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RE: A Tale of 2 Bigfoot Campers
As the POof the 2500 Bigfoot reviewed(Hello Don)they are a manageable load on a 2500 Truck. We had it on a F250 and with the normal mods of shocks and a sway bar and it worked well. I added a second Ford overload spring and didn't notice a difference, I should have gotten a two or three spring overload pack from the local truck spring place(and have them install it). We enjoyed the 2500 so much that we and upgraded to the 30C1002 with the slide. It is quite heavy for even a 3500 Dually, but the added room really makes a difference as we spend it seems like 6 months a year in it. This trip we have been getting about 12.6mpg cruising at about 60mph. We always tow something, currently 3 canoes on the trailer, sometimes two ATV's or rafts and also flat tow a Tracker.
On the new Bigfoot company, I had some problems with the slide last winter and the folks at Bigfoot although in no way responsible as new owners and not building it at this time were very helpful in my repairing it. What first appeared to be a multi-thousand dollar repair with their assistance ended up costing about $25.
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MikeJinCO
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05/15/12 07:59am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Dicor vs Etnabond
On our Bigfoot which has a fiberglass roof, they used a combination seal. The fixtures are all imbeded in eternabond/butyl caulk and then that is covered by dicor. What I have done a couple of times that repair is needed and solar panel installation is to put a blue masking tape square around the area to be sealed, embed the part with a liberal coating of butyl caulk, let it dry a couple of days then clean it up and put a finish coating of dicor on top. After another couple of days to let it all harden a little I pull the tape and get a nice looking seal. The dicor does seem to need to be repaired a little yearly - ie fill the cracks.
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MikeJinCO
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04/17/12 07:52am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Rear Anti Sway Bar for Chevy
To me Roadmaster sway bars are just too pricy. They are just a good quality steel bar bent to the right shape to fit and a couple of drop links. Diesel trucks typically seem to have a front sway bar due to the weight of that heavy motor up there. When a camper is added now the weight shifts to the rear and that is the end that wants to wobble around. Adding a sway bar definitely affects your unloaded ride so that is also a consideration. When I had a '99 Ford SRW and had a Bigfoot 25C9.4 adding a standard Helwig really made it more stable, but the unload ride did get somewhat harsher. On my current 2006 GMC dually and monster Bigfoot I added a standard Helwig (BigWig not available) again and it helped some, but the duallies made just as much difference.
Summary, I'd say if the camper is fairly light and you use the truck unloaded most the time I'd go with a standard Helwig. If you really getting up to or over the load limit of the truck you might consider the BigWig. They take about an hour and a half to put on by yourself, or any mechanic shop can do it in much less time than that.
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MikeJinCO
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04/11/12 07:42am |
Truck Campers
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RE: I Found a Dually to Haul my Camper - Any Tips?
So Cal advice is spot on. Personally I'd stay with a rear spring close to stock for the lower pack and the use HD overload springs. The ride of the '99 is already pretty harsh when unloaded, no reason to make it worse. When doing the springs make sure all get inspected, they have been known to break in the middle of the pack. You can extend the overload bump stops to make them pick up quicker and you will ride more level. Make sure they are not long enough to come in contact when unloaded. Someone makes them, Torklift I think, or make your own. I used a pair of hockey pucks on each end, drilled and counter sunk hole in them and used a 5/16" bolt. About $2 per puck instead of $75 for the aftermarket ones.
I had a F250 SRW and doubled up the overload which was rated at about 300lb and it didn't make a lot of difference(F350 may be much different), when I got my GMC we went from a stock single overload to a 3 leaf 1350lb one and should have gotten the 1750lb 4 leaf. No change in unloaded ride.
Most listed camper weights do not include options, vents, vent covers, awnings, AC, generator all are add on and the weight climbs in a hurry.
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MikeJinCO
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04/01/12 07:58am |
Truck Campers
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RE: To all GM owners. Buying advice needed.
The 2003-2007 Fords have had severe motor problems, and most people know it. I looked at a 2007 before buying the GMC, but it had more miles and a higher price. I figured they needed about $3k in retrofits to make most(not including the lousy head bolts and injectors)of the problems go away. He wouldn't come down so I got the GMC for the $1k more that I offered for the Ford. Two months later saw the Ford advertised for $6k less.
