Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

[67avion]

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 collapsed. Because of a number of issues dealing with the wrecker truck, we had to release the camper as the truck was reeled up over the bank. The good news is that the truck is as good as new after a thorough rinsing, inspection of brakes, etc. The bad news is that the camper was thoroughly drowned. A lot of people had far worse trouble than we did, so we consider ourselves lucky. The floods are ongoing as I write.

Our planned trip to Montana in June is called off. heh.

However, I have now convinced my dear Jane that its time to really update the TC. After drying for several days we pulled out the interior. Amazingly the Zolatone paint that I had applied last year is good as new after a cleaning.



Without burdening the TC family overmuch, I'd like to ask some advice other than don't park too near a flood :-).

My DW was overjoyed that I had a plan for the bathroom: a composting toilet developed by Nature's Head http://www.natureshead.net/. Our holding tank was practically unusable and there was no real grey water tank on the 67 Avion. Our plan is to rip out the bathroom and install one of these and converting the blackwater to a greywater tank. Any experience with this?

Finally, the roof. I admit that I have not really done the work I should have. Now, I need to remove the various sealants on the roof and repair it. We are also setting up for a solar installation. Any advice as to this?



Here's hoping I have posted the pictures correctly. And many thanks in advance for your advice.

[67avion]

Sparkles like a jewel. I have read for years, and talked to Avion owners for years, about the pros and cons of deanodizing. I went away really confused both at the level of whether the "original look" should be preserved as well as whether deanodizing would somehow damage the metal.

The"original look" has always been problematic since it tends to be downright dowdy. The aluminum goes gray and splotchy. On the other hand, I wonder about the upkeep of the denaodized and laboriously polished aluminum. Will you have to coat the finished product? Polish again? Or is it all finished?

[Photog101]

Really nice lookin. That is a lot of work, but it looks like a labor of love.

[Avion_C-11]

Since my last post we finished polishing the center section all the way around the camper, deanodized under the bunk and continued the polishing process up to the front end cap. Next steps will be to lower the stand so we can finish polishing on the upper sections and endcaps.

Need to decide if I want to polish or do something else on the sections under the wings and the tub. Thoughts?

Hit a big milestone, we pulled the trim rails out of the basement to begin the polishing process on them. It was the first time since I began this restoration where I actually went to the basement to get something out versus putting something in. Maybe we have turned a corner.
--

The trim rails deanodized.


Initial polishing of the center sections complete.


Taped off and ready to tackle the bunk area.


Center section of the front endcap ready to polish.


Deanodizing. Working over your head sucks!


Lower sections of endcap ready to polish.


Polished! We are getting this technique down now and things are moving along faster.


Out of sunlight and time until next weekend.

[ticki2]

Jamm3r wrote:


3) Many of the newer C-11s have a sort of vertical furnace, like the Panel Ray heater used in other vintage brands, only enclosed. Do the ones in C-11s work well? Do they require electricity to run? Are there parts available? Are they thought to be safe?

My furnace does require 12v to run the thermostat ( 0.01a ) and has the optional fan ( .o9a ) . The fan is not needed to run the furnace but better for circulation . Have not needed any parts yet . Like any other furnace if the chamber is solid and the piping good it is as safe as any. Plenty of heat.

[67avion]

Jamm3R wrote:
After much consideration and shopping I am now very close to buying a C-11 I have found that's in good shape.

Welcome. Its an undertaking to handle the Avion as you can tell from this thread. However, I think you will find a universal acknowledgement that they are among the best TCs ever built. Just be careful about the hidden issues dealing with rot in the wings and floors. They can be fixed, but it means a relatively complete teardown of the coach. I can't speak to your other questions since I have a C-10, though the interior height appears to be completely adequate.

[garryk6]

Jamm3r wrote:
1) How much standing room is there? I'm 6'1" and the C-11 I'm looking at has an air conditioner.

I have a C-10, and I am 6'4". No air-conditioning, but no height problems. It is just tall enough for 6'4". Just watch that back door... It's a head banger...

Jamm3r wrote:

2) What's the conventional wisdom on the merits of the "side dinette" vs. "Gaucho" floorplan?

I have sidedinette, and like it, but could see that if we had a gaucho, there would be alot of time with the table removed, as that gives better seating.

