1968 Avion C11 Truck Camper restoration

[jforb]

I found a 1968 Avion C11 truck camper last month, bought it, hauled it home, and am working on fixing it up for use later this summer. In case you're not familiar with the Avion truck campers, they made them in the mid to late 60s. The first model was the ten foot C10, I think it was introduced in 1965 and made into 67. The eleven foot C11 was introduced in 67 or 68, and made thru 1970(?) by Avion, and a few years longer by Cayo.
My camper was in Phoenix, I live in Sierra Vista, which is about 200 miles southeast. I'm working on fixing up a 1957 Chevy one ton truck to use the camper with, but it's not roadworthy yet. First step was to figure out how to haul the camper home. We don't have any trucks larger than 1/2 ton capacity, and the campers are reported to weigh 2200-2500 lbs, which is just too much for a lighter truck. I do have a tandem axle car trailer, so I decided to load the camper onto the trailer for the trip home. This was an adventure in itself.
Here's the camper where it had been resting for a while before I bought it.

The rig including the sled that I brought to set the camper on. This was originally a frame jig for building a street rod frame. I just added the 2x6 across the back to make it into a camper sled.

This is the plan...put the camper on the sled, put the front of the sled on the trailer, and winch it on.

up we go!

and there it is. I tied it a bit better before hitting the road.

Next: getting it off the trailer.

[Airslide]

Welcome Jforb!

Great pictures.. we love pictures..
Looks like you have a fun project, Thanks for bringing us along!

Vinnie

[Jammer]

Looks like an excellent specimen.

I've been keeping an eye out for a C-11 myself but there are few that come up for sale in the midwest and I'm hesitant to drive all the way to Tucson or Houston or wherever to get one.

There aren't very many web resources specific to the C-10 and C-11 so please do post more photos. I believe that many of the parts interchange with Avion trailers of the same era, and those are readily available and cheap, so that might be one thing to consider.

And do let me know if you find another one in good condition...

[driftless]

That looks like fun!! Could you post some pictures of the inside?

My dad had a mid sixties Dodge pickup that he always told me was a "camper special" with heavier suspension, cooling and power train. He had a 10 foot camper on it (not an Avion). I thought it was a 1/2 ton pickup, though. Somehow I didn't think the slide ins were that heavy.

Anyway, good luck with your new adventure. And, nice job of getting it home!

[jforb]

Here are some pictures of the inside and outside before I started work.

[BillTex]

Nice...welcome to the wonderful world of TC's!

I am sure you will hear from ticki2 real soon...he is just finishing up his resto of similar.

Keep us posted...this will be trey kewl with that truck!

Bill

[jforb]

How I got the camper off the trailer. The original setup used three screw type jacks, each with a tripod at the base. My camper came with 6 rather dilapidated hydraulic jacks. Three looked the same, and two of these fit into the camper jack holes on the camper. None of them really worked. I spent about a day messing with the jacks, including moving a bracket, replacing O rings, filling with oil, and making diagonal braces. I finally got them to where I felt comfortable lifting the camper, raised it up off the trailer, and set it on some steel sawhorses.



I needed to see how it looks on the truck, so I made a pallet for the truck bed that the camper sits on. The cab of this truck is too tall for the camper to just sit flat on the truck's bed. I realized this before I bought it, but decided I could live with it.



Then I raised the camper, and set it in the truck.



And here it is on it's own.



I need to do some suspension work on the truck to get it to sit right, but I have a few plans for that.

I wanted to get the camper inside so I could work on it without rain coming in thru the vent, etc. I decided I should make a dolly, with casters, and adjustable height. I looked around and found sufficient steel, wheels, etc. This is what I ended up with. It's made of 2x3 and 2x4 11 gage steel tube, with pin type height adjustments at each end.



I can adjust it up or down, and lower it a few inches at a time while lowering the camper.



And here it is after pushing into the shop. It just clears the nine foot door.



next: taking things apart.

[Foiled Again]

Looks clean and dry inside. Someone cleaned that stove.

That CANNOT be the original upholstery though - red/orange would never hold it's color that well.

Is there a tiny wetbath or or porta potty, or are those just storage lockers near the entrance.

Good luck on the repairs. Doesn't LOOK like it needs too much.

Paula

[jforb]

Looks are deceiving!

The upholstery is not original. It has a full shower/toilet bathroom, a bit cramped but definitely usable. I'll add more pictures as I get time.

[REDNAX]

What a great thread . . so often owners do these moves without any explanation of how they rigged it, cranked it, etc. The opening pics of how the unit was trailered, and the most recent of a workstand are a real help to those of us who don't conceptualize this as well!

Am really looking forward to how this thread goes along. Silver Streak only made a few truck campers, but AVION built them (and CAYO) for quite some time. There is little available online for those interested in resto work.

Thanks for starting the thread. These are cool units, no doubt.

I have also searched for "wet" weights of these units, and while they're nothing like a modern big'un with a slide-out, I think they're more than what the brochure indicated.

.

[ticki2]

Welcome pilgrim . It's exciting getting to discover a new old toy . There are at least 3 or 4 of us on the forums that have Avion C11's . Do a search on Vintage kin here and you'll find a few interesting threads . It looks like you have been down the restoration road before and have the tools. Looks to be in good condition , good luck and keep posting your progress . If I can be of help give a shout.

[jforb]

Thanks tiki! Your C11 thread was one of the things that brought me to this site...I'd sure like to see more pics of your camper, mostly inside, but also outside. Little details like the TV antenna, the door check spring, the kitchen counter, under the sink (plumbing), etc.

[TouringDan]

jforb

Back in 1978 I was heading to my first BMW motorcycle rally in Minnasota. I decided to take the long way there via Niagra Falls, up the Bruce Peninsula to Tobermory, take the ferry, then on to the Trans Canada highway to Sault Ste. Marie and around the north shore of Lake Superior and into Minnasota. I missed the ferry at Tobermory and it worked out great. I had an extra 4 hours and took a boat tour of the harbor and the islands and then got in line to wait for the ferry.

I met the nicest older couple in an Avion TC. It was beautiful. I remember a lot of birch on the interior and they had all kinds of pictures on the walls of their children and grand children. It was the highlight of my trip. I took notes then about how I wanted to do this when I got older. Funny how things happen that shape your future.

Looks like you found one in great shape. Good luck on the resto. Looks like you have the right truck to carry it.

Dan

[zigzagguzzi]

Airhead or were the bricks out yet, can't remember myself. zz