Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Avion truck campers

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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: ticki2 on 01/22/12 12:35pm

67avion wrote:

I wonder if anyone has explored replacement windows for the Avion? I have in mind tinted, double glazed windows. I have run across windows that interested me from Dometic, but I can't find a source in the US.

This place may help here

I'm not sure I'm convinced of the longevity of thermopane in a camper . I know Airstreams have had trouble with them . They also loose their seal in houses regularly . When they are good they are good , when they are not they are not . It would make an interesting survey with folks that have them .

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

Posted By: merc25 on 01/23/12 10:31am

Thanks for the feedback fellas. @Avion C-11, nice work massaging out that crease. That's encouraging. Look forward to seeing it polished up. I got in touch with Cayo Repairs. They still offer replacement panels made from E (electro) Coat aluminum. $93.00 ea. Helpful chap.

Posted By: Avion C-11 on 01/28/12 02:56pm

The Polishing Grind Continues.

Over the last week/end we have made what is apparently little progress. We have come up against the difficult task of deanodizing and polishing the underside of the bunk, wings and tub. It seems as if water and condensation stream down the camper to collect on the undersides of the wings and cabover where it sits, and stays, and slowly evaporates leaving behind a calcified series of tiny little stalactite type bumps that are extremely difficult to remove. Oven cleaner doesn’t do it. Toonbrite doesn’t do it.

We have come up with a process that works finally. First, we sand the area with 300 grit, then we deanodize what anodizing is left, third we Toonbrite and lastly polish. Well we haven’t actually polished much yet in that area as it has taken a while to figure out how to deal with the problem.

We have polished the right corner of the cabover, the front of the tub under the cab window.

Even though we have not made much progress this week I think we have the process down now and thinks will pick up again next week.

Because it had been sitting since the last deanodizing session and it rained a lot I first had to clean up the areas to be polished before starting.
[image]

It takes about an hour of polishing to do the front side of that corner.
[image]

I cant wait to get a whole endcap finished!
[image]

After we finish the tub and under the bunk I will lower the stand so we don't have to do this.
[image]

This pic shows the front of the tub polished. We had to go back and deanodize some more so you see some whitish areas in places that we did not have time to go back and repolish.
[image]

* This post was edited 02/04/12 09:44pm by an administrator/moderator *

Posted By: garryk6 on 02/04/12 01:16am

Seeing all the work to de-anodize and polish an Avion, I am liking the dull silver more and more... [emoticon]

When we stop having snow and freezing temps, I hope to be able to just give my C-10 a good cleaning,and hopefully a good waxing.

But while the cold temps are here, I am looking at what I can do in the warmer areas inside. I need to decide on a counter top material, and now that my newer 3 burner cook top is here, I can start re-making my kitchen area with some minor tweaks. THe maiden voyage/shakedown run last Thanksgiving helped show us some pros and cons to our initial design. So we are planning some adjustments before our summer trip in June. I also hope to get some Aluminum for the rear pan, and start working out that piece of "art". As with everything on an Avion, each piece is a "work-of-art". Just some come out like mona-lisa and some come out like crayon...

Garry in the Frozen north (10F as I type and over 4 ft of snow since the first of the year...

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: Photog101 on 02/04/12 04:59am

My uncle had a 1957 or 58 Airstream. He bought it new and kept it until he passed in the mid 90's. Sometime during the 80's, the outer metal started looking pretty worse for wear. I towed it to a truck wash and they cleaned the aluminum with a chemical that is used on aluminum truck parts (tanks, bumpers, wheels, etc). It gave it a flat finish but it was bright again. We laid on a heavy coat of wax and then he would re-wax it every year after that and it looked great.

Just another thought on how to brighten up an Avion.

Combat Vietnam Veteran Support our troops for serving our great country.
1997 Veri Lite RL1200 on a '02, K3500, CC, DRW, 8.1L, Allison, 4.1 gears, Bridgestone 225/70R19.5 tires.
'12 C2500, EC, 6.6L Duramax
A couple of older 5th wheels housing homeless vets.

Posted By: rfuerst911sc on 02/04/12 05:04am

garryk6 wrote:

Seeing all the work to de-anodize and polish an Avion, I am liking the dull silver more and more... [emoticon]

I'll be watching to see what you use for the countertop as mine needs total replacement. Plastic laminate is cheap and relatively easy for the DIYer but I kinda like the idea of using Corian or material like that. I'm a long ways away from doing the replacement but curious what others use.

Posted By: 67avion on 02/04/12 08:34am

We picked up the Corian countertops for the Avion yesterday. They look beautiful. I can't wait to finish up the wiring so that we can install them. Because we need a relatively small amount of Corian I was able to piece the counter tops from the remainder bin at our local shop. Its a bit of a chore to find pieces that can be cut to fit, especially pieces that are attractive. But it can be done. Our costs for the cooking area counter top, as well as the front counter next to the couch was around $500 including all of the millwork.

I have read about some people's concerns about weight with Corian. They are certainly far heavier than the tops they replace, so that may a problem in your installation. We found that they added around 60 pounds or so. I felt it was well within our weight range.

We have not been working as hard on the camper this past several months, but plan to gear up yet again in the near future. I'll post photos of the counter tops when they are iinstalled.

Posted By: garryk6 on 02/04/12 10:27am

I have been contemplating using aluminum plating for my counter tops, since it is relatively light, sturdy, durable. I have the equipment to work with aluminum, and on the Island it is definitely easier to come by than other materials. Our one lumber store carries limited selection of anything, and most things are ordered in, and as such get expensive. I try to time my purchase with trips to Anchorage on the ferry, but those are only a few times per year...

Our temp ones have worked well for the one trip (1/4" plywood) but are difficult to keep clean, and are susceptible to spills damaging the wood. We use plastic cutting boards for cutting, so that helps. Here on the island they do sell a thin (about 1/4") teflon/plastic material that is used for large cutting areas for fish cleaning (we area fishing town) that is really light, and could go over the plywood, but I know that it would not be as sturdy as the aluminum plating. The aluminum plating would also be nice since I can have it bent on the front edge down for a covering lip, and if I want I could weld a back splash to the back edge that would follow the curvature of the Avions curves. These are just a few of the ideas that have been going through my brain through this long cold winter...
I'll try to take some pics today of the mountains of snow in my yard and the neighborhood.
Take care, Garry

* This post was edited 02/04/12 11:24am by garryk6 *

Posted By: ticki2 on 02/04/12 11:18am

Garry , I would be careful with aluminum as a counter top . Most aluminum is not very chemical resistant , think vinegar , seafood spills, etc . I stained up an alum table with lobster water .

Posted By: ticki2 on 02/04/12 11:23am

Photog101 wrote:

I have used the aluminum cleaner that comes with my pressure washer and cleaned up the skin very nicely . I dilute it 5 to 1 with water , rinse thoroughly .

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