Camper advice needed - Bigfoot on F350 in South America

I think you've got a great program going for rving in different countries.absolutly great idea to make it affordable.
Enjoy your journeys.

Thanks all.

What a great set of photos with the rig.....looks just like the ones I have seen of my truck down there. What an adventure! I guess the buying of expedition vehicles already in the lands you want to explore is becoming more and more a route of choice for people. I really learned a lot about that at the Overland Expo last year.

Yes, several years ago we decided that after spending a couple of years motorhoming in Australia, it would be much smarter to spend time exploring the rest of the world while our health was good and then once we ended up just about worn out physically, we would see the small part of Australia we had missed. So after checking out the cost of hiring motorhomes in other countries, and the cost and inconvenience of shipping a vehicle from one country to another, we realised that the cheapest and most convenient way to do it was to just buy an older motorhome in whatever countries we were interested in and store them when we were somewhere else. At the moment we have 5 vehicles stashed in 4 countries and just fly from one to the other as the mood and the weather dictates.
No, not a rich-man's game. Sum total of all of the vehicles would not buy a mid level Class A, and the total storage costs are less than many in the US pay to store their RV.
The vehicle we currently have in S America cost us the princely sum of US$3000 and the cost of hiring an inferior (in size, capability and facilities) vehicle for 6 months is around US$100 a day, so when we walk away from this one we will be about $15,000 ahead, so spending $25000 on this next vehicle to be used for at least 12 months and possibly double that if we decide to keep heading north back to the US, will leave us so far ahead in savings that even that vehicle could soon be regarded as a walk-away just like the current one.

Same reasoning for the Airstream after the 12 months (3 x 4 months) so far in the US - which will be 18 months after this next trip - means that too is more than paid for several times over and is to the point where it is hardly worth the cost of washing it, let alone keeping up with expensive servicing.

Thanks for the info on the F350/Bigfoot. I've come across at least two down here and although they aren't the most agile of beasts in rough going, the hope is it will greatly improve our level of comfort over the current vehicle.

Also came across the Dodge RAM equivalent of a F250 sitting here at the ferry terminal with fuel pump troubles. Three weeks so far waiting for parts - so hope we never strike the same problem.

I have a 2000 F250 130,000
Check the rear brake lines
Had mine go on second trip out with the TC --8 miles out on the beach.
Appears thisis a common problem

I had a 1996 7.3 and this is a very good engine. I had to change the low pressure and high pressure fuel pump, a few glow plugs and a fuel line, other than that, no problem, You should have parts all over in scrap yard and shops.

The Bigfoot is a very solid camper, you should not have problem, I took mine in very rough off roading trip. Although it is a hard top, some had water leak but it says no leak, not rot. Also, the electric Jacks are known to bind and stop working, they can be taken apart and refurbish fairly easily, and you can order parts from HappyJack. For the generator, check the muffler tubing, they are prone to cracking, I fixed mine with a car type flex tube. The front jacks are sometimes out of alignment and screws become loose, check if they are vertical. The side of the camper over top the front jacks might shows signs of some bumps, it does not seem to create problems but two of my campers had bumps on the side wall, just above the jacks.

I have the 2500 onboard gene, it does work the AC but not when it is very hot, it seems to struggle to restart the AC pump and shutts off.

Very nice to have an independent shower, it should have double pane window, much better in colder wheather as there is no fog on the window and it is warmer. I see that there is access to the basement through the floor, very usefull option.

I use an electric heat pad under my bedding, very nice when it is cold out, no need to run the heater, even below freezing. If you travel in below freezing wheather, your basement is normally heated, so no worries for freezing the water lines.

Good luck and have a wonderfull trip

nearly 2 million 7.3 ps were built, very reliable and one of the better diesels in its day.

I had a F250 7.3 with a smaller Bigfoot and took it to Mexico 4 or 5 times. No problems with the fuel as it has none of the new pollution control equipment. New shocks are probably needed, many of the non main roads by reputation are quite rough and many washboard. Change all the fluids and filters,the transmission may be approaching its service life so it needs looking at closely. Fortunately there are so many of these trucks in the world that it and the old Dodge Cummins are serviceable almost anywhere. I found people in Chichuahua MX who knew more about them then the shop in Colorado who replaced the front ball joints on my F250(F350 not an issue).

When your done, let me know where the truck is and how to get it as we want to spend 6 months there next winter.

I am not an expert on Ford diesels, but I would not touch one of the "lawsuit" Navistars. Ford folk on this forum can help you identify the problem years.

Beyond that, I would get the biggest, baddest shocks you can find for the truck because of the weight you are carrying and the state of some roads. I am using Fox external reservoirs on my truck.

And, off course, flush the radiator, transmission, transfer case, engine, brakes, etc., somewhere where you can get the correct fluids and filters.

Beyond that, have a great trip and dress warm for the Altiplano.

My firend had one also, and he constantly had problems with the boot or hose that attaches to the turbo. It wold constantly slip off. Not all have the problem, but I think that part is one I would take with, and be prepared to change it if required. Possibly get it looked at before leaving too, to make sure it appears to be tight and has good clamps. Sorry I don't know the issue better, but I am sure you can find it on the Ford forums or someoen else here. I just know he had a ton of problems with it, but he always dealt with it very easily. I was following him once when it happened on a grade here in Colorado and he told me to go on he'd be fine. Another time he had to do it off an interstate in the middle of Houston and made him late to meet us in Arkansas. It didn't seem to bother him much as he knew the easy fix when it happened, but check it out.

Good luck with the trip! You say you will be in the US for 6 months first, but it looks like from the ad you'd have to pick it up in SA?

What a great set of photos with the rig.....looks just like the ones I have seen of my truck down there. What an adventure! I guess the buying of expedition vehicles already in the lands you want to explore is becoming more and more a route of choice for people. I really learned a lot about that at the Overland Expo last year. Are you aware of that show/convention/gathering (whatever you call it!) in Flagstaff? Are you considering attending? If not, you ought to because what a great place to prepare for your trip!
BT

On edit - I should have clarified my comments were related to the 7.3; my friends' was one of the last ones, a 99 or 2000 I think.

Some Ford diesels (not sure about the 7.3, but for sure the 6.0) have had problems with south of the border fuel. Very hard on the injectors. Not sure you can have them checked easily (they are pretty buried in the heads), but it would be something to remember and prepare for. My 1999 7.3L has gone 85,000 miles without a single engine repair - in fact the total repair bills from new for the truck stand at about $280 (rebuilt alternator, new pinion seal). The cam sensor was replaced as a recall, but had not failed.

Thanks, I'll check if it has undergone that recall