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]

Wow, this thread has been dormant for over a month. Time to wake up those Avions.

Last July I posted some questions about measurements. After doing some looking, I finally bought one, well actually two, and got them home recently. The deal I struck was for a complete C11, in usable condition, and a gutted shell. The complete unit has some pretty major panel damage to the left side and rear. The PO bought the shell to replace the damaged panels.

The gutted shell has very few exterior dents, but nothing for the inside, not even the inner skins. The floor and cabover in both units is remarkably solid. The wings have been replaced on the shell, and need replacing on the complete unit. As it stands right now, I'm considering removing the contents of the complete one and putting it back into the empty shell. The way I'm figuring, pretty much everything has to come out of the complete unit to fix the wings, and then I've got to repair or replace the outer panels. That's what I'm thinking right now, plans may change.

How about some updates, last I saw, D had some repairs to do after his Mexico trip, and D1trout was on the hunt for inner skin material. That is of particular interest to me if I continue with the repair of the gutted shell. I hope everyone else is out using their Avions. If things hold together, my plan is to be out there with ya'll by this time next year.

I don't know if anyone has seen it but Silver Pompadour has a nice write up on "Truck Camper Adventure"

http://truckcamperadventure.com/2017/04/restoring-a-1968-avion-c11-truck-camper/
Clicky

[garryk6]

Just posted the first days worth of pics from our trip report!
Trip Report! Spring Break Kodiak Alaska Style!!!

GArry

[garryk6]

Good morning all from chilly Kodiak Island Alaska!!! This past week was spring break and the kids have been bugging me to take them camping and to take the4wheelers out. It is still winter in Alaska and we have been having temps in the high teens to as high as 35 for the past month. But with that same high giving us clear and cold also has sent winds of 25-55 mph which ends up giving us windchills down to single digits.
That all said it was 27 Thursday with sustained 15-20 winds with gusts higher that we loaded the camper on the truck. Then after lunch yesterday we hooked up the flatbed loaded the bikes and new generator loaded food and clothes and drove out to our favorite beach. Took us twice as long to get there due to glare ice glaciers from the sustained cold mixed with sunshine. Not to mention frost heaves that had we hit any harder than we did might have broken something. We basically drove the 60 miles at speeds of 15-30 and most was around 25. I am studded up on the truck but not the trailer so took it very slowly. The torsion bars and super hitch did real well to control the porpoising. We arrived at the beach to a warm camper with the furnace set at 50 the whole drive out. Came in fixed dinner brought the generator in for two hours then fired it off to charge the battery and run the lights and heater and watch a movie on a 19" tv from my sons room at home. Had dinner before the movies then about 9:30 I went out and turned off the generator and we wnt to bed. Had to turn down the thermostat as it was too warm, but the camper stayed toasty all night. Checked the battery voltage this morning and it was down to 10.8. Brought the generator in for two hours and got it warmed up while cooking breakfast. Then fired up the honest to charge the battery. Boys are out on the ATVs having a blast. Will get pics up soon.
Garry

[cajunavion]

Howdy!
67 please give us tips of traveling in Mexico. Would love to travel south, but I am scared. Would it not be a total trip to drive to Tierra del Fuego!!!
(Can not wait for the pics!!!!)

[garryk6]

My son and daughter-in-law live in 29 Palms, and they stopped last weekend at the Salton Sea, as it has water in it for the first time in many many years. They are saying how green their spring is so far! But I fear for a record fire season down there with all the vegetation growth...
Have fun! And get lots of pictures!

Garry

[67avion]

Went through Mexico on the way to a once in a lifetime desert flower bloom in Anza Borrego. Turns out that it IS a record bloom but there are as many people as flowers. Dozens of truck campers. We love it but we've had enough. Rolling north to Salton Sea, Indio and Joshua tree. Publish pix when we return to our snowbound home. Silver, you rock.

[SilverPompadour]

The 1-2amps an hour draw is my big attraction to the Engel. I currently have 2 group 27s but figure if I had more capacity, I'd use it. Laptop, music box, telescope EQ drive, all the **** I should just leave at home.
We sell the Honda Generator line where I work, they are the bee's knee's in everything but initial purchase price. The boss powers his 34' motorhome, AC and all from an EU2000 cause the onboard Onan is just too loud. It sounds like you scored big time on your purchase Garry. Ill have to check but 0-40W oil might work well for you if you'd prefer to leave the unit outside at night. Our units are filled with 5-20W or 5-30W when new.

[garryk6]

I don't have solar yet but my little Engle will last over a week on a single group 27 wet cell deep cycle without any charging. It really is a miser.

