It's been quite a while since I lived and worked in the Big Bend region but I believe Marfa has become an arts center. As unlikely a place as one can imagine but hey, it's Texas.
My current notion about the window boot is to install an aluminum extrusion around the sliding window of the camper ( the-as-yet-to-be-built and installed large sliding window) that I can slip the bolt rope of a heavy waterproof fabric sleeve into and then cinch the other side to the flange that forms the outer edge of the truck' slider with a heavy duty elastic hem. Vamos a ver...
What LED side lights have you ordered? They are on my list as well.
67avion wrote:
We're leaving tomorrow for a 3,000 mile road trip. We're traveling to the far west of Texas and then to Big Bend and along the Gulf Coast to New Orleans. We're looking forward to a day at the races and a family Thanksgiving in The Crescent City.
While this is not the first trip of any length with the restored Avion, it is by far the most ambitious. Now we really will see how good the joins were in the plumbing and whether I actually defeated the gremlins in the electrical system. What Jane and I both noted on the previous outings is how COMFORTABLE the Avion is. Now we'll find out how DEPENDABLE.
One of the last things I am doing is placing "Conspicuity tape" on the camper. I have decided that the silvery color of the Avion almost floats in the sky under certain lighting conditions,making it hard to see. I got the idea from a photo that I saw of a camper in Alaska. My concern, of course, was that I would muck up the OEM look of the restored camper. However, safety trumped. Here is the photo from Alaska, I'll post one of my camper when I get back.
![[image]](http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx38/dgorton/yellowstone_small_zps2f3197c4.jpg)
We're leaving tomorrow for a 3,000 mile road trip. We're traveling to the far west of Texas and then to Big Bend and along the Gulf Coast to New Orleans. We're looking forward to a day at the races and a family Thanksgiving in The Crescent City.
While this is not the first trip of any length with the restored Avion, it is by far the most ambitious. Now we really will see how good the joins were in the plumbing and whether I actually defeated the gremlins in the electrical system. What Jane and I both noted on the previous outings is how COMFORTABLE the Avion is. Now we'll find out how DEPENDABLE.
One of the last things I am doing is placing "Conspicuity tape" on the camper. I have decided that the silvery color of the Avion almost floats in the sky under certain lighting conditions,making it hard to see. I got the idea from a photo that I saw of a camper in Alaska. My concern, of course, was that I would muck up the OEM look of the restored camper. However, safety trumped. Here is the photo from Alaska, I'll post one of my camper when I get back.
![[image]](http://s739.photobucket.com/user/dgorton/media/yellowstone_small_zps2f3197c4.jpg.html)
Now that is one very very nice Camper/ truck/ Scenery / all of it.
1969 AVION
3/4 12 VALVE
Freightliner/24' Flatbed 50,000 miles/ Titan 4000 receiver Hitch, no Mods needed.
D1trout wrote:
What LED side lights have you ordered? They are on my list as well.
What LED side lights have you ordered? They are on my list as well.
I'll have to get back to you on that.
The lights on my camper are all reproductions of OEM lights that I got through Vintage Trailer Supply. At the time they seemed OK. Since then I have had issues with the bulbs getting corroded, losing contact with the electrical, and now with the realization that they are not bright enough.
Unfortunately, I'm not bright enough to perceive this stuff in advance so I only seem to learn by mistakes.
I should have done what 69 did and go for complete, robust, LED units that can be seen in any sort of weather or lighting conditions.
In fact, I often get caught up in the admiration for the construction quality of the Avion era, and ignore some of the glaring deficits. In this case the inadequate lighting that invites a T-bone crash at a country intersection.
And yeah, Planet Marfa is an interesting place.
This pic was taken in a near blizzard condition, after plowing and driving in the driving snow. Some of the lights are partially covered, yet still very bright!
![[image]](http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d92/garryk6/1966%20Avion%20Camper%20remodel/DSC06758.jpg)
Here they are again, in a snow storm but at night, and they are even brighter!
![[image]](http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d92/garryk6/1966%20Avion%20Camper%20remodel/DSC06743.jpg)
Without snow they are even brighter, though when it is very dark in Alaska, the camera doesn't like to focus too well, or it may just be operator error...
![[image]](http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d92/garryk6/1966%20Avion%20Camper%20remodel/DSC06696.jpg)
This is before I finished fixing up the C-10, but right after I installed the LED's.
![[image]](http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d92/garryk6/1966%20Avion%20Camper%20remodel/July222011download1412.jpg)
Taillights I purchased off E-bay, and are the 7" Truck STT. The Clearance are surface (two screw) mount that I purchased off Amazon.
Hope this helps other go to LED's. I just wish I had gone LED on the inside from the get-go... Still working on it!
Garry, Kodiak, 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
On a separate subject, I've taken the original Dometic refrigerator out; it's a three way type. I plan to replace it with an all-electric Norcold, no propane. Based on my reading of the Norcold users manual, this seems to eliminate the need for the roof vent, as the grill in the access door would adequate for ventilation As a boat builder, I'm always keen to avoid or get rid of holes in the hull - in this case, the shell. Anyone have experience installing/using the Norcold? How about sealing up the roof vent for the original three way refrigerator?
