Argosy - rear tail light valence removal?

[Mike S]

The valence around the rear lights on my 77 Argosy are developing s couple small cracks. I want to remove it for repair and reinforcment before it is toast. I can't see any obvious attachment points.

How big a PITA is it to remove - any instructions?

Thanks.

Mike

[2Alaska]

I am interested in an replies here as well since mine also has some cracks. Did you figure it out yet?
I'm determined to get mine on the road this Spring. I figure I've waited long enough. It's been over 2 years and I need to get it done. How's yours coming along?
2Alaska

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by 2Alaska

I am interested in an replies here as well since mine also has some cracks. Did you figure it out yet?
I'm determined to get mine on the road this Spring. I figure I've waited long enough. It's been over 2 years and I need to get it done. How's yours coming along?
2Alaska

Sorry guys.

That tail light bezel has not been available for many years.

They can easily be repaired with Bondo, and then a good paint job.

Or, you can remove the entire bezel and use the tail light bezels that were on the Airstream trailers.

Andy

[2Alaska]

Thanks for the info Andy! Mine's not too bad so hopefully it will be an easy fix.
Jen

[RBolton]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Or, you can remove the entire bezel and use the tail light bezels that were on the Airstream trailers.

Andy

But how does it come off?

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by RBolton

But how does it come off?

I believe they are attached from the inside. My service manual (1976 Airstream) says to remove the segment (skin) to replace the taillight's bezel.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by RBolton

But how does it come off?

In pieces.

If your going to use the Airstream trailer bezels, simply break the original out in pieces.

Or, you can disassemble the rear end of the trailer, and take them out that way, in pieces, since they are old, and brittle.

Andy

[Janets Husband]

Originally Posted by Mike S

The valence around the rear lights on my 77 Argosy are developing s couple small cracks. I want to remove it for repair and reinforcment before it is toast. I can't see any obvious attachment points.
How big a PITA is it to remove - any instructions?
Thanks.Mike

Been there, done that.
OK here's the story. You will find screws along the bottom of the valance and a screw next to the tail light lens, both sides. These are the easy ones. Now pull the lenses off and disconnect the wires to the lamps.
Now you will need to remove the middle "rub rail"(I think that is what it's called) above the valance and around the back of the trailer. To do this pull out the vinyl in the rail and drill out all of the rivets. Once this is off you will see all of the pop rivets holding the valance on. Drill them out and the valance comes off, hopefully in one piece.

[Isadora]

Originally Posted by Janet's Husband

Been there, done that.
OK here's the story. You will find screws along the bottom of the valance and a screw next to the tail light lens, both sides. These are the easy ones. Now pull the lenses off and disconnect the wires to the lamps.
Now you will need to remove the middle "rub rail"(I think that is what it's called) above the valance and around the back of the trailer. To do this pull out the vinyl in the rail and drill out all of the rivets. Once this is off you will see all of the pop rivets holding the valance on. Drill them out and the valance comes off, hopefully in one piece.

Correct, that's how ours came off. We repaired the cracks with JB Weld, sanded them when they were dry, and repainted the whole piece. The repairs are nearly invisible, and the whole piece is much stronger now. I think they could also be repaired with the epoxy putty that is available. We did re-inforce the inside with extra layers of JB Weld. You can see in this picture if you look really close you can barely see where one of the cracks was on this side, and the other side was much the same.

[empresley]

Sorry for the delayed post. I knew these photos were somewhere...

The unit was attached to the body as others have described but there was a sealant/adhesvive used in the original assembly. It took an entire day to break the adhesive bond and not break the plastic fascia.

After the new paint was applied it took two days to work up the nerve to cut the body for the standard tail lights.

[2Alaska]

Wow!

What great information and pictures! I was just looking at this yesterday trying to figure out what I was going to do. Thanks to Isadroa and Empresley for taking the time to find some pictures and to Janet's Husband for the step by step.
This is why I hang out here. Thank you so much!
2Alaska

[ckeysor]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

In pieces.

If your going to use the Airstream trailer bezels, simply break the original out in pieces.

Or, you can disassemble the rear end of the trailer, and take them out that way, in pieces, since they are old, and brittle.

Andy

Are the light frames for the airstream still available. i think the picture above shows a 1980s light frame. i would replace my frame with a new one if I could find one. I did recently find a used one, but they are plastic finished with chrome wear over time.

Andy do you have a source, I don't recall seeing them on your website, but i know you don't show everything you have.

Thanks,
Chris

[nynick52]

Has anyone found the source of the Airstream light bezel used above? I would like to remove my Argosy valance and replace with Airstream lights as well.

[daviddeh]

Dear Argosy Fan,


We are very interested in finding out the what tail lights you used w
when replacing the plastic tail light assembly on the Argosy. They look great.

Tara