Got the Bigfoot!

[TxGearhead]

I drove from Houston to Maryland to look at a 2500 9.4ft Bigfoot. 2008 model that the owner said he bought, brought home, and never used. I guess I believe him. It looks pretty good. I bought it. Of course I think I paid dearly for it. It's pretty well loaded. I installed the Torklift tiedowns and the owner threw in a set of Fast Guns. I got it loaded and spent the 1st night in a KOA. Then on to Smokey Mtn Nat Park for one night. Then 12 hours on the road for one night in Louisiana before getting home mid day today. No issues so far.
The 2016 Ram 3500 Cummins SRW handled it well. Of course it weighs more than I thought. Bigfoot said 2300 dry and 2800 as built. I'd have to look at my scale receipts again but I think I'm pushing 3500 with me and a full tank of water, which adds up about right. The Ram has 4018# payload so I'm good, but not as good as I hoped.
Back in the TC world after a 30 year absence!
Now to take a nap and maybe unload it tomorrow.

[TxGearhead]

^^^^So far I'm happy. Spent all of 3 nights in it. I'll say again, it sure is nice not worrying about a 12,000 pound 5th wheel behind me.
I washed it this morning. The previous owner had a fabric cover for it that he used the last few years. I may cover it tomorrow night.

[burningman]

Envious 🙂
There's a nice Bigfoot or Northern Lite in my future somewhere.

[TxGearhead]

towpro wrote:
even that is high for a bolt that is going through a hollow frame. There is nothing inside the frame to support the 2 frame sides from being pulled closer together (crushed) as you tighten the bolt and nut.

Giving it about 10 seconds of thought, I would consider using a SS nylon locking nut and just making it up "Millwright tight" with a combo wrench.

[towpro]

even that is high for a bolt that is going through a hollow frame. There is nothing inside the frame to support the 2 frame sides from being pulled closer together (crushed) as you tighten the bolt and nut.

[TxGearhead]

^^You are correct. I must have been thinking of my recently traded Ford. I had planned to install a front hitch on it as well.
210 ft. lb. sounds like a lot for a 5/8 bolt. I don't have my torque table right in front of me, but just guessing, maybe 150-170; assuming fine threads.

[towpro]

The curt install for product 31067 on my 2015 3500 dually did not require fishing bolts. but it does require supporting bumper because you need to loosen some of those bolts.

directions

Step 7. Reposition and level bumper by pushing up on it while
tightening the hardware. Torque 5/8" hardware to 210 ft-lbs
and M12 hardware to 86 ft-lbs.

I don't think the hollow frame can take 5/8 hardware (curt hardware) torque to 210 ft-lbs without crushing frame.
The M12 hardware is factory hardware.

[TxGearhead]

towpro wrote:

TxGearhead wrote:
Speaking of gens. I plan to put a receiver on the front of the Ram and carry gens and fuel on a cargo carrier in a box.
Has anyone had any truck cooling issues doing this?

Best front hitch I found for my 2015 was the Curt, but be careful, the bolts pass through the hollow frame and Curt gives torque specs like 90 lbs, which is enough to crush the frame rails. Use judgement.

I have not used mine but I do have the winter front for mine. been towing in the upper 50's with the winter front on and it did not even run hot so I am betting you can't put enough stuff on the front to make it over heat.

Thanks. I have the Curt on my Amazon wish list. I'll either buy and install it or shop around for a complete install job.
Using the fish wire in the frame isn't my idea of a good time. I just installed TORKLIFT tie downs using a fish wire and it wasn't fun.

[towpro]

TxGearhead wrote:
Speaking of gens. I plan to put a receiver on the front of the Ram and carry gens and fuel on a cargo carrier in a box.
Has anyone had any truck cooling issues doing this?

Best front hitch I found for my 2015 was the Curt, but be careful, the bolts pass through the hollow frame and Curt gives torque specs like 90 lbs, which is enough to crush the frame rails. Use judgement.

I have not used mine but I do have the winter front for mine. been towing in the upper 50's with the winter front on and it did not even run hot so I am betting you can't put enough stuff on the front to make it over heat.

[TxGearhead]

I found an aluminum cargo carrier on Amazon that has loops on the ends to carry bikes. It's a Tow Tuff TTF 2762ACBR. The tire loops are removable if you just want cargo. I need to measure all my junk and see what size box I need.
Thanks for the info about no overheating.

[umpqua]

WE have never hand an issue with overheating using a front cargo carrier or bike rack on our F350. Put a front hitch on and modified a Yakima bike carrier (had to shorten the tubes to reduce the height). Also have an aluminum cargo carrier. Highly recommend the aluminum, much easier to handle and no rust.

[TxGearhead]

Sounds like plenty around there to explore. Thanks for the good info.

[Spearfisherman7]

TxGearhead wrote:
I bet you love that Host.
Our Montana High Country is only 2 years old, so I'm guessing I would be major upside down on it if we wanted to sell it right now. Might wait another 2-3 years and pull it to PPL in Houston and see what interest it gets.
That's all good info on the parks. Weather cools off we may go check it out.
We enjoy kicking around Louisiana. Both our families are from there, way back. Opelousas, Lafayette, St. Martinsville, Abbeville, etc.

Also checkout bogue chitto sp and make a tubing trip down the river.

[TxGearhead]

I bet you love that Host.
Our Montana High Country is only 2 years old, so I'm guessing I would be major upside down on it if we wanted to sell it right now. Might wait another 2-3 years and pull it to PPL in Houston and see what interest it gets.
That's all good info on the parks. Weather cools off we may go check it out.
We enjoy kicking around Louisiana. Both our families are from there, way back. Opelousas, Lafayette, St. Martinsville, Abbeville, etc.

[Spearfisherman7]

TxGearhead wrote:
If you are in that area, what are your thoughts on Tickfaw State Park? I almost went there but it is farther off the interstate and unknown to me vs. the known Lakeside. I prefer anything besides a commercial campground.

Tickfaw is pretty nice. Pretty small cg that fills up on weekends. Do the canoe trip if you ever stop there. That part of the river is very small and quite. We saw a white albino gator our last trip. There's also riverside sp and fountaine blue sp a little further east that are really nice if your coming through mandeville area on I-12. They are pretty close to each other and I like fountaine blue better. The Abita bike trail goes right through the park. It's a paved RR track and is about 20 miles long. Some like riverside better because you have access to the river and lake ponchatrain.