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RE: Check for Rot in Used Bigfoot
Would I be advised to walk away if I notice ANY sign of water damage? Or, is there certain small issue threshold at which point it would still be safe to buy?
It is a personal decision and a lot depends on what you find and how much you want to put in to make it useable. We are assuming that there are problems but you are just as likely to find a unit in great shape.
Just make sure that you check out as much as you can, if you have that feeling that something is not right then you can take time to think about it and get back to them.
If you find something that you are not sure about (stain, rust, etc.) take a camera, take pictures and post them here. Tell the person that you need to think about it and we may be able to help with what we see.
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Photomike
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05/24/12 10:18am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Check for Rot in Used Bigfoot
Sorry no easy way to check other than go through it with a fine tooth comb. Look under the mattress, look in cupboards, around windows, around hatches, every place that you can get to. Take a flash light and look as far inside as you can get. Remove drawers, look for water marks running down walls, look for water marks on the floor. If you think you see a stain push on it to see if it is soft.
Generally Bigfoot's and NL's are less prone to water leakage by the way that they are built but that does not mean it does not happen. Mine had an issue around the escape hatch and the stove vent. You could tell if you really looked but I was so excited that I missed these, till the first rain storm. Was not a huge deal but could have been. Don't let the design and build blind you to possible problems.
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Photomike
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05/23/12 10:38pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Red Dale Resurrection
Very nice, nicer than the ones in my house.
Great job!
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Photomike
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05/22/12 11:14pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Kyack
I went with inflatables so I would not have to put them on top. Has some drawbacks (set up time and take down) but I love the kayaks and the ease of storage. I have been thinking of putting the single inside for faster to water time. Measured the tandem and no way would it fit. I don't think that I would do a ridged kayak inside as it would wear when rubbing.
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Photomike
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05/18/12 09:58pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: scisor's steps
I have been unhooking mine and putting inside the door.
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Photomike
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05/17/12 07:00am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Thoughts on eternabond tape
I had a vent that was done with MANY layers and had to remove it as the leak was in the vent not at the seal. Thought that I was in big trouble looking at the mess that was there but I used a chisel to peal it back and to get at the screws. A sharp knife around the edge of the vent to get the vent off, then used a sharp chisel to clean up the rest on the camper and it went very fast.
Would use it again as the other vents that have it have never leaked.
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Photomike
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05/13/12 08:34pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: France, short trip to test our camper (lots of pics)
GREAT pictures and write up.
Thanks,
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Photomike
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05/13/12 08:29pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Weights and general info
Do commercial inspectors stop TCs in Alberta?
Generally no, at least have not seen a lot. But they do have check stops in conjunction with the local police (checking insurance, registration, seat belts, car seats, etc. on all vehicles - and then doing more inspections on the commercial units or units that are towing) so there is a chance that they could check any RV if you went through. I did see one RV stopped last year on the side of the road, not sure why they pulled him over or if he was broken down and Commercial Vehicle stopped to help.
The mechanic I was talking to said that he does check RV's pulling trailers so not sure when that comes into play, if it is a random thing or what.
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Photomike
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05/12/12 02:21pm |
Truck Campers
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Weights and general info
Had a chance today to take my truck, camper and trailer for an inspection.
Our local bylaw officer had a RV safety day and brought in the local police, Commercial Vehicle Inspection and the RCMP. They would inspect your vehicle, run your unit on their brake test machine, weigh your vehicle and do a general overall visual inspection and give you the report. The good thing was that even if they found some things wrong they would not ticket you, but give you a report to take home and get fixed what was wrong - a great idea.
Found a couple running lights out on my trailer and we had a good discussion on the trailer hitch (I was thinking of getting a new one and the Commercial vehicle mechanic that was there said it passed but that he would get a newer hitch as the amount of play was getting to the point that an inspector may say something if they were in a bad mood) as well as the safety chain on the trailer(he told me that the chain is suppose to have a weight stamped on it, but as my trailer is older it does not need it but to protect myself in the event of an accident I should replace that as well) - all great things to know.
The one thing that we got talking about was axle weights. They weighed the front and rear axles and then he said that for him when checking on the road the biggest thing that he looks for is not the vehicle weight designation (unless it appears very over) but the load rates stamped on the tires. I weighed in at 1680 kg (3704lbs) for the front and 2134 kg (4705 lbs)for the rear and with the tires that I have on the truck I could be at 2760 kg (6085lbs) for both axles. He said that I was easily in my range and not an issue. My trailer is rated at 1340kg (2954 lbs) and if I have 500lbs in it most times that would be a lot.
The other thing that I really wanted to see is how the brakes were working (with the TC it always seems like they are sluggish, comparing them to all my other vehicles and I just had them redone two years ago). So they put you on a set of rollers and a motor starts driving your wheels then they signal you to hit the brakes and they take the stopping distance and pressure to let you know. Passed without a problem which was good since I am heading to the mountains a few times this summer.
I really think that more places should do something like this if they don't already as it was a great learning experience.
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Photomike
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05/12/12 01:43pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Purchasing problems...Now RESOLVED!!!
If the retailer cannot provide, get your money back and see if you can find a 2012 unit already built that another dealer is clearing out.
