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Old 04-17-2007, 07:43 PM   #1
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Avion Truck Camper

Here are some photos of an old Avion truck camper that is currently on Ebay. Why can't Airstream do something like this?
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Old 04-17-2007, 08:12 PM   #2
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Hello moosetags,It would be cool if a/s made slide in's,only thing,I've looked a slide in's at a couple of rv places.The prices where scary (very scary) The cheapest was round 20 grand,the hightest at 32 thou.If a/s made them,the price would bearound 50 to $70,000 I bet.
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Old 04-17-2007, 10:10 PM   #3
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For some reason these were not a huge seller. Silver Streak made a few (I think less than 100 or maybe even less than 30) and they were not a hot item either. Not sure why, costs probably, but I like them. With the Flying Cloud in tow, though, for us there's no need for additional camping but I could see using a delicately gutted one as a topper for around town, etc.

Barry
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Old 04-18-2007, 06:01 AM   #4
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Bigfoot still has most of the top-end slide-in market... and a nice one will run you as much as a 25' trailer! I think Safari hit it; it's kind of a limited market considering the entire RV realm.

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Old 04-18-2007, 07:11 AM   #5
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Boondocking...

I like to cut away from the herd and do some remote backcountry camping that often requires 4X4. I've gotten to old to sleep on the ground and worry about the weather. I'd never consider towing a trailer to some of my favorite spots...
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(former truck and camper)

I just bought a new 2007 camper for my current truck...
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with a queen bed,refrig. ,furnace, out side shower, no toilet . Weighs 1250 lbs., paid $10,750.00 and I love it.

Campers can be very basic and inexpensive or fully equipped with full baths and even slide-outs, though very heavy and as already noted, EXPENSIVE.

BTW, I think those old Avions are cool also.
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Old 04-18-2007, 07:27 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by S C Streamer
I like to cut away from the herd and do some remote backcountry camping that often requires 4X4. ...
Agree completely. I love towing the AS and feel naked if one of them isn't in my rear view mirror. However, there are many times when I want to take side trips into the rough country and there's no convenient spot to drop the AS. No just convenient, but "safe" from vandals. Makes one think favorably about a slide-in.

Now, if one were to take the bed off his pickup and was handy with modifying the aluminum shell skin....

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Old 04-18-2007, 05:44 PM   #7
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Just before I bought the Airstream - and just after I bought the 3500 Dualy - I did some serious looking at slide-ins. Even with the 3500's 3,850 lb capacity, there were very few, if any, of the more complete slide-ins that were within the 3500's capacity when ready for the road. Most of them exceeded it by as much as 1,000 lbs. Of course, the duallies are considered to be the premier pickups for slide-ins. The quick response from the dealers was to suggest a set of air bags, or other "additional" overload springs, and send you on your merry way. Aside from the simple unit that Mark has in the photos above, I would venture a guess that fully 75% of the larger pickup truck campers you see on the road today are seriously overloaded. I did recently look at several very nice fully-equipped slide-ins that were produced in Canada. They were around 2.950 lbs light, leaving about 900 lbs for cargo. Just forget the old 80% rule - although you could still carry 130 lbs if your passengers lost weight - or ran alongside the truck!
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Old 04-18-2007, 06:04 PM   #8
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Cool!

This is really cool. I'd thought that maybe I should get a smaller Airstream, as the Excella is a little big for some of the places I like to go. But this may be better yet.

I wonder how much they bring?
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Old 04-18-2007, 06:38 PM   #9
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I was having my 30 lb. alum. LPG cylinder filled yesterday and a guy drove in with a '06 Ford F350 DRW truck with a large slide in. I couldn't help but wonder what that camper would look like on a new Ford F450.
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Old 04-18-2007, 09:35 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimGolden
This is really cool. I'd thought that maybe I should get a smaller Airstream, as the Excella is a little big for some of the places I like to go. But this may be better yet.

