Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos
Without going into too much painful detail, we had a mishap several week-ends ago. While working with sand bag crews on the Mississippi River, the truck and camper fell into the flood waters as a road...
Forum Discussion
Since I carry my C-10 on a Ford Superduty, I needed the extra clearance between the cabover and my cab. So when I found my C-10, the PO had already rebuilt the floor using 3/4 plywood over a 2x4 subframe. This allowed me to have one (soon to be two) aluminum grey water tanks welded up that are about 22"x48"x3". They hold about 14 gallons, and I could place them all the way forward under the new 40 gallon water tank, keeping my COG as far forward as possible. (important for me since I am carrying a 10ft camper on a 6 3/4ft bed). The raised area also allowed for the plumbing runs for the tank(s) and hopefully soon, Ill be adding some blue-board insulation to fill in all the remaining void areas. The PO also found some weakness in the jack areas, so he over laid more 3/4 plywood up the verticals and out over the jacks. But that has caused some other issues (extra weight) that I wish I didn't have. If I had to start all over (which I may do when I retire, as long as I still can...) I would have an all aluminum "tub" welded up with appropriate gussets, and framework, that would allow the underside to hold the tanks and plumbing, with access plates and insulation, but that the interior parts were a solid welded piece that included the wings and the sides. I might also add an additional extra inch or two to the overall height, which might also allow a proper "basement" near the rear, and a wider "tub floor" that could extend just above the wheel wells over to near the bed sides. This could allow for some "tweaking" of the interior floor plan and storage areas for even better space utilization, and would also allow for more "floor space".
This would also allow for some external storage which most Avion TC's are rather lacking in, with a "basement" access to the rear, and possible some added room under the rear overhang.
The obvious problems with this plan is the fabrication cost as well as the cost of the aluminum. But this would all but eliminate the ROT problem with Avions. And provide a very sold an most likely lighter base. The only draw back I can see is reinforcing the welded aluminum properly to ensure there are no cracks, but as an owner of an all aluminum welded boat, it is pretty tough, and has not cracked with all the boating and trailering that it has done in the Alaska rivers and ocean areas. So I think as long as the "tub" was welded in a thick enough aluminum, and reinforced correctly, you would literally have a TC that would last forever!
Well enough dreaming, I do not see that happening any time too soon...
Good Luck on your rebuild!
Garry in Alaska
This would also allow for some external storage which most Avion TC's are rather lacking in, with a "basement" access to the rear, and possible some added room under the rear overhang.
The obvious problems with this plan is the fabrication cost as well as the cost of the aluminum. But this would all but eliminate the ROT problem with Avions. And provide a very sold an most likely lighter base. The only draw back I can see is reinforcing the welded aluminum properly to ensure there are no cracks, but as an owner of an all aluminum welded boat, it is pretty tough, and has not cracked with all the boating and trailering that it has done in the Alaska rivers and ocean areas. So I think as long as the "tub" was welded in a thick enough aluminum, and reinforced correctly, you would literally have a TC that would last forever!
Well enough dreaming, I do not see that happening any time too soon...
Good Luck on your rebuild!
Garry in Alaska
