'74 Argosy 20' Motorhome restoration/rebuild

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

How's that Coosa Kool-Aid Brad? Delicious isn't it.[emoji3]
As I've stated before....pricey, yes; but peace of mind is priceless.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

Yeah, I'm happy I installed the Coosa board

It would have been so nice if Airstream had used a product like this from the git go. But with bean counters involved the product will never be as good as it could be.

Brad

[bkahler]

This weekend I finished the overhead platform for working on the roof of my Argosy as well as Peanut.



I know all the work can be done from ladders and walking on the roof, BTDT, but I never liked the idea of walking around up there trying to keep all of my weight on the ribs. Also, the ribs on a Classic are closer together so the weight distribution is better on a Classic than an Argosy.

Now to finish organizing the shop so I can fit an Argosy under the platform!

Brad

[mayco]

Nice job Brad. I really don't like working up on the roof either. The last time was several weeks ago replacing capacitors on the AC. I'm not as agile as I used to be and am constantly on guard when workin/moving around up there. It wears my butt out! Even the simplest jobs. That platform should be great!

Good work using through bolts, most folks would screw it off and call it good. Seems they don't consider the total weight of the lumber, the human, the tools, possibly an AC unit, etc

[dadstoy]

I'm so jealous of your work shop Brad.

[Smartstream]

What I want to know is do you have OSHA approval on the design?:

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by mayco

Nice job Brad. I really don't like working up on the roof either. The last time was several weeks ago replacing capacitors on the AC. I'm not as agile as I used to be and am constantly on guard when workin/moving around up there. It wears my butt out! Even the simplest jobs. That platform should be great!

Thanks! Getting old does have it's challenges doesn't it

I don't have much problem moving around on the roof but Ernie has had both knees replaced and he's going to be doing the roof work on Peanut along with painting the tops of both Argosies so hopefully the platform will make that easier.

Good work using through bolts, most folks would screw it off and call it good. Seems they don't consider the total weight of the lumber, the human, the tools, possibly an AC unit, etc

As strong as the 3" drywall screws are it made me nervous to think they would be the only thing between me and the ground

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by dadstoy

I'm so jealous of your work shop Brad.

Stay tuned for an upcoming picture later this week......

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

What I want to know is do you have OSHA approval on the design?:

Per the Internet (everything you read on the Internet is true, right?!), "Please be advised that OSHA does not have any regulations that apply to residential properties."

Next question...

[Isuzusweet]

I would have been more impressed if you had built the swinging mobile crane that hauled the disabled mechanic around in Mad Max 2. The mechanics assistant "Ernie" would raise him up and push him around.
In the clip below you see him being pushed into a bad guy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXmMRlQtnP8

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

I would have been more impressed if you had built the swinging mobile crane that hauled the disabled mechanic around in Mad Max 2. The mechanics assistant "Ernie" would raise him up and push him around.
In the clip below you see him being pushed into a bad guy.

Well....I do have the parts and materials to build a swinging crane, however building one is not on my radar. The last thing I need is to have Ernie swinging me around the shop!

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by dadstoy

i'm so jealous of your work shop brad.

[dadstoy]

Smiling!

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Per the Internet (everything you read on the Internet is true, right?!), "Please be advised that OSHA does not have any regulations that apply to residential properties."

Next question...

You did forget the second part:

however, OSHA does have regulations that apply to the safety and health of employees while engaged in construction operations. ... These regulations apply to all construction operations, including residential construction


So in my case, I only build a non human type "swinging 2x4" to raise and lower AC's off the roof of Airstreams. It is very low tech, but very effective.

[mayco]

Osha!.........we dont need no stinkin osha!

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

You did forget the second part:

I didn't forget, I just selectively edited.....

however, OSHA does have regulations that apply to the safety and health of employees while engaged in construction operations. ... These regulations apply to all construction operations, including residential construction

Fortunately Ernie is not an employee....

So in my case, I only build a non human type "swinging 2x4" to raise and lower AC's off the roof of Airstreams. It is very low tech, but very effective.

I like it! I've got an electric winch that I normally use but I hadn't thought of putting it on the end of a swinging beam, at least not in the fashion that you have set up.

Brad

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by mayco

Osha!.........we dont need no stinkin osha!

[bkahler]

My Argosy has been sitting on Peanut's old wheels for several years now but I still had the six wheels and tires that I removed from my Argosy laying around that needed to have the tires removed so they could be disposed of. This weekend I figured it was probably time to deal with that problem.

I don't know if I'm getting cheap in my old age or what but I figured I'd try and dismount the tires myself rather than pay $30 or more to have someone else do it. No matter what I still have pay disposal fees but I thought how hard can it be?......I figure if Dan (Smartstream) can dismount/mount tires on his 345 I should be able to deal with these smaller 16" tires, right?

I will say I learned a few things about tires along the way! It seems that a tire that has been mounted for at least 20 years or more is not likely to have the bead just pop off the rim.

The first two tires I attempted were were normal street tires and I was able to break the beads using my loader bucket relatively easily. Using tire irons the tire then popped of the rim rather quickly as well.

However, the four rear tires were mud and snow tires that were probably mounted back before the civil war and refused to budge no matter how hard I tried. I finally gave up with the loader bucket idea and ended up using a reciprocating saw to cut the tire on both sides until the rim with the safety bead came free. From there I had to use a dremel with a cutoff disc to carefully cut through the steel cords of the safety beads. While cutting the steel cords I could tell when I was getting close because I could hear the cords popping and the gap widening with each cord cut.

Bottom line is I spent 3 hours in 95 degree heat doing hard physical labor to save $30. Was it worth it, probably not but it was good exercise and a good learning experience

Brad

[Smartstream]

You know Brad there is a saying something to the effect of...Old age and treachery will always win over youth and ambition. Actually the big truck tires are easy to do by hand while the light vehicle tires not so much.

The old age teaches you that without needing to rely on the treachery part.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by Smartstream

You know Brad there is a saying something to the effect of...Old age and treachery will always win over youth and ambition. Actually the big truck tires are easy to do by hand while the light vehicle tires not so much.

The old age teaches you that without needing to rely on the treachery part.

I will say after that three hour stint I was feeling my age

Now I'm thinking about buying and mounting new tires myself! My biggest worry would be damaging the new aluminum rims.

Decisions decisions......

[Isuzusweet]

If I'm mistaken, there's a difference between a non safety bead tire, like the 19.5" and 16.5" tires and safety bead tires like the 16" you're mucking around with. The bead walls are considerably thicker and tougher to get past the rim than a non safety rim and tire.
I'd get a proper shop to mount and balance the 16's.
Cheers
Sidekick Tony