Is there such a thing as a 15 foot Bigfoot?

[Cam A]

This is one of those Goldilocks things - the 13 foot is just a little too small, and the 17 foot is a little too big - a 15 foot would be just right. Did they ever make a 15 foot version?

[Roger H]

I can't say they've never built one, 'cause I just don't know that for sure... but I've never seen nor heard of one!

Try a 17' on for size... an '04 or earlier... you might like it!

Roger

[Gina D.]

Are you tug restricted?

If not, you would find a 17 is NOT too big.. LOL. You'll find all kinds of ways to use the space.

I moved up from a 13 to a 17 and am quite pleased. The biggest advantage besdies being able to not trip on things, is that set up is actually faster. No unloading stuff to get to other stuff.

All the rest is the same, you still have to level, plug in and fill up, but trailer size doesn't make that more difficult or slower.

[Con]

Bigfoot plant down the highway from us was building 15 footers up until about 2 years ago. The dealers tell me that they are not making them any more, 17' being the smallest. So of coarse they go to twin axles, much heavier unit, higher price and taxes, and so on.
Last year I did see a 1993 15' Bigfoot on one of the lots near us that was almost mint condition. I think they were asking around $12,000 for it. Not bad considering the new prices and its condition. I did spot 2 new 15 footers on a dealer lot over in Kamloops, B.C last summer. So there are still some around in good shape and some dealers may still have old stock. The reason I bring this up was I was almost tempted to get rid of our 77 Boler and get a 15' Bigfoot. When the dealer said no 15 footers and tried to sell me a 17' for $32,000 on the road I said "NO Thanks". I will keep our Boler!

[Charlie C]

Hi Cam, other than the Bigfoot, the closest that you are likely going to get to a 15ft trailer is the Trillium 4500 which is actually about 14 3/4 feet. The layout is basically the same as 1300, but you get a full size bed and slightly more counter space and larger cupboard.

Here is a link to some information on the 4500 Trillium that a company in California is planning on building. There are quite a few available for sale from time to time, but they seem to command a little higher price. There was one on Auto Trader in Ontario in the last week or 2 that the owner was looking for $6800 Canadian. Photos looked like the unit was tidy.

[Steve C.]

I don't think Bigfoot ever made a 15' version, they made a 17' up until 2004 when it was replaced by the 17.5 foot version for 05. There may be some confusion regarding how the units are measured - Bigfoot uses the approximate overall length including the trailer tongue. The body length may well be approximately 15', which may explain another reply insisting there is a 15' version. The 17 foot trailers were also referred to as the 1500 series with model numbers 15B17CB and 15B17G , listed overall length of 16' 7" - hence the 17 in the model numbers. The 15 indicates 1500 series, not 15 feet but I can see how one might easily make a different assumption.
To my knowledge, Bigfoot only ever manufactured 13, 17, 17.5, 19, 21, and 25 foot trailers (Bigfoot's model description) over the years in the molded fiberglass style.

[Brian B-P]

The 17.5 foot 2500-series Bigfoot is still single-axle, although the larger models are tandems. From what I have seen, all Bigfoot tag (not fifth-wheel) models under 18' are singles, and all over 18' are tandems. The 17.5 units are models <strike>25B17G or</strike> 25B175G or 25B17.5G (Gaucho), and <strike>25B17CB or</strike> 25B175CB or 25B17.5CB (Centre Bath) - their web site has inconsistent <strike>length specifications in the</strike> model names, depending on page.

A 25B175xx may not be as equivalent to other 17' trailers (such as my Boler B1700RGH or the 17' Burro) as it may appear at first glance - the Bigfoot is 400 pounds heavier and is also wider. You get more for the weight, but by the time the cargo is added it's just too much trailer for tow vehicles with 3500 lb tow ratings. I can see how it can be "a little too big" - it is for me. Even the 1500 series was almost as heavy.

In my recent checks of the Boat, Bike and RV Trader, the most common used moulded fiberglass travel trailer here in Alberta is probably the 15B17 series.

[Roger H]

There isn't a 25B17 model. The 17' trailers were all 1500 series. The 2500 series small trailer is a 17.5' or 25B175. The primary difference is hull shape and insulation. The 1500 series has 1" of foam insulation; the 2500 series has 1.5" and is slightly heavier.

My '04 17' center bath is almost exactly the same weight as my 16' Scamp custom deluxe side dinette according to both factories "as equipped" weights. I think it'd be tough to overload that 3500 lb axle under my 17'.

