The Next Argosy?

Sorry for not keeping the blog updated as much as before -- we've been socked in with work (unrelated to Project Vintage Thunder). But on Saturday I was able to tow Vintage Thunder back over to Plattsburgh to Colin's shop for him to fix the A/C leak.

Three days of rain this past week confirmed that the leak occurs when parked, not just while driving. And there's no doubt at all in my mind that the leak is from the air conditioner. The curious thing is that the water can emerge from either the forward or rearward Fantastic Vent, but never comes out the A/C. This may be a useful clue -- water gets into the A/C but then is shunted into the ceiling area. Once we have the thing apart, it will hopefully be obvious where the rainwater is seeping. Colin will be on that job Monday.

Meanwhile, I have done a bizarre thing. With Vintage Thunder all but complete, and traveling the roadways, I found myself taking a 20-mile detour on Saturday to go see a 1974 Argosy 22 which is for sale. It is a sad sight: badly spray-painted white, dented along the front curbside and on the rear dome, repaired with stainless screws rather than rivets, and filled with dead flies.

But the interior furniture is perfect, and all the appliances work (except perhaps the water heater). The floor has one area of rot that I could find, perhaps more, but there is no strange smell inside and the layout is very nice.

No doubt the trailer has many issues to be resolved, some of which will not reveal themselves until the belly pan is off, and the cleanup work begins. It needs tires, axles, clearance lights, re-painting, a new window, a new toilet and new floor covering. The white spray paint on the exterior and the two dents probably wipe out its market value entirely ... and yet, I find myself strangely compelled to buy it. The interior is cute as can be, and the 22 foot length is very manageable.

I have no time, no place to work on it, and no logical reason in the world to own yet another trailer. This must be a disease. Somebody stop me!

Countdown to the next roadtrip: four days. Destination: Springfield MO (WBCCI International Rally). Will we see you there?