Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Avion truck campers

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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: Michael 111 on 05/04/14 12:59pm

69cayo wrote:

Michael, I spoke with Chuck Cayo abt. the interior skin some time ago and he told me the replacement skin need not be aluminum.
Just keep in mind you'll be adding weight and you will have to deal with seams.
Also the rear lower corners are compound curves and there is very little in the way of ribs in that area.

Dennis

Thanks this opens the world quite a bit ....but i think i could like the pure brushed aluminum with some wood accents

Posted By: 69 Avion on 05/04/14 05:43pm

Michael 111 wrote:

69cayo wrote:

Thanks this opens the world quite a bit ....but i think i could like the pure brushed aluminum with some wood accents

That would look really nice. Airstream has some high dollar trailers with the satin aluminum interior and they look awesome.

Ford F-350 4x4 Diesel
1988 Avion Triple Axle Trailer
1969 Avion C-11 Camper

Posted By: D1trout on 05/04/14 08:24pm

I'm about to take the vinyl-coated interior skin out of my C11 and replace it with satin finished aluminum sheets. I'm assuming that I can just use the old panels as templates... ?? Anybody have any experience doing this? I also plan to skin over the molded ends with triangular strips of satin finish aluminum, similar to the way the outside ends see handled.
Pictures of the completed tubular aluminum frame, ready for installation about the middle of May, will be posted soon.
Dick

Posted By: garryk6 on 05/04/14 10:13pm

D1trout wrote:

Were you planning to change the overall length of the bunk? Or just replace the wood base with tubular aluminum?
Garry in AK

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: D1trout on 05/05/14 08:43am

Garry, I am replacing the bunk base with an aluminum frame, but not changing the dimensions of the bed. I have designed the dinette to go immediately behind the forward bulkhead, facing across the width of the camper. It will convert into a large single bed and is where the dogs will sleep...

I think a pull-out extension for the bunk frame could be fairly simply designed and incorporated.

Dick

Pictures very soon!

Posted By: 67avion on 05/05/14 05:13pm

Just got home from the Rally in Virginia. Most of the time I didn't have access to email. I see that Trout is about to post photos of his installation. I'm looking forward to seeing that.

On another note. We had dozens of folks who toured our camper at the Mid Atlantic Rally. The same happened at the Texas Rally. There is an enormous interest in what we do with these Avions. We may be leading the way to an appreciation of the fact that solid, attractive, and affordable truck campers can be restored.

I think it is something that all of us can be proud of.

Posted By: cajunavion on 05/06/14 11:27am

Howdy!
Dennis your the man! Those light covers
you suggested fit perfectly! How did you
ever discover who still made these things?
Thanks again.

Posted By: Dave Pete on 05/09/14 06:21am

Looking for aluminum polish methods.

Thanks 67avion for starting this thread, and all the contributors. My settings say this thread is 110 pages long. Originally glanced at the first 10, then today touched on the next 10 or so. I'm seeing some beautiful aluminum work. Did a search for my question but no good hits.

I have the recent Travel Queen camper. Looking to reseal all windows and exterior frames soon. Once I have the windows and frames off I want to polish these and re-install with stainless steel screws. Is there a chemical that you can spray on the aluminum for best removal of oxidation, before I go to town with the elbow grease? What is the best way to polish up the many corners and crevices of the windows and other frames?

Thanks!

Posted By: 67avion on 05/09/14 09:23am

Dave,

Welcome onto the string. We vintage truck campers have to stick together.

Read through the threads as you are doing, and you will see some divergent opinion as to the treatment of aluminum. Part of that springs from the fact that most Avions and Cayos are anodized aluminum and will not "polish" bright. In fact, they tend to develop a sort of milky coloration. I do not know of any specific solution. There are different approaches that you will see, from "brighteners" to the extreme of oven cleaner and de-anodization.

Maybe some of the other guys will weigh in. I remain semi-defeated.

The other issue is the use of SS screws. There is a danger of galvanic reaction, or so I am told. In my case I used SS screws but made sure that there was a significant amount of caulking (Trempro is the modern version of Vulkem...available at Vintage Trailer Supply). The flexible seals for the windows on the Airstreams and Avions are similar and can be accessed at Vintage as well. You may have the same seals.

Frankly, I have to confess that I used off the shelf Mothers Aluminum Polish and very fine synthetic steel wool for the cleaning of the bright work (as opposed to the anodized).

Ultimately you'll figure out what works specifically for you. I note that one of the most important aspects is the refinishing of your beautiful wood interior. There is a great deal of information about that as well, including techniques for restoring split veneer.

Posted By: Jamm3r on 05/09/14 11:41am

Aluminum Olympic rivets would be a better choice than screws.

No easy way to polish.

1971 Cayo C-11 truck camper, 2010 Airstream Classic, 1997 Chevrolet K2500, 2004 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 8.1.

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