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Old 10-20-2014, 01:47 PM   #21
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Here are some pictures of the brake/shock project:
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Old 10-21-2014, 01:15 PM   #22
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I got all of my shocks and seals at my local Napa auto parts. The shocks are a standard RV part....I think mine are Monroe. As for the bearing seals, i just took one of the old ones in, he matched it up off the part number on it, and had me six the next day. I think the seals were about $7 or $8 each, and the shocks were around $16 each or so.

Take care,
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Old 10-31-2014, 01:59 PM   #23
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JimG you ever looked to upgrade equalizers? Same with spring-mount cross chassis braces. My SS came with the latter. Some good reading on Woodalls in re these and more by contributor JBarca

If I keep the leaf springs then I may also have a welder add gussets to spring mounts as is done on the earlier Mor/Ryde Avion suspension.



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Old 11-04-2014, 12:41 PM   #24
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You kind of lost me there Slowmover. Do you mean replace the metal things the leaf springs hook to?

I'm having a Sr. Moment and I'm not even that senior....
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Old 01-11-2015, 07:48 PM   #25
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Jim
Can you tell me how you did the led tail light replacement? I have a 1984 30P and I'm interested in the same

And, For the original poster, I have envy of the 34w for that price. Great trailer.
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Old 01-11-2015, 07:52 PM   #26
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Thank you, Jarrod (we share the same last name, also!)

I know there are some simple plug-in LED modifications for the tail lights..... I want to do the same, eventually. Let me see if I can dig up some links to the LED light kits.
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Old 01-11-2015, 07:58 PM   #27
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Here is a page from Bargman that shows the LED lights.

Bargman - Taillight - LED
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Old 01-11-2015, 07:59 PM   #28
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You kind of lost me there Slowmover. Do you mean replace the metal things the leaf springs hook to?

I'm having a Sr. Moment and I'm not even that senior....

I missed this. Will get the info.
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Old 01-11-2015, 08:53 PM   #29
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Here is a kit that has LED brake light and incandescent backup light (I think I'll go with this one. Don't use the backup light much, but would really like the LED brake lights.)
Welcome to Race-Mart - Quality isn't an accident

And here is a LED/LED combination:
http://www.race-mart.com/search.asp?...x=0&search.y=0
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Old 02-07-2015, 11:11 AM   #30
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New Tail Lights

Jarrod,

Sorry so slow to reply. I haven't been on here in awhile. My original plastic housings were in bad shape. I wanted to make all new housings, and go with bigger lights. I got all my stuff from SuperbrightLEDs.com I decided to go with a Corvette look (though it actually turned out more like 1930's German Industrial Art Deco....) and have three lights horizontally on each side.

The hardest part was making the housings. I rigged up a drawing thing with a stick, a pencil, and a link between them, and then tried to copy the curvature of the trailer onto a piece of cardboard. But you have to do this in both the horizontal and the vertical planes. Then when I cut that out, I just kept tweaking it until I got a good fit. I then used that template to cut the aluminum. I found a sheet metal place with a CNC table, and I drew up the pattern in AutoCAD from measuring the cardboard templates. I could have just bought a sheet of aluminum, but it was easier to have the shop cut it for me. We had to contact the CNC outfit in TX that made the machine they have, but I sent that guy my file, he converted it into G-code or whatever the machine uses, and then from that file they cut them out for me with their CNC plasma cutter and folded the sides over for me. It's easier than it sounds. I then drilled, cleco'd, and riveted them together with AN round head rivets just like Airstream uses. The new housings attach to the trailer with stainless screws through tabs I riveted to the back of the housings. I think they turned out great. I could send you the files if you like. The old ones would go out once in awhile...now everything is brand new, bright,and works great. I wired it up so that both reds on a side flash when the turn signal is on and get bright when the brakes are on (they are dual function lamps with half the LED's being for running/flash and half for brake). You can see my brake lights come on now, and the new reverse lights are far brighter than the OEM.

