Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Avion truck campers

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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: garryk6 on 07/31/11 12:11am

67avion wrote:

Garry, the double switches are just above the door on the inside. Like Tiki said, one for the dome light and the other for the exterior light.

Thanks Ticki! I thought that is what it was supposed to be, but since I bought it gutted... wasn't sure...
My hand is feeling better, but won't be of much use for many months... Learning to use my left hand for everything...

Went out and took a few more pics of the inside, and of how the previous owner re-did the floor.
Temporary stove till I find a full oven/stove combo
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Kitchen with sink mocked-up. Still need to trim top more...
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40 gallon water tank really fills the step area!
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Tank covered by step.
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New recirculating toilet awaiting installation.
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New floor joists. Will eventually fill with insulation and cover with plywood or aluminum.
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Here is the wing floor supports. He went overkill here. I may have to change some here to get plumbing routed where I want it to go...
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I am considering posibly one grey tank under the front on the floor, and a second in the rear, to help with COG and capacity, and a manual splitting valve to keep the separate, until dumping or otherwise needed. If I weld up a 3"x38"x24" tank, it will have the capacity of 44.835 gallons. And that would fit directly under the front tank and floor keeping the entire weight forward of the truck axle... ie COG.

Still thinking...
Garry

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 07/31/11 07:53am

67avion wrote:

OK. Its toilet time. Or rather holding tank time. Today we went under the fiberglass cover that protects the plumbing from the gray water lines as well as the black water holding tank. Here is what you can see looking from the right side of the camper back to the left:

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And here is the fiberglass cover viewed from above. I am thinking of fabricating a graywater holding tank in the section outlined.I believe I could get 5-7 gallon capacity. However, fabrication is expensive and tricky. We can't make it from fiberglass since it will be constantly wet. How did you do yours?

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I also thought that I'd install a tank on the inside of the cabin next to the expanded gas bottle compartment. We'd eliminate the visible plumbing and run directly into the tank. The drain would be directly down through the floor.

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Any thoughts that anyone can come up with would be appreciated. I'll be replacing the subfloor in this area as well. I missed the delamination of the old plywood on the last go round.

Would it be possible to shorten the 3" waste pipe from the black tank and have it exit down to the right of the door . This would leave the entire left side of the overhang below the floor for a grey tank . Then from the grey tank come back towards the center and T into the 3" main before it exits down. You would only need 2 smaller pipes to cross where the steps go . One 1-1/2 inlet and a 2" outlet . The inlet can be connected to a vent before it comes down through the foor.

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

Posted By: 67avion on 07/31/11 09:58am

Ticki,

That is a great suggestion. I'll see next week. I'm a little stymied after I found some rot in the base that I have to repair. Also, I'm getting obsessed with the idea of a small porch (24" more of less). If I install a porch, then that will mean careful design not only with the repair, but also the plumbing.Every time I go down the path of an exterior mod,such as a porch, I stop myself and worry about the authentic look of the Avion - and if I'm making a mistake.

Meanwhile, Garry is putting us all to shame. I mean, learning to use your left hand after an injury so that you can continue to restore a TC? Now, that's dedication.

Posted By: ticki2 on 07/31/11 10:51am

I have been toying with the idea of a back porch/storage also. I would attach it to the truck and not the camper. Having a flatbed I have much more ground clearance than you which I like for my offroading so I would want it easily removable .

On another topic , the bed. My thought was to make a 10" hinge up extention that would rest on the 2 small curved shelve on the side walls ( possibly a fold up leg for the middle ). Then make up a peice of foam the same thickness as the mattress to put on top. This would give a 60" bed width. By folding it up when not in use would not take away any interior space , The foam addition could be stored on the bed during the day. What do you guys think?

* This post was edited 07/31/11 10:59am by ticki2 *

Posted By: garryk6 on 07/31/11 11:22am

ticki2 wrote:

This is similar to my idea. Actually I am borrowing my idea from our old Class C MH. I am adding two Aluminum angle iron pieces over the same curved areas, then a third piece of aluminum that will stretch the whole width of the TC resting on the other two, and a thin piece of plywood bolted to the angle. Push it forward during the day, pull it out at night. And since for now we don't have a permanent mattress, we have the pair of "split" mattresses from our old class C that we kept for the kids to use when we has a new one piece built for the MH. They fit together in the middle like a wedge, and slide under one another when stowed for the day. The aluminum angle also hold things in place during travel.
Any thoughts?
Garry

Posted By: ticki2 on 07/31/11 12:57pm

garryk6 wrote:

ticki2 wrote:

Garry , with your loyout you could leave the bed extention out permenately and still be able to use the counter space under it . I have a U shaped dinette so a person sitting with back to the front wall would hit their head on the extention.

Posted By: garryk6 on 07/31/11 11:55pm

Well today I needed to move some things around, so a friend came over and helped me pull my headache rack, and load the Avion. So here are a few pics of the mounted TC with my new rear steps. Also the new LED clearance and taillights are MUCH better! Now just need to add Back-up lights.
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Truck Camper and the Family Hauler [emoticon]

Camper with new triple step out, and new lights.
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Here is my 9yo showing that the step is not terribly high, though we may carry a step stool.
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Here is the elevation difference for the hitch, bumper and step compared to overhang.
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Here is the rear overhang with new floor supports.
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Here are two more of the camper fit on the truck... Roof Clearance and front of camper to Cab,
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And one more of the step clearance.
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Garry

Posted By: garryk6 on 08/02/11 12:08am

Wow! I just went back to the RV store to buy the mounting flange for my recirculating toilet, and saw that the exact same toilet I ordered 3 weeks ago, and received a week ago, is now, today, it is $220 more! It was $518.99 and now it lists for $739!! I'm just glad that I already bought it!
Wow that is inflation in action!!
Garry

Posted By: 67avion on 08/02/11 10:17am

Guys. We have discovered that the delamination under the toilet is so severe that we need to replace the entire floor. Does anyone have experience with removing the toilet and the fiberglass surround in the bathroom? Are there any graphics or exploded views that you have run across?

Have you dropped the entire plumbing and discharge? What is the best angle of attack? We're thinking that we can remove the floor and make the mods for the gray water tank, repair the floor and make the mods for the discharge.

I can't believe we're working on a toilet in 96 degree plus temps.

Posted By: garryk6 on 08/02/11 11:08am

If I remember right, Wasn't it Dennis that replaced his entire floor and did an online picture thread on it? He should have some insight. I am not much help, since my TC was already gutted, and new floor when I bought it...
Garry

PS.. Just found the website!!!
Restoration of an Avion C-10 TC

* This post was edited 08/02/11 11:18am by garryk6 *

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