Bigfoot (old vs new)
Does anyone know how the construction of Bigfoot TC’s has evolved over the years? Used BFs (pre 2009) are substantially lighter than the new models of the same dimensions. Based on the literature on 2...
Forum Discussion
HMS - yes Total Composites main business is temperature controlled commercial truck bodies which achieve total thermal break insulation at the lowest weight possible. Square corners = maximized volume and ease of fitting out the inside. The 9 ft floor plus queen bed cabover kit I’m looking at is estimated at 1200lbs. R20 walls, R30 roof and floor.
Anyways right now I’m running a Cirrus camper. Aluminum frame, styro insulation, azdel plastic inside and out, fibreglass skin, aluminum roof. When it leaks nothing in the shell or floor would rot, and the water can run out the bottom. There are disadvantages to aluminum frames lack of thermal bridging in snowing outside conditions.
I’ve had a “conventional” framed and rubber roof camper, $5000 damage from one screw on a roof rack leaking. I’ve had a fibreglass shell camper Kustom Koach / Kodiak- when it leaked before I owned it the water pooled in the tub of the camper and rotted a jack reinforcement area...
So, yes, it is all the holes that make trouble ...
It’s why I’m toying with a self build composite project. Normal outside stuff like solar panel brackets are glued to the body, no need for any holes in the roof, no mechanical fastening of any seams, doors and windows easy to seal in a rigid structure yada yada yada...
There are other considerations with composite bodies - the rigidity has to be designed for to let the truck chassis rack and flex independently of the body etc.
Like an old truck camper veteran told me one time, if you cannot put your camper upside down in the lake, and sail it to the far shore, it is going to leak every time it gets a chance over the years you own it...
Anyways right now I’m running a Cirrus camper. Aluminum frame, styro insulation, azdel plastic inside and out, fibreglass skin, aluminum roof. When it leaks nothing in the shell or floor would rot, and the water can run out the bottom. There are disadvantages to aluminum frames lack of thermal bridging in snowing outside conditions.
I’ve had a “conventional” framed and rubber roof camper, $5000 damage from one screw on a roof rack leaking. I’ve had a fibreglass shell camper Kustom Koach / Kodiak- when it leaked before I owned it the water pooled in the tub of the camper and rotted a jack reinforcement area...
So, yes, it is all the holes that make trouble ...
It’s why I’m toying with a self build composite project. Normal outside stuff like solar panel brackets are glued to the body, no need for any holes in the roof, no mechanical fastening of any seams, doors and windows easy to seal in a rigid structure yada yada yada...
There are other considerations with composite bodies - the rigidity has to be designed for to let the truck chassis rack and flex independently of the body etc.
Like an old truck camper veteran told me one time, if you cannot put your camper upside down in the lake, and sail it to the far shore, it is going to leak every time it gets a chance over the years you own it...
