Hi Tony,
I am the happy and proud owner of a 1987 Avion 34X. I'm also a perfectionist engineer and will try to spread a little love here
I have owned both Airstream and Avion. I like them both. That being said, your research has led you correctly:
The structure of the Avion is vastly superior to that of the Airstream. You simply cannot compare the two. The Airstream uses a 5" deep frame (if you're lucky...a 4" deep one on the old ones) for the whole thing. The Avion uses a 6" deep frame for the primary frame, but has an 8" deep suspension frame for about 40% of it's length in the center....so you get 14" of frame where the bending is the worst. You will have ZERO sag or separation with an Avion. Advantage: Avion
The Airstream uses ALCLAD skins, which will polish up like a mirror. Avion used annodized skins. The annodizedation was supposed to last forever and protect the skins from corrosion. Well, in general, they do tend to corrode less than an Airstream. But, an Avion will never polish up to a mirror finish like an Airstream. And, the truth is, the alclad skins rarely ever oxidize "that" badly, so you can find one that's sat in a field for thirty years and usually polish her back to perfection. Advantage: Airstream
Cabinetry depends upon the year. In the mid 80's, Avion kicked arse pretty hard. My '87 has beautiful hardwood cabinetry with stained glass inserts. Very classy. I'd give the nod to Avion here, but I may be biased as my '77 Excella 500 had all plastic interior with the horrible tambour doors that were supposed to look like a 747 or something.
I agree with you on looks and coolness: The Airstreams just look better with their more rounded proportions....but the new Airstreams look like the '80s Avions, being a bit more squared off.
OK, so you're bottom line; price.
Check these guys out:
avioncampingandrestoration : Avion Camping and Restoration - Repair,
Dr. Donald Gradeless is THE authority on Avions. He is very much like Inland Andy at Inland RV who is the guru of Airstreams.
Check this one out too:
Home
I think Don runs this site.
Don said that my '87 was worth about $12K in the condition I found it (I paid $7200 and then put $600 immediately into a set of tires to move it); closer to $18K in the condition I have it now (pretty doggone nice....new fridge, new a/c, new water heater, new king bed in the back to replace the twins....). But, that was two years ago. Who knows what it's worth now with this economy.....$50 maybe?
All I can tell you is that you will not be sad with a silver Avion. They built a first class product. If you get one that is prior to 1988, you will not have to deal with the rubber suspension (just like Airstream's) that wears out every 15 years. Mine has the six individual swingarms and six spring packs and six shocks. It rides like a dream, and won't wear out. Sure, I replaced the shocks on it....but the axles are good forever. I think they went to that system around 1980 or so. Prior to that, they used Mor-Ryde which was supposedly even better.
All this being said, I really loved my '77 Excella 500 31 footer...but she had both sag and separation and needed a whole new frame. I wanted to rebuild her but just didn't have the time....so sold her to a couple that already had a stream and wanted one to do a ground up frame up full on restoration.
Just the same, I LOVE my silver sister, am a happy member of TAC now (they accept all silver trailers), and am camping and having a ball!
Best of luck to you!
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