Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Avion truck campers

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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: 67avion on 07/08/14 04:40pm

66C10 wrote:

I know there is still some wood rot in the wing as the tie-down hoop isn't solid. I'm not sure how much was actually rebuilt, but one of these days I'll tear into it and see.

66 I think you got some problems that may need attention sooner rather than later. When you read through the string you may have noticed that I had almost exactly the same issues with the tie down posts and the jack brackets. The first and foremost concern is safety.

Here's why. If you move your coach at all there will be some pressure on the tie downs. If the tie downs are embedded in rotten wood they may pull right out causing potential handling problems on the road...or more likely severely damaging the wings of the coach. Same is true of the jack brackets where a failure is catastropic. I imagine that you are not going to remove the coach from the truck until you fix the brackets....but now you have no option.

The water did not come from windows that were left open - more than likely. Moisture often comes through the surrounds to the window, the cabover, and who knows where. The skin of the Avion is a double hull with an exterior aluminum clad and an interior of both fiberglass in the nose and back and aluminum on the walls. There is an airspace between the shells with one side sprayed with an insulating material. That allows water to travel almost from anywhere to almost anywhere. The water will not drip inside when it rains, necessarily, it will seep through the walls and add more moisture and rot throughout the coach.

Here's a quick, but important step: order Parbond from Vintage Trailer Supply. Its a sealant that comes in an aluminum color. Go everywhere on the outside of the coach and apply the sealant wherever you SUSPECT that water may be entering. That includes around the running lights, over the doors, around the windows.

Then get yourself a good all weather tarp and cover the whole thing up as often as possible until you can get to the repairs. Feel for moisture where the wings join to the cabover, around the interior of the cabover and near the back door.

I see that the bustle is gone. that usually means that everything pertaining to the black water is gone as well. And the camper did not have a grey water tank. So, you may have issues with the water supply. Check and make sure.

Best of luck.

Cajunavion wrote:

Howdy!
Welcome 66. The world needs more C10s. Dennis, I'm hurt, no comments on my bathroom?

Sure wouldn't want to get a Cajun upset. I grew up in the Mississippi Delta, and I learned to be careful around those folks. But, I'm wondering if you saw the comments by me and Garry? We both posted, and then the string went silent for a couple of weeks. Dunno, but I'm glad you're back.

BTW, they call me "D". We have Dennises, Dons and Dewitts on this string. So its easy to mix us up.

Posted By: 66C10 on 07/08/14 05:06pm

67avion wrote:

Here's a quick, but important step: order Parbond from Vintage Trailer Supply. Its a sealant that comes in an aluminum color. Go everywhere on the outside of the coach and apply the sealant wherever you SUSPECT that water may be entering. That includes around the running lights, over the doors, around the windows.

Then get yourself a good all weather tarp and cover the whole thing up as often as possible until you can get to the repairs. Feel for moisture where the wings join to the cabover, around the interior of the cabover and near the back door.

I see that the bustle is gone. that usually means that everything pertaining to the black water is gone as well. And the camper did not have a grey water tank. So, you may have issues with the water supply. Check and make sure.

Best of luck.

Thanks you for the information. I just placed an order for the Parbond, and I'll get to sealing as soon as it arrives. I agree with safety being paramount and hope to have those issues taken care of within a week. I have about 1 1/2 months before I move for school, so the safety items are my top priority.

Tim

Posted By: 67avion on 07/08/14 05:24pm

While you are at it, get a licensed electrician to look over your wiring and outlets. He can do it quickly with a voltage tester (and experience) unless you feel adept at the task. You can also wire in a CO2 and gas detector as well as a smoke alarm at the same time.

The local bottled gas guys usually give a free inspection of your gas lines and tanks.

Posted By: 66C10 on 07/08/14 06:01pm

I was correct in my assumption that whomever rebuilt the portion of this wing did it wrong, oh so wrong. I'll have some pictures a little later. Still has water coming in and the way they went about fixing it was, interesting.

As for the electrician looking over the wiring/outlets, thankfully my dad and brother are both electricians! The tank is a newer tank, and the gas lines will probably need to be inspected before I go about using the stove/oven.

The best part has been killing the brown recluse spiders I've been coming across. Two so far!

Posted By: 66C10 on 07/08/14 08:35pm

As promised earlier, here are some pictures of the PO or PPO's attempt at repairing the water damaged right wing.

After removing the wooden slats (seat)
[image]

After removing the flimsy plywood they had installed
[image]

Working on removing the box where the battery was
[image]

After removing the little cover of the water pump
[image]

All of the following pictures will be darker, as I was using a flashlight to light everything up.

