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thenewkid64 · 08-26-2003, 05:19 PM

The first adventure was the best, the second was blah, but the third............ Well hang on to your hat.

I am planning on using this thread to document the redo of our 78 Argosy MH. I have made enough changes so far that the before and afters will be different so here goes.

Lets start off with the roof vents. All three were damaged. The covers wer fine but the lifters themselves did not work worth a darn, so I am replacing them with a set of fantastic fans. Below is a before. The reason it looks weird is I have an ABS center liner that is trayed with the fans in them. Made the install verrry interesting.

thenewkid64 · 08-26-2003, 05:21 PM

Installed and trimmed, I still need to get a lighter edge treatment

thenewkid64 · 08-26-2003, 05:22 PM

Here is the kitchen before:

thenewkid64 · 08-26-2003, 05:25 PM

And as it sits today, still a work in progress

thenewkid64 · 08-31-2003, 05:12 PM

I have a new conundrum.

I cannot get the screws that hold the bucket chairs out of the floor.

I have removed the carpet and am prepping the floor for the new flooring but cannot proceed until I get the chair bases unscrewed.

Are they into a frame member? Just in the floor? if need be can I cut the screws off with a sawzall and just rotate the base on install?

Any sage advice form someone who has been here is appreciated!

87MH · 08-31-2003, 06:27 PM

On the '87 345 I had to hold a backup on the nut from the bottom of the coach. As I recall, out of the total eight connectors on the two barrel chairs, two were easy to locate, four were under the battery drawer, and two were in a small tool compartment.

I do remember that three of the nuts were particularly difficult to get to.

Additionally, (again, on the '87 345) the driver and copilot's seats are secured with nuts on the bottom of the frame in the same manner as the barrel chairs. Two on each went through a 2" X 2" framing member, the other two simply sent through the OSB flooring and bottom plate. I reinforced the seat bolts wherever practical with large flange washers to grab more area of the bottom plate.

74Argosy24MH · 09-01-2003, 06:20 AM

No barrel chairs in mine but the rear seat belts were just through the floor and very inaccessible (gas tank). Front were the same as Dennis', through the tube that is the front riser. All were rusted and difficult.

Try a die grinder if you have one. Work slowly and let them cool, you will be putting a lot of heat in the bolts (and wood). A sawzall will work but the vibration will make it harder.

John

thenewkid64 · 09-01-2003, 12:44 PM

Well the bolts/screws do not go thru the floor

They are a machine threaded screw and must go into a nutset or something that is in the floor decking. I got 1 out with lots of WD40 and a hammer. I pounded on the screw with a screwdriver in the slot and was able to break one loose. I will continue to soak/pound and try to get them un-threaded.

Thanks for the ideas though.

thenewkid64 · 09-01-2003, 12:46 PM

In the contiuning saga. I used to have an Ice maker. It was dead. I decided I need to spend the 700 bucks on other things. I also have an 11 pound dumpster diving poodle. So I fixed it so I can have a garbage can where the Icemaker was, and he cannot get to it.

thenewkid64 · 09-01-2003, 12:50 PM

I miss the laundry storage that we had in our first AS trailer and am always looking for a way to store it and not lose space. In our 78 MH we have scads of storage in the kitchen, but not much in the bedroom. Since I pulled the oven out to install a cooktop, I was left with some unused space. So I decided to make it a laundry hamper. Formica on the inside for snag free storage.

thenewkid64 · 09-01-2003, 12:52 PM

While I was visiting with Zduke last weekend he was telling me about a pull out shelf he had under his microwave. I liked the idea and decided to do this as well. I also permanently installed the microwave so it cannot cme out of the cubby.

Shelf closed:

thenewkid64 · 09-01-2003, 12:52 PM

Shelf open:

thenewkid64 · 09-01-2003, 12:56 PM

My labor day project was to get the new flooring installed. It is not cork, but looks it. Cost was less than 60 bucks.

ALANSD · 09-01-2003, 02:23 PM

looks good Brett- I like the shelf especially and the flooring.
I am interested in cork flooring, but can't do the expense right now...(trying to buy a canopy off ebay to cover the rig in the driveway.)

My labor day project was to finsih the counter top install, and new sink/faucet in my kitchen...in my house though....been a long day laying half in the cabinet under the sink and all...
FYI-
My barrel chairs were just screwed into the floor like you said with a threaded insert down there, and came out with use of a large breaker bar on my socket.

3Ms75Argosy · 09-01-2003, 04:17 PM

Brett - I love the cooktop....what brand and approx cost? I think I'll replace my oven and gain some countertop too! Also, in your previous coach, you had a round sink (I think). Do you have a source for that too?
Looks great - seemless upgrades.
Marc

thenewkid64 · 09-01-2003, 04:26 PM

The cooktop is a Kitchenaid model. The newer ones are not square, but it is the normal ones that you can get from Lowes. It comes with a Nat. gas or LP switchable regulator.

Your memory is correct. I had a round Stainless sink in the last coach. I have a round one ordered for this one too. It just has not come yet. I was not real happy with the way the stainless held up so we are going with the same brand, but a diffrent finish. We are going with a Black Silagranite composite.

The brand is Blanco, form homeclick.com. The faucet will be another single handle Moen with pull out sprayer, this I got a Lowes.

zduke4x · 09-01-2003, 04:40 PM

I have got to tell you that Brett makes things look and sound easy. He makes it all up from scratch, plywood, screws, glue, different laminates and then cuts and puts it all together. He researchs and with his wife comes up with stuff that he makes up like Mr. Wizard.....looks good in pics, better in real life...the afternoon I spent with him I was a master shop vacer at best and he really helped my knowledge of all things A/S a bunch...jem

thenewkid64 · 09-04-2003, 05:22 PM

Well, the sink is in, the faucet is in and it all works like it should. Now it is time to move on to the bathroom floor!

**Stefrobrts** · 09-04-2003, 07:34 PM

Dave and I are particularly enjoying the pictures of your rennovations. Keep 'em coming! The kitchen looks beautiful, and I'm sure you couldn't get that icky green shag carpet out of there fast enough