How to ship a Argosy?Loaded weight of a 22' Argosy

[outerbanksdeb]

I have two questions/
1) I passed up a great argosy in california a few weeks ago thinking how would I get it home. Then noticed one ad with an offer to "ship" the trailer. I guess it can be done, but how. Does someone drive it to you? Can it go by train? and where to find such a set up.

2) I would like any info. on the loaded weight of an Argosy 22' I have it for the 20 foot and my an can pull that but I just can't go over 3750-3800 lbs.

THANKS!

[overlander64]

Greetings outerbanksdeb!

passed up a great argosy in california a few weeks ago thinking how would I get it home. Then noticed one ad with an offer to "ship" the trailer. I guess it can be done, but how. Does someone drive it to you?

Yes, in most cases, there is a contract carrier who tows the trailer in a normal manner. In fact, many new travel trailers are delivered in this manner. Rick Davis, an officer in the Vintage Airstream Club, delivers new travel trailers professionally as well as ocassionally transporting Vintage units as well. In some cases, owners of non-towable units or units with suspect frames or running gear have arranged for transport on flatbeds (this alternative is far less common, and generally more expensive). I believe that these services are often offered under the heading of "drive-away services" in the yellow pages - - the professionals are usually bonded and insured with commercial divers licenses.

2) I would like any info. on the loaded weight of an Argosy 22' I have it for the 20 foot and my an can pull that but I just can't go over 3750-3800 lbs.

'73 Argsoy 22 - - Double

3,360 pounds Empty Weight without Options/5,800 pounds GVWR/560 pounds Empty Hitch Weight without options.

'74 Argosy 22 - - Double

3,360 pounds Empty Weight without Options/5,800 pounds GVWR/560 pounds Empty Hitch Weight without options.

'75/'76 Argosy 22 - - Double Front Door Model

3,360 pounds Empty Weight without Options/5,800 pounds GVWR/560 pounds Empty Hitch Weight without options.

'75/'76 Argosy 22 - - Double Rear Door Model

3,720 pounds Empty Weight without Options/5,800 pounds GVWR/410 pounds Empty Hitch Weight.

'77 Argosy 22 - - Double

3,360 pounds Empty Weight without Options/5,800 pounds GVWR/560 pounds Empty Hitch Weight without options.

'78 - - No Argosy 22 listed in brochure

Conjecture is that the Minuet 6.7 Metre debuted during this model year replacing the Argosy 22.

'79 - - No Argosy 22 listed in brochure
- - Minuet 6.7 Metre/Minuet 22'

2,725 pounds Empty Weight without options/3,800 pounds GVWR/280 pounds Empty Hitch Weight.

Note that the Argosy 22s were tandem axle coaches while the Minuet 6.7 Metre was a single axle coach - - also, the Minuet was 8" narrower than the Argosy 22 and the other standard line coaches.

Kevin

[LuminumTraila]

I know this is a pretty old thread, but I want to revive it to ask if anyone on the forum has ever bought a trailer from a distance and had it transported to their home. How did your experience go? What did it cost? What should a person watch out for when choosing and contracting for this type of service?

Thanks for any information.

-Jamie

[juel]

If you have ever followed the Airstreams on Ebay you can see some of the posting have delivery information. I believe if you look you can find that the ebay site has its own information about contracting to deliver trailers. I imagine those companies will deliver from sources other than Ebay. It's fun to follow the Airstreams on Ebay, even if you don't buy.

[till]

I picked up my last trailer. Drove 800 miles one way to get it.
I spent a lot of time making sure that the seller and I understood each other. I purchased the hitch I needed and brought with new tires mounted on a set of rims I had.
Also made sure I had just about everything I needed just incase and still came up short on a couple of things. I contacted a couple of towing services and was shocked at the pricies. Make shure your sitting down when they start giving you pricing.

[LuminumTraila]

Till -- Did you end up hiring one of those towing services? How did you end up getting your trailer home?

-Jamie

[till]

I dove down to Atlanta (from Chicago) to get it. With the help of two forum members it was not a bad trip. The towing services, charge a pickup fee and then a milage fee. There is a minumum fee too. When I asked about the cost it was around $4000.00 to have the trailer delivered to me 800 miles.

[LuminumTraila]

$4000 would be better spent on the trailer itself. Thanks for sharing your story.

-Jamie

[scf31]

If anyone will give $4000.00 to tow, let me know,Thats a easy 4 grand, Scott

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by scf31

If anyone will give $4000.00 to tow, let me know,Thats a easy 4 grand, Scott

An insurance company might, if it was a stolen recovered unit. A more reasonable estimate would be a flat fee to go pick up the trailer, a hook up charge (usually around $150.00 or so), and loaded mileage to wherever the trailer is going. If the trailer on a flatbed would wind up overheight/overlength, there also would be permits and pilot vehicles to add into the cost. Overheight would be total height in excess of 13'6", out trailers are roughly 10' tall, give or take a few inches, and a flatbed trailer deck height of 3-4', it is possible this may be an issue. A motorhome would be more prone to exceed height restrictions.
Terry

[LLB21]

The professional long distance tow companies tow for about $1.25 a mile.

