Ever Seen One Of These?

[ElCamino Man]

Hey guys. Iv been browsing around trying to find my next camper when I came across this:



Iv seen one of these one other time and thought it was pretty neat. Now that Iv owned an Airstream, Im a huge fan! Imagine that bad boy polished . I figure theyre somewhat rare. Can anyone give me some info on them?

The only 2 "turn offs" Iv found about it is the usual "shower/toilet/sink" in one deal found in most slide-ins (you know, use the toilet while you shower ) and it doesn't have a water heater. I know one can be added later but im not sure how big of a headache itll be and water heaters are pretty expensive

[Jim Clark]

Water heaters aren't to bad if you go with a small electric, I installed one on my boat and it makes enough hot water to take a quick shower. Takes about a half hour to heat the tank using a Honda 3000 for the electricity.

[M2HB]

That looks like a 1965 or 1966 C-10 Avion camper. That is anodized aluminum so you probably won't want to try to polish it. It is made to look that way.

[overlander63]

That's an Avion / Cayo slide in. The water heater should be on the curb side, the fridge is on the street side directly sbove the rear leg. You have no grey tank, and the black tank is ten gallons, which you are basically standing on when you are taking a shower. Good luck polishing it, it is anodized, which does not respond well to polishing.
On the plus side, it looks pretty clean, so I wouldn't worry about polishing it any way.

[TouringDan]

Probably the best vintage truck camper ever made. If I did not have an Airstream, but had a truck camper, this would be the one that I would have.

I met an older couple while traveling to a BMW motorcycle national rally in 1977. They showed me the inside and I was hooked. All birch with lots of family photos. It was the highlight of my trip. BTW I was waiting for the ferry in Tobermory, Ont. If you have not been there, you gotta go. Put it on your bucket list. Trust me.

Dan

[idroba]

Yes, an Avion. Do some research on it, as I recall there is some weak spot involving rot in the frame or floor to watch out for. Sound familiar?

[ElCamino Man]

Good news! I stopped by the bank today and Im approved for a loan! Definitly considering getting it. Only problem is its a 12 hour drive. I wonder where I can sleep

Anyways, Ill shoot ya guys some more pics and let you drool over what will probably be my next camper. Enjoy!











And the picture that made me fall in love:

[M2HB]

They are neat old campers. I have a 1969 Avion C-11 that I spend 3 months last year restoring it. I was lucky since I have owned my camper for 30 years and it had been in the family since new. I didn't have any wood rot. They come apart fairly easily and are reasonably well built. They are probably the best built campers of the 1960 and 1970s. In fact, they are probably better built than any campers today. As long as the lower wood didn't get too wet and rot, you should be good to go.


http://www.airforums.com/forums/f417...c11-90779.html

[ElCamino Man]

Heres a question for all ya. How much do you think that campers worth?

[M2HB]

Originally Posted by ElCamino Man

Heres a question for all ya. How much do you think that campers worth?

A really good C-11 with no rot is worth well over $2,500. A friend of mine was offered my C-11, about 2 years before I restored it, and he didn't want to have anything to do with it when he checked out the interior. My C-11, after close to 45 years in the hot AZ sun, looked really bad on the inside, but it had no rot. If I had a choice of a heat baked and totally deteriorated interior with no rot of a nice interior with wood rot on the camper, I would take the one with the bad interior and the good structural wood.

[ehodg66]

How does the table mount? Does it fold up? It's hard to see in those pictures.

[ElCamino Man]

This ones well over $3500 lol

[TouringDan]

It looks like it is in really good shape. I would say $7,500. That is just a guess though. I believe in paying more for one in really good shape rather then paying a lot less for one that needs a lot of work.

The bottom line though, it is worth whatever you and the seller agree on. If it is in as good a shape as it appears to be, you don;t want to lose out on this camper. They are hard to find period, let alone find one as clean as this one appears to be.

Happy negotiating, Dan

[oh2bcarefree]

We love Avions and that one looks like a beauty! Good luck.


Tina

[M2HB]

Also, with a good structure, it took me about 3 months of hard work and about $10,000 to completely restore it.

This included the following:
New plumbing including brass fittings and new ABS pipe.
New 40 gallon water tank and new pump.
New refrigerator.
New mattress.
New flooring.
New Cushions, curtains, etc.
New water heater.
New finish on all the wood cabinets that had been removed.
New stainless steel black water tank, piping and dump valve.
New stainless steel gray water tank that didn't exist previously.
New AC.
New counter tops and table top.
Some new electrical including fuse block, batteries, etc.
New stove vent.
New lights, interior and exterior, all LEDs.
Many reinforcements, and a lot of new fasteners.
New LP regulator, Rego.
New LP lines, mainly copper, replacing galvanized pipe.
New toilet.
New FRP in shower area of bathroom.
New stainless steel medicine cabinet.
New LP/CO monitor, none existed before.
New Fire Extinguisher.
Repaired fiberglass in the bathroom with repaint.
Repaired fiberglass underneath black and gray water tank with new paint.

Much of the time was figuring out how to improve the camper from it's original design. Some items had to be redone up to 3 times before I figured it all out. It took quite some time to figure out the new gray water tank and the new black water tank. It now has almost 20 gallons of gray water and 20 gallons of black water.

After I was done, there is no doubt that it is much better built than it was when it came from the factory.

If it is taken care of it should be usable until it's 100th birthday.

[Becky B.]

I don't think they're all that rare. I see them frequently on CL. They are also under the Cayo name. Chuck Cayo still has a repair shop in Watervleit, Michigan if you do get it and need a person who is very familiar with them for repairs. His dad & uncle built them.

[M2HB]

Originally Posted by ElCamino Man

This ones well over $3500 lol

If there is no rot in it and the interior is in good shape, that may very well be a good price. Keep in mind, the seller may take less. In 1969 the MSRP for the C-11 was $4,500, as I recall.

[ElCamino Man]

I haven't actually seen it in person. I wish I could though to give my confidence a boost! He says it doesn't leak, but that doesn't mean it hasn't in the past

[M2HB]

I wonder how many C-10 and C-11 campers they actually built.

I think they made the C-10 from 1965-1967 and the C-11 from 1968-1969. The Cayo was built from 1970-1971. I may be a little off for the years. I think 1969 was the last year for the Avion camper.

The reason that you still see them is that most of the ones that were built are still around.

[ElCamino Man]

Quick question for ya guys. I figure ill ask it on here instead of starting a whole new thread.

Iv never owned a slide in before so this is all new to me. I asked the guy about the title and he says it doesn't have a title nor a VIN number. Then it hits me! It doesn't need a title, VIN, registration, or insurance because its not a "trailer". Its just something you stick in the back of your truck! Thatll save me tons of money! BUT... I don't have $3800 sitting in my wallet ready to fork over so Ill need a short loan. Only problem is banks like titles and insurance on their collateral. How would this work? Do I need something else for collateral?