Subfloor repair on '74 Argosy 22

[thearkArgosy]

New to the forum and to the AS restoration game. Recently picked up a 74 Argosy 22 and am starting with the subfloor. I don't want to replace the whole thing just what I need to. PO patched 2 sections but it turns out he just patched the sections that buyers (me) would be able to see.

Any suggestions how to go about replacing the rotten areas? Should I replace the entire front 3' and cut his patches? Thanks for the help.

Ps. Already picked up some Sikaflex and Cpt Tolly to be sure any leaks are taken care of first.

[Belegedhel]

Welcome to the Forums!

I would say that you need to do whatever it takes to fully evaluate the condition of the trailer. It looks like it has the (typical) rot in several places around the perimeter, probably due to leaking window seals, etc. I am guessing your pics are of the front, what does the rear end look like (rear end rot and separation are standard in this vintage of trailer)?

And...what about your frame? And, can you figure out whether the PO did proper repairs when they put in those patches, or did they fudge it together just to make the floor firm. ?

So, you may be looking at a shell-off, which is pretty standard for a trailer this age, or you may be able to replace an entire sheet, or do a few patches. Sometimes you can spend more time and effort doing the "quick and dirty" fix than you would just doing a shell-off.

good luck!

[skyguyscott]

As you have discovered, there is an entire sub forum on the forum dedicated to sub floor replacement because Airstream for decades has used plywood as a subfloor material, an application many here believe it is not suited for.

Plywood floors tend to last about a decade on average. Some will last much longer if they are kept dry, but water has multiple ways of working to and rotting the plywood subfloor besides leaks in the shell.

Other routes include water intrusion at the rear bumper area, under sinks and bathroom, under the fridge, at the door, around wheel wells, plumbing leaks, undetected spills, condensation, open windows or vents, pets, and so on.

And because replacing the floor or portions of the floor is such a time intensive and expensive endeavor, some of us have turned to alternative more suitable sub floor material like composites such as Coosa Board, a material designed to be just as strong and easy to work with as plywood of the same thickness, but 30% lighter and virtually water proof, mold resistant, bug and varmint proof, and will never ever require replacement. The catch? It's much more expensive than plywood, but the material cost is inconsequential compared to the labor and pain of doing this again in ten years when you are a decade older and less flexible.

This year, Airstream finally got around to installing a one-piece composite floor called Transcore that sounds too good to be true. Trasncore, unlike Coosa Board is engineered to accept and hold screws directly. (With Coosa, you have to drill and glue in anchors, or bolts; or use liquid nails to attach angle aluminum to secure anything you want screwed to the subfloor.)

Search the forum for much more details should you be interested in installing something better than plywood.