Newbie Question:Advice on used AllWeather TC for work travel

PipeRunner wrote:
I apologize to my high school English teacher, Dr. Miller, for hitting "post" before verifying my grammar, spelling, and proper word use...

Unless you make a mistake that confuses what you meaning is, I would not be concerned. Keep in mind, you can click the edit button and edit what you posted. Personally, I have good days and bad with grammar, spelling, and proper word use. But my objective is to get my point across, and if I do that the grammar, spelling, and proper word use is close enough.

There have been times I will write something in Word, then run the spell and grammar check on it. I then will copy and paste in my post.

Wayne

PipeRunner wrote:
I apologize to my high school English teacher, Dr. Miller, for hitting "post" before verifying my grammar, spelling, and proper word use...I also apologize for all who read that last paragraph and cringed, as I just did. With that, I'm going to retire before more rampant grammatical errors are wrought upon more unsuspecting RV.net readers. Good day.

The majority of us don't care about spelling, syntax, sentence structure or that grammar thing. The ones that do, well, they do. For me, if someone writes something that does not make sense, I'll ask. Recently I did this and the person then went back and corrected it and those reading my comments later thought I was the jerk for asking for clarification, because it was fine to them (but they were reading the corrected version, by then). So yeah, don't worry about it.

But, you might organize your questions by line items, so as they are easier to answer by any of us here and maybe not ask two questions in one. Just a suggestion.

My question back to you; "Have you ever lived in a small location for any extended time?"

Personally, I recommend you scout out locations where you can plug in to commercial electricity to run electric heaters and Air Conditioners. Running a generator continuously is not a viable solution, nor is solar.


Stay Safe.

b

Hi.

Be aware, there are many posters on this forum that are much better at answering some of your questions than I am. Such as the Diesel questions. That is what is great about the TC Forum here, a great bunch of Gals and Guys with a wealth of experience. Have expertise in many areas, such as equipping your off the grid vehicle and for extended boondocking in remote areas. Many of the technical questions can be handled by a host of people here. I will attempt to answer your questions below;

1. What do you use as the connecting device between the camper and the unistruts?

Some brackets from a bulldozer, drilled and installed on my Unistruts. The TC is attached to these via an old TC spring loaded Turnbuckle system that was given to me as leftover items in a parts bin.

2 . Do you have additional factory fuel tanks or did you supplement with a transfer flow type extended capacity tank?

Yes.
No.

3. Did you have to do anything different for fuel and water separation systems?

No.
Using the newest technology assists you in this. My experience with Diesels in the Rocky Mountains, is when it gets really cold, you need to have an engine block heater (Available as an option from the manufacturer, standard in Cold Climates/states such as Alaska)


Your supposition is correct. A properly prepared and maintained Diesel Truck can and does perform well in cold weather. My 1999 7.3 Powerstroke had problems with losing its Cold Start Cam sensor. Some owners just got to the point of having extras in their truck, to just replace themselves.

Personally, if you are worried about the Diesels, don’t get one. There are many improvements with the newer gasoline engines that make them a choice worth considering. One of the popular debates here is Diesel vs. Gas. You are more than welcome to step over the line and ask that question. Me? I certainly won’t.

Good luck.

b

I apologize to my high school English teacher, Dr. Miller, for hitting "post" before verifying my grammar, spelling, and proper word use...I also apologize for all who read that last paragraph and cringed, as I just did. With that, I'm going to retire before more rampant grammatical errors are wrought upon more unsuspecting RV.net readers. Good day.

B, I have a question regarding you use of unistruts for the top of your utility bed. What do you use as the connecting device between the camper and the unistruts? I saw that you have eye bolts at the four corners for turnbuckles I assume, but I'm still curious as to the function of the unistruts system.

Another question I have regarding your truck, pertains to fuel capacity. I saw no mention of additional fuel tanks. Do you have additional factory fuel tanks or did you supplement with a transfer flow type extended capacity tank? Did you have to do anything different for fuel and water separation systems?
Finally...for now...did you have to add or do anything to assist is extreme winter starting and fuel treatment/warmers. My experience has always been, that diesel #2, winter blend was treated to assist in cold weather operation and a reduction in freezing temps. I've read all kinds of accounts regarding cold start, subzero related diesel issues, but it hard to separate fact from speculation and opinion. You've been there, done that...that what I need.
Thanks

PipeRunner wrote:
Thanks B, and jefe! I'm getting all the option documented and working to find a used Bigfoot or Northern Lite as we speak. I'm looking through all the western us states right now. Anything I should look for or avoid while searching to help narrow the herd?
B, do you use your fresh water black water system at all, or do you follow the regimine described in previous posts, containers of water, RV anti freeze to flush, and a dry fully winterized fresh water tank?
Happy Independence Day to all!

Hi. Glad to see you are running with the information that has been shared here. To be honest, no. I am not doing what others have expressed here, as most of their uses are for short term. Over time I have learned where the weaknesses in my TC are for Cold and Hot seasons. Depending on the TC you end up with dictate in what and how you might prepare for.

I have never winterized or dumped my water tanks and lines, even when I have been in weather below 0*F. It came close this last Thanksgiving, when I was caught in that Polar Freeze that rushed across the lower 48 when I was too far north, out on the plains. Again, it is the cold creep, that one needs to prepare for. The best way to describe this is that Can goods can freeze in your cabinets, while your sitting in your camper. Close proximity to the TC walls in weather below 0*F, can be challenging.

With the right preparations, and TC, you can minimize the time you need to evacuate your potable water systems. Some of the best people that have that technique down, are the people that use their TCs for Ski trips and keep their potable water tanks filled. One can do it, but you need to practice good techniques.

To be honest, during the coldest and hottest months, a campground/job site with hookups will be the easiest way to go and no one will judge you, if you do if you go that way. Me? Just against my code and I try to get south and north for these extreme temperature changes. But, so far I have missed it and have been caught each year. Maybe this winter will be different!

b

Thanks B, and jefe! I'm getting all the option documented and working to find a used Bigfoot or Northern Lite as we speak. I'm looking through all the western us states right now. Anything I should look for or avoid while searching to help narrow the herd?
B, do you use your fresh water black water system at all, or do you follow the regimine described in previous posts, containers of water, RV anti freeze to flush, and a dry fully winterized fresh water tank?
Happy Independence Day to all!

I have a Bigfoot and love it for winter camping. I use it full time in the winter for my job in Southeast Alaska. We don't get as cool as the Dakota's but I have stayed a week at a time in -20. One year with no propane heater as it gave up the ghost just as I started a job. I stayed warm enough with an electric heat but it wasn't above 40 degrees in the camper. I was plugged in. I only have single pane windows which I plan on upgrading one of these years. I covered them with reflexit and then seal with plastic. The week that the heater went out I also put the blankets over the windows. Worked pretty good. I take the doors off the cabinets under the sink to keep the pipes warmer. In the toilet and the other drains I put RV antifreeze most night if I have used the plumbing. I drain the plumbing when it is below Zero.

get a used Bigfoot 3000 series 10 11 non slide nothing ,---- repeat nothing ---- can touch its cold weather performance

PipeRunner wrote:
A clarification question: I know the advantages to an all fiberglass two piece camper (northern lite & Bigfoot). Can anyone breakdown disadvantages to this style camper? I'm looking for experiences, but I would settle for scuttlebutt and supported conjecture.

Am I the only one that sees disadvantages to this style camper?

I did think of another disadvantage, you can't dance with a partner in the walk way (too narrow). :B