockets in ( if needed) and use the original tail lights.
It looks to be a twin bed 26' model, but I could be wrong. Guessing by the window locations.
It's hard to tell about the exterior paint. It may be workable for a few years if you can get the moss and crud off.
I paid $2,200 for a '74 26' twin. Just crossed over the $11,000 mark in cost. And that does not include a new paint job. Which I have not done.
Mine still has the original working refer and furnace. So I could be looking at another $2,000 to replace those 2 items. These old units are not cheap to upgrade.
If it is a '73, there is no grey water tank.
Good luck

Sprouty · 04-16-2013, 08:07 PM

It says Argosy 24 ahead of the door so I figured its a 24 ft. I see the lenses are there but the plastic housing around the tail lights is broken. Can it be replaced or would I have to try to fix the one I have?

TG Twinkie · 04-16-2013, 09:15 PM

Not sure what you mean by the plastic housing. Can you post some pics?

Sprouty · 04-16-2013, 11:18 PM

You can see it in the pictures I already posted. Its the big plastic thing surounding the tail lights. I did a search and I see you can not buy it new and some remove it and replace the tale lights with ones from newer airstreams. I see others take it off and repair it but the one on this trailer looks pretty far gone to repair.

Tom S · 04-17-2013, 08:16 AM

I have been looking for that bezel for about 6mos with no luck.

Sprouty · 04-17-2013, 02:01 PM

Well the Argosy is now mine. I looked it over got scared made a low offer and they took it. I see someone has decided to use it as a fort or hide out. They drug a wood stove out of one of the sheds and ran a stove pipe out the center vent. They taped black plastic over the windows and have stashed an odd assortment of food in the fridge. They have bread, peanut butter, chocolate chips, dry beans and water in the trailer. The owner said it was not them. Looks like local kids to me. The scary part is the wood stove had been used there were fairy fresh ashes in it. It is very wet and muddy right now so I will not be able to get it for a week or two. I hope it is not burned down by then. I pulled the pipe down and closed the vent and pull off some of the plastic. The owner is going to take the stove out and then I will go and lock it up. I did get a clear title and a bunch of the original paper work like the owner’s manual and the books for the stove, furnace, toilet ect. Here is a link to the pics. It is pretty nasty inside. I did get it dirt cheap so we will see. The local shop to me said they will bring it home on a flatbed for me for 120 bucks so that’s how I am going to bring it home.
link to pictures
Argosy Photos by sprouty64 | Photobucket

Aage · 04-17-2013, 02:10 PM

Well, what happened to "My 59 Avion needs a lot of work and I am thinking if I can find something that is almost ready to go I could buy it and get it ready to use while I took my time working on the 59. "?

Now you have two projects, and nothing to camp in. Sounds like a bad case of aluminitis!

Sprouty · 04-17-2013, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aage

Well, what happened to "My 59 Avion needs a lot of work and I am thinking if I can find something that is almost ready to go I could buy it and get it ready to use while I took my time working on the 59. "?

Now you have two projects, and nothing to camp in. Sounds like a bad case of aluminitis!

I think even though it looks rough I can get it so we can do some glorified tent camping this fall and I will take my time with the 59. That is unless someone else wants it more than I do in which case then I would be back down to one.It was too cheap to pass up! Ya I know there is no such thing as a free puppy.

Sprouty · 04-28-2013, 07:29 PM

I scrubed the moss and dirt off the out side this weekend and started the cleaning on the inside, I also hooked up a battery and was happy so see all the lights, the vent fan the water pump and furnace blower seemed to be working. When I plugged in the power cord the charging system took over and the ligths got brighter the fan blew harder so I think thats working alright. I don't have the key for the door to work on the frig but I have one ordered and I hope to be able to check out the frig on electric this week. I will be doing some research on the lp system this week so maybe by next week end I can check out the furnace, water heater and frig on lp.