I just scored a Honda EU2000i generator for $600. Used ones here go for $900 or more and. New ones are over $1200 here in Kodiak. They were asking $700 and when I tested it it started up but shut down in about a minute. Did this three times each time the low oil pressure light came on. Got it for $600 thinking it an easy fix. Turns out if the oil is too cold the oil pressure won't build up correctly and it will shut down. So it left the generator in the house overnight and it started first pull and ran smooth as silk and powered the boondocker transformer, the furnace running the engle running and the lights and microwave. So we can now boondock in style until we get solar set up.
Keep on camping!!
Garry

[SilverPompadour]

Thanks. Yeah, much warmer there. It was 8F and blowing 20 when I backed into my snow covered driveway after the long trip. Here's a few more pics for show and tell.

Petroglyphs at Keykole Canyon


Sidney and Silver at Coral Pink Sand Dunes UT


Arizona Hot Springs Lake Mead NRA


Gaurdrails? We don't need no stinkin' guardrails!
US 550 Near Silverton CO

Does the Engel MT45 sound about right? Pricy little bugger.
Im thinking one large 300W panel should easily fit between my roof vents with no additional height gain. Any advise or issues regarding roof mounted solar and snow/ice aside from the danger of water intrusion?

[garryk6]

Great Trip Report!! I was going to try to load up the C-10 last Friday, but with my daughters Basket Ball games, it was dark when we got home... THe kids are on spring break this week, and with no ferry's running ... ARGHH!! I am hoping to get the camper loaded up today so that I can take the kids out at least one night and go four-wheeling with the ATV's. We will see... Keep the pics coming!! IT looks much warmer there than the 20-35F here with 20 to45 mph winds...:W

[SilverPompadour]

Thanks but no award necessary. I feel extremely lucky to have been able to venture west again so soon and in such luxury.
On the topic of C10's, there is a C10 unoffically for sale on Buffalo Dr, just north of Blue Diamond on the west side of Vegas. Looks fairly original, minimal oxidation and although I could not inspect throughly, the wings and floor seemed very solid. I did not discuss price but they seemed to know what they have.

[rastaman33609]

Silver....You should get an award, for not only the speed in which you got your rig ready, but also not wasting any time getting out there and enjoying the hell out of it. I envy you...Its been a 18 months and I have yet to get my C10 loaded on the truck to figure out the 'tie downs', much less take it for a trip..And its not for lack of wanting to.
Great pics...

cheers

Rasta

[SilverPompadour]

I know how you feel 67, I just wrapped up a long month in the desert southwest. Got home just in time for the blizzard.

13 states, 7000+ miles, windsurfing, rock climbing, hiking, biking, stargazing, hot springs, beer drinking and general boondocking. Im already planning to go back next winter.

Lake Mohave Sunrise

UT Hwy 163 looking south over Monument Valley

Mexican Hat Rock UT

The Silver Pompadour resting proudly at Muley Point, it's pilgrimage complete. What a place, similar to Toroweap but much easier to get to. There was a bit of traffic ahead of me on Muley Point Rd but everyone was fooled by the faux Muley Point overlook, allowing me to overtake and grab the prime real estate at the end of the road.

FYI Should you find yourself at Muley point, when you arrive at the first overlook, the road continues on off to the right. This takes you to the tip of the point where the road ends. Where I am parked was almost perfectly level.

Timelapse Sunset from Muley Point My imitation gopro doesn't do colors well.

I took the long way through Colorado. Four corners to Durango, up to Montrose and across to Canon City on 50. Beautiful but long and winding. Despite the snow, it was much warmer there at 10,000ft than it is here in PA at 1300ft.

Aside from an intermittent speedometer and cracked leaf spring hanger from repeated trips on BLM dirt roads, the trip went exceptionally smooth.

Have fun out there 67.

[rastaman33609]

67avion wrote:
I'm sitting at a campsite at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in the bottom of Arizona and next to California. I have in my hand a Canebrake Beer from Cajun Country. We're having crawfish ettouffe tonight and it's 89 degrees in the shade.

As usual we had our challenges. The hot water heater sprang a leak. The passenger side tie down failed, tearing out of rotted wood and leaving a Torklift Fastgun on the side of the road somewhere.

But I genuinely feel blessed. Wherever we go there are smiles from the RV folk. They like the fact that a 50 year old camper is on the road. And we enjoy the comfort of our Avion.

Life is good.

Man you are awfully close to Texas, (Terlingua, big bend area) 🙂
We are hoping to be there early april for a couple weeks...swing by.
Sorry to hear about the problems,
BTW have you ever camped at Squaw Lake,,,,real nice place, I bet it is very close to where you are.

cheers

[67avion]

I'm sitting at a campsite at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in the bottom of Arizona and next to California. I have in my hand a Canebrake Beer from Cajun Country. We're having crawfish ettouffe tonight and it's 89 degrees in the shade.

As usual we had our challenges. The hot water heater sprang a leak. The passenger side tie down failed, tearing out of rotted wood and leaving a Torklift Fastgun on the side of the road somewhere.

But I genuinely feel blessed. Wherever we go there are smiles from the RV folk. They like the fact that a 50 year old camper is on the road. And we enjoy the comfort of our Avion.

Life is good.