Arctic Fox vs Bigfoot

[Mike Ellis]

I was in Houston today and was able to check out three different 2003 Arctic Fox slide-in campers at Holiday World. I am leaning toward a Bigfoot camper right now, but the Arctic Fox was pretty impressive - I give it the edge over the Lances that I have seen. Since I haven't actually SEEN a Bigfoot camper yet, my "leaning" may be completely full of beans.



Here in Texas we don't have any Bigfoot or Northern Lite dealers. To help reduce my confusion over the campers, can you guys that are in-the-know answer a few questions?



1. Any of you Arctic Fox owners had any leak problems?



2. " " had any problems with the slide-out?



3. Have any of you been able to compare the Arctic Fox and Bigfoot side by side while shopping around? How did they stack up as far as build quality?



4. How strong is the fiberglass roof on a Bigfoot? The Arctic Fox and Lance advertise "full walk-on" roof, the sales guy told me he saw an Arctic Fox camper with 22 people standing on it at a show once. Surely he wouldn't exaggerate



5. How long are the beds on a Bigfoot? Arctic Fox and Lance are apparently 60x80", all I can find out from my Bigfoot brochure is that its 60" wide.



6. How stout is the A/C on the Bigfoots? The brochure I have indicates they use 11,000 BTU units, but the owner comments I have read indicate some folks have 7,500 BTU. Would 7,500 cut it here in Texas?



7. Are the 2 propane bottles on the Bigfoot (20 lbs) sufficient in your experience? The Arctic Fox had 30 lb units, don't know if this is a big deal or whether I could put 30 lb bottles into a Bigfoot.



8. Which one do you think would be easier to repair if a clumsy owner were to back into it or otherwise crack it up - the fiberglass shell unit or the fiberglass/wood frame unit?





Any info you can provide is greatly appreciated, as I will apparently have to drive to Colorado Springs to even get a look at a Bigfoot (closest dealer they claim)

 

[smartineau]

mike,

I'm out camper shopping also, on the Bigfoots several of their campers have 76" beds. I'm 73"s so the BF is out. On the 3000 series it it a much larger and heavier camper so they may have 80" beds.



go to www.rv.net and www.irv2.com and there are several Arctic Fox, Bigfoot, Northern- lite. threads.



good luck steve

 

[SBoehmler]

Mike I don't know about campers but I have a Nash 30 foot travel trailer. Nash and Arctic Fox are made by the same company. Arctic Fox is actually a step up in quality from the Nash. I have been through the factory which is about 2 hours drive from where I live and the construction is excellent. They are very strong as the cabinets are built into the unit as part of the structure instead of building the unit and then placing the cabinets later. At least this is how the trailers are constructed.



Our trailer is a 99 with a big slide out. We have towed it to Alaska twice from Washington State. Of course this means it has made it down the Alaska Highway 4 times and has held up very well. It has also been many other places including Iowa and back. We put the slide out every night when we stop and have have never had any problem. This is our 4th trailer and first Nash and it is the best trailer we have had.



Don't know about the Bigfoot but I wouldn't hesitate to go with the Arctic Fox.

 

[RAPID RICK]

campers

Mike,



See thread "slide in campers"



Rick

 

[Dean Upson]

Mike,



I cannot help you much except to tell you that I saw the new Big Foot campers at the RV show in Springfield, MA a couple of weeks ago and it would be hard for me to imagine a better unit. The price tells the story. The one I was particularly impressed with had a slide out and listed for around $36,000 if I remember correctly. I especially liked the fiberglass exterior, but the inside was really first rate. I haven't seen an Artic Fox, but sight unseen, I would go Bigfoot.



Dean

 

[dresslered]

I have not seen an Arctic Fox first hand but I have heard great things about them. I am extremely pleased with my Bigfoot 3000 but it is indeed a heavy beast! The insulation, double pane glass, and fiberglass siding really adds to the weight. This insulation does allow you to last pretty long on only two 20-lb propane bottles, though.



One thing that is really nice about the 3000 floor plan is the forward located RV bathroom allowing 270-degree views from the rear dining area.

