My new Amerigo F16

[Pam in MKE]

Hi all,

Here are some pics of the Amerigo F16 I am picking up this weekend. I don't know what year it is. It has a new insulated floor installed, was going to be a fishing hut. It is gutted so should be in the realm of what my tow van can handle (2000lbs). I've towed 1400 lbs dry weight trailer with a loaded van in past. The Amerigo has brakes but they are not wired up. All wiring is stripped, it does come with attachable brake/tail lights. The tongue needs a new jack, and the beat goes on.

I need a very simple setup in my future trailer that can accomodate me and my dogs when we go to field trials or a weekend camping trip.

This trailer is in in Minnesota south of Minneapolis. Does anyone recognize this little beastie? Any history would be appreciated.
Thanks, Pam

[David Tilston]

Wow Pam. I hope you are a handy kind of person. That looks like work.

Maybe you should look at the floor plan of some intact Amerigo's. The furniture in these trailers is usually structural. The closet and other furniture help to hold up the roof. This is especially true when there is a heavy snow load.

[Bob Miller]

Hey... Is that Eddie Fowlers old Trailer????


Never heard of him.... LOL


BUT There is a nice Amerigo FG-16 in ID currently for sale on <<<fiberglass-RV-4sale.com>>> that you might want to look at the pics of as it is very original appearing.


And I believe that the Sale Literature is in the documents center.

[Pam in MKE]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

Wow Pam. I hope you are a handy kind of person. That looks like work.

Maybe you should look at the floor plan of some intact Amerigo's. The furniture in these trailers is usually structural. The closet and other furniture help to hold up the roof. This is especially true when there is a heavy snow load.

Hi David,
Yes, I was wondering about that, the structural consequences of gutting it. Have been looking at pics of the two Amerigo floorplans to determine what support features will need to go into my new interior. I don't intend to camp in, or store, the beastie out in a heavy snow so that shouldn't be an issue. Having it sag and pop whatever interior wall coverings I put in is what I am most concerned about. Thanks, Pam

[Pam in MKE]

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

Hey... Is that Eddie Fowlers old Trailer????


Never heard of him.... LOL


BUT There is a nice Amerigo FG-16 in ID currently for sale on <<<fiberglass-RV-4sale.com>>> that you might want to look at the pics of as it is very original appearing.


And I believe that the Sale Literature is in the documents center.

Hey Bob, I saw the ad for that one in ID and was drooling over it but didn't want to drive that far. I may regret that decision! It looks nice. I am copying all sorts of pics from this site into my Amerigo reno idea folder. What wondrous things these computer machines are for doing research, beats a card catalog. Thanks for the reminder to grab those pics while the ad is still posted. Pam

[Bob Miller]

Listed weight in the sales literature is 1,710 lbs. + about another 150 lbs for appliances. There is a good cutaway of the roof section that clearly shows where the wall supports are located, but it doesn't look to exact scale to make the inside space look bigger.

I will be in nearby Nampa, ID early next month and, if it's still there it will be mine.....

[David Tilston]

Kinda big compared to the Compact II. But it looks great. The price is sure right. Good luck Bob.

[SteveV]

Bob is right, the factory roof cutaway drawings make them look much more spacious than they actually are. Truth in advertising, right? Lol!

I'll be picking my Amerigo up in a few months from storage & begin work to get it back into shape. If I can be of help with dimensions or measurements for the rear gaucho floor plan let me know.

Best of luck with your project!

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

Kinda big compared to the Compact II. But it looks great. The price is sure right. Good luck Bob.

I am thinking about collecting the entire set, one each of every molded fiberglass RV built in 1973.... LOL

[SteveV]

......and since you're in Milwaukee you may want to check out this one on CL in Saukville: https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/rvs/5033239406.html

It was for sale last winter when I was looking to buy & would have gone for it but the one I ended up getting was a few hundred miles closer! Seems reasonably priced.

[MRClaus]

Hi Steve
do you have the history on Amerigo trailers ?
im looking for one in indiana
i think they are cute like one with a shower and toilet
i would like to see your pic

[Bob Miller]

Amerigo dates waaaay back in RV Hx building slide-in campers and was acquired by early RV pioneer Steward Gardner in the early 70's for the molded fiberglass technology they possessed which was used to start the Sunrader line of slide-in campers (later motorhomes) in 1972


Amerigo stayed separate (as were many of Gardner's companies) and they built a wide variety of RV's with some unique features such as a pop-out bed (Called "Snap n' Nap") in the end walls. The FG-16 first appeared in late 1970 and production continued on that model until early 1975. Gardner partnered with Kampgrounds of America somewhere alone about 1973 and the company making the FG16 was then called Amerigo Inc., Gardner Inc, a KOA Company.