$4000.00 is lot.

[Hippo]

Hey why don't you take a vacation and go get the trailer yourself. I sold a Silver Streak several years ago and the people drove from New Mexico to Washington State to pick it up. They did some vacationing on the way home.

[LuminumTraila]

Hippo -- It's beginning to look like that's the best way to go. I just have to hope the trailer I want comes along at a time when I'm free to go get it. That's not too much to ask for, is it?

[Hippo]

I would suggest the seller fill the propane tanks and get a gas check, and make sure the tires are good for a long trip. I bought my AS in Bend, Oregon. When I retured to pick it up, I went to a tire store and had new ones put on. I was only going 200 miles but did not want to take a chance on any tire problems on the road. If the license is not current, take a trip permit with you from your DMV.

[GKIRON]

Hi, We are new to trailers and in need of some info anyone can share. Just starting to look at Argosy trailers. I have a Chevy Silvarado 1/2 ton 1500 V-8 2wd now. My garage is door size 9'11,1/2'' high, 9'11'' wide, length in garage is 23' 11''. What can I pull ,and fit in the garage.? Anyone with info on years and diferent models will help us on our search.Thanks much!! P.S . I'll get a bigger truck when I can.

[jk_brooks]

If I use the $1.25/mile for towing that someone mentions here, I come up with about $2k to go from Phoenix to Seattle (about 1500 miles.)

Does that sound like it's in range? I'm looking for a trailer. There seem to be some good ones in Phoenix but I need to understand what it will cost me (roughly) to get it up to me. Not really sure I want to take 4 days to drive down and back to pick up a trailer. Would cost me $850 in gas + at least a night in a hotel.

Is $2k a decent estimate to have someone bring a trailer to me? Figure length is less than 30 ft.

thanks
John

[polarlyse]

Just my thought on this would be to save your $2k and put it towards a trailer that is local enough to you so it can be seen. I bought one that was not quite local but than again not that far either. We did take a drive out to see it after I bought it off E-bay. I paid a deposit through paypal but when it came to paying the remainder I asked the seller if they could hold it for several weeks for me. This worked out for me and for them too. I needed time to arrange a parking spot and it allowed me to send them a check ( to avoid the paypal fees) and the check time to clear before picking it up. They were able and happy to work with me since they were not aware of the 4% paypal charges. During this time ( after the check cleared) they sent me the title and I was able to register it in my state so when we picked it up all was done. All in all we were happy with the purchase. The trailer, while 20+ years old, was as stated and fully functional and we towed it home and have enjoyed it a lot. This is a big purchase to make sight unseen and I would hesistate to recommend doing it.

Good luck, whichever route you choose.

[Skater]

Originally Posted by jk_brooks

If I use the $1.25/mile for towing that someone mentions here, I come up with about $2k to go from Phoenix to Seattle (about 1500 miles.)

Does that sound like it's in range? I'm looking for a trailer. There seem to be some good ones in Phoenix but I need to understand what it will cost me (roughly) to get it up to me. Not really sure I want to take 4 days to drive down and back to pick up a trailer. Would cost me $850 in gas + at least a night in a hotel.

Is $2k a decent estimate to have someone bring a trailer to me? Figure length is less than 30 ft.

thanks
John

Sounds about right. Earlier this year, I priced having a trailer moved from Minnesota to Maryland (~1100 miles) and the estimates came in from $1700-$2300. Compare that with taking a week off work, and a whirlwind drive out there and back. I calculated expenses for me driving out and back to be at least $1200 (fuel, hotels on the way out, camping on the way back, meals).

We ended up not doing it because we decided not to buy the camper in question, and we found one more local.

[Eric H]

You may have been told, but make sure to see the trailer (or have someone you trust inspect it). There are a lot of scams out there. You don't want to buy a trailer that doesn't exist!!

I agree that putting the money into a local trailer makes a lot of sense, especially if you plan on getting an old one. That could be well over half of the cost of a vintage one. If I was going to buy a trailer that far away I would go get it and have a vacation on the way back

Originally Posted by jk_brooks

If I use the $1.25/mile for towing that someone mentions here, I come up with about $2k to go from Phoenix to Seattle (about 1500 miles.)

Does that sound like it's in range? I'm looking for a trailer. There seem to be some good ones in Phoenix but I need to understand what it will cost me (roughly) to get it up to me. Not really sure I want to take 4 days to drive down and back to pick up a trailer. Would cost me $850 in gas + at least a night in a hotel.

Is $2k a decent estimate to have someone bring a trailer to me? Figure length is less than 30 ft.

thanks
John