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Photomike
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05/12/12 08:35am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Adventurer Warranty Problems (What to do?)
Great job on documenting the problems, this way it is not you saying one thing and the company saying something else. What I would do is find another unit like yours and do some comparison pictures. Then I would find a repair company and get them to quote on all the repairs and submit this to the manufacturer with the pictures. Give them a time line for the repairs so this does not drag out.
After that if they do not help fix the problems then I would get a lawyer (and this is from someone that tells everyone to stay away from lawyers).
Some of the items will probably not be fixed (silicone on carpet and other small things), but it looks like a lot of things should be fixed.
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Photomike
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05/10/12 04:34pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Anyone running a tankless water heater?
Instant on systems generally have a lag time from the time that you turn on the water to the time you get hot water. I have one in my house and love it for the fact that I can run hot water and never run out, but if you shut it off it takes some time (2 or 3 seconds min) to get hot water running. When that cold hits you it will wake you up.
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Photomike
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05/09/12 12:28pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Teal camper
Looks like they are trying to sell the company or find an investor. A cool idea but with all the joints I would be very worried about leakage.
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Photomike
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05/09/12 09:40am |
Truck Campers
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RE: I wish I was a Truck Camper(severe RV abuse)
I don't get it either. The trailer has far too many limitations at such a long overhang and really long wheelbase. Compared to other adventure tourers I've seen, that config is an expensive toy with a very bad design.
No they work very well A Conventional US TC would not, doing the same job. TC's are great at short trips, but not extended ones and ones crossing instant rivers that appear out of nowhere.
Other "adventure tourers" are 4 X4 Motorhomes, which could be a whole lot more expensive.
Now I am confused, how would a Conventional US TC not do as well. Less wheels, less overhang, less length than the truck and trailer?
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Photomike
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05/06/12 07:00pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: I wish I was a Truck Camper(severe RV abuse)
Although interesting, I don't know why anyone would want to do that. And Lets see the video of him coming back up. Going down is the easy part.
I can see a need for it in Australia, Africa or other remote places but honestly in north America we have so many roads that having an extreme camper set up is way overkill. We do not have to do a lot of river crossings without bridges or the need to run across desolate country for days on end, etc.
That being said if someone wants to give me a Unimog ........................
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Photomike
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05/06/12 01:28pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Do you travel wet or dry?
When it is not freezing outside fresh water (including hot water tank) is full or close to it at all times.
When camping black & grey water is dumped everyday if we see a dump station, that way if we find a campsite that we like we can stay and know that our waste tanks are starting out empty. Also figure why haul waste with us, has no purpose so may as well dump.
On a side note, if we keep the black & grey tanks dumped we have no problem with smells (without adding any tank deodorizer). Then if we stay in an area add some deodorizer for longer stays. Saves on costs of using tank additives as well.
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Photomike
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05/05/12 01:33am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Yellowing escape Hatch?
Black is the new white.
Ron W.
I have three different colors of white on the TC - Yellow, Coach white and polar white. I am liking the paint it all black and be done with it.
Does the Krylon peel or scratch easily?
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Photomike
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05/01/12 11:42am |
Truck Campers
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RE: need a little help
Bryan very well put. I had started a response to this earlier and never posted as I always hate to hear "Get a lawyer". The only ones that get rich with this are the lawyers and many times it hurts rather than helps the situation.
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Photomike
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04/30/12 03:07pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Sigh... Truck Camper Damaged in Shipping!
I have been trying to not comment on some of the posts but I have to say something. After reading what some people expect it amazes me how we expect so much.
First I think that the OP has the right idea. Let the company that he bought the TC from look into this, before doing anything else. If they have offered to help let them see what they can do.
Second WHY would anyone bring in a lawyer at this point? All you are going to do is to upset everyone involved. Shipping companies have clauses that state they are only responsible for the amount of damage (NOT replacing a entire unit) and getting a lawyer will have them quote the clause and hang up the phone. If they can work out between the dealer and the shipper a goodwill deal to replace the unit great, but bringing a lawyer in WILL NOT change the shipping companies policy. Honestly a repair is most likely all the shipping company will care about and spending a pile of money and years in court is a waste!
Third, The manufacturer has nothing to do with this. They provided a unit and that is where their responsibility ends. If they get involved with helping to expedite a new build or whatever then they have gone way beyond what should be expected.
Fourth, the dealer has very little to do with this. They bought a unit from the manufacturer and they sold the unit. Then they contracted a company to ship. When the unit was taken off their lot they turned all responsibility over to the shipping company. If they have offered to help then great, but again bringing in a lawyer or threatening bad PR will do nothing more than upset people and cost more money.
I really hope the OP gets a new unit but lets wait till everyone has done what they can before we threaten bad PR or a lawyer.
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Photomike
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04/30/12 11:36am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Sigh... Truck Camper Damaged in Shipping!
Sorry to hear about this, especially so close to summer.
I think you are on the right track with the dealer handling this as they are the ones that paid for the shipping and should be the ones to do the claim.
Myself I would be ticked waiting for a new one but this will save a lot of potential problems in the future (and potential costs).
All the best with this.
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Photomike
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04/27/12 10:29pm |
Truck Campers
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