The best camper ?

[DPelletier]

David,

LOL! I usually bring a separate truck just to haul all the beer!!



Dave

 

[jarsong]

My lance is 3500 pounds give or take a couple hundred on where we are going. When we head for the high country we are HEAVY. Had 8" of wet snow on it once. Thought it was going to break my old ford truck it was on at the time. With my Ram, I don't even know it's on it.

jarsong

 

[smartineau]

Dave,



your post with all the crap/stuff is why I bought a dually. It is so easy to be way overloaded.



How did you end up with a Bigfoot when Northern Lite is there is Kelowna? I like Bigfoot but that bed is too short.



steve

 

[dresslered]

I like Bigfoot but that bed is too short.

My Bigfoot has a full queen? How tall are you?

 

[DPelletier]

Steve,

Yep, I tried it with the 2500 for a while and it was OK, but I was always trying to keep things as light as possible. After getting the cargo trailer it was definitely dually time.

Bigfoot is also local. Only 45 minutes away in Armstrong. I'm currently installing a large welding fume extraction system in thier Class C welding shop.

I think the Northern Lites are nice, but they have a really small plant and don't do the R&D that Bigfoot does. When I was researching before my last purchase, I found a couple of people who had structural problems with early Northern Lites. Nothing bad on more recent models, and I'm sure they have addressed any issues from the past. Ultimately I just had more comfort with the Bigfoot product.

I also didn't like the layout of the 10-2000 series? where the queen bed extended into the truck bed area on thier north/south queens. It seems like they didn't want to create two fiberglass molds (expensive) one for the regular east/west and one extended cab version for the north/south. With this floor plan the bed took up a foot or so of the 9. 5' floor length. Felt like a short box model like Bigfoot's 25C8. 5.

As far as the Bigfoot queen bed goes, the 2500 series and 1500 series do not have a full queen. The bed is 60 x 78 rather than a full 80" long queen. It isn't a big deal to me at 5'10" tall or so. David's 3000 series has a full queen.

I love these fiberglass moulded campers!





happy camping,

Dave

 

[smartineau]

dresslered,

I'm 73 inches when I measured the Bigfoot bed as I recall I thought it was 76 inches. Not much room for a pillow and it is a real PITA to have my toes hanging over the end of the bed. 78inches give a little more room.



Dave,

I was thinking about going to the Tacoma RV show tommorrow, I guess that I need to go and check this out very carefully. Due to the length of the bed issue I had eliminated the Bigfoot. I also really like the SnowBird/SnowRiver camper (made in Penticton), but the wood frame just scares me. Fiberglass is nice, no rot!



My truck has now turned a year old and I have yet to get my camper, I'm going nuts.



steve

 

[Boomer II]

On my Bigfoot 10. 6 we usually sleep feet forward, it's a lot easier to fit your feet up in the nose wedge than your head. Easier to make the bed too.

 

[dresslered]

Hmmm?

I'm 74-1/2 inches. I'll try to remember to measure it tonight. As far as making the bed, my wife does that.

 

[Boomer II]

That's what I meant ,it looks like it's easier for her to make the bed that way.

 

[DPelletier]

In our camper, the last one up has to make the bed! Unfortunately, that's usually me!



Steve,

The Snowbird/Snowrivers also seem nice. I've heard good things, but haven't done an in-depth investigation. I was just talking to thier CEO, Bob Meher last week. Seems like a nice guy.

When it comes to campers, there are two types; Fiberglass and everything else. I was on a budget when I bought mine last November and didn't want to spend over $20,000. 00 Can. When all was said and done, I could either buy a brand new camper (was looking at the Okanagan 9'), or buy a used fiberglass unit. I found mine in Vernon (30 min. drive north) and it was a one owner unit, in immaculate condition. I couldn't be happier. Now that I got the dually, I asked myself: If I could buy any camper without worrying about weight, what would I buy. Answer: the same one I have now. so I'm happy.

Anyways, everybody's needs and wants are different and the main thing is to go get a camper and get out camping!

Its too much fun!



Dave



ps. I'm in the middle of the slide-in universe here! Northern lite's are here in Kelowna, Bigfoot's 45min drive, Okanagan is 45min, and as mentioned SnowRivers are a 30min drive away in Penticton. Lance, Artic Fox and Eagle Cap are all units I hear good things about, but you don't see alot of them up here. Aren't Eagle Caps made in Washington?

 

[NETim]

Lance

I would not put more than a 2300 lb camper on a 2500. That equates to a Lance Lite 915. Sure the 2500 will handle more, but in today's society, do you want to run the risk? You're talking about an 8800 GVW truck. My old '97 2500 weighed in at about 6500.



