I found that I couldn't compete with the TC manufacturers:
for example...
a furnace that would cost me $750 only cost Lance $100 because they could buy in bulk!
The same on the fridge... the hot water tank, etc.
And i wanted to get rid of the porta-potti...
It would be like buying enough parts from Auto Zone to build a truck.... $300,000 in parts to build a new $40,000 truck.
I hope that you will do the numbers carefully before you spend the first dollar or get involved in too much labour.
I ended up working a bunch of overtime and bought a new camper... and a new truck over the next 3 years. It was worth it and easier.
-------------------------------------------------------
Just a different perspective!
A good used "Bigfoot" might have some of the same "feel" of your Avion... and have the "modern" convienences that you are looking for.
Best of luck on your decision...
Sleepy
btw... I have been known to clog-up the forum.
2003 Lance 1161,/slideout/AGM batteries/255W Solar/propane generator/Sat dish/2 Fantastic Fans/AC/winter pkg
AirFoil, Trimetric, LED lights, Platcat vent heat
2003GMC K3500 LT/Crewcab/duramax diesel/allison/dually/4x4/OnStar/front reciever mounted spare
Since folks here are interested in this sort of rebuild I promise to make regular updates with the progress. I really want input on the issues that I face like the caulking or mastic that I find on the roof. How in the world do you get that stuff off? I'll let you know if your suggestion worked out with photos.
![[image]](http://i739.photobucket.com/albums/xx38/dgorton/roof2.jpg)
Next week, depending on weather we'll install the new water heater and run the water lines. Then, its a gut of the bathroom.
67avion wrote:
Thanks for the advice, Sleepy. I take what you say seriously. I don't know of anyone who is more dedicated to this forum, and lifestyle, than you. However, in my opinion a lot of campers would have been far more damaged than the old Avion. I thinks its hard to replicate the care and skill of the WWll generation who went from building DC 3's to building Airstreams and Avions. The web is an amazing resource for finding not just cheaper parts (sometimes used) but hard to find parts as well. I think that restoration is a lot easier than in the past. I also think that we are facing some significant issues in our economy that may force us to be far more innovative than in the past.
Since folks here are interested in this sort of rebuild I promise to make regular updates with the progress. I really want input on the issues that I face like the caulking or mastic that I find on the roof. How in the world do you get that stuff off? I'll let you know if your suggestion worked out with photos.
Next week, depending on weather we'll install the new water heater and run the water lines. Then, its a gut of the bathroom.
Thanks for the advice, Sleepy. I take what you say seriously. I don't know of anyone who is more dedicated to this forum, and lifestyle, than you. However, in my opinion a lot of campers would have been far more damaged than the old Avion. I thinks its hard to replicate the care and skill of the WWll generation who went from building DC 3's to building Airstreams and Avions. The web is an amazing resource for finding not just cheaper parts (sometimes used) but hard to find parts as well. I think that restoration is a lot easier than in the past. I also think that we are facing some significant issues in our economy that may force us to be far more innovative than in the past.
Since folks here are interested in this sort of rebuild I promise to make regular updates with the progress. I really want input on the issues that I face like the caulking or mastic that I find on the roof. How in the world do you get that stuff off? I'll let you know if your suggestion worked out with photos.
Next week, depending on weather we'll install the new water heater and run the water lines. Then, its a gut of the bathroom.
The best thing I've found so far is called PEELER by Klean Strip . It's an autobody stipper for clear coat , comes in a spray can. It seems to soften most caulks and doesn't hurt the anodizing , scap it of with a wooden stick sharpened like a chisel . That stuff on the roof looks like the old aluminized roof coating , haven't tried to remove it. I think it's petroleum base , you might try some gasoline in a spot and see what happens . To remove it all would be a mess , but if you just need a few areas to recaulk it might work .
Clog away
'68 Avion C-11
'02 GMC DRW D/A flatbed
Out at the bomb plant where I worked there would sometimes be a need to remove a caulk, glue, or epoxy, etc. To keep from spreading the radioactive contamination with liquids they'd use dry ice in one of two ways.
Freeze the material that needed to be removed making it brittle and use the wooden chisel mentioned above to break up amd remove the frozen material in chunks for disposal.
I've seen ground-up dry ice used in a sandblaster (spallation). you won't need that... think removing radioactive shoe prints from concrete.
Dry ice vapors-up to gasious CO2 when it warms up... and leaves no residue.
Be carefull not to dent that beautiful aluminum skin.
Sleepy
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
I would wet a rag with the xylene and let it sit on the surface for abt. 5 min. then move the rag to the next area I wanted to work and so on.
For alot of the caulking removal I used a flexible metal scraper (putty knife) that had the corners rounded and smoothed with sandpaper, worked well but you still have to be careful.
You might want to check the rivets on the exterior skin while your at it, I found a half dozen or so that were loose, not bad after 42 yrs..
Pretty cool there's 4 Avion tcs on the board now.
Dennis
69cayo wrote:
Pretty cool there's 4 Avion tcs on the board now.
Pretty cool there's 4 Avion tcs on the board now.
Well, if we ever get them all running we ought to form up a rally
![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/cool.gif "cool")
garryk6 wrote:
Too bad none of us are near Portland Oregon. There is a fairly rough 1966 Avion that would be a treasure trove of spare parts, as it is close to being a total loss. The guy only wants $500 for the whole TC. Now we just need someone that could pick it up, dismantle it, and send us each the pieces that we need :-)
Too bad none of us are near Portland Oregon. There is a fairly rough 1966 Avion that would be a treasure trove of spare parts, as it is close to being a total loss. The guy only wants $500 for the whole TC. Now we just need someone that could pick it up, dismantle it, and send us each the pieces that we need :-)
If I had a place to dismantle it or even store, it, and someone was going to come get it, I could have grabbed it.
My Blog - The Journey of the Redneck Express
CB Channel 17 Redneck Express
'1992 Dodge W-250 "Dually" Power Wagon - Club Cab Long Bed 4x4 V8 5.9L gashog w/4.10 Geared axles
'1974 KIT Kamper 1106 - 11' Slide-in
'2006 Heartland BigHorn 3400RL
67avion wrote:
Well, if we ever get them all running we ought to form up a rally
69cayo wrote:
Pretty cool there's 4 Avion tcs on the board now.
Pretty cool there's 4 Avion tcs on the board now.
Well, if we ever get them all running we ought to form up a rally
Mine is on the road . Come on guys , it's getting lonely out here.
Actually i was thinking about starting a thread for Avions to centralize the sharing of info on them , there are a few more on another site that could be invited over.