New Member here with bigfoot questions

[scott fraser]

I will be picking up my parent's '85 20ft. Bigfoot 5th wheel at the end of this month in B.C. and bringing it back to Alberta. It has been stored at my brother's property in central B.C. for 3 years along with the 89 Ford stretch cab they used to pull it.

My mother wants this combination either sold, or one of us boys to take it (Dad passed away 2 years ago). I've told her I will take care of this as my brothers have no interest and indeed the brother who is storing it told me he thought the trailer was only worth about $2500.00 and the truck (89 Ford F150 extra cab with 178,000 km) was worth less than the tires he put on it... Yeah...he doesn't have a clue.

So..I'm in the position of having to bus out to Kamloops where he'll meet me with the truck and trailer, then bring this unit back to the Edmonton area. I've never driven a trailer besides utility ones. What in heck should I check out before pulling it? I know the tires are old for one thing. My brother assures me it was all fine when he parked it 3 years back.

He has installed a new toilet and removed the floor covering in the bathroom so I have to replace the flooring when I get back, that's a certainty.

I expect he hasn't maintained the water tanks other than draining them so I assume I'll have to flush them and use something to purify them too. What would work for that?

I plan to take along a camping stove for the trip back as I'm certain he hasn't filled or used the propane system in the 3 years he's had it. Should I fill a tank when I get back and use liquid soap to check all the fittings?

I plan to put 2 new tires on it, what would be best for a trailer like this? Do trailers take radials?

Should I plan on repacking the bearings if I'm going to use this trailer myself? Mom doesn't know what maintenance was done on it.

So...here I am. About to tear up my back yard to make a parking pad for this trailer. Thinking I might just keep it, and without a clue as to what I would ask if I decide to sell the truck and trailer. What's it worth? Certainly much more than $2500, heck the last two Boler's I looked at were priced at $2000 and needed work.

Help?

[Brian B-P]

...What in heck should I check out before pulling it?

There is a Buyer's Check List in FiberglassRV - see the link on the left side of the page - which may be useful. A recent topic, Checklist 7.0, provides suggestions for specific pre-travel items.

[Brian B-P]

Should I fill a tank when I get back and use liquid soap to check all the fittings?

Yes, I think a leak check is in order.

A propane tank doesn't need to be full to check for leaks... it just needs some liquid in it so it maintains pressure. When you fire up the appliances to check them out (after the leak check), you'll need more propane, but nothing in the trailer uses it as rapidly as a common home barbecue.

In addition to the soap method to check connections, you can get a pressure gauge (usually sold as a "safety" gauge or mis-named as a level gauge) which screws in between the tank and trailer hose; you open the tank to supply pressure, then close the tank valve and see if the pressure drops due to gas escaping (it shouldn't for quite a while). These gauges are typically $50 or more at RV places; go to Costco and get one for $15 ($30 at Canadian Tire or Home Deport).

Checking the propane system may be one thing you want to pay someone to do. RV shops routinely do relatively full RV condition checks (propane, water tanks and plumbing, waste water system, all appliances) for a flat rate, although that may be their way to fish for more work... if you know you need new brakes, for instance, don't take it to them so they can tear it down and announce that you must buy all the parts to be able to take your trailer home.

[Brian B-P]

I plan to put 2 new tires on it, what would be best for a trailer like this? Do trailers take radials?

This is a popular topic for intense debate in this forum. I suggest doing some searches (using the Search tool near the right side of the page, a row down from the top)... "radial" might be a good search keyword.

The short answer is [b]yes, trailers can use various types of tires, and the ones specifically designated for trailer use are now more common as radials than as bias-plys.

Since you're starting in a city (not the middle of nowhere), you might want to just buy tires there. If you are using the stock size in common trailer or light truck tires, they should be readily available, but the specific size may need to be ordered ahead of time.

[Brian B-P]

Should I plan on repacking the bearings if I'm going to use this trailer myself? Mom doesn't know what maintenance was done on it.

