A DIY Lifestyle
When we launched our nomadic lifestyle in 2015, we were determined to build our own home on wheels. What started as a quick van life excursion soon blossomed into a massive DIY undertaking when we bought our 1970 Avion C11 truck camper. We completely gutted this vintage RV and the rebuild has touched every aspect of the rig. In the course of this, we have become experienced craftspeople with aluminum, fiberglass, electronics, and more. Check out our projects below.
Exterior Truck Camper Renovation
Fiberglass, Riveting, & Structural Enchancements
Before we can get wrapped up in paint colors, fabric swatches, and flooring samples, we need to make sure our 1970 Avion C11 truck camper has a solid and reliable body. We learn a lot while upgrading the exterior of our RV.
A structural upgrade
Moonroof, ventilation, roof access, & more
Handy mounting points
From rotten to rot proof
Interior Truck Camper Renovation
We are rebuilding our truck camper’s interior from the subfloor up. That means every interior flourish that we make with intent and an intense amount of research. That’s probably why our interior is still a work in progress. Follow us on the social media outlet of your choice for updates on our improvements.
Removing everything from the subfloor up
Closed-cell structural foam
The chilling facts
Electrical System
Before we can install a water pump or an air conditioner, we need an electrical system to power it. The Avion is a 100% electric-powered camper. We don’t use propane or diesel to cook a meal or heat the room. But getting to this point requires one large scale system.
A Day In The Life
Connecting cells to build a battery
Lumens, foot candles, & wattage
Waste System
Toilets, holding tanks, plumbing, and ventilation is a messy issue (literally). But we are diving headfirst into the question of waste management (metaphorically). We have been researching and experimenting with several different RV toilets to pick the best one. And it’s a complicated issue!
Black tanks, cassette, composting, & more
Cartridge toilet
Portable Cassette Toilet
Truck Mods
Our offroad adventures are made possible by Dodgy II: The Truckening. This 2015 Ram 3500 Tradesman model truck came with very few frills aside from the double cab, 4-wheel drive, and the blue paint job. Now that we have it, however, we’ve been adding features, including a Warn winch, Bushwacker Fender Flairs, and Happijac Tiedown System.
On a Warn Ascent Bumper
Riveting design
Truck camper mount