I wonder how much they bring?
I've seen a really nice one go in Seattle for less than $1,500 (that's what they were asking and it was for sale for a couple of weeks) this past fall. More recently I've seen a couple of them listed for around $2,000 and both were gone within a few days. One was like the first, quite complete and original in nice shape and the last one looked like it could use some work and I think it was missing the refer.

One showed up at the Deming, WA TCT campout for a couple of hours last summer and it was in the process of being restored. It sure was pretty although if I remember right these cannot be polished due to the type of aluminum used - don't take that as gospel, just what we were told then. I do remember seeing several of them in the north west area of Montana in the seventies, there must have been one heck of a dealer there at the time. Out here on the coast in the past 18 years between BC and WA/OR I've seen maybe four or five in actual use and they sure do look unique.

Barry
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Old 04-19-2007, 06:49 AM   #11
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At least the skins on that vintage Avion are in great shape.....unlike some of the newer Airstreams out there with corroision all over the place!
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Old 04-19-2007, 09:18 AM   #12
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FOR SALE Hi to all, I have an Avion 10' camper which we have poured 100's of hours into restoring. It is about a 9 now with very little left to do to make it perfect.It is lite and simple to load,as one of the options installed is a $2000 dollar 4-way remote jacking system. The old 3 legged stance was not easy or safe.We have decided to sell itsince I have been forced in to early retirement by my third back surgery.I know we will have sellers remorse for this. The interior is perfect,the outside is excellent. I don't know exactly what to ask since there are so few of them left to get pricing ideas,but we're thinking $6500. It is listed on the avion web site with a very long list of new items. Thanks,Butch bbwwjd@peoplepc.com
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Old 04-19-2007, 09:30 AM   #13
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Butch

It's always sad when something has to go (usually the much loved toys) because something else went (health,storage space, or whatever), if you get my drift. I have seen a few for sale in the OR/WA area over the past couple of years but none restored. If a good original will go for in the $2,000 range then one that's restored nicely should IMHO go for at least double that or more. I don't think your $6,500 price is out of line. The challenge is finding the right buyer as always is the case.

Most of the people we know who were truck camper owners in the past have gravitated to trailers for various reasons. It used to be that every second truck on a weekend had one on the back, now the ratio of far less from what I've noticed.

Good luck with your sale and more importantly, good luck with your health issues. Early retirement has a way of revitalizing people and you might just find yourself redoing another camper down the road a ways.

Barry
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Old 04-22-2007, 08:36 PM   #14
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Avion Truck Camper for sale

I found this one for sale on the side of the road outside of Lynchburg VA on Rt 460 W.
Don't know anything about it other than what the pics show/say
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Old 04-22-2007, 08:47 PM   #15
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Here is one too!

Here is one near our place. For $800 it's mine! Problem is, I don't have a truck with a 8 foot bed. What do you think.
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Old 04-22-2007, 09:03 PM   #16
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For $800 I'd be leaving my tailgate down to make up the difference on the box length and be enjoying the heck out of it. That seems like a very good deal.

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Old 04-22-2007, 09:51 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robandzoe
Here is one near our place. For $800 it's mine! Problem is, I don't have a truck with a 8 foot bed. What do you think.
Rob , let me know if you pass on it , I may be interested . Have you seen the inside ?
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Old 04-22-2007, 10:04 PM   #18
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We saw one that looks a lot like the pictures in the first post east of Cottowood (AZ) when we were there for the 4CU rally. The only one I could find now on eBay is in Santa Cruz.
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Old 04-22-2007, 11:12 PM   #19
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It is very cool to have a top rack and ladder,but looks a littlte rough otherwiseYou should buy it,thry're nice.Butch
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Old 04-18-2008, 08:09 AM   #20
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Another Avion camper on eBay

I know this is an old thread but I didnt want to start a new one...

Here's another Avion slide-in camper on ebay: eBay Motors: Avion truck camper vintage hunting camping antique rv (item 320239325664 end time Apr-19-08 15:46:05 PDT)

It looks pretty restorable, don't you think? I wonder if these can be polished?

My wife will be glad that our Chevy HD is a short bed. Otherwise, I'd be bidding on this one.
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