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.

[Southedistoman]

Ticki2, thanks, I've got some inbound.

[ticki2]

Southedistoman wrote:
Does anyone have a source for the shower curtain/ privacy curtain assembly, as in the track and wheels that hold the curtains up? I'm not having much luck finding anything flexible enough to conform to the curve. Thanks

here is hat I used , bends by hand but use a form of some kind to get a smooth curve . I f link doesn't work it is RV Designer A208 . www.rvupgradestore.com

[Southedistoman]

Does anyone have a source for the shower curtain/ privacy curtain assembly, as in the track and wheels that hold the curtains up? I'm not having much luck finding anything flexible enough to conform to the curve. Thanks

[66C10]

It's crazy to see so many of these for sale. I posted links to 14 of them for sale across the US on the Avion Truck Campers Facebook group.

I reached out to all of the sellers trying to get Year, Model and Serial Numbers so I can try to create a database of what's currently out there. Only heard back from 2 so far, haha.

[GoinThisAway]

Just saw this craigslist ad for a C10 Avion TC in Nashville TN. Avion TC No association with the seller. Just hoping to help a classic find a good home :B

[Southedistoman]

D1,
Thanks for the info. I keep going back and forth on insulating between the ribs and skins. I made some templates for the inner panels from thermo-ply (water proof cardboard, .070" thick). I attached them temporarily with #6 self tapping screws. In direct sun the screws were almost too hot to touch. I don't know how that will translate with entire rib sections radiating into the interior. The aluminum sheet I'm going to use has a white PVC coating on both sides. The plastic coating may provide a minimal thermal block as well.
I'm leaning toward leaving the insulation out. I could see it being a big hassle keeping the interior slick without ripples. Thanks all.

[D1trout]

Southedistoman, in creating Argo, the all-aluminum camper, I used 3M VHB tape to attach the new outside lower panels. It’s great stuff to work with and bonds like crazy.
As I prepared to put the new inner skin in, I considered using that same tape to attach the panels. To that end, I did a couple of sample sections, one using riveted skin directly onto the frames and another using the VHB tape to attach the skin. I took readings with my laser thermometer over the course of a warm spring day. The difference was not profound, perhaps a couple of degrees. That might be significant over the entire camper. I can’t say. What I can say is don’t use VHB tape to attach anything you think you might wish to remove at some later date. It’s way too sticky and can only be removed with chisel and a real effort. I did not end up using any insulation between the skin and the frames.
Consider that rivets, which are mostly on 3” centers, will transfer a lot of heat or cold regardless of any other insulation. The VHB tape uses an acrylic foam core with proprietary adhesive on both sides. It’s between .44 and .70 thick.
If I wanted to isolate the skin from the frame thermally, I’d use a 3/16” closed cell foam
strip, stuck to each rib with double sided tape applied to the rib to hold the foam strip in place. This would allow you to move the skin panel around before you rivet it.
Again. My personal conclusion was that insulating the ribs wasn’t worth the time. However I did use polyisocyanurate for the new main insulation as it has the highest R value per inch. And I’ve installed a Propex propane heater to deal with chilly days and nights. I happen to like hot weather...
Onward!

[Southedistoman]

I'm completely reworking my C-11. I had to remove and replace some of the inner skins due to an electrical short and "excessive heat episode". I've replaced the floors, wings and all wiring and am ready to patch the insulation and reskin the interior.
I'm thinking of adding some sort of thermal break between the ribs and the inner skin. I've seen 1/8" sill plate insulation mentioned. Has anyone tried something of this nature, or have any other ideas?

[rastaman33609]

ticki2 wrote:
Rastaman, the garden hose cap works for grey water but will clog right up with black water . If you bolt down the TC to the trailer you won't be able to move it for and aft to balance the load depending on what else you carry . I would tend to attach the platform to the TC rather than the trailer to give it location flexibility . Lots to think about .

