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.

[tonyj54]

Dennis,

Thanks for the link, I'll sure look.

[69cayo]

Tony, If you need any guidance with your truck try here........

http://www.oilburners.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?34-6-9L-IH-amp-7-3L-IDI-Diesels

They live and breath the idi Fords.

Dennis

[tonyj54]

Hi,all.

When we brought our C-10 home, about 15 months ago, we set out to using as much of the original as possible, due to job and budget constraints and the fact that we just like the look and feel of the original, OUTSIDE as well as inside. After our first outing in November, when we got back home, we parked the truck, and considered ourselves extremely blessed and protected that we had not been at least seriously injured, or worse, after finding several mechanical and other problems with the F-250. Still working to correct the truck problems, as we are able, in order to get back out among the world. In the interim, we've started doing some re-work on our C-10, mostly problems left over from the original repairs, when we had NO CLUE WHATSOEVER about what we were doing, just taking things as they came and learning as we went. Also, I started reading this tome of a thread from front to back, to glean as much as I can from you guys. So, as of this moment, I've gone through Page 200. Almost done. Great stuff.

We were still getting just a weep of water from the new city water connection that I'd installed last week, so we took it apart again yesterday, and hopefully, it will behave when I get back out to test it (this weekend is supposed to be mid- to upper-90's, so we're taking a couple of days rest). Next planned phase is to work on 12-volt system, then re-do tie-down supports and jack-points.

Still "miles to go before we sleep", but just wanted to say 'thanks', again, for all the help, ideas, and inspiration that you have been to us. And, God willing and the creek don't rise, we'll get back out there before Summer's over.

Be safe.

[Michael_111]

garryk6 wrote:

Michael 111 wrote:
I should be finished taking out the old insulation by the weekend....hopefully

does anyone know the weight of the C11 totally empty only the box and outside skin?

When I bought my C10, it was the inner and outer shell and previous owner rebuilt tub with nothing else and was about 1000 lbs.

Excellent, thanks, this will give me an idea on where i stand without loading up and drive to the next scale .....hour drive:(

[garryk6]

Michael 111 wrote:
I should be finished taking out the old insulation by the weekend....hopefully

does anyone know the weight of the C11 totally empty only the box and outside skin?

When I bought my C10, it was the inner and outer shell and previous owner rebuilt tub with nothing else and was about 1000 lbs.

[ticki2]

cajunavion wrote:
Howdy!
Can anyone enlighten us on the replacement or
fixing the original thetford aquamajic toilet?

It depends what it needs , some parts are still available . The seal kit for the blade is ,however , the 3" round gasket is too thick so you have to reuse the old one , if not the blade will bind . The water valve is not available but I did repair one and it's holding . I also found one NOS sitting on the shelf , blind luck . I posted a picture with the part number earlier in this thread . If you go the route of rebuilding I can give you more detailed info once it's out .

69 avion , I remember you mentioning having extra wood on top of the tank . I don't know why the difference but mine only had the 1/2" plywood on top of the tank , no way to lower it .

[Michael_111]

I should be finished taking out the old insulation by the weekend....hopefully

does anyone know the weight of the C11 totally empty only the box and outside skin?

[Michael_111]

D1trout wrote:
Michael, go to this site for pics of an interesting way to treat the curved inside ends of an Airstream-shaped interior.
www.orvistimelessairstream.com/photos.php
By the way, note that the fan-shaped panels are not symmetrical...

Dick

This is some awesome work
Thanks for sharing

[69_Avion]

69 Avion wrote:

cajunavion wrote:
Howdy!
Can anyone enlighten us on the replacement or
fixing the original thetford aquamajic toilet?

They don't make parts for them anymore, and they haven't for many years. They are a really low toilet. I sent some old parts to ticki2, and I think he found some OEM old stock parts for his. I lowered my fiberglass piece under the toilet and put a modern Thetford toilet that is higher to end up with the same overall height. Pictures are in this thread somewhere.

Page 71 & 83 has the stack of wood over the tank to raise the height of the toilet since it is such a low profile. The amount of wood stack that I took out make up for the weight difference in the stainless steel tank over the plastic one.

Page 72 has the new black water tank.

Page 87 & 88 has lower fiberglass installed to allow for the higher profile (low profile by today's standards) modern toilet.

[69_Avion]

cajunavion wrote:
Howdy!
Can anyone enlighten us on the replacement or
fixing the original thetford aquamajic toilet?

They don't make parts for them anymore, and they haven't for many years. They are a really low toilet. I sent some old parts to ticki2, and I think he found some OEM old stock parts for his. I lowered my fiberglass piece under the toilet and put a modern Thetford toilet that is higher to end up with the same overall height. Pictures are in this thread somewhere.

[cajunavion]

Howdy!
Can anyone enlighten us on the replacement or
fixing the original thetford aquamajic toilet?

[Jamm3r]

69 Avion wrote:
There is no doubt that an LP light will provide heat and in Alaska that would certainly be helpful. When these campers were built, there were no LP detectors or CO detectors available. If using one, I would make sure that I had a working CO and LP detector. An interior flame with not enough venting isn't a good combination. There is a reason that you usually don't see them anymore. For me, in AZ, I use LED lights, but I don't get the added benefit of the heat.

The btu/h rate of these lights isn't high enough to pose much of a concern. It's lower than a small stove burner. And unlike catalytic heaters, lights are meant to be shut off while sleeping. Propane lights have been in use for decades, and the permanently installed ones enjoy an excellent safety record.

In contrast, portable mantle lights, whether fueled by propane or white gas, are a fairly fruitful source of fires, burns, etc.

[Desertboy]

Neat site DTrout, Thanks.

[D1trout]

Michael, go to this site for pics of an interesting way to treat the curved inside ends of an Airstream-shaped interior.
www.orvistimelessairstream.com/photos.php
By the way, note that the fan-shaped panels are not symmetrical...

Dick

[D1trout]

Michael, your approach to the curved end panels is exactly what I plan to do! Except that, at the moment, I am thinking to refasten the plastic molding after I rewire and reinsulate the area behind them and then rivet the aluminum sections to that molding. I think I'll do the aluminum fan shaped treatment on both the inside front and the inside back of the camper. In bright aluminum. I have a pic I'll post when I get to my Mac that shows this treatment in a restored old Airstream from Timeless Trailers in Denver.
Dick