The lovely wire splicing, which ended up being aluminum twisted with copper, wrapped in electrical tape.
[image]

Mess of wires, battery spliced with I'm assuming the 12v wiring.
[image]

Boxes/Steps removed
[image]

The wood rot that no one attempted to repair
[image]

Finally, the water holding tank. It was extremely dirty around there, bird feathers, acorns, spider webs, etc.
[image]

I have some work ahead of me, but I'm looking forward to getting this fixed correctly. The biggest pain in the butt was the amount of staples that were used. That and that blasted rectangle bit screw head. I ended up using a pair of vise grips to pull those out. There was enough water damage to most of what I pulled out, it will probably end up being rebuilt using new wood.

Any advice or comments are welcome!

- Tim

Posted By: tonyj54 on 07/09/14 06:50am

Tim.

Welcome, my brother, to the wonder-filled world of the AVION owner.

Yep, we all here know EXACTLY of whence you speak when we sense the disillusionment and incredulity of your writings. We've all been in your shoes at one (actually more than one) time or another, if we stayed with these beauties long enough to complete the project. And, rest assured, intrepid adventurer, we laugh not AT, but WITH, you, as we lovingly remember our own disbelief at how sometimes the workmanship slipped below the bar, or the fact that nearly every measurement of two alledgedly identical pieces of wood or trim could be so off. How no two kitchenette countertops could possibly fit "that many different ways". Or, Or, how plumbing could be routed in so many different directions on 'sister units'.

Stay the course. Fight the good fight. Complete your mission, because that's what you've chosen with your AVION. A mission. Of love.

We're here with you. We're here for you.

Oh, yeah. One more thing. Those "blasted rectangle bit screw head" 's. They're called, believe it or not, clutch heads. We all have laughed and cried over them. Your local ACE Hardware Store, carries them, in packets of two (one of each different size...yeah, I know) for just a couple of bucks.

When you get discouraged, I suggest checking out some of Garry or Dennis's travel photos. They always get me back out working on our C10 again.

Carry on, oh warrior! Be of good cheer.

See y'all on the roads, or in the parks.

tonyj & Shirley
'66 AVION C-10
'86 F-250 6.9 DIESEL
KJ4OEQ 146.520MHz
CB Channel 7

Posted By: 67avion on 07/09/14 06:57am

Tim,

As I understand it, you have about a month and a half before leaving for college with the Avion. So, you've got your work cut out for you.

You can look at the repair to the wings on the posts that I made about that subject, including the repair of rotten wood. You have to replace the old water tank as well as the water pump. That means your plumbing will be up to snuff if the bathroom facilities are intact.

We have posted the wiring harness for the Avion. If you don't find it I'll send you a copy via email, just PM me. Your dad and brother can figure that out quickly and repair the lines. I'd suggest that you add more 12 volt lines in the storage compartment where you can access for future needs like radio, lights, etc.

You have to check the tub. I could actually see the ground around the edges of the tub from the inside. I have that repair on this string.

The floor is likely rotten as well. You might be able to get by this winter by laying a sheet of plywood and doing the repairs next Spring or summer - depending on the extent of possible damage.

Electrical - water- wood repair. Its a lot of stuff, but it seems that you and your family are motivated.

Write up your progress.

Posted By: D1trout on 07/09/14 10:32am

66C10, you're off down the slippery slope! As tony said, have courage! We've all been there and dealt with the problems in various creative ways. He was also right in encouraging you to look at the trip reports of Avionistas who have repaired and used their campers for fun outings!!

Tonyj54, may I ask you for the dimensions of your dinette arrangement in the front of your rig. I'm nearing the point when I must start fabricating interior forms and would like to know what the Avion factory thought were good arrangements.

And Michael111, have you replaced any of the interior aluminum panels yet? I'm interested in that process and it's pitfalls and any special considerations that arise.

Thanks
Dick

Posted By: tonyj54 on 07/09/14 11:37am

"Tonyj54, may I ask you for the dimensions of your dinette arrangement in the front of your rig. I'm nearing the point when I must start fabricating interior forms and would like to know what the Avion factory thought were good arrangements."

D1trout.

Did you see the post on thread page 250? I took the measurements you asked me for previously and responded there. Did I forget something?

Let me know.

Posted By: 66C10 on 07/09/14 03:05pm

D1trout wrote:

I've always enjoyed a project and a challenge. Once I found this Avion on craigslist, I found this thread and a couple others and started reading; I was immediately hooked. The only "bummer" so far is seeing the condition of the stuff that was repaired and how it was done. Regardless, I'm having fun and enjoying the time I'm putting into the camper.

As long as it provides a roof over my head while I attend school, that's all that matters to me. I can get the rest of my creature comforts elsewhere until I get this built how I want it.

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