 

[DPelletier]

Hi,

I can offer some comments. I have a 2500 9. 5' Bigfoot. I can't say much about Artic Fox, but they seem to be recognized as one of the best brands out there. That having been said, I have yet to see any slide-in built as well as a Bigfoot. I have two friends that also have Bigfoots (a 2500 10. 5 w dry bath and a 3000 series) These units hold up extremely well. We all use them in offroad situations on a regular basis and have had zero problems with anything structural and haven't ever heard of a leak. Steve is right about the beds on the 1500 and 2500 series, but I believe the 3000 series may be longer. I'm 5'11" and haven't had an issue with the bed size, but my buddy is 6'6" and says his feet end up resting on the dinette cusion. Some other observations:

- I can last 4-5 days on ONE 20lb tank in temperatures below freezing. I prefer having the 20lb tanks rather than the 30lbs for weight, but it will depend on how long you want to camp for. I'll run out of battery power (2 6v's) long before I run out of propane.

- the roof on my 2500 is very strong. The unit has a ladder and a roof rack on the back and I've been up there several times. I don't store stuff up there but it seems quite capable. Keep in mind that the 3000 uses a totally different construction method, but I am sure it is equally strong.

- As far as weight goes, my 2500 9. 5 is rated at 2601 lbs wet ( obvously more with gear, food, etc. ) and this is the largest Bigfoot that I personally would put on a SRW truck. The 3000

series need a dually IMHO. I often hear about Bigfoots being heavy, and the 3000 series is a large, heavy unit, but I don't think the 2500's are any heavier than the competion in most cases and the 1500 series are quite light. My camper doesn't touch the overloads when loaded.

- I can't comment on the AC as none of us have AC on our campers (don't need them here), but keep in mind that the camper insulation will definately play a part in what BTUH capacity is required. Reflective windows or window film will also help.

- As far as repairs go, I just had some work done (my fault), I had three small areas repaired by a company that specializes in boat gelcoat repairs. They sent someone right to my shop. Cost was $150 canadian pesos and the repair is almost impossible to detect. I sure don't miss my last aluminum skinned RV ( 100's of small dents)



Which model are you looking at? My friends 3000 is 8 years old and he has never had a problem with the camper other than appliances (same ones everyone uses)



Hope this is of some help.



P. S. The Bigfoot plant is in Armstrong B. C. , about 45 minutes from my office. Northern lights are made one block away and Okanagan campers are made about 30 minutes from here. I've been in the Bigfoot plant and they just completed a large expansion (more US sales are anticipated).



Dave



-

 

[Mike Ellis]

Thanks Guys!

Sure appreciate all the info. Boy I wish there were some Bigfoots around the DFW area so I could see one in person.



From the brochure, the 3000 looks pretty darn interesting but with the different construction it looks like it might be more subject to leaks compared to the 2500. I also noticed that the brochure lists an option for the 3000 of "aluminum framed sidewalls" - does this mean the baseline is wood framed sidewalls, or just fiberglass / poly insulation sandwiches? One of the camper dealers FAXed me a couple of option sheets for two Bigfoot 2500s, and one of the options listed on those sheets (but not checked off in this case) was the "aluminum framed sidewalls". I don't understand where the aluminum frame would fit in the 2-piece fiberglass units.



For you guys who have the 2500s, I notice on the layouts that the TV shelf is kind of behind the dinette. Are you able to see it from there, or is there some other place to put it?



Everything I have heard about the Bigfoots and seen on the net impresses me. The Arctic Foxes I saw in person in Houston were outstanding, only my fear of leaks on a rubber-roofed wood frame camper makes me hesitant about those units.

 

[dresslered]

Mike-

Due to the size of the 3000, it is true that they are constructed differently and have a rubber roof. I keep a tarp over mine during storeage to minimize the UV exposure and annually soak it with some 303 protectant. As long as you stay away from the tree branches, this system should give years of trouble-free performance. Standing up there is not a concern other than not stepping on one of the several sky-lights.



