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.

[Desertboy]

67avion wrote:
Is there something happening on the duplicate posts from Will and Jacq? That URL is for drop box. And its willing to get into my computer without passwords or anything else.

I've notified the mod...

That link is the one rv.net gave us to upload pics. I don't understand exactly how it works but it does work. I quoted that other post/ or copied it and pasted it one I don't remember. They were having problems getting a picture posted. I believe it was one of the mods who built that link. It was so easy to use so I just saved it in my favorites bar and when a new person is having picture problems I just open it and repost it on here.

[D1trout]

Michael, my thought regarding interior panels is to take one out, lay it on a large table on top of the new uncut sheet and use it as a pattern for cutting the shape and for pre-drilling the holes, then simply(!) reattaching the new panel where the old one came off... I wonder if that would work with your Luan. Perhaps you could avoid drilling any new holes at all.

I may be living in a fool's paradise...

I'm doing this because the vinyl-clad interior is not quite the thing and I fancy a shiny interior.

I have no need for the gusset pieces you fabricated because I have replaced the wood with aluminum. I will just rivet into the frame.

As for welding up an aluminum frame, I'm obviously convinced of the merit of that approach. I have taken lots of pics of the finished frame from different angles and will compile a set of measurements which I am very happy to share.

Dick

[Michael_111]

cajunavion wrote:
Howdy!
D1 your models are tremendous. Where
are you mounting your Lagun arm? My passthrough
is in the dead center. I want my layout fairly
identical to yours. You may be correct on the size.
I just do not like adding any unnessary
cabinetry, but shorten the isle would make
the table issue fade.
Michael I liked your list of Avion improbable possibilites.
I never thought of iPhone control. I like it, any
ideas how to impliment it?
That C11 was nice, it sure would be fun to hack
into it, and mod it out.
Does anyone know how many Avion TC were
made? How many still exist? Distribution?
A list of serial numbers would be so cool!

I was just about to post the same question in regards to the numbers of C10 and C11 ever build and how many would you think are still on the road.
Mine has the serial number of FH 014 and was sold September of 1967
According to my research so far C-11 started in 1968 , right?

As far as adding automation to it ....i use the Dension WIFI RC module for some of my animatronic work, it basically creates its own WIFI Network and therefore you can connect your Phone or Tablet to it and with an App control all kinds of servos. One could add a continuous rotation servo to all of the windows and have fun.
This would probably work for any electric jacks as well, positioning of solar panels , elevating a wind turbine, that kind of stuff.
This will be added in version 4.0 HA

[Michael_111]

D1trout wrote:
Cajunavion, I figure to mount the Lagun table support midway between the two bench seats. My bulkhead window is also centered but I don't think right bench extension will impinge on it. I don't figure a wide table is of particular value. What is valuable is maintaining enough space for the propane locker behind the right bench seat. I doubt I'll reuse the two original horizontal propane tanks. I'm thinking to use a single horizontal aluminum tank of greater capacity. That will reduce the propane locker depth a bit. I will build or install a water tank beneath the dinette table - I don't show the raised section of floor in this model but it's part of the plan. We've discussed the value of having the weight up forward.

My challenge at this moment is getting the shell attached to the new aluminum frame. It's a real push me-pull you proposition. A tweak here causes a shift there...
I bought from Chuck Cayo new lengths of the curved 90 degree moldings that connect the bottom of the shell to the frame. They need to be drilled to match the existing holes in the shell. I'm thinking the wisest approach is to use my fine supply of Cleckos to dry fit everything and then fasten after fitting is assured. That, at least, is the plan. I'm glad to have a big rubber mallet on hand...

Onward!
Dick

I bet that this is not easy....big mallet is certainly called for.

as i am working on my tub/box i am coming to the understanding that an all aluminum frame is the way to go.....I do have friends that weld aluminum for a living, so in a year or two this will be my summer project, learning to weld, one of the skill sets that i have not acquired yet...
I had to replace one of the curved clips myself as well it just fell apart. Assuming this is what you are talking about







The current thought to attach the new inside skin is to rivet a 3 inch wide strip- currently waterproofed luan, could change my mind on this- with minimal new holes to the rib and then attach the skin to the overhang on the left and right of the rib reducing the amount of holes to the rib dramatically. It is already Swiss Cheese 🙂
I am experimenting with a custom made insulation strip ,planing on a test assembly of this for next week , stay tuned for results.

Back to building something

[D1trout]

Cajunavion, I figure to mount the Lagun table support midway between the two bench seats. My bulkhead window is also centered but I don't think right bench extension will impinge on it. I don't figure a wide table is of particular value. What is valuable is maintaining enough space for the propane locker behind the right bench seat. I doubt I'll reuse the two original horizontal propane tanks. I'm thinking to use a single horizontal aluminum tank of greater capacity. That will reduce the propane locker depth a bit. I will build or install a water tank beneath the dinette table - I don't show the raised section of floor in this model but it's part of the plan. We've discussed the value of having the weight up forward.