I went to a 3500 and bought a 1130 Lance which does not have a slide out on it. Works great towing the boat and my wife and I are comfortable in it on week long trips.



I'd post a pic of the rig, but the wife hid the pics again. All I can find from the last trip are pics of her 48" Muskie.



Good luck,



Tim

 

[NETim]

Found it!

OK, found the long lost pic of my pride and joy. Taken 10/03 in the NW Angle of Minnesota on the shores of Lake of The Woods. The Lance kept us warm n' dry!



Tim

 

[smartineau]

Dave, the Eagle Caps are made in La Grande Oregon. I spent 6 months looking for a used camper and pretty much succumb to the fact that unless I dumb luck stumble upon a used one I will be stuck buying new.



I was at the Tacoma RV show today and looked over the Eagle Cap, it is a nice unit and a few thousand cheaper than a NL, with the options that I would want. I measured the Bigfoot bed it was 74 inches long.



I did not think about having the head out toward the main camper area, that is a good thought. I guess it is true that you learn something new everyday.



steve

 

[WatsonJ]

Slide in campers for short beds

Ok you all have me convinced that 3500 lbs fully equipped is about right. albeit too heavy.

Does anybody make Lite series 8 to 8. 5 foot camper (for short bed) that includes a generator? The Lance-Lite 915 is now available with a generator but the 915 is too long for a S/B.

A fully equipped and outfitted Lance 820 will be too heavy for my 2500 and my 3500 lb boat/trailer.

I live in AZ and a generator with rooftop A/C is a MUST HAVE.



I have found that the 13,500 btu A/C units that are commonly installed require at least a 2500 watt generator, so the little

suitcase type (Honda's) etc. . will not do the job. And any

generator 2000 watts and above is not really portable anymore.

In addition you have to carry it on the floor of the camper while

underway and it figures into the weight anyway..... so I would prefer a permanently installed unit.

 

[klenger]

Onan sells a 2800 watt gas (2500 watt LP) generator specifically made to fit into small spots like a slide-in camper would have for a generator.



http://www.onan.com/onan/rvgenerato...isplay.jsp;jsessionid=MCQI42BG4XX5WCTFJMXSDSQ

 

[WatsonJ]

portable ONAN

Thanks ..... that's great.

I'll go to Camping World and check it out. BUT... .....



The problem is that "LITE" series campers in the 8 to 8. 5 foot

range are not "generator ready" ie... wired internally.

and do not have a space that will readily accept a unit like this.

 

[klenger]

For clarity, the Onan is not a portable generator, just a compact built-in. They cut the size down by making the muffler an external part of the generator. Most of their generators have a built-in muffler. If the camper you are looking at doesn't have any space for a small generator, then you are stuck with a portable and need to fnd a creative way to carry it.



There are some high-efficiency A/C units on the market that do not require as much power to run as the standard units. Look and/or ask about these when you are shopping for a camper.

 

[Mike Ellis]

I also took the "buy a good used unit" route, didn't want to pay $25K for one. Had to go a long way to buy since there are very few Bigfoots here in TX, but it turned out quite well. We are pleased with our 2500 10. 6, it is a 1997 vintage like my truck and is actually pretty roomy. If you are over 6'2" the bed will be short and the ceiling inside will be low though, works just fine for me at 6'1".



I have seen the Bigfoot 1500 series too, it was a nice camper. If I had a 3/4 ton truck I would look at the 1500, the Northern Lite series, or one of the small Lance aluminum side units. The weight is critical on a 3/4 ton if you don't want to have a lot of sway etc. I live close to a very large Lance dealer, their campers were pretty nice. Whatever you get, keep an eye out for leaks, they can ruin a camper PDQ.



Be careful of a heavy camper on a single-rear-wheel truck, the sway can get pretty exciting at times. Good tie downs, good shocks, and perhaps a set of airbags can make things much more comfortable.

 

[MD500E]

I Just purchased a used lance lite 8'6". I plan to add a/c this spring. I plan to use the Honda eu2000 portable generator. I have heard of some people having problems running a 13,500btu a/c with the eu2000 while others are having success. One thing that is highly recommend is to add a larger capacitor to the a/c unit to help the compressor start easier with a small generator. Right now I am shopping for the a/c unit that has the lowest amp draw. The Honda eu-2000 is light and quiet but If I had to use a larger generator I would mount it on a class 3 front hitch. A friend of mine has this setup and it seems to work great.



kevin

 

[Boomer II]

Hey Mike, have you been back up to Camping Country since they moved the dealership?