I also have the aluminum frame option. As I understand it, this is then injected with the polyurathane foam which give the exceptional R-value (rated for use to -40 degrees). The aluminum framing does not sweat since it is encapsulated in the foam and offers an extremely rigid structure. No forward struts are required as are often recommended for the wood-framed campers made by other manufacturers.



With such a rigid unit, it is stressed by the manufacturer to only use with appropriate Frame-Mounted tie-downs (i. e. Tork-lift makes a good system). Don't let a dealer try to convince you that a bed mount system will suffice for any large camper.

 

[DPelletier]

Mike,



First of all, I think the aluminum frame option is for the 3000 only (somebody correct me if I'm wrong). The 2500's don't have a frame per se, but they do have some wood backing, etc for mounting of cabinets and other things. The 2500 and 3000 are built quite differently and both have thier advantages. I believe that the 2500 is less likely to leak and looks better IMHO and is also lighter. The 3000 is more spacious and I am very envious of the -40 rating vs. the 2500's -10 deg or -15 deg (I've seen conflicting values). The 3000 is the only one available with the slide if that is a concern. The one thing they both have in common is that they are extremely well built. It boils down to the individual and useage (and price).

Sorry, I can't comment on the TV stand. I think they changed the location. Mine is next to the fridge (toward the stove) and it works alright there, but I think some of the other layouts have them by the dinette as you have mentioned. Depending on the size of the TV, you may be able to sit it on the ledge beside the bed for better viewing.

Let me know if there is anything I can add, and happy shopping



Dave

 

[DPelletier]

Sorry, I reread my post and have a couple of clarifications;



- I don't think that the 3000 is likely to leak, just that it is almost impossible for a 2500 roof to leak as there are no seams. The only way my 2500 roof could leak is around one of the vents or other penetrations. The 2500 roof isn't flat either, so if you did have a seal around a vent fail, water can't pool there anyway.



and I second Dresslered's comments about the tie-downs. I firmly believe in frame mounted attachements front and rear. I also use the spring loaded front turnbuckles and a rubber bed matt.





Dave

 

[NETim]

I saw that movie!

And if I remember right, Bigfoot won. But then in the sequel, Godzilla kicked Bigfoot's butt!



Tim

 

[Mike Ellis]

Newsflash - Found Bigfoot Dealer in Texas

Guys, thanks for all the info. TDR is a great place, you can find out anything!



The guys at Bigfoot had told me the closest dealer to DFW was in Colorado, so I had been corresponding with them. I have looked all over DFW and Houston and the slide-in pickings are darned slim. In fact went again yesterday to look at the Lances but still leery of the wood frame.



Late last night I was surfing through old posts on a camping site, and found a reference to a Bigfoot dealer in Waxahachie, Texas - less than an hour from my house! I checked and the guy is still in business, it is called "Ed's Camperland" and is on the east side of I-35E service road north of Waxachie. He has a small place but reps Bigfoot, Northstar, and SixPack truck campers as well as the Bigfoot trailers.



I drove over there this morning, he had sold his last Bigfoot camper but he did have a Bigfoot trailer that I was able to check out - the construction quality was pretty good as promised, although he claims the campers are much better. Inside, he had several chunks of Bigfoot construction that showed the way the tops and sides are built. The 2500 series has about 1/8" of fiberglas and gelcoat on the outside, with about 1. 5" of a very light but VERY strong foam bonded to it, then the inside surface is the ubiquitous "luann" wood paneling. There was a piece of it about 1 x 1 foot, and I couldn't bend it at all with my hands. Pretty stout stuff. He also had a piece of the 3000, it is essentially the same but there was another piece of luann bonded to the outer fiberglas and the foam sandwich was thicker. There was one piece from a 1500 or 2000 series that had actual Styrofoam in it, boy it was light. Also had a piece of the aluminum tubing frame from the 3000 sidewall, it is injected with very solid dense foam just like they claimed, pretty darned stout stuff. I was impressed.



He had 4 or 5 Northstar trailers, they are kinda neat pop-up but pretty much a utilitarian design - not a lot of frills. Seemed to be well built though. Look like a slick setup for a 1/2 ton truck if you are a smaller guy.



