Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Avion truck campers

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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: 67avion on 10/06/11 01:20pm

I had to repair delamination all over the cabinets and doors. Its just one of those things: clean the area - slice the delaminated section with a box cutter
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- clean under the veneer as much as possible with a sheet of sandpaper - then load up a long thin putty knife with good wood glue and spread it under the area (carefully)getting glue on the upderside as well as the bottom
[image]

- press down - wipe area clean with wet cloth

[image]

- place flat surfaced, very rigid board wrapped in Saran Wrap over the area that is being glued - and apply clamps. Leave it for 24 hours, unwrap and go to the next one.

[image]

After sanding and finishing, its surprising how good it comes out.

[image]

Save any veneer from the old wood if you want to make a surface repair. Its the same as above, except that you cut the veneer to fit then glue and clamp.

Let me know how the awning install works out. It seems like a good idea, though I don't think the originals had them.

I think its a good idea to shift the sink to the rear of the stove. You lose the storage space, I suppose, but its a lot more of a workable area.

I'm placing the Wave heater on a door under the counter. I saw the install on this forum some time ago. We are hooking it up with a quick disconnect so that the stove can be removed to the outdoors, if needed on brisk night. I have a quick disconnect now in the rejiggered propane cabinet.

Man that's a lot of gray water capacity built into the truck. We have decided to have less permanent capacity and carry greywater discharge cassettes.

* This post was edited 10/06/11 03:34pm by 67avion *

Posted By: garryk6 on 10/06/11 02:13pm

I know it sounds like alot, but since we will be traveling for the near future with our 4 kids, I decided to go a bit overboard on the fresh water and grey water. I still ahve not worked in any hot water, but for the near term, we will use CG showers, and heat the wash water up on the stove. We do this already at my dads cabin that is located on an island a short boat ride from Kodiak. There we have to pack water, food trash, everything to and from the cabin! The Avion TC will be alot more user friendly!
Thanks for the tips on the delamination. I may do that for the ones that are not real bad.

I really need to get the wiring, plumbing and propane done soon, as we will really need the lights toilet and the heater for the trip to Anchorage in late November. If I have the 110V ac figured out, and working, then We will suplement the Wave 3 with a ceramic box heater to keep the family warm! My two oldes boys are Boy Scoouts and love to brag about being "Kodiak Tough" so they get to "rough-it" in the cab of the pickup, in their "0 degree" sleeping bags!! :-)

It just that work and house projects keep pulling me away from making lots of progress on the Avion!

Well keep the pics coming! as they are very encouraging, and I'll add some when I get some progress going again...

Garry in Kodiak

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 10/06/11 07:21pm

Just to offer some encouragement for those days when you wonder what you got yourself into , and why .

A recent trip to the Adirondacks [image]

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

Posted By: 67avion on 10/08/11 04:45pm

Thanks ticki2, I needed that. My entire porch is filled with cabinets in various states of finish. That one is needing another coat of Danish Oil, that one is on the third coat of the spar varnish.

This may be hard to believe, but I do think about the Adirondacks or the Sawtooths or Mexico or the Louisiana marshes as I work on this thing. I imagine how nice it will be to finally get on the road.

Posted By: garryk6 on 10/08/11 11:23pm

Thanks ticki2, I really need to get working on it again, so we can use ours too. We need to use it over Thanksgiving, so I have my work cut out for me. Keep giving us a kick in the pants ;-)
Garry

Posted By: garryk6 on 10/19/11 11:58pm

Well working on the Avion again. A question for anyone with an Engel Fridge/freezer... How much clearance is required for access to get one in and out? Can I just cut a hole in the top of the counter and "drop" it in? Or do I have to leave the front of the cabinet open to "slide" in the Engel from the side, therefore leaving the top and side open if removed. If no one answers here, I start a fresh question on this. The Engel I am looking at is the MT45. it is the chest model, and I intend on mounting it under the kitchen side window where the sink originally was...
Thanks in advance,
Garry

Posted By: garryk6 on 10/26/11 12:18am

Well have some updating to do! No pics yet, since it is night, and we have a wind storm that the sustained winds are 30+ mph and the gusts now are currently to 45mph and the gusts are supposed to go to 75-80 mph!

Great news today. I have 12V lights that work with the installed switches where applicable. I have 110V AC that allows the use of a ceramic heater. I have a horizontal propane tank installed and now plumbed to a 2 burner cook-top and to the Wave-3 catalytic heater. I have sealed the extra openings over with aluminum tape from the inside. With the temperature currently in the 40's and headed to the 30's tonight, I was able to get the camper very toasty with just the Wave-3, and the little ceramic with a fan did pretty well too.

Next is to wire up the converter to allow 110AC to charge the battery. I also still need to wire up the charging circuit from the truck too. The other 12V that needs connected is the Water pump and the recirculating toilet. The toilet has a flange in the floor, and is ready to be mounted, but I need to put some flooring down still, as with the rest of the camper floor. I have a propane lamp that eventually I will plumb in, but that is not needed for the trip in November. My son tells me that the 1st custom gray water tank should be done this week! 14 gallons, and will allow a drain to be hooked up from the sink when I get it mounted. Water fill and vent as well as pump and drain are waiting for me to get to as well. While for this coming trip the water isn't necessary, but it would be nice. Hot water will be by boiling till we can afford the hot water heater. The Coleman 12V cooler is sitting in place of where the Engel will go eventually, but still need to do some more framing and prep work. Also need 12V wired for the cooler to plug into. It also has a 110V adapter when plugged in. Also still need to glue up some PVC for the drain from the recirculating toilet, but that isn't too bad.

I'll try to get pics tomorrow!

How are you other Avion owners doing!! ;-)

Garry in windy AK

Posted By: tktplz on 10/26/11 06:50pm

What's the saying???? Perseverance Furthers! A lot left to do but look how far you've come. [emoticon]

"Confidence is the feeling you have before
you fully understand the situation"

1999 Toyota Tacoma Pre-Runner
TorkLift Tie Downs
2010 Travel Lite 690FD
1996 ZX11 Ninja
2000 ZRX1100
2008 Yamaha Zuma 50 Scooter
2010 "Blue" Bulldog, "Luna"

Posted By: ticki2 on 10/26/11 07:48pm

FYI , there are several interior items from a 68 Avion TC on ebay at this time. Not mine BTW

Posted By: garryk6 on 10/26/11 10:50pm

ticki2 wrote:

FYI , there are several interior items from a 68 Avion TC on ebay at this time. Not mine BTW

Thanks Ticki2,
I have already been talking to him, as I would really like the stove and hood as well as a few other things, but the shipping costs to Kodiak are insane. I am trying to justify the expense....

Hope to go take some pics tonight....

Garry

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