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.

[ticki2]

Sounds like you are making good progress . As long as the total thickness of the bunk floor is the same it should work fine . Since I didn't have to replace mine I don't know how the bunk floor was attached to the frame . I suspect it was screwed up from the bottom into the aluminum perimeter U channel , or perhaps down through the channel into the wood . I am not clear on the extra wood you want to add between the ribs . All my windows are framed with aluminum U channel so again not sure why you are adding 2"x2" alum angle under the front window . Some pictures would help clarify .

[rastaman33609]

67avion wrote:
The plan sounds good. We put in 3/4 ply in the cabover without additional insulation. It was painted with poly especially on the edges (if I remember correctly). I didn't quite follow exactly how angle iron was being used. You might consider galvanic reaction issues. As to the exterior grade ply and the Chinese - that's pretty interesting. Sounds like the old degassing with formaldehyde business.

Stick with it. Everyone is still around.

D

The angle will actually be aluminium, it will run horizontally below the front window, screwed into the front ribs and then into the wood frame just to give additional support. The original had screws through the channel all around, the channel doesn't seem too sturdy after all these years. I thought of using fender washers inside, however decided on wood inside the channel then the 'L' brackets and angle attached to the ribs for a little more support.

[67avion]

The plan sounds good. We put in 3/4 ply in the cabover without additional insulation. It was painted with poly especially on the edges (if I remember correctly). I didn't quite follow exactly how angle iron was being used. You might consider galvanic reaction issues. As to the exterior grade ply and the Chinese - that's pretty interesting. Sounds like the old degassing with formaldehyde business.

Stick with it. Everyone is still around.

D

[Downwindtracke1]

Make sure you use Canadian or American made exterior plywood, you never know what glue the Chinese used. Canadian is higher standard BTW. Marine grade fir plywood uses the same glue as exterior, just the voids are larger.

I use reject American made form ply, it's good stuff, just warped.

[rastaman33609]

ticki2 wrote:

rastaman33609 wrote:
Its been quiet here, am I the only one working on one of these things?

Yes it has . How about an update on your progress .

Ticki2...Thanks for inquiring, I was starting to think no one cared about these Avions anymore 🙂

I have gotten all the bad wood out of both wings and the bunk area. I have all the new wood cut and fitted in place.

Next to be done... the wood will be removed to get sealed and protected and then permanently installed.

For the wings I will be using 2 layers of 3/4" exterior ply.(budget did not allow for marine grade) I will be using CPES to seal the plywood, Then a generous coat of 'grabber' primer, then several coats of rustoleum industrial oil paint. The two layers of ply will be reinstalled using Silka glue and screws.

For the bunk area I will be using 1/2" exterior ply, Along the sides and plus in the middle, will be three pieces of 1x8 ceder boards running NS.The gaps will be filled with 1" foam pieces (similar to original) I had the rough cut ceder and it is the right thickness for a good fit with the ply and under the frame.Then a top sheet of 1/2 ply. The ply will also be protected as before.

I plan on using 3" L brackets attached to the ribs and the boards for support. I will also fit boards in between the ribs horizontally which will be screwed down to the boards through the frame.(same for the wings)

Below the front window a strip of 2"x2" 5'long aluminum angle will be attached to the front ribs and the boards.

I am basically using the original design for the bunk but with 'beefed up lumber' and extra supports.

How does that sound for a plan?....

After the wood is in place the tedious job of reinstalling will begin.
I will have to refinish the cabinets, new counter top,and interior paint.

Much more to do

[ticki2]

rastaman33609 wrote:
Its been quiet here, am I the only one working on one of these things?

Yes it has . How about an update on your progress .

[sabconsulting]

That looks like a great spot - sitting there with a beer with the big side panel open looking onto the sea.

Looking forward to heading in that direction next year.

Steve.

[67avion]

I'm back in the USA after an unbelievable European trip in a Tonke truck Camper. Jane and I traveled through Holland, Germany and Denmark with my daughter who lives in Copenhagen.

The trip will be featured in Truck Camper Magazine after the first of the year, but here is a sampler.

We stopped in Worpswede, Germany, at a 150 year old brick barn that was topped by thatch. That's Jane on the left taking notes.



Outside our Northern German campground (campingplatz) were beautiful fields that I photographed in the morning light.



We stopped at an old church in Denmark.



And an ancient windmill in Holland



I was taking notes on the Danish beach in the North Sea, the back end of the luxurious Tonke opened and a Tuborg Danish Beer, when Jane snapped me



There is a lot to report from the trip, including the difficulties of communications. I tried to post on the Forum, but was unlucky most of the time.

BTW. Some of these photos are in the TCM calendar competition this year. I'd appreciate your consideration and vote. http://www.truckcampermagazine.com/2016-calendar-contest-photos-part-1

I am starting the negotiations with my insurance company over the damage to my Avion. I'll give a recounting of my experience at a later time.