Although both Bristol, IN & Orange, CA were listed as company locations, all of the FG16's were apparently built in IN.


Gardner is listed in the "RV Hall of Fame" in Elkhart, IN
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At least in the 1973 sales literature there is no mention of an optional shower or bathroom, only an optional porta-potty and a "Stand up closet-dressing area" is mentioned.

[USDM]

Super cool! Looks like a mini house boat.


Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV

[MRClaus]

please up the pics i'm looking

[Mr.Stu]

Hi Pam! I Live out by Afton. I bought my FG-16 last year up in McGregor. Mine was not gutted when I bought it, but it is now! You are lucky to find one with the Bunk bed set up, mine does not have that. I am currently prepping my shell for paint...You have a LOT of work ahead of you! I do a bit of work on mine every day after work, otherwise I would never get it done. I am hoping to have it ready for hunting this fall. Best of luck!

[Pam in MKE]

Originally Posted by Mr.Stu

Hi Pam! I Live out by Afton. I bought my FG-16 last year up in McGregor. Mine was not gutted when I bought it, but it is now! You are lucky to find one with the Bunk bed set up, mine does not have that. I am currently prepping my shell for paint...You have a LOT of work ahead of you! I do a bit of work on mine every day after work, otherwise I would never get it done. I am hoping to have it ready for hunting this fall. Best of luck!

Hi,
I am getting some help with my trailer's rehab. I thought having a bunk would be a nice option until I saw it in person. It is really difficult to move up and down. I am planning on having it removed. In the up position it slants back covering the back wall above the window. This is where I intend to put a mini split ac/heat venting unit (compressor on rear bumper extension. I'd rather have that area free of obstruction. Possibly the bunk could be serviced to work better but I really don't need the bunk except for resale value. Good luck with your project. Pam

[MRClaus]

hows the rebuild going ?

[cooneyfarm]

Hi, Pam. Just a note to let you know of another Amerigo in southeastern
Wisconsin. I live in mine full time in the nice weather. I bought the unit in Saukville and have been working on the insides. Added a window air conditioner in the front wall next to the window.
Have you done any work on your Amerigo?

[MRClaus]

i would like to see pics

[Pam in MKE]

Hi All,

My progress on the rehab has been stalled by some family obligations and the ministry of finance has also required some austerity measures (!). I have had most of the work done by others related to not being able to fit it into my garage. So far this is what has been done:
1. Inside critter mess was cleared out and inside disinfected. Most of inside has been gutted down to fiberglass.
2. Outside was powerwashed and scrubbed
3. Floor had been replaced but not really a good job (and it was soaked in critter excrement) so most of it has been removed. The floor in front half has yet to be removed-there is a thin fiberglass skin (original? don't think so) over a very rotted wood underlayment.
4. Hubs on axles removed and are being replaced with new standard hubs, getting new tires with standard rims. Unit will have new tires and rims.
5. The axle and trailer frame underneath was found to be in good shape. There is evidence the trailer frame was welded/repaired sometime in the past.

I am debating if I should continue or sell it to someone handier. I have $1500 "invested" in it so far. It will need fiberglass repairs of various access holes, at least 3 new windows, wiring, power configuration, outside paint and (oh yeah) an entire inside rebuild. I didn't realize how HUGE it would be. An interior of 13x7 seemed "smallish" in theory, but in reality - oy! If I can keep the rest of the rebuild around 2K, it would still be less than other comparable FBRV models I've seen that still need some repairs. And I know mine would be clean from mold and rot inside. It wouldn't need to be fancy to start, just the basics.

I will have the hubs and tires with rims for sale for anyone who might be interested. The tires are not that good but could function as a spare, they are 14 in in sizes 205 and 215, probably just good for the rims which (I discovered) are extremely difficult to find. The trailer service rep recommended I ask $85 each for the hubs and $50 each for the rims. This is open to negotiation. The brakes have been removed were not repairable. In any case these are standard and not as rare as the hubs and rims. In Wisconsin brakes are not required for units under 3000 lbs. Do others find the brakes are necessary or more an optional help?

Pam, overwhelmed and in search of a garage!