Jamm3r wrote:

3) Many of the newer C-11s have a sort of vertical furnace, like the Panel Ray heater used in other vintage brands, only enclosed. Do the ones in C-11s work well? Do they require electricity to run? Are there parts available? Are they thought to be safe?

We only have a Catalytic (Wave-3) heater. But grew up in a 1968 Shasta TT that had the vertical heater.Did not need 12V or 110V to run, and would cook us out of the TT. Don't know the safety problem, but would add a CO detector like I did.

Good Luck, and Hopefully soon you will join the rest of us crazy's who call ourselves Avion Owners. 😉
Garry in Kodiak, AK

[Jamm3r]

After much consideration and shopping I am now very close to buying a C-11 I have found that's in good shape. Could those of you have have a C-10/C-11 answer a few questions for me?

1) How much standing room is there? I'm 6'1" and the C-11 I'm looking at has an air conditioner.

2) What's the conventional wisdom on the merits of the "side dinette" vs. "Gaucho" floorplan?

3) Many of the newer C-11s have a sort of vertical furnace, like the Panel Ray heater used in other vintage brands, only enclosed. Do the ones in C-11s work well? Do they require electricity to run? Are there parts available? Are they thought to be safe?

[garryk6]

67avion wrote:
GarryK,

I saw today that the National Guard was sent into Cordova where there is 18 feet of snow!!!!!! I think that Cordova is Northeast of you several hundred miles. I
wonder how you and your family are holding up? I assume the Ford/Avion/snowplow is still working?

Thanks 67avion,
Friday Night and Saturday AM we had a blizzard. Then Saturday evening through Sunday night we had 25-40mph winds with gusts to 50mph. I spent most of Saturday, and part of sunday plowing. We were dealing with 12 to 18 inches. We are expecting another 3 inches tonight, but then it is supposed to go to rain.... Argh... So this morning I grabbed the broom and swept nearly a foor of snow off the roof of the Avion, then looked over at the 29ft Class C, that hasn't sold yet... Got up on top of the Class C and started sweeping carefully, not to hit any of the plastic pieces, and careful of the rubber roof. There was 12 to 18 inches of snow on top. If we had got rain, I may have lost the roof of the MH. We are not near as bad as Cordova, but for Kodiak, we have had one of the coldest and snowiest winters that many can recall. I am glad that the Avion is on the ground and not on the truck right now, as it was easier to plow without the camper.
Don;t know when I'll get to work on the Avion again, but now that the deer is gone from hanging in the Garage, I can turn the heat on, and start insulating the garage and getting some wiring and lighing going. At least I'll be out of the wind and cold and snow. Hopefully at some point I'll be able to build a cart/trailer to back the camper into the garage, but that may be awhile. My door is 10' wide by 10' tall, so my boat does fit in the garage. But I havn't measured the camper to see if it will clear with the way I have the steps hanging down in the rear... We'll see.
Thanks again for checking in on me. 😉
Garry in Kodiak

[67avion]

GarryK,

I saw today that the National Guard was sent into Cordova where there is 18 feet of snow!!!!!! I think that Cordova is Northeast of you several hundred miles. I
wonder how you and your family are holding up? I assume the Ford/Avion/snowplow is still working?

[Photog101]

Brillow pads are made of steel wool (or similar) and leave traces of small ... very small ... pieces of ferrous metal and that causes rust. I hate brillow pads.

[Avion_C-11]

nycsteve wrote:

Im very interested to see how you handle the interior, it looks totally striped down inside.

Unfortunately the idea of photo-documenting this thing hadn't really occurred to me before I tore out the most of the interior. So, I don't have pics of what it will look like but it is going to be mostly like the original with a few minor modifications.

Also, someone reminded me today that Brillow pads and Scotchbrite pads are not the same thing. I use Scotchbrite pads when deanodizing and not brillowpads.

[67avion]

Great work....and just as importantly, great explanation. Its a real inspiration.

[nycsteve]

Took a look at this thread after not looking for awhile. Very impressive! You will cause much envy and widespread coveting when your done. I applaude your determination and disipline in the project, I wish I had the same focus.
Im very interested to see how you handle the interior, it looks totally striped down inside.

[Avion_C-11]

Now that is a fantastic idea! I think I will do it!

[Steelhog]

That is absolutely gorgeous. You might look into how the war bird folks preserve their classic aircraft as I’m sure they are very concerned about corrosion. Come to think of it some WWII style nose art might put your rig over the top.