Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Avion truck campers

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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: 69 Avion on 05/19/14 10:25pm

67avion wrote:

69Avion told me that the original price on his was $4500. By far the priciest truck camper at the time. Of course I've now seen Chalets with three slides for $91,000.

The 1969 camper that my grandfather bought new was $4,500 list price and sold for around $3,500+. There were two of them on the lot with different layouts and my dad and grandfather picked the layout that seemed the most user friendly. By the way, I was there when it was picked up and I remember that it had sat at the dealer for quite some time. That was a lot of money in 1969.

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

Posted By: Desertboy on 05/19/14 10:26pm

Michael 111 wrote:

D1 , I am starting to get the idea of looking closer at the overall condition before diving into this adventure [emoticon]

As i am taking out the old insulation , all kinds of surprises are popping up, burned out wires, rivets that are not set correctly.....
I think that most of you have experienced this.
So, overall i am happy that i decided to take everything out to the bare skin.

My overall plan is to totally modernize the interior on a budget...HA

Recycle,up-cycle, re-purpose, you get the idea

Solar and wind to charge the batteries,off grid camping, better outside lighting
Slide out A/C where the fridge used to be.

I am playing with the idea of having light up walls as the main general lighting needs. The overall "Look" on the inside will be some stained wood with aluminum accents, the curved back walls and the compound curves in the end caps will be Aluminum ,and then two ( left and Right) light up walls above the windows and extending into the sleeping area . I am also toying with the idea of building a removable kitchen that could come out of the camper once on site ......

I think that my box is overall in decent shape and can be reinforced and saved , have to replace the passenger side wing.

Check out this picture it seems like there are multiple layers of Aluminum for the outside skin and cut in unusual shapes.
Anyone can shed some light on this?

Is there anyone out there that would like the items that i took out
i have the shower/toilet inc tank
freshwater tank/ pump
original LP gas bottles
and an interior LP gas light
sink,
Also i have the original documentation that came with the purchase of this unit including a self-loading system, if anyone is interested i can PDF this.

More as i go along

Cheers
Michael

(Slide out A/C where the fridge used to be.) What kind of AC you thinking about putting where the Fridge goes? And what kind of fridge will you have? I like those 12 volt Engel fridge jobs like Garry has.

1969 AVION
3/4 12 VALVE

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

Posted By: Desertboy on 05/19/14 10:31pm

I hear you 69, that was a lot of $$$, We are fortunate to have one. Its like a 57 Chevy. [emoticon]

Posted By: Michael 111 on 05/20/14 06:43am

Desertboy wrote:

Michael 111 wrote:

D1 , I am starting to get the idea of looking closer at the overall condition before diving into this adventure [emoticon]

I think i am going with one regular household window unit that i am crafting on a slide/glide system that when traveling the unit slides in the camper and seals it watertight and when set up it slides out and provides room on the inside.
I am not really fond of having a unit like this permanently disturbing the outside curves/look of the Avion, but i need the real-estate on the roof for solar and wind and lets face it .....much cheaper [emoticon]

The fridge will be probably an Engel or an Whynter which has some good reviews as well but a bit cheaper and is going to live on/in a movable -think small kitchen center island- unit where the bathroom used to be .
The idea is to be able to move the kitchen unit outside when set up camp and the weather is good.

but have a long road ahead before this becomes a reality , the first trips will probably be with a regular ice chest......

Michael

Posted By: Desertboy on 05/20/14 06:54am

I hear you, I could totally do without the big fridge myself. If mine ever goes out it will be replaced with the Engel or similar. Sounds like you have a plan.

Posted By: 69 Avion on 05/20/14 08:27am

Michael 111 wrote:

D1 , I am starting to get the idea of looking closer at the overall condition before diving into this adventure [emoticon]

Are you sure you want to get rid of your original horizontal ASME LP tanks? If so, you may want to post pictures of them. If they aren't rusted, there may be folks here that need them. If you are sure you don't want them and they aren't rusted, and there aren't any folks here that want them, pm me.
As far as the original water tank and pump, I replaced both of mine and never looked back.
LP lights are really for decoration in the modern world.
I still have my original toilet, since you can't find parts for them anymore.
By the way, what brand of jacks does your camper have?