By the way, I have spec'd the aluminum tubing and other materials needed to construct the frames to replace the plywood in the chassis. Weather permitting, I hope to lift the camper up from the roof vents and drop the chassis out to start the rebuild over the next few days. Lots of pics coming in this process.
Garry, Kodiak, Alaska
I don't have to replace wiring do I. Just replace all the fixtures right?
Desertboy wrote:
Hope this helps other go to LED's. I just wish I had gone LED on the inside from the get-go... Still working on it!
Garry, Kodiak, Alaska
I don't have to replace wiring do I. Just replace all the fixtures right?
Hope this helps other go to LED's. I just wish I had gone LED on the inside from the get-go... Still working on it!
Garry, Kodiak, Alaska
I don't have to replace wiring do I. Just replace all the fixtures right?
Yes, just replace the lights!
Here are the red lights
Red clearance lights
And the amber
Amber clearance lights
And here are the tail lights I used.
Red STT 7"
I hope that this helps!
Garry
D1trout wrote:
On a separate subject, I've taken the original Dometic refrigerator out; it's a three way type. I plan to replace it with an all-electric Norcold, no propane. Based on my reading of the Norcold users manual, this seems to eliminate the need for the roof vent, as the grill in the access door would adequate for ventilation As a boat builder, I'm always keen to avoid or get rid of holes in the hull - in this case, the shell. Anyone have experience installing/using the Norcold? How about sealing up the roof vent for the original three way refrigerator?
By the way, I have spec'd the aluminum tubing and other materials needed to construct the frames to replace the plywood in the chassis. Weather permitting, I hope to lift the camper up from the roof vents and drop the chassis out to start the rebuild over the next few days. Lots of pics coming in this process.
On a separate subject, I've taken the original Dometic refrigerator out; it's a three way type. I plan to replace it with an all-electric Norcold, no propane. Based on my reading of the Norcold users manual, this seems to eliminate the need for the roof vent, as the grill in the access door would adequate for ventilation As a boat builder, I'm always keen to avoid or get rid of holes in the hull - in this case, the shell. Anyone have experience installing/using the Norcold? How about sealing up the roof vent for the original three way refrigerator?
By the way, I have spec'd the aluminum tubing and other materials needed to construct the frames to replace the plywood in the chassis. Weather permitting, I hope to lift the camper up from the roof vents and drop the chassis out to start the rebuild over the next few days. Lots of pics coming in this process.
As a boat builder, you could do what I did, reorganize the interior... And go with a chest style compressor fridge. The Engle is great, and very easy on the Battery.
![[image]](http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d92/garryk6/3938BB60-4866-456B-9451-29E4B17B7727-30020-0000346CB68ADDA7_zpseccd42a1.jpg)
![[image]](http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d92/garryk6/5C487314-C716-4386-B0BF-E8106E7BB22D-30020-0000346CC1845B29_zps02a2d5cd.jpg)
![[image]](http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d92/garryk6/A3BDC67A-449C-426E-987D-E1FD802EB148-30020-0000346D015D5869_zps702f853b.jpg)
Garry
67avion wrote:
We're leaving tomorrow for a 3,000 mile road trip. We're traveling to the far west of Texas and then to Big Bend and along the Gulf Coast to New Orleans. We're looking forward to a day at the races and a family Thanksgiving in The Crescent City.
While this is not the first trip of any length with the restored Avion, it is by far the most ambitious. Now we really will see how good the joins were in the plumbing and whether I actually defeated the gremlins in the electrical system. What Jane and I both noted on the previous outings is how COMFORTABLE the Avion is. Now we'll find out how DEPENDABLE.
One of the last things I am doing is placing "Conspicuity tape" on the camper. I have decided that the silvery color of the Avion almost floats in the sky under certain lighting conditions,making it hard to see. I got the idea from a photo that I saw of a camper in Alaska. My concern, of course, was that I would muck up the OEM look of the restored camper. However, safety trumped. Here is the photo from Alaska, I'll post one of my camper when I get back.
I like the conspicuity tape, and the rectangular rear lights too. The lights give the camper a nice, updated look.
We're leaving tomorrow for a 3,000 mile road trip. We're traveling to the far west of Texas and then to Big Bend and along the Gulf Coast to New Orleans. We're looking forward to a day at the races and a family Thanksgiving in The Crescent City.
While this is not the first trip of any length with the restored Avion, it is by far the most ambitious. Now we really will see how good the joins were in the plumbing and whether I actually defeated the gremlins in the electrical system. What Jane and I both noted on the previous outings is how COMFORTABLE the Avion is. Now we'll find out how DEPENDABLE.
One of the last things I am doing is placing "Conspicuity tape" on the camper. I have decided that the silvery color of the Avion almost floats in the sky under certain lighting conditions,making it hard to see. I got the idea from a photo that I saw of a camper in Alaska. My concern, of course, was that I would muck up the OEM look of the restored camper. However, safety trumped. Here is the photo from Alaska, I'll post one of my camper when I get back.
01 International 4800 4x4 CrewCab DT466E Allison MD3060
69Bronco 86Samurai 85ATC250R 89CR500
98Ranger 96Tacoma
20' BigTex flatbed
8' truck camper, 14' Aristocrat TT
73 Kona 17' ski boat & Mercury 1150TB
92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6 285 BFG AT 4.56 & LockRite rear