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MikeJinCO
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03/21/12 07:55pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: WOOHOO no more airbags!!!!
I had 1350lb per side Daytons put on a a spring shop in Colorado Springs on my GMC 3500, should have gotten the 1750lb ones. They had them in stock as a real pain to change as quite heavy and needing new U-bolts also. I have air bags also to help leveling when towing. The unloaded the overloads do not touch so a smooth ride and not bad when loaded. Never had an intermediate load and gotten spring slap.
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MikeJinCO
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03/21/12 07:46pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: To all GM owners. Buying advice needed.
I probably should add that we get about 11.4 hauling a large, heavy Bigfoot and always towing something. Also got 18.2mpg at 70-75 mph unloaded and no tailgate when we went out to Oregon to pick up the camper. Very seldom use it for around town, daily driving.
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MikeJinCO
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03/21/12 09:31am |
Truck Campers
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RE: To all GM owners. Buying advice needed.
Agree with others that the Chevy rides better. We bought a 2006 Duramax Dually to haul our large Bigfoot around. When I was looking I couldn't find any(Ford/Dodge/Chevy) used gas trucks that had a much higher level of amenities than a standard work truck. All the fancy and more comfortable ones were diesel. On my 2006 the weak spots were the leaking transmission cooler lines(factory replacements were just as bad), and the transfer case pump rub thru problem. There are several aftermarket fixes for both of these. Both were fixed with the 2007 model year. I wanted the 2005.5 to 2006 LBZ motor as it was the best they ever made and still ran on higher sulfer diesel as found in Mexico and SA.
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MikeJinCO
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03/21/12 08:14am |
Truck Campers
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Beware San Xavier Mexico Insurance
We bought our Mexico insurance from San Xavier Mexico Insurance, out of Tuscan and Nogales, while still home in CO. Due to a series of continuing problems, we had to cancel our 4 month Mexico trip. I called San Xavier after 6 weeks as soon as we determined we couldn't go.
"Well why did't you call sooner?" they asked. Well duh! Anyway, they sell insurance in 3 month increments and I thought, the least they could do was refund the 2nd 3-month segment. Not a penny did were receive from them. And frankly, I'm sure ALL Mexico insurance (unfortunately mandated) would be the same.
Lesson learned: Do not BUY your insurance until the last possible moment before you cross the border. Just do your research ahead of time. We are $750 poorer for the experience.
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MikeJinCO
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02/01/12 07:40am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Vanilla extract from Mexico
My wife is more the expert. She continually looks for good,not artificial vanilla. It has been getting very difficult to find. Our understanding is that the a lot of the remaining vanilla growing areas on the eastern Sierra Madre were severely damaged during the hurricanes a couple of years ago and there just aren't many good trees/bushes left.
Apparently a lot of it was grown in the area from Veracruz north toward Poza Rica which were really hurt by the storms.
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MikeJinCO
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02/01/12 06:41am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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RE: Mexico/Central and South America - Truck Camper is best!
We began plotting a trip to SA several weeks ago. Probably ship to Chile(San Antonio?) then loop around thru Argentina and up north thru Peru, Ecuador and Columbia. Ship back from Cartegena to NO/Florida etc. But first we have to get back to Mexico again next winter as this years trip blew up. Worked in Chile for a month years ago, really neat place.
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MikeJinCO
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01/30/12 08:45pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Hallmark owners, are you happy?
We started out with a Ute XL and spent on night just before Christmas next to the RR tracks in Gallup NM when it was about 0 F. It was definitely a night to spend cuddled in the middle of the bed as it was chilly next to the soft walls. We survived the night just fine, the constant trains were more of a problem than the cold. We have friends who used one for weekend ski trips in Summit Co (Keystone/Breck)for several winters and did fine. Our longest trip was 6 weeks to Alaska, but we had a trailer with rafts/canoes/ATV's and a lot of extra space for gear
When we travel now it is for longer periods of time(2-4 months) so the bigger ones are much more comfortable. But much more expensive, heavy, and fuel hogs due to wind resistance. Some times I wish I had a Hallmark back up for our weekend trips around the state. Biggest problems we had were the single propane tank which can be tricky to get refilled in Mexico(no local vendors like Wallyworld) and the wood frame back then did not really like the rougher Mexican roads.
