Avion questions - please help

[Impala SS Guy]

I just stumbled onto an ad for a 1986 36' Avion for around 8 grand and it made me wonder.

Is an Avion a SOB?

Who made them?

What's the story with them?

Should they be avoided?

What the general opinion of them around here?

Any and all thoughts and opinions are appreciated on this one since I'm just out to learn.

[Pahaska]

They are still in business as far as I know making 5th wheels, but no travel trailers in recent years.

There was an Avion rally last week at the same park as our Airstream rally. They probably had 20 trailers there.

They are very good trailers and well thought of by their owners. The interior materials are as good and often better than comparable Airstreams.

[thenewkid64]

While I will agree with everything John said there is one thing that you need to factor into the buying decision. Will I be able to get parts? Cabinets, appliances etc are not an issue, but windows, curved windows, and curved metal means finding a boneyard or donor trailer.

You will see folks on the forum lament from time to time the fact that some of the replacement parts for the old Airstreams are spendy. Spendy is better than NLA (no longer available)

Plusses to the Avion include additional interior volume due to shell shape (more like the newer Airstreams) The Skin is anodized, so no polishing is required.

[Mariner]

Hi,

I have been looking for about six months, for a decent airstream trailer for sale locally, in the 27 - 31 ft range. All the ones I have looked at were "leakers" or had been badly neglected.

A chance remark by someone got me thinking about the Avion. Went and looked at one and was prepared to buy it, but the owners crewed up on the paperwork and owners registration - enough to make me walk away from a nice trailer (I was buying out of state in the US and I live in Canada).

Anyway, I got to read the Avion manual and was amazed on the construction. In my opinion the Avion is a better constructed trailer. The outer shell is built and then sprayed inside with 1 1/2" foam insulation. The inner shell is then installed. This gives a much more rigid and better insulated coach than the airstream. The axles are not straight axles. They are independent suspension - each axle in two parts supported at the centre frame, so that each wheel can move independently of the other, fitted with appropriate springs and shocks.

The avion is advertised as a winter or four season trailer. Floor better made than the airstream etc.

For your money, I think an avion would be a better buy - but it wouldn't have the cult following. Anyone that can repair an airstream should be able to repair an avion.

Whilst I will continue to look for an airstream I will also look at any avions that are available for sale.

Just my humble opinion of course, but after nearly twenty years of "stick and staple" construction of SOB's, my interest is in either aistream or avion.

Mariner

[aviontt]

I own them both and the Avions have much better interiors but the are both great trailers......

[j54mark]

Avion is no longer listed on the Fleetwood website. Have they discontinued the brand? If so, it seems a shame. Not that the most recent 5th wheels had any connection to the riveted classics, but still....

Mark