Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Avion truck campers

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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: ticki2 on 02/05/15 08:52pm

D1trout wrote:

Ticki2, the tempered glass flexes about the same as the acrylic in bench tests in my shop. It remains to be seen if it will flex when reinstalled in the frames. I am waiting on the seals and gaskets from VTS before I can take this step. I noticed when I was removing the windows from the shell that the smaller fixed panes, on the right side in my C11, had a bit of curve in them, while the larger panes on the left side did not. I also noticed that, once removed from their frames, none of the fixed panes had any memory curve to them. I have calculated the curve to be about 1/4" in 13". Basically, I'm not worrying about it - if they curve a bit, great. If not, they're short enough to have little effect on the overall appearance.

Onward!
Dick

I hate to be a doubting Thomas here but even with the plexiglass the clecos weren't strong enough to bend it enough to conform to the curvature of the side panels 100%. I had to work my way up with the rivets to pull it in enough to be tight . I'm speaking of the upper fixed panes . The lower ones were flat . I wonder how the glass will react being in constant tension ? In any event I hope it works for you , if it does it will give us all another option .

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

Posted By: D1trout on 02/05/15 09:04pm

Ticki2, I'm not all that invested in the windows curving. Having clear tempered glass is much more important. I am very interested to see how the refastening will go and will report my experience. If acrylic can be installed, tempered glass certainly can as well.

More will be revealed...

Posted By: garryk6 on 02/05/15 09:47pm

Dave Pete wrote:

Guys I'd love a source or two and manufamanufacturer name/part numbers for both those clearance lights and tail lights on Garry's rig.

The tail lights I bought off Ebay. They are standard 7" round taillights used by busses and big rigs. There are several different styles.
As for the clearance lights I found on Amazon. Living on an island in Alaska, my choices locally are limited, so I do a lot of shopping on ebay and amazon. I'll look and see if I can find part numbers and manufacturers.
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: garryk6 on 02/05/15 10:02pm

garryk6 wrote:

Dave Pete wrote:

Guys I'd love a source or two and manufamanufacturer name/part numbers for both those clearance lights and tail lights on Garry's rig.

The clearance lights are 3" 15led surface mount lights by Generic part numbers 38032 and 38033 for Amber and Red. Bought from Amazon.

The Taillights are 7" Bus lights. I didn't find the exact part number for mine, but I found these on Amazon Maxxima M90061R Red 7" Round Stop/Tail/Turn Bus Light.

Hope this helps!
Garry

Posted By: D1trout on 02/05/15 10:28pm

DavePete, I bought my LED clearance lights from Vintage Trailer Supply. They are the only ones they offer. I added an extra red at the lower rear on each side to enhance the side visibility.
I haven't bought the STT lights yet but I'd say that www.superbrightleds.com has an outstanding selection and excellent pricing. Del City and etrailer also offers some good choices.

I'm trying to find a good license plate light and frame. Nothing has really hit the mark yet. I want a back up camera and there are several cameras that are mounted in license plate frames. Not quite sure how those would be affected by the license plate light...

Dick

Posted By: Dave Pete on 02/06/15 06:33am

Great guys! There are lots of newer looking LEDs that I just haven't gotten all that excited about, wanting to keep the vintage look and all, so I appreciate this info. These are VERY close to what I want - I think, and that makes me happy! [emoticon]

Of course there's the vintage look to obtain, but just as important, the existing mounting holes in the siding to cover.

I don't require a rear license plate, and that's nice, but I have four holes in the siding where the Oregon owner had a plate, so I need to determine a cover for that. The camera in frame is an idea. And I could use some sort of cool plate instead of a registered plate.

But I don't want to hijack the thread (too much). Carry on my Avionista cousins! I'm looking forward to the rest of you checking in per 67Avion's request!

Posted By: 67avion on 02/06/15 09:08am

Dave Pete, you are more than an honorary Avionista. You are an inspiration - welcome to our part of the world anytime. As to D1 and his lack of photographs.....