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MikeJinCO
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01/23/12 11:03pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Shock upgrades
On my Ford F250 I had all Ranchos and then switched to Bilsteins in the front to help the leaf spring ride. Fixing Rancho's is just unscrewing the adjustment knob and smearing a little grease behind it, under 5 minutes each. I put KYB's on our GMC dually and they seem fine and price better than Bilstein's.
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MikeJinCO
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12/09/11 07:49am |
Truck Campers
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RE: mileage on an F450?
x93 We've got a 2006 for the more simplicity and higher sulfer fuel capability in Mexico reasons also. If I ever bought new(never have yet) I'd get a gasser. On our Duramax with a smart transmission, tow haul etc, The BD exhaust brake works well, but is clugy to use, turn on compressor, turn off cruise control, make sure in tow haul, then operate. Great if you have the time to preplan for a hill. I think the latest versions might work better with the smart transmissions and my version would be ideal for the older style trannys, it would have made life with our 7.3 Ford much nicer.
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MikeJinCO
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12/08/11 08:48am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Superduty Spare Tire Relocate actuator??
One fellow I saw had bought some very long 1/4" drive extensions and just used a ratchet. On his the square extension end fit in the drive.
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MikeJinCO
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12/02/11 05:57pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Day early paperwork?
We have never had to wait, I believe several times we have been the only people there, our problem has been in the past having a truck, camper, trailer and 2 ATV's it just takes 2 hours to get done. It makes for a long day getting to Matehuela. I expect a similar problem since we are taking a toad and would like to make the driving day easier.
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MikeJinCO
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12/02/11 09:31am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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Day early paperwork?
Going to be at Columbia Crossing late Dec. Are there any issues with going over to get the paperwork done the afternoon before. The camper has a 10 year, but the truck and the toad need papers? Also any issues coming back for the night? Should I check in before crossing? Never done it this way before and am really tired of our two hour fiasco's at the border.
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MikeJinCO
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12/02/11 07:45am |
RVing in Mexico and South America
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Advisory for Bigfoot 30C1002 owners
We use our 30C1002 a lot so are a good guinea pig for others future problems. Last week while installing a rear view camera I went under the slide and found the filon bottom skin cut about 1.5 inches in from the aluminum angle corner bracket. With help from Grant up at Bigfoot we found that there is a roller inside the camper shell about 3" in from the corner and the weight of the slide on the roller will eventually cut thru the filon and into the flooring.
Probably the best and by far most expensive way to repair it is to pull the slide out, use a router to cut a slot in the flooring about 6-8" wide, 1/4" deep and 24" long hard plastic or aluminum plate. Then using glue, flat head screws and enternabond or butyl caulk as a sealant fasten it into the recessed slot. If the slide was out the roller could also be lowered allowing surface mounting the plate.
What I did was to get a couple of sheets of 18ga galvanized steel 8" by 24", then jack up the side of the slide with a combination of concrete blocks, wood blocks and a 6 ton bottle jack until I could slip the steel up over the roller. I set the edge of the steel flush to the aluminum corner edge then using what are called at the hardware self piercing screws that have a very low curve on the top and a built in washer fastened it up to the filon thru predrilled holes. Total repair cost about $23.
Because the floor was already damaged from the roller the slide did bend the steel. I tried an epoxy filler on one, but with the winter temps It did not cure well.
Looking around the web apparently Eagle Cap had a similar problem a few years ago and had a similar type of solution. Look on the Eagle Cap owners forum for their solution.
I'll try to post a couple of pictures, but have never done it here
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MikeJinCO
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11/26/11 07:18am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Flat Tow Tracker
My manual doesn't say anything about the hubs. It is a manual transmission 4x4 and just says to put it in neutral in the transfer case and I assume neutral in the tranny. Thanks for the help. I'd like to know how to turn off the odometer for towing, but that's violating some law so it probably shouldn't be posted.
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MikeJinCO
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11/23/11 03:35pm |
Dinghy Towing
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Flat Tow Tracker
Hopefully my final question. Dingy is a 2000 Tracker. Do I need to use a bungee cord or something like that on the steering wheel to hold down oscillation?
Thanks for all the help so far.
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MikeJinCO
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11/23/11 01:12pm |
Dinghy Towing
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