Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Avion truck campers

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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: 67avion on 01/25/13 09:08am

ticki2 wrote:

If I had one gutted I would be more concerned with thermally isolating the ribs from the skin than filling the wall cavity .

I think that you are correct in many ways. The rib structure is a perfect sink for cold (and hot) thermal transfer. If the ribs were isolated, it might make a big difference. The insulation between the shells may serve as much as for noise dampening as it does for thermal regulation.

Posted By: Avion C-11 on 01/25/13 03:30pm

I wouldn't worry too much about heat. Polishing gets pretty hot and I've seen panels expand but they shrink right back and never cause any trouble. I've sldo used heat to expand the metal so I could pop out little dings using a 400 degree heat gun.

Happy Camping!

Avioncamper.wordpress.com

Posted By: Dodgeavion on 01/25/13 05:14pm

Mine is a 67 according to the data plate. The interior is skinned in aluminum, painted with Zolatone. The black marks on the skin... I have no idea. Looks like wipe marks in the black stuff, so I'm guessing a failed attempt at cleaning the skin. Can't say. All of my plastic is sun baked, breath on it and it breaks. The wiring is also completely shot, touch the insulation and it cracks or falls off. I pulled the interior electrical cover and the wiring is all fried as well. So a complete rewire is in store.

This week I mated it to my pickup and had to kludge the tail light wiring to get them to work. I just bypassed all the camper wiring and direct wired a pigtail to my plug on the bumper.

Before I could mount the camper I had to rewire my pickup tail lights and trailer plug as the PO had cut all of those wires.

I also fabricated and installed Torklift style hold downs.

Now that its home the tear down will start. Going to be a long process to rebuild/restore.

Posted By: Dodgeavion on 01/25/13 05:15pm

Speaking of a complete rewire, does anyone have any links to a good modern wiring diagram? Something that includes a new style converter/charger setup.

Thanks

Posted By: 67avion on 01/25/13 05:23pm

There have been several wiring diagrams in this string, though I have no idea what page they are on. However, there is nothing like a "new style converter/charger setup" that is attached to any of the diagrams to my knowledge. Its quite a slog, but you may find more information going back through the string. Its too bad its not searchable, but it is what it is.

Posted By: 69cayo on 01/26/13 04:24pm

A quick update on mine, I should be picking up the aluminum sheets for the interior skin this week.
So before I close up the walls can any of you think of any additional wiring I should add ?
What I have now;
2 switches over the back door for porch light and one ceiling light.
ceiling light by door.
closet light
120v for fridge
AC wiring
bath fan
bath light
under cabinet lights in dinette area and kitchen
2 120v outlets kitchen and 1 120v outlet dinette
2 12v outlets kitchen & dinette
2 reading lights in bunk
radio/stereo wiring
tv antenna rough wiring
I'm going to rough in another 12v circuit in case I decide to get a 12v compressor fridge.

I'm going to use 2 120v panels to isolate the circuits to run off the inverter.
Converter charger for bats & 12v circuits.

Any need for exterior outlets ?

Thanks
Dennis

* This post was edited 01/26/13 04:47pm by 69cayo *

Posted By: 67avion on 01/26/13 05:09pm

Dennis, we wired in a small fan on the curve of the bulkhead. Also a wire to the top of the interior cabinet next to the couch in case I place a table lamp there. You may not have a similar layout. In the photo you can see the fan roughed in on the left. The cabinet is on the right. We also extended a 12V to the rear opening on the roof for a Fantastic Fan. The rest of your mods sound right, but its hard to know from a list. We are putting a lot of lines in the rear cabinets to power wifi, radios, whatever. We also put in 2 aux power outlets on the face of the forward cabinet along with a radio. The aux is to power computers or charge phones, etc.The other consideration at this point would be solar power lines.

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Posted By: ticki2 on 01/26/13 09:41pm

69cayo ,
Your list looks pretty complete . If you will be on shore power much I would add the exterior outlet , depending where you camp you also may want cable hookup for TV .

Not sure if it's a concern for you but I ran some 12v to the tank area for tank heaters and circulation fans for cold weather camping .

'68 Avion C-11
'02 GMC DRW D/A flatbed

Posted By: Avion C-11 on 01/27/13 08:23am

69cayo wrote:

69,

Can you explain a little more about which circuits you are going to isolate for the inverter and which aren't? I'm working on a plan for mine right now and hadn't thought about splitting up the 120.

Chris

Posted By: 69cayo on 01/27/13 11:37am

Chris,
The panel in the closet (#1) will handle the AC, fridg. and converter (heavy loads) and a 30 amp line ran forward to the FW tank and battery area.

That 30 amp line will power another panel (#2) which handles the wall 120v outlets.

The inverter will connect to #2 on it's own breaker.

When not on shore power, turn off the main on #2 and turn on the inverter breaker powering the 120v outlets and isolate panel #1.
Shore power, turn off inverter breaker and #2 panel main on.

I'll have to check if there are single pole breaker interlocks available which would prevent both breakers being on at the same time.

I realise this could be accomplished with a transfer switch but I'm a believer in KISS, one less thing to fail.

On another subject the vinyl beading we're looking for might be fender welting, search for VW fender welt, see what you think.

Dennis

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