Guess he has a pretty stout markup on the campers it seems, he was quoting me $27K for a 2500 series without generator. Have found many postings from people that bought 3000 series for that kind of cash up in Northwest / Canada, including air and options and sometimes even installation of tie downs and such.



It seems the better deals wind up around MSRP - 20% for a truck camper of a given make. The prices he quoted me for the Bigfoot are pretty competitive with the Lance campers here in Ft. Worth, the Lance guys don't seem to want to deal either.



OK wheeler-dealers, help me out - where can I find a good deal on a camper? Have Cummins, Will Travel!

 

[NETim]

Serious post for a change

I visited the Arctic Fox web site to have a look see. It turns out that there is an Arctic Fox dealer in my neck of the woods. So they're in the running again.



It appears that the 950 can be had w/o a slide out (according to their web page anyway) but the website shows no floorpan for a a non slide out 950.



Also, they make no mention of the roof on them. I am assuming that it is rubber.



Even though I'm runnin' a dually, I am not wild about a slide out truck camper. Slide outs get a camper over 3K real quick, even if it's only an 8 or 9 footer.



Real, real easy to overload a truck with a truck camper. More stuff in there than a guy realizes and that stuff weighs more than a guy realizes.



Tim

 

[Mike Ellis]

NETim,



The Arctic Foxes have a one-piece rubber roof, it is strongly built and is supposed to be walk-on capable from rear to nose. The sales guy at Holiday World in Houston was telling me that the mfg once had 22 people standing on an Arctic Fox camper roof at a show, don't know if it is true or not.



From what the dealer told me, they all have a slide out - but the brochure they gave me doesn't have the 950 in it so maybe it is different.



The construction quality seemed top notch, a step above the equivalent Lances that I have looked at. The roof appeared very sound, and theoretically as a one-piece rubber sheet ought to be very leak resistant. But if you look at the roof of one of the optioned-out campers, there are a LOT of things poking up into the air, every one of which presents a leak hazard - TV antenna, vents, skylights, roof racks, etc. It did not look like water pooling would be a problem from what I saw, but if you get up on the roof and clamber around frequently you have to be careful near the penetrations I guess, otherwise the rubber might "pull" away from the sealed seams and offer leak entry.

 

[klenger]

I have no idea how Arctic Fox builds their slide-ins, but my 5er has a one-piece rubber roof laid over 3/8" plywood on top of a roof truss system. Very strong. I've made a few penetrations on mine to install the solar panles and have not had any problems with leaks. I was doing some re-work on the solar panles yesterday, and was supprised at how tough the rubber fabic is.



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[Boomer II]

Mike, for some reason truck campers just aren't a big deal down here. I had an Alpenlite several years ago that I couldn't give away for 10K, took it to a friend in the SLC area and got 12K in a week. Seems to me these local guys would be more willing to deal. I'd do a search on the net for Bigfoot, the dealer in Colorado Springs has better prices I think.

 

[D Baker]

Mike

I bought my big foot 25c10. 6 from kramerskampers.com in Il back in 1999. I did shop the dealer at campingcountryrv.com in CO. They were both very close in price and very informative. So I chose the one closer to me. Do not use the cheap body mount tie downs!! You will pay to much for the camper to go cheap on the brackets. I used the tork-lift on my 99 2500 and I am now putting them on my new 03 dually. If you have a SRW you may wan't to go a little smaller in the size of camper. On a SRW the weak link will be the tires. If your handy buy your options later such as the generator, air conditioner, awing you can save a lot by doing that.

Also I have never had a problem with my big foot. If you do decide to buy from Kramers I could drive up there and look over the camper and take some pics and send them to you. Good luck shopping.

 

[The patriot]

I was at an RV show this past weekend in Atlantic city.

I was really impressed with the way the Artic Fox was built.

Eric

 

[Mike Ellis]

Gentlemen,



Thanks again for all the great info!



Boomer II,



How did you like your Alpenlite? Any problems?



D Baker,



I will check out Kramers and see how their prices stack up, sure appreciate the offer to check out the camper for me!