Repacking the bearings couldn't hurt, and would be a good opportunity to inspect the condition of the bearings when you get home. If they turn nicely without excessive play, I would just tow home on them as they are now... but that's just my opinion.

[R&SGove]

To sanitize the fresh water put 1/4 cup chlorine bleach in for every 15 gallons of fresh water. Let it run trough all the faucets until you smell bleach and then let it sit for a couple hours. Drain, fill with fresh water, run the fresh water through the taps, drain and repeat.

[Yves Pelchat]

I will be picking up my parent's '85 20ft. Bigfoot 5th wheel at the end of this month in B.C. and bringing it back to Alberta. It has been stored at my brother's property in central B.C. for 3 years along with the 89 Ford stretch cab they used to pull it.

Congrats on grabbing this sought after Bigfoot fifth wheeler. I'm sure that if you put some time and TLC in it, you'll end up with a nice and valuable trailer. But before you head back home with the trailer, you should definitely take a look at the condition of the tires, the brakes, the trailer wiring, and also, check the wheel bearings, and repack them with grease, if the need be. And DRIVE SLOWLY on the way home. If something happens, and you're driving slowly, you'll be OK.

Yves.

[Doug Mager]

....if it were me, I'd get the bearings looked after before headed back east just for safety sake, worrying about the other issues after you get SAFELY home

While you're at it, take a close look at the tires for signs of aging/cracking, you don't need a blow out on a busy mountain highway, do ya

[scott fraser]

Thanks very much for all the tips! I've removed a 30' spruce from my backyard and pulled out a section of fencing to allow this to back into the yard. Now I'm ready to place two rows of cement sidewalk blocks to park it on...but...

Anyone have any idea how wide the wheelbase would be on this?

[Roger H]

Thanks very much for all the tips! I've removed a 30' spruce from my backyard and pulled out a section of fencing to allow this to back into the yard. Now I'm ready to place two rows of cement sidewalk blocks to park it on...but...

Anyone have any idea how wide the wheelbase would be on this?

Scott, my best guess is that the trailer would be 8" wide. It would probably be safe to assume that the tires would be something like 7' on-center on the axle.

Roger

[Bigfoot Mike]

Scott, my best guess is that the trailer would be 8" wide. It would probably be safe to assume that the tires would be something like 7' on-center on the axle.

Roger

Roger, Did you mean 8’ (foot) wide?

(OK, I’ll go to my room... )

[Roger H]

No, no... Mike... it's only 8" wide... I measured it myself...

GO TO YOUR ROOM!!!!!

Rog

[scott fraser]

8" wow!.... darn, I coulda left that tree after all.


Thanks guys!

[Bigfoot Mike]

No, no... Mike... it's only 8" wide... I measured it myself...

GO TO YOUR ROOM!!!!!

Rog

(it’s hard to ever catch Rog...)

[Brian B-P]

...Now I'm ready to place two rows of cement sidewalk blocks to park it on...but...

Anyone have any idea how wide the wheelbase would be on this?

Well, the width from tire to tire is called "track", but we know what you meant!

The track is surprisingly narrow on some of these trailers, for those of us more accustomed to cars. With an 8' body (seems like a reasonable guess), and tires around 8" wide, if the tire sidewalls are flush with the body sides that would be a 7'4" track (always measured centre-to-centre); however, my Boler is well over 7' wide and the track is only 74" (6'2")

There are at least a couple of styles of Bigfoot fifth-wheels, but if it is a single axle unit perhaps it's like the one in the Bigfoot Album (no year specified)... my guess is that Roger's 7' value seems reasonable.

I would consider where the stabilizing or leveling jacks are, if there are any on the trailer; often they are well inboard of the tires. It would be good if they set down on the concrete, although extra blocks could be added where required if that's not a good fit with the block positions required for tire spacing.

[scott fraser]

Thanks everyone, I went with setting the blocks in two rows inside an 8' width. The sidewalk blocks are 2' wide so that ought to put the tires pretty much center on the blocks. I also kept 2 spare blocks in case the jacks are inside that width. I'm off by Greyhound on Friday to go pick it up.