I think they turned out nicely. They are .040" 6061 aluminum. I siliconed the crack where they meet the coach on the top and sides, but left the bottom unsiliconed so that if any water did get in there, it could easily drain out. The PO had done a hack job on the wiring so it took me an hour or so to decipher what he'd done and get it back to how it should have been. But, she's good to go now. I pulled 2400 miles with the new tail lights, and I've got about twice that with the new running lights. I don't feel like Jed Clampett going down the road with Jethro and Ellie May and half my lights out anymore

See ya on the road,
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Old 02-07-2015, 07:37 PM   #31
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Jim
Thanks for the details and they look really cool. My housings are in good shape so I will probably keep them and go with the bargman replacements but I really enjoyed seeing your neat creation. Jarrod
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Old 10-23-2015, 03:05 PM   #32
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I have the roof about 2/3 finished with the Eternabond sealer. I replaced all of the electric brake assemblies and shocks. Here are some pictures of those projects.
Hi PaulNGina,

May I ask what material did you use to paint the frame members and wheel well areas? Did you sand the area before painting them? Also, could the same material be applied to A-frame, rear bumper, and possibly the axles?

Many Thanks!
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Old 10-23-2015, 03:21 PM   #33
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Hi PaulNGina,

May I ask what material did you use to paint the frame members and wheel well areas? Did you sand the area before painting them? Also, could the same material be applied to A-frame, rear bumper, and possibly the axles?

Many Thanks!
That was a grey brush-on primer, and yes I did use a wire brush on a drill motor to clean those areas prior to painting. All of those areas were done. If I remember correctly, it was some stuff I had on hand that I got from Tractor Supply Co., intended for use on tractor frames. I used it on several garden tractors I have.

Since then, I've gone over all of that area with a brush-on coating made by reRubber. I like it a lot, and now the wheel wells on our trailer are sealed well. I "reRubbered" all of the exposed frame areas, even inside each of the lower exterior storage compartments, including the exposed plywood.
Here is a picture:
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Old 10-23-2015, 03:30 PM   #34
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Thanks for the info!

One more Q: is the Avion roof strong enough to support the weight of a 165# individual?

BTW, the wheel wells look great.
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Old 10-23-2015, 03:54 PM   #35
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Thanks for the info!

One more Q: is the Avion roof strong enough to support the weight of a 165# individual?

BTW, the wheel wells look great.
Thank you! I was really pleased with the results.

As a matter of fact, yes. I'm 165#, too. These trailers could probably support a whole herd of 165# folks! I tried to stay on the rivet lines as much as possible.
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Old 10-23-2015, 04:26 PM   #36
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Awesome! Thanks a lot PaulnGina!
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Old 10-28-2015, 07:26 PM   #37
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I am also a new Avion owner, 1986 34 ft - which I also bought for $4K. I have not taken possession yet. We plan to do a lot of interior renovations, new flooring (vintage linoleum) new upholstery, refinish wood cabinetry, renovate kitchen (ss countertops) and bath. Lots of work ahead and I will be picking the brains of other owners for information as I proceed to make this our little vacation spot, to be parked indefinitely on an acre in inland San Diego. My husband is along for the ride, but this is my design project. It is so nice to be here.
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Old 10-28-2015, 08:42 PM   #38
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I am also a new Avion owner, 1986 34 ft - which I also bought for $4K. I have not taken possession yet. We plan to do a lot of interior renovations, new flooring (vintage linoleum) new upholstery, refinish wood cabinetry, renovate kitchen (ss countertops) and bath. Lots of work ahead and I will be picking the brains of other owners for information as I proceed to make this our little vacation spot, to be parked indefinitely on an acre in inland San Diego. My husband is along for the ride, but this is my design project. It is so nice to be here.
It's good to have you here, also!!

There are a lot of very knowledgeable folks here. No question is silly.... just ask away!

Congratulations on your Avion. Another STEAL!!! I hope you have 1/2 as much fun with yours as we've had with ours! Be sure to check out the running gear (brakes, shocks, bearings, tires....). Not near as visible and noticeable as the interior work you'll be doing, but there's LOTS of peace of mind when you know the base is solid!
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