Posted By: Dave Pete on 02/07/15 03:22pm

(Dave glances askance at D1, "you gonna let him get away with that"?)

Thanks 67. Proud to be here. You guys do some awesome work.

Posted By: garryk6 on 02/08/15 10:55pm

Well guys, had an adventure today in the Avion. We got 8 to 10 inches of show last night, and with the Avion still on the truck, hooked up the plow, and plowed all morning. Then the sun came out after church, so we headed out to the kids favorite place to go sledding. In order to get there, it is a 8 mile trek up a gravel road that is rarely plowed. So where the pavement ended, I plowed a bare spot, chained up the rear, and proceded in first gear, with the plow angled and hanging down 4 to 6 inches above the ground. Since several others had been trekking up, there were many ruts. We arrived at the first hill, and some teens in a Toyota pulling a tandem trailer with a snow machine were crossed up on the hill. Ended up dragging the trailer and him down to a wide spot to allow everyone else to pass. Another mile up the road there is a shaded steep section that leads up a canyon with a switchback. Ran into one my kids old school teachers who was stuck in here GMC 2500. She was studded up, but with ice and no weight she got stuck trying to make the hairpin. Ended dragging her 300 yard back down the hill to another wides spot. Then plowed out a turn around. Got turned around, and started plowing back down the road, and ran into two others coming up the single track. The F150 pulled off, and the Jeep backed off a wide spot, but got stuck. Squeezed past the F150, plowed out behind the Jeep, but couldn't pull him back since nothing to grab... So plowed around to the front, and pulled him out the front. So now I'm faced back up the mountain. The F150 follows, the others head back down. We get past the hairpin and hit the 15% grade. We chaw our way up that stretch, then around the next switchback. Had to back up once on the next turn, as the camber was sucking us towards the ditch, so we forged some fresh powder with plow all the way up as the grade was still over 8%. Got around two more corners then made it to the crest and heard a tink-tink-tink. Stopped and found a snapped crosslink. Pulled the chain, retightened with the long piece wrapped inside. The F150 wanted by, so I plowed out a turn around spot, got turned around, and let home by. I needed to get home, as it was now getting late. We had been at this for two hours... As we headed back down, along gravity to push us along, I plowed the road. Ran into another Toyota, but they unstuck themselves. Ran into a Chevy Astro Van full of high schoolers stuck a little further down the hill... Plowed them out. Worked past to the upper switchback and found a GMC 1500 crossed up with a sled in the bed. Sleds and short bed low slung GMs don't do well pushing 8-10" of snow. They got turned around and made it back down to the lower switchback. Where they let me pass, got down lower to the first hill and found a string of stuck rigs backing down. I continued to plow down, creating a decent single track road, but as we arrived at the pavement, here was a 2wd jeep with street tires stuck in no more than 2" of snow... As I plowed around him, others pulled him out. I plowed out another clear spot to pull the chains, as the other clear spot was filled with parked cars... And just after we pulled past the stuck 2wd jeep, a FWD Ford Foocus blows by me and the jeep heading up the freshly plowed road.... I imagine they stuck themselves good, but I was exhausted from pulling out stuck rigs, And plowing, so once the chains were off, we headed back into town and home.
The kids were a little sad that they didn't go sledding, but they were happily making up Ford commercials, about the old school superduty with camper and plow, going anywhere we wanted to, pulling everything stuck out. You know how 13! And 15 year olds are, bigger is better...

We were wishing we had a camera, but no such luck. But I'm sure you can get the picture. Thanks for letting me tell the kids tale of Ford as the best truck.... But the real answer is CHAINS! And WEIGHT! And the plow helps too. ;-)
Garry, Kodiak, Alaska

Posted By: Dave Pete on 02/09/15 07:47am

So funny, great story. Yup, it's all about traction and how you obtain it. But you do need power behind the traction, enter your Ford.

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