My challenge at this moment is getting the shell attached to the new aluminum frame. It's a real push me-pull you proposition. A tweak here causes a shift there...
I bought from Chuck Cayo new lengths of the curved 90 degree moldings that connect the bottom of the shell to the frame. They need to be drilled to match the existing holes in the shell. I'm thinking the wisest approach is to use my fine supply of Cleckos to dry fit everything and then fasten after fitting is assured. That, at least, is the plan. I'm glad to have a big rubber mallet on hand...

Onward!
Dick

[cajunavion]

Howdy!
D1 your models are tremendous. Where
are you mounting your Lagun arm? My passthrough
is in the dead center. I want my layout fairly
identical to yours. You may be correct on the size.
I just do not like adding any unnessary
cabinetry, but shorten the isle would make
the table issue fade.
Michael I liked your list of Avion improbable possibilites.
I never thought of iPhone control. I like it, any
ideas how to impliment it?
That C11 was nice, it sure would be fun to hack
into it, and mod it out.
Does anyone know how many Avion TC were
made? How many still exist? Distribution?
A list of serial numbers would be so cool!

[67avion]

Is there something happening on the duplicate posts from Will and Jacq? That URL is for drop box. And its willing to get into my computer without passwords or anything else.

I've notified the mod...

[D1trout]

Michael111, I'm keen to learn how you fare installing the Luan panels on the inside of your rig. I will soon be removing the aluminum inner panels from mine and cutting duplicates from new aluminum sheet. Any tips you can offer about that process will be greatly appreciated!

Dick

[Desertboy]

I've been taking your advice about getting our 1971 Cayo C-11 safe (it now has real tiedowns and LED lights) and using it before we begin renovation.

But I wanted to see if I could post a picture, as well as show our first repair. We attended Alumapalooza in Jackson Center, OH last weekend. At the swap meet, someone pointed out that we were missing the grill over our heat vent - and he had the part for only $1. And it only took 5 minutes to install.



What a great start to our renovation! I'm sure the next project will be neither so inexpensive or so quick!

Darn. I don't see the picture. Figuring this out may take longer than the little project itself!

Try this link for your picture.




http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/201045551/Forums/PhotoUpload/RV.NET-Photo-Upload.html

[Jamm3r]

67avion wrote:
I assume everyone saw this post? 71Cayo for sale...I posted that it appears to be collectors level coach..but 69 is so right...check for rot.

click

Excellent camper, very much original.

The drapes and the upholstery match mine. I never thought mine were original but that's too much of a coincidence.

Looks like someone added an outside electrical outlet. It's otherwise stock.

[67avion]

Jacq, great start. It's odd how small things can give such satisfaction. I had a friend who was an artist many years ago. We loved to look for stuff that was interesting or unusual at the time such as Stickley furniture and bullet nosed Studebakers. One day my friend solemnly raised his hand and pronounced: "getting it cheap is part of the aesthetic".

Right, I said. Every discovery, every piece has a story...and it's part of the aesthetic.

D

[69_Avion]

JacqCampbell wrote:
I've been taking your advice about getting our 1971 Cayo C-11 safe (it now has real tiedowns and LED lights) and using it before we begin renovation.

But I wanted to see if I could post a picture, as well as show our first repair. We attended Alumapalooza in Jackson Center, OH last weekend. At the swap meet, someone pointed out that we were missing the grill over our heat vent - and he had the part for only $1. And it only took 5 minutes to install.



What a great start to our renovation! I'm sure the next project will be neither so inexpensive or so quick!

Darn. I don't see the picture. Figuring this out may take longer than the little project itself!

Post the picture on a host site like photobucket.com and then link it to here.

[JacqCampbell]

I've been taking your advice about getting our 1971 Cayo C-11 safe (it now has real tiedowns and LED lights) and using it before we begin renovation.

But I wanted to see if I could post a picture, as well as show our first repair. We attended Alumapalooza in Jackson Center, OH last weekend. At the swap meet, someone pointed out that we were missing the grill over our heat vent - and he had the part for only $1. And it only took 5 minutes to install.



What a great start to our renovation! I'm sure the next project will be neither so inexpensive or so quick!

Darn. I don't see the picture. Figuring this out may take longer than the little project itself!

Thanks, 69 Avion, I think I finally have it right!

Jacqueline & Mike
1971 Cayo C-11 TC
1976 Dodge 2500 V10 4x4 Truck

[tonyj54]

Desertboy wrote:
Did anyone else save those pictures of the Avion posted at the clicky above? I would really like to have it because of the interior. Is that pretty close to original inside? As far as the outside is concerned I think mine is in as good of shape. I just wish whoever had it before me had not polished it. I know a lot of people like the polished look but I like that anodized look. I wont ever get rid of mine but I will get in position and be ready to pounce when another one pops up somewhere near me.

Thank goodness. Was beginning to think that I was the lone fan of the anodized Avion out here. If I'd wanted shiny, I'd have bought an Airstream. I mean, it's okay, but I like the rugged, 'lived-in' look of our camper, just like I love the 'homey' feel of our house. When folks walk in, you know you're in a welcoming atmosphere, not some magazine setting where you have to be careful where you sit. Just grab a seat, a beer or cool glass of tea, kick your shoes off, and let's get acquainted.

I ain't out here to impress nobody.

[67avion]

Dick, just stunning work.