Avion 32S Beast to Beauty (hopefully!)

[slowmover]

Orbital Machine Works. Video. Mach 8 Fan Kit.

I'm resigned to having roof penetrations. But I greatly dislike protuberances. There are some really ugly AS style trailers out there due to this. IMO, the Mach 8 is great looking (for what it is). And I'm not bothered by some modifications.

Now, no more departures from your thread.

[Dingo Girl]

Great progress. You go girl!!!

[Becky B.]

I am FINALLY finished stripping all the tar & silicone off the roof! Listened to 49 hours of "Gone With the Wind" while I worked.



I replaced the gasket on the a/c while up there. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Remove interior plastic & metal covers, unplug wiring harness, 4 bolts are all that hold it to the roof....remove exterior cover.....flip it over (I propped mine on a tupperware tub) Clean up roof & reseal, replace old gasket & set her back down. I was advised (afterward) that it should sit for 36 hours prior to starting it back up. Probably a good idea. It cut down on the vibrations inside TREMENDOUSLY!

The next roof project were the vents. I replaced all of them. The rear & front ones are Maxx Fan Deluxe fans with remotes and the bathroom one is a standarad Maxx Fan that only exhausts air. They are quiet, are able to run while it rains, and fold down so they aren't so huge on the roof. I've had Fantastic Fans...still do in my Bambi II, but like the aspect of being able to have them open & not panicking if you're gone & it starts raining. The openings had to be trimmed to square, which I did with my multi-tool. Worked like a charm. I used butyl tape under the flange & Tempro around the perimeter of it as well as over the screws. I put Eternabond over the entire lip .... hopefully I'll never have any leaks!

[PaulnGina]

Great job, Becky B.!! You did an awesome job!Definitely worth all of the time and effort.

I'll be shocked if it ever leaks again!

I like the shots of the vent and AC openings..... shows the far superior sprayed-on foam insulation that the Avion has.

[Becky B.]

I've been busy working on the trailer, but behind on posts here. After finishing the roof & vent installation, I did a thorough cleaning of the exterior. I used a maroon scotchbrite pad on a random orbit polisher to remove most of the oxidation. I found out that it's a bit too aggressive on the curved portions of the trailer & they should be buffed off by hand. After everything was cleaned, I applied 2 coats of Everbrite. I waited a few days between coats & applied with a brush.

I also installed new black inserts at the beltline. I purchased it from Chuck Cayo in Watervleit, MI. I found it a lot easier to install if I warmed it with a blow-drier. And waaay easier if my DH helped me! Before I installed it, I sealed all the rivets in the beltline as well as the top of it. Actually, I resealed the entire trailer...big job!

I was waiting to have my awnings installed until of of those things were finished. I've had them waiting for months! My dear sister, Sandy, sewed all the awnings with the exception of the curbside one. I had to purchase a new one from Zip Dee since the old one was missing the roller & I really like the Zip Dee awnings. I was able to get new parts for the old ones from PPL Motorhomes in Texas. My husband and sons installed the awnings in our warehouse a couple weeks ago. I can't wait to use them! Word to the wise....READ DIRECTIONS before trying to install!!! I won't go any further with THAT story! They're on and that's the main thing!










I picked up my couch & dinette cushions from the upholsterer. He did a fabulous job! The next thing was to refinish the cabinets. They were really faded...especially the uppers. The doors & drawer fronts alone numbered 47!! The first photo is the tv cabinet in the rear bedroom. You can see the original color inside the tray & the faded color to the right. [ATTACH][/ATTACH]

I'll have to get some pictures of the finished curtains & upholstery....time to start baking Christmas cookies & decorating!! For whatever reason, some of the pictures are turned..hummm...!

[rostam]

This looks great! BTW, what product did you use to refinish the wood cabinetry? Thx

[Becky B.]

Originally Posted by rostam

This looks great! BTW, what product did you use to refinish the wood cabinetry? Thx

I use Minwax Gel Stain Cherry. After I left the coat dry, I sprayed it with Minwax Polyurathane to lock in the color. (I like to use a cloth for the poly, but when used with the gelstain, it takes the color with it, so the spray locks it in). After spraying, I sanded with an 800 grit & used wipe-on Minwax poly satin for 3 coats. It doesn't take as long as one would think!

[rostam]

Originally Posted by Becky B.

I use Minwax Gel Stain Cherry. After I left the coat dry, I sprayed it with Minwax Polyurathane to lock in the color. (I like to use a cloth for the poly, but when used with the gelstain, it takes the color with it, so the spray locks it in). After spraying, I sanded with an 800 grit & used wipe-on Minwax poly satin for 3 coats. It doesn't take as long as one would think!

Thx, I should bookmark this page, so I can get to this next spring.

[slowmover]

The Everbrite looks great! Nice prep work.

[Jascherschel]

Can you tell me what you used for the new plumbing? PEX? Shark Bite?

[Becky B.]

Pex was used for the new plumbing.

[Becky B.]

My husband & I took the Avion on a 3,000 mile trip down to the Florida Keys earlier this month. I'm happy to say that the trailer worked out perfectly. We boondocked at Camping World on the way down & Cracker Barrel on the way back. The trailer was such a comfortable place to stay, not to mention so much faster than a campground or hotel! (no check in, check out) We had no glitches & are so pleased with this trailer...no regrets in selling my pretty Avion 30P and I can happily say that this trailer is now a beauty

[PaulnGina]

Looks great, Becky. Glad to hear you had such a nice trip!

[rostam]

Your trailer looks great! BTW, your flooring looks very similar to mine. Did you get it from HomeDepot?

[Becky B.]

Originally Posted by rostam

Your trailer looks great! BTW, your flooring looks very similar to mine. Did you get it from HomeDepot?

Yes. I ordered it from them. Allure snap together --I think it was rustic maple.

[rostam]

Originally Posted by Becky B.

Yes. I ordered it from them. Allure snap together --I think it was rustic maple.

We have ordered the exact same flooring

[Becky B.]

Originally Posted by rostam

We have ordered the exact same flooring

It really looks lovely. The only thing that worries me is the contracting in the cold. I will have to go look again now that I quit heating the trailer. On a cold night on our way down to the Keys, one of the short ends had a pretty wide gap in it. I sure hope it expands back when it gets warm. I advised my son & daughter-in-law, who are rehabbing an Avion 30P, to use sheet linoleum. I used Allure sticky edge on my previous Avion & had shrinkage as well. I thought the click-together was the answer....now I'm not sure

[Jarrod White]

It looks great. And I'm always glad to see someone using their Avions for long road trips. I took my 1986 34W to the keys in November and had a great trip. But only 2000 miles round trip for me.
On the flooring, I used Smartcore luxury vinyl flooring that I purchased at Lowe's. It has a fiberglass base so it is more resistant to temperature swings. I have not seen any shrinkage to date.

I decided to keep my floor safe which was one of the features on the silver edition and cover it with a small rug.

[Becky B.]

Well, I have bad news to report.....my Allure Snap Together flooring has separated in the cold weather. I can't even begin to say how disappointed I am! I looked up the company's warranty....this flooring is NOT recommended for RV's. I really don't know where I got the recommendation from, but I know people have used it & liked it. Maybe their weather doesn't get as cold as it does here in NW Indiana. I don't know. But I'm really bummed. Hopefully it will come back together when it gets warm out. I really loved this flooring & I the hours I spend installing & trimming it out with moulding was a LOT!!!:angry

Before



After

[KYAirstream]

So it looks like only the end joints are the problem? If so that's interesting that most of the contraction is at the ends and not along the length of the boards. What is this floor made of, and how long did you allow the flooring to acclimate?