The 2x6's go the full length of the camper. The previous repair was just the door hallway portion. I do have the bottom sill plate for the door, removed (or more like fell off once i took the steps out).
It appears that Cayo made a wooden 2x8 frame under the camper that the camper sits on. I assume that was done to raise the camper sufficiently to clear the cab of the van. It created void spaces that I can see in the batter compartment location just aft of the wall which joins the front of camper and rear of van cab. Everything looks good there, wood looks new and floor is original ply/foam/ply. Finding the 'basement' structure is solid and good was a really nice find.
I think I am now committed to bathroom gut...sigh...but since I wanted to get rid of toilet/bw tank and replace with...composting/recirculting...then it will have to be done sometime.
Question of the day, I have been removing the rotted wood at the perimeter of the bed over. About 3 inches of perimeter is wood over wood, then it goes to ply/foam/ply. Would this be an earlier patch repair or were the bed over's constucted like this?
I hope I will be able to repair the floor under the bathroom from the top once I remove toilet etc. There is an aluminum panel screwed into the bottom of the bustle on the bathroom side, 18x24" large. I'm going to take that off to see what is accessible.
I'm still wondering why you don't remove the bustle. Could you explain the issue, again, and perhaps send along photos? It might help us in giving some advice.
We have discovered that whenever one of the PO's repaired the floor they (or Cayo) cut the bustle in half and repaired it with a strip of aluminum and rivets. That will allow us to remove the bustle on the bathroom side. It is more of a job to remove bustle on wardrobe side as there is a frame mounted generator box directly under the bustle which will be a real pain to remove.
It looks as though the BW tank/piping has been replaced and there is no evidence of leaks underneath (an unexpected bonus), I have good inspection access now after removing the aluminum panel under the bustle. The floor is mostly in really good shape, but we can remove bustle that side and bring the new floor piece over to the 2x6 stringer for strength.
As this area is prone to wetness/leaks, what has been found to be the most useful material? I was thinking epoxied exterior plywood, but I will have to screw into the side of it in a few places and I'm unsure how well plywood is suited to that.
My experience with woodwork is somewhat limited.
thanks again, I'm back out to the sunshine.
![[image]](http://i.imgur.com/nffgUIAl.jpg)
Showing where bustle had been cut in half and repaired.
The existing bw tank appears newer than 1969 and is white. ..I seem to remember pictures that showed original bw tanks add black. ..
The bustle on my '68 is two piece , left and right . Not sure why they used alum over the seam unless the raised overlap joint was broken . There is also an alum access panel to the left of the door . You probably can't see it because the generator box is in the way . that is where the black tank drain originally came out . Where is yours now ?
My black tank is also white , polypropylene .
I did not have to replace the cabover floor , fortunately it was in excellent condition . Silver was the most recent to tackle that and did a very good job of it , watch his video . All the floors have solid wood around the perimeter about 4" out , the foam doesn't go all the way to the edge .
'68 Avion C-11
'02 GMC DRW D/A flatbed
That explains the cabover floor. I will look for the video, that is a job for later in the fall when it is no longer hot in the camper. Were there different sizes of cabover beds? Mine is about 53" to the rail.
I can see the aluminum access panel, and the bw drain is to the rear of the generator box, just out of the photo.
I'm thinking flashing would be good. There was an angle iron stiffener that went from one side of the rear bustle indent (for the stairs) to the other. I am not replacing the stairs, but am considering replacing that angle iron for added support. The van has a steel truck frame mounted bumper that i can mount stairs to, or perhaps have a freestanding set that goes over the bumper.
I'm sure the rot came from the door where the bottom corner frames were 'repaired' with silcone, also probably from the old tv antenna mounts that were also 'repaired'. All around the rest of the bathroom the floor is solid, no rot so no falling toilets, although I imagine the stairs would have come down one day soon.
I did discover today that the tiedown located under the fridge is solid, bonus!
This is an invitation to come and join us. We still need to hear from some 'Key Players' whom without, it would just not feel right.
Ticki2, SilverPompadour, and CajunAvion,(you listening) just to name a few,plus all the other Avion owners out there. GarryK6 I know it would be a long haul for you, but I can promise you that there wont be any snow down here and I am sure you will have a good time.
Lets do it.....
ticki2 wrote:
Rastaman , thank you for your generous invitation . I would so like to be part of a cavalcade of Avion TC's . I feel I have a whole bunch of pen pals . I have yet to meet another one on the road . Unfortunately a long road trip this fall is not in the cards for me . Some place , some time .
Rastaman , thank you for your generous invitation . I would so like to be part of a cavalcade of Avion TC's . I feel I have a whole bunch of pen pals . I have yet to meet another one on the road . Unfortunately a long road trip this fall is not in the cards for me . Some place , some time .
I understand...you will be missed, however as you said...some place,,,some time.
1968 Avion C-11
1993 Dodge D250 LE Cummins
