D1trout wrote:
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.
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.
how about using presure treated wood,plywood ,or coat it with this stuff to make it water resistant
http://youtu.be/IfUaKXasdD4
1969 AVION
3/4 12 VALVE
Freightliner/24' Flatbed 50,000 miles/ Titan 4000 receiver Hitch, no Mods needed.
D1trout wrote:
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.
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.
Hi! And Welcome to the Forum/Thread. I looked alot of places when I bought my 1966 C-10, but rapidly found this the best place for Truck Camper info. There are a few other places that are more active, but primarily for trailers. When this thread started a while ago, it was deemed that an Avion Camper thread would be a great way to preserve ideas and information in a one-stop-shopping arena. I don't think any of us expected it to grow this large!
As to you question of the All Aluminum "Tub", I personally thing that this is the only way to go. But when I bought my gutted out C-10, the floor and wings and bunk were already completely re-done in wood. And for Cabinetry, all I had were the two overhead side cabinets and doors. So from pictures here and other sites, I was able to rebuild mine close to a stock configuration, but altered to fit my needs.
If you have the time, money and patience, I would say to go for it!!! I know that when my wood goes away the next time that that is what I'll do. Then I can make a basement model with holding tanks under the floor up front and add some storage to the rear!
Just some ideas!
Garry in Alaska
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
Desertboy wrote:
I wonder if I can buy a Bottom cap for my camper?
I wonder if I can buy a Bottom cap for my camper?
Unless you can find someone parting out a C-11 that has the cap, you will have to make your own of either fiberglass or aluminum...
Good Luck!
Garry
Desertboy welcome! Can we see some inside pics of that
beautiful avion! Wish mine came like that. I just got
the stabilelift attached(thanks Refuerst). I had to replace the frount panal.
Do yall have any idea about replacing the frount window(against the cab). I guess I am going with a big hole. A nice window would be
in order, but I cant seem to find one.
Desertboy wrote:
I wonder if I can buy a Bottom cap for my camper?
I wonder if I can buy a Bottom cap for my camper?
It would probably be easier to find someone parting out an old Avion. I know that they laid out the floor first, shot some nails in to hold the fiberglass lower cover to the floor, and then they laid out the frame and put on the aluminum. I can't imagine anyone selling that fiberglass cover on a camper that they are still using.
Ford F-350 4x4 Diesel
1988 Avion Triple Axle Trailer
1969 Avion C-11 Camper
cajunavion wrote:
Howdy!
Desertboy welcome! Can we see some inside pics of that
beautiful avion! Wish mine came like that. I just got
the stabilelift attached(thanks Refuerst). I had to replace the frount panal.
Do yall have any idea about replacing the frount window(against the cab). I guess I am going with a big hole. A nice window would be
in order, but I cant seem to find one.
Howdy!
Desertboy welcome! Can we see some inside pics of that
beautiful avion! Wish mine came like that. I just got
the stabilelift attached(thanks Refuerst). I had to replace the frount panal.
Do yall have any idea about replacing the frount window(against the cab). I guess I am going with a big hole. A nice window would be
in order, but I cant seem to find one.
![[image]](http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r662/Will_Willard/Campers/2013-10-15_21-53-02_893_zps37f897b9.jpg)
![[image]](http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r662/Will_Willard/Campers/2013-10-15_21-51-49_713_zps96359a93.jpg)
![[image]](http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r662/Will_Willard/Campers/2013-10-15_21-51-22_879_zps25600493.jpg)
![[image]](http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r662/Will_Willard/Campers/2013-10-15_21-47-49_523_zps1b09b98f.jpg)
I really haven't had a chance to do any work on it yet, Its been raining for 3 days, I had my cordless drill out there looking for loose screws to tighten, I had the heater on, and was laid up in there listening to some old hipster music and smoking a cigar and just chilling out.
![[image]](http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r662/Will_Willard/Campers/2013-10-15_21-47-32_196_zpse198e899.jpg)
![[image]](http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r662/Will_Willard/Campers/2013-10-15_21-47-23_835_zps6f30163c.jpg)
![[image]](http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r662/Will_Willard/Campers/2013-10-15_21-46-52_659_zpsb09e043f.jpg)
![[image]](http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r662/Will_Willard/Campers/2013-10-15_21-46-21_109_zps0d2eb17f.jpg)
I could use it like it is no problem, and probably will for a while. I haven't found any leaks yet, I stepped on a spot of water that had came in around a vent that wasn't fully closed. I guess the original vents up there, They have 2 little handles and you have to use both hands and turn them at the same time because one handle raises one side and the other handle raises the other side, Is this how everyone elses is?