Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Avion truck campers

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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: Dodgeavion on 02/27/13 06:54pm

That first bit sounded kind of *****y, no insult intended. I figure you did measure .060. I say that because on my coach it seems construction was "use what we can find" I removed one skin to find another under it. The one under was obviously a remnant and the put another on top to hide the less than whole sheet.

Anyway any thoughts on an aluminum floor pack?

Posted By: 69 Avion on 02/27/13 08:48pm

If I had one all the way apart I would really like to use the aluminum material that the large airplane (Boeing) manufacturers use on the floors of jets. I would build an aluminum frame to attach the upper structure to the floor. The wings would be an aluminum frame covered in anodized skin.

Ford F-350 4x4 Diesel
1988 Avion Triple Axle Trailer
1969 Avion C-11 Camper

Posted By: garryk6 on 02/27/13 11:19pm

Dodgeavion wrote:

Once I really got into deconstruction I decided in for a penny in for a pound. I'm reskinning my coach. So I'm raising the roof two inches by extending the rib legs two inches each. I'm also extending the cabover 12 inches. Ill still have an east west bed, just big enough for a queen without coming into the cabin.

I'm also going to do the floor pack in aluminum. I'm in too deep not to. Ill always regret it if I don't.

I currently have the floor pack out and sitting on the ground. Looking at how best to do it in aluminum. Sure would appreciate input on achieving that. Ideas?

Ken

Hey Ken! This is my $0.02 on how I would do it if I was that far into it.
I would look at my truck wheel wells and the base would start as a 4' sheet of 1/4" aluminum. Then I would go up 90 degrees to clear the wheel well by about an inch. Go horizontal out to within 2 inches of the narrowest part of the bed. then go verticle again up above the bed side leaving again an inch to two above the bed rail, then out to the ribs of the Stock Avion. Then build your wings out from that. You can gain most of your height just in the tub if you wanted to. Or you can install a "basement" inside the tub to where the floor goes all the way over the fender wells. For the floor you could then use the high density foam and then lay a laminate over the top of the foam board. Then build whatever interior you like!
Biggest thing about the cabover, is to add bigger triangulated supports on the sides to keep especially the added length nice and strong.
By the way what type of aluminum are you looking for the exterior reskin? Anodized? Are you going to reuse the corners? Or make new?
I am interested in this, as eventually I will either find a C10 to rebuild like that, or I will redo my C10 like that... But not until I live back in the lower 48!

Good luck, and take lots of pictures!

Here is a Bigfoot camper with a similar design that I was trying to describe...
[image]

Garry

* This post was edited 02/28/13 12:33am by garryk6 *

Garry K
Wife + 4 kids
Retired Military Family.... Alway's on the move....
2002 F350 CCSB 5.4 6spd 4x4 in AK
1966 Avion C-10 Truck Camper

Posted By: ticki2 on 02/28/13 07:43am

Dennis , you are making great progress . Are you going to put the interior together as original or with a custom layout ?

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

Posted By: ticki2 on 02/28/13 07:58am

Dodgeavion wrote:

Anyway any thoughts on an aluminum floor pack?

You may want to look at the Airstream forum or even call the factory . If memory serves the early Argosy's , made by Airstream , had an aluminum floor . Don't know if it was a problem because it was never brought over to the Airstream line .

Some where in this thread are some pictures of 71 or 72 Cayo's that had extended cabovers . The corners below the bunk were square as apposed to rounded . I suspect this was to allow a full rib at that joint for better strength .

Posted By: snowdance on 02/28/13 08:30am

In general the Argosys were built to use up aluminum that had flaws and not good enough for the polished airstreams. So, the reason they were painted. Never saw an aluminum floor but see on reason why not. Uses more material..

Snowdance

We spent most of our money traveling... Just wasted the rest..

Chevy 7.4 Vortex
2000 Jamboree 23b Rear Kitchen

http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowdance38

Posted By: 69cayo on 02/28/13 04:26pm

ticki2 wrote:

Dennis , you are making great progress . Are you going to put the interior together as original or with a custom layout ?

I'm pretty much locked in with the layout (stove,fridg,sink) but all the cabinetry will be custom.
Up to this point I really haven't put alot of thought into design or materials.

Dennis

Posted By: My Blue Heaven on 02/28/13 04:49pm

Dodgeavion, when I had my C-10, I looked into - more accurately thought about - extending the cabover, but a call to Cayo discouraged me. Probably all for the best, though, for I have realized that I am a lot better at starting projects than I am at finishing them.

I hope you do it, I think it's a great idea. Take lots of pictures.

2001 F350 Lariat CC 4WD 7.3 PSD dually, chipped, 4" SS exhaust, 350 hp, Rancho 9000's, front receiver, front & rear Roadmasters
2009 Arctic Fox 990S, storm windows, Cummins/Onan, FastGuns, Torklifts

Posted By: garryk6 on 02/28/13 04:57pm

My Blue Heaven wrote:

Just had a thought on what you were saying about raising the roof 2 inches, and extending the Cab-over. If you look at many of the stick built campers they have a "main-beam" that runs the length of the camper either at the top of the camper or at the horizontal of the cab-over. If you cut the ribs at the floor level of the cabover, and inserted a piece of heavy wall aluminum 2x1 box tubing, you would gain your 2 inches of height, and you would give yourself a "main-beam" to then triangulate your structure from for the extended cabover. You could even do it better with a piece of 3x1 or 4x1 giving you even more strength. Just more ideas! [emoticon]

Garry in Kodiak, AK

Posted By: ticki2 on 02/28/13 05:49pm

snowdance wrote:

There is no way that there would have been enough flawed aluminum to build all the Argosy's that were produced . The Argosy's were meant to be an entry level Airstream . They also had one piece formed steel end caps so had to be painted . Not all Argosy's had aluminum floors , only the Minuet models . Airstreams did not come polished from the factory , that is a new thing done by some restorers . Starting in the late 60's they were clearcoated to help retain the semi- shine .

* This post was edited 02/28/13 05:56pm by ticki2 *

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