[cajunavion]

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25053498/gotomsg/28605447.cfm#28605447
Howdy!
Rastaman, I may not be the best advisor on Engle placement.
I would install it like Garry did, in order for the limited counter realastate
to do double duty and it is cooling efficient.
I opted for a different overall approach. I took out the cabnits, counters, and
strip the inside down to the wings. Put the bathroom back in place
with a more transparent feel! I have one limited 3ft counter that contains reverse osmosis
water filtration, water storage, water heater, sink, microwave, coffee maker, plumbing valves, and outside connections. Less is more. We tend to use the camper for sleeping, living is mostly outside.
Engle stills lives in the cab, great for on-the-road snacks; its the portable chest unit.
i think it was Garry who summed up our hot-rod approach. Leave the outside vintage, and modernize the interior. Check out my photobucket. Hope this helps.

[rastaman33609]

Garryk6...thanks for clarifying the reason for the elevated sink. I will have to make a new counter top so I am considering your approach.
I already have a Whynter 85 Qrt top load refrigerator/freezer that I will have to find room for. I hate to have to have to give up all that counter top space, so it will take some hard thinking to resolve this issue.

cheers

[67avion]

Gary and all. I'll be back in the US in the next few weeks. Right now we are in Istanbul overlooking the Bosporos. We spent several weeks truck camping in Northern Europe in a Tonke camper mounted onto a Mercedes truck. We stayed outside of the cities with the exception of Copenhagen where we camped in an old fort on the seaside.

There is no comparison in terms of costs or comfort between a TC and the hotel/restaurant/tour bus world. The TC wins hands down. We were camped on the shores of the Baltic Sea the night of last month's "Blood Moon" which we viewed with our own spread of foods and drink.

The Europeans are in awe of the Airsteam and vaguely aware of the Avion. But they have little to no experience with truck campers. We had dozens of inquiries about the Truck Camper with one German commenting it was "not normal".

The "normal" camper is a TT "caravan" or a class C. We were much larger which led to some tight corners in the towns and villages we visited.

But, we loved it.

Avionistas onward!

[garryk6]

Good morning all,
I have been working on my dads cabin lately, and my alternative daily driver has been in the shop since June, so I have not put the TC on my pickup so I can still launch the boat to get to the cabin and I can haul in the back of the truck. Winter is quickly approaching here in Alaska, so trying to wrap up outdoor projects.....
I placed the engle cooler where the sink was to shift weight forward.. You may recall I carry a 10 ft camper on a 6 3/4 ft truck bed. I then placed a new propane box using the refrigerator door to move that weight forward. To better utilize space, I chose not to put a sink in the bathroom, and I only raised the sink enough to clear the propane box but allow allow the sink to drain. We went with the smaller Engle due to a) Price and b) size. We take a minimal approach to camping since moving to Alaska. By squeezing a family of 6 in a 10 ft 1966 Avion is considered nuts by most people, but we have chosen to make it work, to keep less money in the RV and provide a little more to allow us to take the RV off the island when possible. This year has been a bust for the feet trips due to taking the entire family to SanDiego in the spring for our oldests Marine Corps boot Camp graduation. And now we have a Christmas trip to spend one last Christmas at grandma and grandpas farm in WA before they move into a new place. So that has been my year and some of the back ground for choosing to relocate items the way we have done. Hope this helps!!!
Garry

[rastaman33609]

cajunavion wrote:
Howdy!
Garry what about an MT60? Its a combo
freezer/fridge at the same time. I personally
like the expedition style: its engineeringwise
more efficient to keep cold in with a top opening.
I am thinking of some kind of top counter surface
with the Engel underneath. Double duty the space.
Oh yes! D1 your the man of the hour! That Al
framework is drop dead gorgeous!

Howdy CajunAvion.... after reading this post again, from sometime back I am wondering what solution you came up with for your Engel in the counter.

Garry56...I was curious as to the reason why in your set up the sink is elevated? and do you think the removal of the wall where the refrigerator was had any negative effects on integrity of structure .

69cayo... check your PM

anyone working on their Avion or enjoying using it?
so quiet here lately.....

[rastaman33609]

cajunavion wrote:
Howdy!
Rastaman are you going to patch her up or do a what-the-hell-since-im-already-here redo.
I would suggest the latter. If so, floor, bulkhead, bunk, and then wings.
Screw braces inside to hold the shape and supports on outside.
2x4 and standard plywood are perfect. Take it one small step at a time.
If you pursue the former, youll always be going back to fix
endless problems an tearing into your previous work. JMTC

Howdy back to you Cajunavion, I don't know about the 'what-the -hell since- I -am-already-here" approach. Firstly that's kind of scary to me,and as far as I can tell. other than the bunk, and wing area. the rest seems pretty good. I will look even more closely as I proceed.
I am not going for the total rebuild, but would like to make it structurally safe and functional....and then USE it

So have you removed the lower cabinets? will they come out as one unit?
I am by no means a cabinet maker and new cabinets would be a budget buster.

Has anyone found a good 'cheap' source for a water tank that will fit in the original location. I have the Gaucho layout with the extendable dinette running N/S with the bench sofa/bed?

Tiki2...I kind of like your idea...I don't want to run the risk of getting overwhelmed and throwing in the towel. Rather try and 'eat the elephant one bite at a time'

[cajunavion]

Howdy!
Rastaman are you going to patch her up or do a what-the-hell-since-im-already-here redo.
I would suggest the latter. If so, floor, bulkhead, bunk, and then wings.
Screw braces inside to hold the shape and supports on outside.
2x4 and standard plywood are perfect. Take it one small step at a time.
If you pursue the former, youll always be going back to fix
endless problems an tearing into your previous work. JMTC