Posted By: garryk6 on 05/20/14 12:55pm

69 Avion wrote:

As far as the original water tank and pump, I replaced both of mine and never looked back.
LP lights are really for decoration in the modern world.

I agree with 69 the old Air Compressor systems went out about 1973 or so. A plastic tank and water pump are definitely the way to go. I have 40 gallons compared to the original 20!

As for LP lights... I think it is a matter of opinion and location/type of camping you do. Here in Alaska, a gas light will produce enough heat while providing light that you do not have to run the heater. down to a certain point. If it is winter, and not much sun to charge the batteries, it helps you extend your stay. If it is the difference to carry an extra propane tank or carry a generator with gasoline, we'll carry a spare propane tank. Just our observations.

To help clarify, we spend alot of time camping at my dads remote cabin. We are also used to using Coleman lanterns at the cabin out on an island off of Kodiak Island, that we go out to by boat. We carry everything in by boat, and out by boat. So we have been slowly buying up gas lanterns to retrofit the cabin to gas lamps vice using the Coleman lanterns. Coleman fuel is messy, and has to be refilled every night, and pumped up while in use in the long evenings in the fall and winter.

Additionally we have yet to set up our solar, and still only have one battery, so this limits our electrical, especially with the Engel refrigerator, though it is very miserly. The only other current 12VDC loads are lights, recirculating toilet pump (just to flush) and water pump, again, with no shower, and only the one sink and no hot water heater yet, we can go for quite awhile with just what we have if we are cautious. Additionally if I run the truck at all, that helps charge the camper battery again as well.

This is all good discussion to help guys just starting on their remodels/repairs see what options are available, and why each of us chose what we did, and some of the pro's and con's to enable sound decisions to be made depending on each one's own use.

Good Luck All!
Garry

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: Jamm3r on 05/20/14 01:17pm

cajunavion wrote:

Howdy!
I am trying to tie all my gray water (2 sinks and
shower) up together under the shower pan and go out
one hole through the floor. All I seem to
get away with is 1.25 pipe. Do yall
think this will drain?

It will work OK as long as it is vented from above. Too small though for a horizontal run vented only at the end or for a wet vent. 2" was original and would be a better choice. I was able to make mine fit with 2".

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

Posted By: Jamm3r on 05/20/14 01:30pm

69 Avion wrote:

LP lights are really for decoration in the modern world.

I agree with Garry that the propane lights do have their place.

They are extremely reliable. As long as you don't break the mantle and you have propane they will work... and spare mantles are small and cheap. There is much more to go wrong with the 12v systems that can leave you with a dead battery and no light. And yes you get around 2000 btu/h of heat off them.

For extremely remote locations they have the advantage of being maintenance free while not in use. Mostly an advantage for remote cabins where you can leave the light and the propane system for months or years and it will work next time you get there.

I have a gas light in my farmhouse so that there is at least some light when the electricity goes out (rare). Something I can count on while fiddling around with flashlights generators etc.

Quote:

To help clarify, we spend alot of time camping at my dads remote cabin. We are also used to using Coleman lanterns at the cabin out on an island off of Kodiak Island, that we go out to by boat. We carry everything in by boat, and out by boat. So we have been slowly buying up gas lanterns to retrofit the cabin to gas lamps vice using the Coleman lanterns. Coleman fuel is messy, and has to be refilled every night, and pumped up while in use in the long evenings in the fall and winter.

Perfect situation for them. I've been in those kinds of cabins.

Posted By: 69 Avion on 05/20/14 02:59pm

There is no doubt that an LP light will provide heat and in Alaska that would certainly be helpful. When these campers were built, there were no LP detectors or CO detectors available. If using one, I would make sure that I had a working CO and LP detector. An interior flame with not enough venting isn't a good combination. There is a reason that you usually don't see them anymore. For me, in AZ, I use LED lights, but I don't get the added benefit of the heat.

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