'75 Argosy 26' Motorhome restoration/rebuild

[mojofilter]

Hello All -


I decided rather than continue to clutter up other folk's threads, I'd move all my stuff here and continue my restoration rebuild project.

[mojofilter]

So I have a question on original steps for this thing. The PO probably left these down and tore up the lower step. I would like to try to fab one out of steel.
If anyone has these, I would like to get some dimensions for the geometry:
Measurement of:
A-B
A-C
C-D
B-D
Thanks - Tim

[mojofilter]

Got the right hand Ramco mirror mounted today. Much thanks to bkahler for his example and inspiration. My internal support mount isn't as beefy as his but I think it will work. It is 1/4" 7075 hard aluminum so pretty tough.

[coloradoup]

Nice work. Looks good.

[mojofilter]

By the way, this is how she looked when I got her in July of 2024.
She still has the steel wheels...

[mojofilter]

So '70's

[mojofilter]

The PO had a spare tire holder that slid into the tow hitch receiver. Massive steel thing that, with the spare mounted, must have weighed 100#.

I am also restoring a 1987 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 (too many projects?). I put a 50 gal gas tank on it, which took up the space where the spare originally went. That used one of those ratcheting chain lift that you see on most modern pick-ups. It had to come out.

While removing the original generator on the Argosy, we saw that we could mount that lift mechanism forward of the generator compartment and lift the spare pretty high up between the frame main channels.

Welded up some 2X2 steel and bolted it in place. Probably way over-built but didn't want that wheel to ever come down - that would be a bad thing . The mechanism uses the original Toyota hand crank to raise and lower the spare.

I'll try to find some pictures of the generator compartment...

[mojofilter]

By the way, if the new steel cross tube looks like it's in there crooked, it's because it was just set up there for a trial fit...


The 'trunk' after the generator was removed.

[mojofilter]

I don't know if the generator that was in my Argosy was factory original, I doubt it. I do know that it weighs a ton, it's LOUD, and it vibrates. It did fit the compartment (just barely) and I haven't seen many (any?) that do, that have this much power.
I opted for a Honda EU2200i that I will carry in the back of the toad. That way I can get it some distance from the MH while running it. I don't plan to do that often (I HATE generators) but this is New Mexico, and it gets hot.
I've got a solar power system and 2KW inverter but of course that will not run the roof A/C. More on the PV system later...

[92landyacht]

Doubt that the EU2200i would be able to carry the AC. The OEM generator was an ONAN. Very dependable and should fit nicely. Not sure which model though.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by mojofilter

Got the right hand Ramco mirror mounted today. Much thanks to bkahler for his example and inspiration. My internal support mount isn't as beefy as his but I think it will work. It is 1/4" 7075 hard aluminum so pretty tough.

I like the adjustable mirror arm that you installed. I had to move the right side mirror towards the rear about 4" or so to make it viewable from the drivers side.



Did you fasten the aluminum angles to the Argosy U frame members?

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by mojofilter

So I have a question on original steps for this thing. The PO probably left these down and tore up the lower step. I would like to try to fab one out of steel.
If anyone has these, I would like to get some dimensions for the geometry:
Measurement of:
A-B
A-C
C-D
B-D
Thanks - Tim

I can't help with the geometry measurements, I threw my mangled steps away years ago. I ended installing electric steps which required a lot of stiffening of the floor area on my 74.


Edit: I just remembered, I have a 75 24' Argosy sitting beside my shop and I think it has steps. I'll take a look this afternoon to see if I can get you the numbers.

[mojofilter]

Originally Posted by bkahler

I like the adjustable mirror arm that you installed. I had to move the right side mirror towards the rear about 4" or so to make it viewable from the drivers side.



Did you fasten the aluminum angles to the Argosy U frame members?

I haven't mounted the 1 X 1 angle aluminum to the U frame members yet. I want to do what (you?) did and use a long drill bit to drill eight holes as vertically as possible, and then bolt 'em down with #8 screws - 4 top & 4 bottom.


Sitting on my Home Depot bucket in the driver's position, I can see both mirrors perfectly. One of the reasons I went with these is you can loosen the big bolt under the mounting bracket and fold them tight up against the MH body. Critical to getting in into its shed.

[mojofilter]

Originally Posted by bkahler

I can't help with the geometry measurements, I threw my mangled steps away years ago. I ended installing electric steps which required a lot of stiffening of the floor area on my 74.


Edit: I just remembered, I have a 75 24' Argosy sitting beside my shop and I think it has steps. I'll take a look this afternoon to see if I can get you the numbers.

Are you parting out the '75 24' unit? I could just buy the steps from you?

[mojofilter]

Originally Posted by 92landyacht

Doubt that the EU2200i would be able to carry the AC. The OEM generator was an ONAN. Very dependable and should fit nicely. Not sure which model though.

I tested the EU2200i with the new A/C unit - Houghton unit with soft start thingy. It will run it if there is absolutely no other load on it.
The numbers say that the A/C is 1800 watts, and the gen is 2200 watts, so just barely.


I'm not sure my wife is going to tolerate any generator in that compartment.

[mojofilter]

I'm in the process of ripping out the entire dashboard/HVAC. I am following Bkahler's postings and photo essay (mostly). Everyone who has posted that this is a retched, difficult, painful, complicated, and intimidating job has lied! It is far worse that all that!!
My main motivation was that the HVAC system was pretty much shot. It is R12 refrigeration of course - or at least it was before all the refrigerant was donated to the hole in the ozone layer. Several of the vacuum servos NLF. Duct hoses falling out from under the dash. By the way, this MH seemed almost totally free of wildlife. Haven't found any nests, droppings, etc.
Possibly making life harder on myself, I'm not removing the front grillwork - trying to do everything from the inside and the little room there is under the 'hood'. Additionally:

• The wiring behind the dash is a mess (to put it mildly). Lots of cut wires, bad connections, and electrical not working. Thanks to the Forum (I've forgotten which members exactly), I have put together at decent set of schematics.
• I want a complete set of instruments.
• The original plastic dash is cracked and warped. I will replace it with a fiberglass or carbon fiber design.

[mojofilter]

With Brad's help I managed to remove the aluminum cover plate under the dash. Lots and lots of fasteners, plus (inexplicably) two giant flat head bolts rusted into place. The nuts at the bottom of these two bolts are cleverly hidden inside a couple of 2X2 steel box channels, who's edges have been sharpened into serrated slicing devices.
Next, the air plenum was removed, and the steel blower box lifted out (it's heavy!!).

[mojofilter]

I'll get some pictures of the inside of the box.
One of the two blower motors squeals, so I'll replace both.
I want to replace all four vacuum servo 'pods' but I need the ones that aren't made out of gold. Most of what I've seen is north of $100 ea.

[mojofilter]

The cover plate is really beat up - I will use it as a template and cut out a new one.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by bkahler

I can't help with the geometry measurements, I threw my mangled steps away years ago. I ended installing electric steps which required a lot of stiffening of the floor area on my 74.


Edit: I just remembered, I have a 75 24' Argosy sitting beside my shop and I think it has steps. I'll take a look this afternoon to see if I can get you the numbers.

Just checked the step(s) and it's a single step so no dimensions available.