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.

[gfemling]

Dodgeavion wrote:
Here: http://www.rbcbearings.com/ballbearings/index.htm

Thanks for the suggestion-- I was not aware they were still doing business as my search for NICE bearings hadn't revealed the RBC website. Actually that is all the good news-- the bad news is that they confirmed that the 7299 bearing was a special application that is no longer available and could only suggest one of their "600 series". The closest one in that series uses a 1/4" balls (while it appears the 7299 bearing used an 1/8" (or maybe a 1/16") ball set). Thus the closest one (# 610 1/4 V) has a slightly larger OD (1-3/4" vs 1-9/16") and a larger thickness (5/8" vs 5/16"). Both of these would cause problems with the miter gears meshing and doesn't appear to be a good way to modify the original gears to make these available thrust bearings work :(. So for now the only option is to continue with the greased bearing washers and re-grease frequently. I have pondered replacing the miter gears with slightly larger ones to accommodate the larger bearing size but appears not to be an easy fix. Any one with more "miter gear knowledge" out there with suggestions??

[rfuerst911sc]

OK guys and gals I'm going to start the restoration of my 68 C11 where to start ? I have cleared a large spot in the basement to hold the interior as I remove it. Most of the wood cabinets I will be keeping. So do I just start at the back and keep removing interior pieces until they are all removed ? I know I have a soft spot on the floor at the door and a piece where the passenger side factory lift jack has " crumpled " the aluminum skin. I plan a complete restoration of everything inside the camper. Will probably keep the stove/oven and will probaly try to fix the refrigerator but other than those two items everything else may be replaced. I will document with pics just so I can get it back together and also will be adding ( somewhere ) a gray water tank. Plus solar on the roof " if " I can install panels that will fit the roof real estate. Any tips on how to get started are appreciated.

[Dodgeavion]

Here: http://www.rbcbearings.com/ballbearings/index.htm

[Dodgeavion]

Have you tried calling Nice Bearings to see if they have any?

[ticki2]

69 Avion wrote:
Has anyone done anything with their Avion lately?

Just got back from a rainy week in the Adirondacks ( no leaks and all systems go ). No trip report , went to help a buddy with his camp .

[ticki2]

oneofakind wrote:
we have a Model T-21 Avion Travel Trailer that had been modified and put onto a 1970 Ford Econoline Van Custom 300. Whoever did that also painted it - all of it. Now decades later the paint just looks shabby. Anyone got any idea how to remove the paint without damaging the - what I think is - anodized aluminum underneath?

Klean-strip makes a spray product called Peeler used for removing clear coat and base coat on auto finishes . I've used it to clean anodized aluminum and works well . Any auto supply that carries paint should have it .

How about a picture of your Avion on the Econoline ?

[69_Avion]

Has anyone done anything with their Avion lately?

[gfemling]

gfemling wrote:

69 Avion wrote:
Fortunately all of mine were able to be cleaned up. I ran some Breakfree in them and worked them for a while until the 45 years of gunk came out and then I cleaned the outside and painted them. I really think that you need that bearing in order to reduce friction. I would have suggested calling Cayo, but they claim that these jacks never came on our campers. My next guess is to take a bearing down to one of the large bearing companies and see if they can match it. I'll bet that they are still available, you just need a make and number. I didn't see any numbers on mine. I looked for numbers just in case I needed new ones. Let us know what you find out.

I was able to read the bearing make & model off the original and did try to have both NAPA and a major bearing supplier cross the numbers but no good. (I don't remember what the make/ numbers were right now and on-the-road so can't refer to my notes) Anyway, yes the drag gets pretty large when my stacked thrust washer assembly gets dry so agree that having good roller thrust bearing is important-- now just need to find where to obtain-- anyone out there have some ideas??

OK back home and dug up the numbers on the original thrust bearings-- NICE 7299 USA (assume they were from a domestic manufacturer-- NICE?; that the "USA" isn't part of part number also as it is on opposite diameter from other part number). The bearing appears to be a sealed roller thrust type with ID measured at 1.013" (1" nominal), OD measured at 1.570" (1 9/16" nominal), and thickness measured at 0.300" (5/16" nominal). Appears from examination that all of these dimensions are critical-- ID to fit over threaded shaft without excessive clearance; OD to allow crank handle spur gear clearance-- any larger OD and side gear won't slide onto the side shaft enough to mate with other spur gear on the threaded main lift shaft; thickness critical to allow proper engagement of two mating spur gears.
Anyone have any ideas; searched the suggested VXB.com without success.

[oneofakind]

we have a Model T-21 Avion Travel Trailer that had been modified and put onto a 1970 Ford Econoline Van Custom 300. Whoever did that also painted it - all of it. Now decades later the paint just looks shabby. Anyone got any idea how to remove the paint without damaging the - what I think is - anodized aluminum underneath?

[69_Avion]

rfuerst911sc wrote:
I have already learned a LOT from this forum and the Avion posts specifically. I plan on gutting the interior and adding things like solar panels. I hope to restore most of the original wood cabinets. I will install a Corian countertop in the kitchen. Will be adding a Stable Lift lift system which I already purchased used. Lots of ideas it's just a matter of time and money. Looking forward to the challenge.

What kind of jacks do you currently have on the camper? If they are La Jaga jacks, let me know if I can purchase the crank handle and maybe one jack.

[rfuerst911sc]

I have already learned a LOT from this forum and the Avion posts specifically. I plan on gutting the interior and adding things like solar panels. I hope to restore most of the original wood cabinets. I will install a Corian countertop in the kitchen. Will be adding a Stable Lift lift system which I already purchased used. Lots of ideas it's just a matter of time and money. Looking forward to the challenge.

[69_Avion]

rfuerst911sc wrote:
I will be starting the restoration of my 1968 C11 within the next two months so I'll be posting progress and asking questions.

I can't wait to see the pictures. There is a wealth of info on this thread.

[rfuerst911sc]

I will be starting the restoration of my 1968 C11 within the next two months so I'll be posting progress and asking questions.

[67avion]

Gary, it has been quite a thread. I'll probably post the final pictures of the 67 Avion restoration in the next week or so. I've had some last minute issues with it, as I noted in some other posts. In particular, I couldn't make it to the Overland Expo because of electrical problems. That was a real disappointment. But, we all keep plugging along. I hope we'll hear from some of the others as they make progress. In the meantime, may the clouds part and the sun shine in Kodiak.

[garryk6]

I remember when this thread started, and now we are on page 125! Well, mine is in the yard waiting for some minor cabinet adjustment to install the 12V Engle refrigerator. Can't wait, since the kids are ready to do some camping! Just trying to find some time...
Garry in rainy wet Kodiak, AK