AVION Travel Trailers

Hi all,

Does anyone know where you can buy a new Avion radio antenna?

Thanks!

I used this one on our 1987 34W.... got it at Advance Auto Parts:

http://www.metraonline.com/part/44-US03R

(Edit: adding link to O’REILLY....) https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/a ... 3r/4442872

It went in very easily. I could not easily fish the new cable under and around the fiberglass inside covering that is visible when you open the cupboards at the front of the trailer. So, I simply drilled a hole directly in line with the opening in the outer skin, then fished the cable through it.


I sealed the base of the antenna with ParrBond and some butyl tape. It did a wonderful job.

Thanks Paul. Need to do some research on antenna installation this weekend. Also, it seems the site you mentioned only sells the antenna in bulks?

Rostam wrote:Thanks Paul. Need to do some research on antenna installation this weekend. Also, it seems the site you mentioned only sells the antenna in bulks?

Advance's site was offline last night when I answered..... it's up now. Try this:

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/met ... al+antenna

(Edit: Advance doesn’t carry any longer.... try this O’Reilly link...)
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/a ... 3r/4442872

Thx Paul!

You are welcome. I really like the fact that it is very inexpensive, but it is everything you need for a nice replacement antenna.

I just thought of something: I bet I could find a grommet to fill the opening in the fiberglass inner panel that I drilled through......

Thanks Paul, I ordered the antenna and used the coupon to get 20% off.

Today I looked behind the control panel and there is no access to radio antenna. If I understand your previous post correctly, you drilled a hole to pass in the cable. Did I get this right? I'm assuming that drilling through the fiberglass would not crack it or damage it, right? Also, how big was the hole you drilled?

Many thanks!

If I remember correctly, the original radio antenna base is identical to the one you bought. It can be removed from the outside, pulled away from the body of the trailer enough to clip the original antenna wire, then you can go inside and find the other end of the wire. I found that the original wire was impossible for me to pull through, so I just clipped it as short as possible and hid it out of the way. With the old one out of the way, from the outside I cleaned out a little of the foam insulation to be able to see through to the inside panel, got a bright LED small flashlight that would fit into the hole in the outer skin, turned it on and put it in the hole. Then, went inside and could see the light shining on the fiberglass panel. First, using a small drill bit to make a pilot hole, I centered the bit in the light from the flashlight and drilled that hole. Might have used a little bigger bit next to expand the hole some more, then ended up with a bit that is about the size of an AA battery to make the hole that size. That was big enough to be able to push the new wire through from the outside. I was careful as I drilled to use a light touch, made a nice, smooth hole, with no chips or ragged edges.

The rest of the project includes sealing and tightening the new antenna base to the trailer skin, and plugging the antenna wire into the radio.

Edit: After looking at that picture, I reminded myself that I unscrewed and removed some of the wooden pieces inside that cabinet..... definitely the bottom piece and the left side to expose the radio.... don't remember if the right side had to come off.... possibly so to get the bottom piece out. But it was easy. They were anchored with a few square-slot wood screws, all easily removable.

Very helpful. I'll get to this mini-project hopefully next weekend.

Closest that I have found...
https://www.amazon.com/Metra-44-US13-Mo ... ve&sr=1-11