any Avion owners here?

[CDonaldson]

I just picked up an older Avion Travel Trailer a few days ago. I am thinking about installing some solar panels. I was wondering if anyone here who owns an Avion has installed solar panels, etc - I would like to get a little information about the roof structure and other connection related information.



I have looked for an Avion website and not found one that has an active membership. I have also looked for some information regarding solar RV installation and not found any schematics or maybe some good install tips.



I also am wondering how the Avion differs from the Airstream structurally, maybe there is info out there from the Airstream people??



Any help would be greatly appreciated, TIA.





CD

 

[HBarlow]

I am a former Avion owner. I owned a very nice 1987 Avion 32' TT for a couple of years around 2000. Made a trip to Alaska with it. Also owned an Avion slide-in truck camper.

Avion trailers were built very similar to Airstreams but used anodized aluminum skin instead of clearcoated aluminum skin. Avions also used standard old buggy leaf springs while Airstreams used torsion axles. Otherwise, very similar.

They were excellent trailers. I enjoyed mine.

Here's the website:Avion Travelcade Club Travel Fifth Wheel Fleetwood Trailer RV Cayo Motivator LeGrande Indiana Unit Tell Don Gradeless who owns and manages the website I said hello when you use his site. He's an old friend.

 

[CDonaldson]

Hey Harvey.



Thanks for your input. I will check that site out. Also, will be sure to pass on your hello.



My Avion is a 1987 - Model 30P. It has been taken care of very well. Considering it's age it is in great condition. I have minor things to repair, otherwise it's good to go down the road. I just finished with the wheel bearings and brakes, just packing and adjustment. All the appliances, etc are in good working order. I think it has been stored much more than used.



Again, thanks for your input.





CD

 

[HBarlow]

Avions like the one you bought cost upward of $30k when new and were a luxury trailer at the time. They were typically purchased by more prosperous older couples with no children at home who tended to take good care of their trailers.

My 32' Avion was purchased new by an older couple in northern IL. He was a retired Caterpillar employee. He proudly cared for it until his age and health forced him to sell. I found it on RV Trader online and agreed to buy it from him w/o seeing it. I sold the Airstream I had at the time and drove to IL with cashier's check in hand to pick it up. It was like new and nicer than he described it. I pulled it 60k miles in two years including a trip to AK and sold it for considerably more than I paid for it. I had replaced refrigerator, furnace, water pump, ac, tires, bearings, etc. and polished it up. I loved it and planned to keep it for years but on a seven or eight week trip to Alaska it "shrunk" and I decided I wanted a fifth wheel with slide-outs.

 

[CDonaldson]

Harvey.



I got lucky in that the original owners manual and some of the original purchase paperwork came with it. The original owner paid $32K. He bought it as a 27th anniversary present new in 1987. Fellows name was Sal. It had a 2nd owner for 1 almost 2 years, that's who I bought it from. They actually only used it once during that time, fuel prices last year did them in regarding traveling, plus they have a 2004 GM 2500 Duramax that according to him "just wasn't enough truck to pull it". I found that an interesting statement, I think that maybe it was more like too big a trailer for a first time puller to handle in the overall. Usually most people start smaller and work their way up as trailers DO tend to 'shrink'.



I have a 21-1/2' small 5th wheel that I have been using for a few years, it's size has really been OK as far as space and the shrinking factor has not been an issue. Last fall I had knee surgery, of course it was my clutch knee and I am doing just fine clutch wise, but getting up into the bunk is really hard on the knee. So, I was thinking about going to a TT as everything is on one level. A friend of mine told me about the Avion being for sale, said it was nice, he was right and it was just what my knee was looking for. I got it for $6K.



I had added a piece of channel to my 5th wheel frame, re-did the spring shackles to the channel, all to get the bed rail clearance needed, also converted the 5th hitch to a GN hitch, it is really a nice trailer to pull and use, compact, convenient and can go a little further off road due to the height mod and the GN hitch. I guess it will be finding it's way to the classifieds soon as I have no need for 2 trailers.



All I need space-wise is what this Avion has to offer. I am looking forward to spending some time restoring it, upgrading the furniture, the appliances have been upgraded, and it has a new furnace and new hot water heater. As people say - 'just making it mine' with a few things I prefer and then taking it down the road for a few adventures now and then. I may take a look at May Madness this year, it will all depend on whether I get the few things done I'd like to get done before I start dragging it all over the country.



I can see where you would have 'loved it', very nice nostalgic feel to it. Kind of a 'retro' feel, takes me back a few years in time, that's always something nice to ponder, eh?





CD