Bigfoot 2005 9.6 2500

My 2005 9.6 2500 with every option available (including rear platform and steps at 120lbs) full of water and propane and 400lbs of camping supplies and read for the road, weights in at 4000 to 4100lbs. The COG on the 9.6 is fairly far back as the camper only adds 60lbs to the front axle.

I have the camper on a 2002 Dodge 3500 dually and this puts me 800lbs over my GVWR, so to put this camper on a SRW 2500 shortbed doesn't sound like a good plan.

I was just re-reading your question - are you looking to put a long bed camper on your shortbed chevy? I don't doubt that it will physically fit but I'm not sure where the COG is on the shortbed vs longbed versions. The COG of the long bed might be quite a bit further back. I know some campers are essentially the same in regards to shortbed vs longbed (Wolf Creek comes to mind). But the layouts of the 9.4 vs 9.6 Bigfoots are quite different. I can grab you a measurement off of mine, if you'd like for comparison reasons?

HA! 2400lbs. That's a good one. As many posters have stated above with Bigfoots, it will weigh much more. Loaded up with water, propane, decent load in the fridge and 12 cans of "dad juice" as my 2 year old calls them, you will be close to 4000lbs.

I run a Ram 2500 (short bed) but have upgraded suspension and tires. Just watch your tire weights. I actually unloaded my front axle by 200lbs. I might start looking into a sway bar this year.

Camper - great quality. I bought it used of an older couple who had never even showered inside. It still had the plastic covering over the bathroom floor drain. The camper is very well built. I have used it in warmer winter weather with no issues. The one upgrade I would do is the inverter, to a 3 stage charge. The bigfoots really seem to hold value. Great camper.

My 2000 2500 9'6" Bigfoot weighs 4200 lbs fully loaded... Water, propane, Solar, 1 or 2 batteries, food, beer, cooking utensils, clothes, tools and all the other items to make going with the camper relaxing and pleasurable.

Factory says 2600lbs wet... 50gal water and 2 propane bottles.
That weight is without fridge, stove, mattress, batteries, electric jacks (heavy) etc.

The camper has traveled almost 200,000 miles, been on 2 different trucks, both Ford F250 extended cab SWD 460 gassers.

Suspension improvements are... AirLift Air bags, Bilstein Shocks and 19.5 tires/rims.

Jim

I had a 1998 Bigfoot 9.6 on a 1994 Dodge 2500 V10. The sticker weight was 2400 lbs, but on the scale immediately after delivery it weighed 2800 lbs. After a few trips I decided it was too much for the 2500 without some serious upgrades, so I upgraded to an F350 Dually 7.3L, which turned out to be more than adequate. The sticker on my current Bigfoot 10.4 says 3000 but it weighs 3400. The sticker on my Bigfoot 5th wheel said 3800 but it weighed 4400. The only thing you know for sure is, it doesn't weigh LESS than what it says.

I think Bigfoot are the best constructed campers anywhere, though admittedly it is a very low bar.

RoyB wrote:
I always thought putting one of the older well built Truck campers on a flat bed trailer would be a neat idea...

Neat idea but not very practical. You can buy trailers for much less.

Bigfoot normally put a fairly accurate weight of each camper as optioned &shipped ,inside the closet.

I always thought putting one of the older well built Truck campers on a flat bed trailer would be a neat idea...

Something like this google iamge..


Lots of storage places built-in around the openings... I' guessing 'basement storage' is the rear overhang area that has outside doors...

Roy Ken

DStoner wrote:
Looking at purchasing a used basement model 9.6 foot Bigfoot for my 2500 GM diesel short box equipped with airbags. Your input positive and negative would be appreciated. Wondering if there would be any handling issues.

Before you do anything get the actual weight off the unit to figure out if it will be okay on your truck. The weight all depends on the options and only by checking out the actual unit will you know.

Also make sure that the unit is designed for a short box. If it is not then you will have issues.

Then check your truck and make sure that it has the capacity, and that it is listed to carry a camper.

Sales brochures list a Base wt.of 2400 for a 25c9.6e which is not listed as designed for short beds