Roger

[Brian B-P]

...The 17.5 units are models 25B17G or 25B175G or 25B17.5G (Gaucho), and 25B17CB or 25B175CB or 25B17.5CB (Centre Bath) - their web site has inconsistent length specifications in the model names, depending on page...

Perhaps this wasn't clear. The only current single-axle Bigfoot trailer is 17.5 feet long, the Bigfoot web site has inconsistent model names.

There isn't a 25B17 model... The 2500 series small trailer is a 17.5' or 25B175.

Yes, the 2500 series "small" trailer is about 17.5 feet long, and I'll believe that that the model name is supposed to be 25B175.

[Roger H]

Brian, I must be missing something... other than on the specifications page where they insert a period on the 17.5 in the model name, the naming convention on the 2500 series trailers appear to be consistent...

The 2500 series 17.5' trailer and the 1500 series 17' trailers are quite different though...

Can you link to what you're seeing?

Roger

[Brian B-P]

I can believe that interior fittings are much of the difference in these similarly-sized trailers. My Boler's interior materials - thin wood framing and very thin wood panelling with a printed "woodgrain" pattern - are quite light compared to some of the materials I have seen in "solid wood" RV interiors. It might not be due to equipment (often blamed for high as-equipped weight) as I have a furnace, water heater, electric water pump, four-burner stove with oven...

Can you link to what you're seeing?

Well, I went back through the pages, and indeed only the dot is missing... the "5" is there; although I was sure one of the pages was missing it, I must have read "175G" as 17SG", or something like that.

Of course the series part of the model (15 or 25) is the important part.

[Roger H]

There are a number of differences between the 15B17 and 25B175 models other than the half-foot of length. The shell itself is very different. The 25 series top mold is taller than the bottom mold. On the 15 series they're about equal. The front of the two trailers look very different in molding. The interior cabinets are quite different in their layout, although the materials are similar. Further, the plumbing and fresh, gray, and black tank location and sizes are different, leading to different balance for the trailers. They dropped some of the features in the 17' like the stove/oven combo and use a smaller stove. There are other functional and design differences as well. I believe the GVWR rating on the 25B175 was increased to 4300 lbs over the 15B17's 3500 lbs. The base dry weight was increased 275 lbs from 2620 to 2895 lbs.

Roger

[Steve C.]

As Roger has pointed out, the 25B175 is very different from the 15B17. The actual difference in overall length may be more like 10", as Bigfoot's specs show the 15B17 as 16'7" overall versus 17'5" for the newer version. The 25B175 also has a larger capacity 3" diameter axle with bigger 12" brakes in a 4" drop configuration to accomodate a stacked 4" frame reinforcement making the frame 8" deep in the center span.
These structural changes along with the thicker body insulation account for much of the significantly greater weight of the new version. I would imagine a fully equipped 25B175 could easily approach it's 4300lb GVW while in camping trim with a full water tank.
I base this assumption on the fact that the last time I weighed my 15B17CB (with a partially filled water tank), I found it to be at it's maximum axle load rating of 3500lbs while attached to my tow vehicle with the WD bars engaged.

[Roger H]

I base this assumption on the fact that the last time I weighed my 15B17CB (with a partially filled water tank), I found it to be at it's maximum axle load rating of 3500lbs while attached to my tow vehicle with the WD bars engaged.

Steve, actually, you've got a little room to breathe here... what you weighed was the entire weight of the trailer (sans tongue weight) including your axle, springs, wheels and tires. The axle and tires are probably around 400 lbs themselves, so you're probably at about 3100 lbs for the sprung load which doesn't exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating l(GAWR) oad of 3500 lbs. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) on these trailers is the same as the GAWR which is the design maximum axle load.

You're still ok, and well within the design limits of the axle...

Roger

[Brian B-P]

Roger has a good point about the way axle makers define the load on their axles, so I agree that the axle is okay. The GVW, on the other hand, does include the unsprung weight (wheels, tires, axle, springs...) and the tongue weight, so if Bigfoot actually meant the GVWR is 3500 lb (not just that the trailer weight is limited by the axle), then Steve's 15B17CB is well over it. In practice, I doubt there's a problem with the trailer.

Since tires are often sized to just barely accommodate the axle's capacity, it would be interesting to check on their pressure and ratings at that pressure.

Of course, this has nothing to do with the non-existent 15-foot Bigfoot...