Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Avion truck campers

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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: 67avion on 10/14/13 04:51pm

Pardon me, Desertboy, but that is one sensational looking Avion! It looks like the exterior has been refinished in some way. Do you know what year and model it is? Does anyone on the Forum recall a non anodized aluminum Avion camper? Please send along the interior photos.

On edit: I notice that the bottom cover is missing. Anything else?

* This post was edited 10/14/13 04:59pm by 67avion *

Posted By: Desertboy on 10/14/13 05:11pm

I think someone cleaned it off, I like it better when they look older, Will it get the anodized look back with time? I hope so, But I found it on Oklahoma, city craigslist for #3500.00 and they had already updated almost everything. Everything so far works inside. I love this thing. In the CL post it said Avion TC, will trade a good 4 wheeler for it/ or 3500 dollars. I took him the money and strapped it down and Hauled A before he could change his mind.

1969 AVION
3/4 12 VALVE

Freightliner/24' Flatbed 50,000 miles/ Titan 4000 receiver Hitch, no Mods needed.

Posted By: Desertboy on 10/14/13 05:22pm

Does any of this wood look original?

[image]

Posted By: Desertboy on 10/14/13 05:23pm

I have a lot more pictures, it came with Jacks tie downs and everything. feel free to PM me, and add me to your buddy list, I want to learn all I can.

Posted By: Avion C-11 on 10/14/13 05:48pm

The wood is not original in those pics.

It is definitely polished and I can see close up in some pics around the lights areas were you can see some of the old anodizing *I think.

If you like the older grey look just clean it up with soap and water, clean up all the black polishing compound with terry cloth rags and let it sit for a couple years. It will turn to a natural aluminum look. You will however not get the anodized look back.

What you have though is very hard to come by though and I think you will find lots of buyers if you ever decide to unload it. There are maybe 2 or three polished Avion TCs in the world. Yours , mine and one other I saw partially deanodized C-10 on the net. Maybe more but with the amount of work involved I seriously doubt that many exist.

Happy Camping!

Avioncamper.wordpress.com

Posted By: Desertboy on 10/14/13 06:54pm

Thanks Avion 11, I have to admit I don't know jack except that Im one proud Avion Owner, I had never even heard of them until a few months ago. I bought my first TC last May, Just a Little 2006 Apache but its in excellent condition. And one day on this forum one of you guys posted a pic of a Avion, And I was just stuck looking at it like the first time I saw the Grand Canyon or something. I knew at that Moment I would not rest easy until I found one of my own, And so the hunt began. And there is not another camper I would rather have. I hope they didn't damage the integrity of the shell while removing the anodize. What kind of frame do they have. Im researching everything I can. I just came from outside and its still dry on the inside, and we just got 2 inches of rain.

Posted By: Desertboy on 10/14/13 08:09pm

Camper came with a full set of these chrome tie downs.
[image]

And these Jacks made by Atwood were with it.

[image]

These little bubble levels were in a inside cabinet.

[image]

Rocket water Tank?
[image]

Is this the original sink? And the little medicine cabinet above the bathroom sink? Im just awestricken this thing is a year older than me.

[image]

Little light above toilet still works.
[image]

Is this shower head original?
[image]

Is this a good power supply?

[image]

That's all the pics, I have , If anybody wants a close up of something just let me know. Whats under the aluminum skin on these Campers? I think this is a 1968 TC?

Posted By: 67avion on 10/14/13 08:36pm

Well, I'm not sure what is going on with your Avion TC, but I guarantee you its something very good. no doubt the Avionics who watch this thread will have some wisdom to offer. In the meantime I suggest that you put it under cover and protect that million $ finish. Get it out of the weather pronto.

Posted By: D1trout on 10/14/13 10:45pm

Fellow travelers, I posted about driving my C11 home from MN to CA week before last. Since arriving home I have begun serious investigations into it's(her ?) inner condition. The cab over bed was totally rotten, wet even. I pulled everything out, down to bare aluminum. There are soft spots in the floor and I'm certain most of the wood in the rig is rotted or well on its way to being so. As I've removed things, I've been musing on how best to deal with the rot issue. It seems to me that perhaps removing the entire floor, wings, the vertical sides of the wings, and the bulkhead at the front of the camper and replacing all those parts with an aluminum floor, wings, sides and bulkhead might be a particularly effective way to both eliminate the concern about rotted wood, to stabilize the entire structure, and, when all seams are recaulked, to eliminate or minimize leaks.
To not have any wood in the rig except cabinets would be a boon; water might get in but wouldn't cause any damage. The rig would be rigid on the new metal foundation and thus more easily and effectively sealed. I'm imagining aluminum tube/pipe could be used for the outer frame to accommodate the curved lower edge of the body. The original horizontal panels could be reinstalled over the new frame to restore the classic look.
I'm certain I'm not the first Avion owner to come to this. I would welcome observations/ideas/suggestions on this approach. If I use the custom car restoration model, where the final vehicle cost is 3x the initial purchase price, it seems a realistic, feasible approach.

Posted By: Desertboy on 10/14/13 10:56pm

67avion wrote:

I think its just a regular Avion that someone polished up. Im not sure what year but I believe its a 1968/ I don't know enough about them to know what cover is missing. Ive been under it though and looks like someone replaced the floor with 2 layers of 5/8 plywood. If I ever do any remodeling in there I would take out the inside and maybe re wire some of it for LED lighting, plumb it back with Pex, And then order a Can of closed cell foam and spray the inside, But first I would check the floor out. seems like there should be something better than plywood, something stronger and lighter that wont rot or rust. I may change it up and finish the inside out in Cedar, except for the counter top. That should make it smell good in there. Is there supposed to be a Bottom cap on the rear back?

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