Our New Baby..............

x2 post....

Another solar panel will take of that.


Gary Haupt

I forgot to mention that the previous owner installed a 120 watt solar panel. I can tell it works because the battery status shows full strength when the sun is out. But it still can't keep up with the total daily draw.

Our rolling ski cabin.



DW loves Marmot Basin! Jasper has more powder than Whistler.
The mountain had a record dump of snow in the spring of 2012.



The local Jasperians celebrating another powder day. I think I could live here.

We discovered that cold weather camping really neutered the batteries. The two 6v Interstate U220s worked well, but after 3 days of showers, lights and furnace draw, the cheap status indicators were showing 2 out of 5 lights. The furnace motor was definitely running slower too. So, off to the Parks Canada campground.

For $32/night all you get is electric hook ups. The shower room is nice, and a hose around back runs all day to fill your fresh water tanks. A municipal rv dump is around 5 km away.




The morning coffee views ain't too shabby.



We had silent visitors during the night....



I wonder if Jasperites (Jasperians?) ever tire of their daily jaw
dropping view?

I snapped this from a gas station on the main drag.



Another gorgeous ending to a hiking day.

Very nice! Love seeing the scenery pics to! I have a 6.0 and I like it. You just have to be educated with these engines. You never hear the good stories, but if it wasn't for the bad stories you wouldn't know what to look out for.:)

He is beautiful.......Go, Jasper, go! Enjoy him!

Wayne (the OP),

We almost bought a used 2003-2004 24' Bigfoot Class C years ago when shopping. FWIW, here's what stood out in our Bigfoot search:

- Back then the Bigfoot shower ceiling, and the coach ceiling height in general, was too low for my height. I understand that later-on Bigfoot ceilings, overall, may have been raised.

- The Bigfoot freshwater tank was the largest in a non-expedition Class C. Now, LazyDaze have about the same size freshwater tank (around 60 gallons).

- The Bigfoot Class C we looked at was of a full-blown "basement design", with tall and hence spacious outside cabinets. The downside is a huge step-up/down height difference between the cab floor and the coach floor.

- My DW was very leary of double-pain windows in a moving structure, as most of out home's double-pain windows in their sliding (moving) door sections have failed and leaked contaminates into the internal space so as to become stained and ugly looking and they now all have to be replaced. Replacement of RV double pain windows is VERY expensive, as you probably have checked into.

What we wound up can no longer be found in a 24 footer either (just like Bigfoot Class Cs are no longer available) -> single piece heavily crowned fiberglass roof, a generous fresh capacity, heated black/grey tanks, pretty good insulation, very large propane tank capacity, but ... single pain windows.

By the way, your Bigfoot DOES NOT have a forward facing cabover window ... that is GOOD! Ours was broken on a trip once by a flying rock and it was a real nightmare and long story getting it fixed properly so as to not leak.

Enjoy your very rare rig!

From paullac:

"I, for one, am happy the OP gave some more info because I was curious about the 20 months thing too.

Actually if the OP doesn't mind one more question: Was it this exact unit that you stalked for 20 months or just Bigfoot C's in general?"

paullac,

Yes, I stalked this particular unit. But I have a confession to make. These pics are from April 2012 when we bought it. My clunky, crusty Powerbook couldn't load photos from my new camera so I'm posting them now. Got me a new Retina Macbook pro! Anyway, it first appeared in Aug 2010 and I phoned the owner, an older man (82) who said he was too old to drive it anymore. It was first registered in April, 2008 and he wouldn't budge from his firm price of $65K. Too rich for my blood, especially after reading posts about the 6-point-oh! on this forum.
I wanted this one because DW and I had our criteria:

1. NO slideouts. For a few reasons. We boondock 99% of the time and we wanted a low footprint. We're kiteboarders and when it's blowing I don't want to listen to a slide topper snapping away. Maintenance reasons too.

2. Under 25'. Easy maneuvering for beach and forest parking.

3. Fibreglass roof! Starting in 2007, all Bigfeet came standard with them. We used to live in a fiver and I dreaded cleaning those black streaks. Also, low hanging branches won't rip any rubber. ("But I've never hit a branch, right sweetie?")

4. Tons of storage. This is where Bigfoot shines. I've calculated roughly 1888 L of cargo space. The one bin that blew me away was the underbed storage from outside. It turns out it's the biggest compartment. It swallows all our boards and kites.

5. Huge fresh water tank. Again Bigfoot wins.

6. Four season rig. Thermopane windows, thick insulation and heated compartments. Our furnace hardly ran when we camped in the snowy Rockies.

So, do you think we could find one in Canada with the V 10 Triton? No.
I got busy doing research on the 6.0. Hours and hours. I corresponded with a mechanic from a diesel forum, talked to qualified Ford techs and even read opinions on this forum. As you know, it can turn into an emotional subject on RV.Net. Some folks take things so seriously!
As I became more educated, I became comfortable with choosing the diesel. By the time I checked the ads again, the listing was gone and I thought I had lost it. But it popped up again in Feb 2012. I made a reasonable offer and flew there to bring our baby home.

I do not think the OP is that unusual in waiting. We went hot and cold three different time over five years in our search for a RV. After the first time I kind of knew what I wanted but started from scratch each time because I had learned more and RVs change. I now have a Lazy Daze I got used. Each time i started from scratch I finished at the LD but a different floor plan. Once I knew what I wanted I could sit and wait and get the LD as I would have ordered it. Had I purchased new I would have had it made just like the one I have.

This is true with used and new units. I know that people wanting a new LD have to wait a good while for the unit to be built. Some RVs do not come off an assembly line but instead the company build them as demand requires. It is a different business plan and judging by how long LD has been in business a sound practice for a small volume outfit.

I really like the OP's Big Foot. Very nice rig.

Gunner45 wrote:

nightshift wrote:
Just got a funny PM from a member.

"Nice rig.............but 20 months???!!! I'd have been pulling my hair out. I'd have found something within a couple of months, rather than looking back thinking about the additional year-and-a-half of enjoyment I missed by shopping!

Happy travels......"

If one guy writes that, then that means a hundred others are thinking the same thing! I guess I should explain that I wasn't hunched over the computer like a retriever staring down a ball.

Odd PM, I've never understood PMs like that :) You do not have to explain at all, your life, your time, money and investment!

I sent dh RV email nudges every 6-8 months for almost 3 years :) We just got our 2004 Four Winds in July and it's perfect for us so I'm glad it came along when we were ready.

Looks like you are having a great time with your new toy :)

Dori

I, for one, am happy the OP gave some more info because I was curious about the 20 months thing too.

Actually if the OP doesn't mind one more question: Was it this exact unit that you stalked for 20 months or just Bigfoot C's in general?

I guess I am curious because I waited a looong time to get into our C too. We had 2 pop ups for nearly 20 years.

I recall it being about 2 years of wanting one & 18 months of looking.

However, here's my wife's version when I asked her just now - and I quote: "You looked for at least 2 years. At least. And you wanted one for at least 2 years before that."

Anyhow, congrats & enjoy!