No black water for me....compost......Good point on bolting to the trailer. I have been giving this a lot of thought...probably too much, but I am now just thinking of attaching 2" angle rails down the sides and across the front, (may be back too) to the trailer. that would prevent the 4' x 8' x 6" platform from moving. Then 'sistering' up a 1"x 6" board around the perimeter of the camper, which will be attached to the camper and the platform. Bare in mind that I presently have 2 layers of 2"x6" beneath screwed into the original frame. So any attaching I do will not tarnish the original box. As for weight distribution? instead of moving camper to compensate, i will move the added weight.

I will also be using 4 tie downs which will be the main source of securing the TC. all this other stuff is just to prevent it from jogging around as I do intend to venture off road. ( the main reason for parting company with my duley).
Just completed the brake installation on the trailer, so it wont be long now before the mating of the TC to the trailer will take place. My front jack mounts were already extended for the truck.
but with the trailer, the back ones had to be also, 4" front and rear....leaving me 3/4" on either side to clear the fenders of the trailer. This should be interesting to accomplish.

67Avion...welcome back...I was concerned about your recent absence , thought it have something to to with the blasphemy I am about to commit...(Avion on trailer). Glad you had a good time, and have joined us again.

[Dave_Pete]

Saw this in the Wyoming Cragslist ads.

Avion in Cody.

[ticki2]

Rastaman, the garden hose cap works for grey water but will clog right up with black water . If you bolt down the TC to the trailer you won't be able to move it for and aft to balance the load depending on what else you carry . I would tend to attach the platform to the TC rather than the trailer to give it location flexibility . Lots to think about .

[67avion]

Hello everyone. I've been in Copenhagen visiting my daughter and son in law. So, this is the first time I've checked in about a month. Glad to see that the group is functioning again.

Joerg, I have been using Photobucket for 3rd party photo hosting. I know. I know. Once burned twice shy. But it looks like they have learned their lesson after nearly destroying their company.

I'll bet you had a good time in Norway, but its dry as the Sahara. I mean its dry and yellow as far as the eye can see all across Northern Europe. I stayed in an Airbnb on this trip and I really missed traveling in a truck camper. My costs on this trip were double or more than when Jane and I traveled in the Tonke. It just brought back to me the incredible advantages of truck camping: I stayed at inexpensive parks, kept food and drink in the camper and didn't eat at restaurants except occasionally, and I moved about the country on my own terms.

[1968_C11]

unfortunately we didn´t get our c11 on the road this summer for some reasons.
so i bought e chevy g20 (back to the roots) and me and my wife went up to norway.
now i want to restart doing some things on in my avion.
isulation is nearly done
all the woodwork (wings, floor, cabover is rebuilt with kind of waterresistant plywood.
still havet found a place to store /upload my pix
now i have seen, that one of my mosquito "window frames" are missing. tho one in the cabover.
does anybody know where to get e new (used) one?

[rastaman33609]

Lonewolf...I used a 'horse stall matt' from tractor supply in the truck bed before..it gave a good non-slip base.(even with the truck bed plastic liner) plus with the tie downs and the brackets as you suggested I think I will be good,

Ticki2 ...Dang it I for got about the bussel, it was on my other camper that I was able to store stuff under...oh well, but like you said I will have plenty of space under the wings.
The outlet from the tank comes straight down.I am going to use a a cap with a garden hose fitting and I am hopping to get enough height to run a hose to my 'holding tank,which I am thinking I should mount between the axles for maximum clearance. it will just be a 5 gallon jug. When i had the camper on the truck I had strapped the jug below the spare tire and it worked perfect. Jug has a drain valve.

Do you have any suggestions for the area up front below the bed, The thought of a motorcycle may not work as loading it will be an issue. I will plan on keeping the batteries and 3 2x4 solar panels (just for transporting)up front on the V of the frame. I will have to figure a way to secure them from walking away. I like my panels portable so I can park in the shade and deploy them to the sun.Plus they are used at another off grid location when i go there.

[ticki2]

I doubt you will have access to any storage under the camper floor as the bussel will come down to the floor of the trailer . You will gain a lot of storage under the wings . You will probably have to change the discharge from the waste tank as it comes straight down . With a little plumbing you could make it exit through the hatch door , not sure if the C10 is the same as the C11 .