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Topic: Avion truck campers - Hundreds of photos

Posted By: ticki2 on 02/01/17 10:51am

D1trout , This is a very good topic . I have been experimenting with some condensation control this winter . I will elaborate more when I get my thoughts together and am also interested in input from others . BTW , do you still have your old vents ? I am looking for 2 aluminum screen frames for original vents . * This post was edited 02/01/17 11:00am by ticki2 * '68 Avion C-11 '02 GMC DRW D/A flatbed

Posted By: 67avion on 02/01/17 12:02pm

Hey there D1. Glad to see you're still pursuing the dream. As to condensation, I have also seen the reports. But, we have never had a problem. I don't know if that's because we seldom camp in really cool weather, have a peculiar air circulation pattern, or always have the vent running if we are cooking. Whatever the case we have remained dry to my knowledge. I know that Garry has had issues in Alaska. But that is to be expected with the harsh conditions that he encounters (not to mention the number of folks onboard). Having said that, I'd like a bit more information about the material you described other than aluminum. Is it vulnerable to being pierced, wettened or broken? Takes paint well, if thats your plan?

Posted By: D1trout on 02/01/17 08:42pm

Ticki2 and 67, thanks for your responses. I look forward to learning more of your efforts, ticki. Yes, I do have the screens. In fact, I have the entire vents. You are welcome to them, all or just the screens. PM me with your address and I'll send them to you. 67, I don't know what to think about condensation in a three season rig. I don't visualize spending a lot of time in the sort of weather that Garry deals with. The heater I'm installing is propane that vents entirely outside so the moisture from LPG won't be an issue. I'm not using a hood on my stove but installing it with a window behind. It seems to me condensation would be more of an issue overnight, but with windows and the Fantastic vents, maybe not a problem. I think that the temp differential with a inner aluminum skin could be a factor and it's one reason I've looked at alternatives. The product that looks very good is Durabull poly backed wood veneer from SR Wood. I've gotten samples and coated them with Smith's clear penetrating epoxy sealant. Then I've submerged the samples in water for days. They came out unaffected. They are about .037 thick and confirm quite well to the curves inside an Avion. I would use this material because of the many lovely veneers available, not as a substrate for paint, tho it could be painted. Frankly, I'm still undecided about the new inner skin but the installation process will begin within the month so I've got to decide pronto! I have resolved the vinyl wrap or paint issue for myself by painting Argo with three coats of polyurethane paint in a heavy metallic Porsche polarsilver color followed with three coats of clearcoat. It looks great! I was dissuaded from using the vinyl wrap because of all the rivets. I'll post a pic. Moving to complete the inside now. A new chapter and perhaps Argo will actually get on the road this summer! It's sobering to realize that I began the serious rebuilding in January of 2014... Onward! Dick

Posted By: ticki2 on 02/02/17 12:44pm

condensation This is what I have come to thus far . First a few pics so I can refer to them . The first pic is what put around the bottom of the wall at the dinette . It is sill seal used between wood sill and foundation on a house . It is 8" x 1/4" and does not absorb water . This is the area I found the most condensation . Another critical area was around the mattress . In both cases I believe it is the combination of little air circulation and being the lowest portion of the interior aluminum panels . Outside temps were from 22F to 37F . Moving the mattress away from the wall 2" and removing the back cushion from the dinette reduced condensation considerable . Gluing the sill seal around the dinette almost eliminated it . also installed a CPU fan in the rear roof vent to blow down instead of up ( it had no fan at all) . This helped to equalize the temperature top to bottom . but needs a bit stronger fan , still experimenting . I have the original wall furnace which has a small cross flow fan at the bottom sucking air in at the bottom and blowing air up along the heat chamber . I got the brilliant idea of reversing the fan to blow warm air out the bottom along the floor . Took the fan out , tore it apart and reverse it , put it back in and it was a no go . For what ever reason it would not pull the warm air down and out . There is probably some kind of baffling in back of the exchanger that won't allow it , needs more investigation . One of the problems I believe is the inherent design of the Avion . One , there is no thermal break between the ribs and either the interior or exterior aluminum panels , and aluminum is a great conductor of heat and cold . Second , the interior panel act the same as glass and when the moist air hits the cold surface it is beyond the dew point and condenses . My Avion is in relatively good condition and I have no plans to completely rebuild it , so I am dealing with work-arounds . If it was stripped I would consider another material besides aluminum for the interior panels , also some kind of thermal break . Here is one that might be suitable . http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/wp/plywood.html This is as far as I've gotten , looking forward to what others have come up with . * This post was edited 02/02/17 01:44pm by ticki2 *

Posted By: Teacher's Pet on 02/05/17 09:46am

What say ye Avionistas about this Avion rebuild? '06 Phaeton 40' QSH '14 Ford Flex SEL AWD Toad '04 R-Vision Trail-Lite 213 Scottiemom's Pet or husband to Dale RV.net Rallies 13, Other Rallies 21, Escapades 7 Fulltimers since 2005, Where are we? Our Travel Blog

Posted By: 67avion on 02/05/17 02:37pm

I saw that on television when it was first produced. I watched and was vaguely interested until they spotted the Avion in really rough condition. That made me sit up. If I remember correctly we had a string somewhere on this list about the show - and the Avion boat. Amazing transformation.

Posted By: D1trout on 02/05/17 05:30pm

Tikki2, all very good info. I recall now that this issue came up perhaps last winter and sent me searching for alternatives to an aluminum interior skin. Seems like a couple of solutions are possible: gluing an insulating strip of foam to the ribs before riveting the aluminum skin to the interior. Or using a product like the Durabull veneer from SR Wood. Presumably the condensation would be less. Or I could use the 3M double sided construction tape I used with very good results on the skin of the outside storage. Makes a nice clean look without rivets and the associated dimples and the foam layer between the two adhesive faces would give some insulation. Only problem here is that the tape is tenacious and if one had to get into the space behind the skin in the future, it would likely result in the destruction of their skin in that area... I will have to make the decision very soon as I've pretty much finished the outside. imended up painting the outside with polyurethane auto paint, using a high solids metallic silver Porsche color called polarsilber. It came out very nicely - brought the whole camper together, resolving its many different skin tones and conditions. 67, I investigated the vinyl wrap but rejected it because of the very many rivets and all the sharp corners around windows and doors. So here's how Argo looks: So now it's on to the inside, which I am hoping will go more quickly. Here's the current state inside: The wiring is in. I need to test the circuits, complete the insulation, and then the inner skin and construct the interior. I'm thinking a trial run without cabinetry in a month or so, just to see how it all feels before the final push. It been a long time since October 2013 when Argo came into my life. As the wise man said, be careful you wish for... Onward! Dick

Posted By: 66C10 on 02/06/17 09:56am

Dick, Argo is very impressive! I can't wait to see what you do with the inside.

Posted By: 67avion on 02/06/17 10:07pm

Dick, it's stunning! I'm sure the interior will be just as inspired.

Posted By: rastaman33609 on 02/07/17 04:39am

D1trout....Totally awesome...its going to be sweeeeet.

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