a new member! Towing 1984 Bigfoot 19

[SAMPARK]

Hi all,
This website looks like I am in early 2000 but I feel tenderness!

I had owned 1977 Beachcomber B15 for 3 years. I sold it two weeks ago and got the Bigfoot 19 last Sunday! I don't know Civic or Corolla are able to pull it. My car has: Turbo Diesel 4 cyl, 5 speed standard transmission, 2" receiver, Air lift 1000, Malone stage 2, upgraged turbocharger, camshaft and clutch.

When taking off I feel little bit heavier than the B15 but when driving straight and backing up I feel the tandem axle makes more stable and easier

[rgrugg]

Originally Posted by SAMPARK

Hi all,

This website looks like I am in early 2000 but I feel tenderness!



I had owned 1977 Beachcomber B15 for 3 years. I sold it two weeks ago and got the Bigfoot 19 last Sunday! I don't know Civic or Corolla are able to pull it. My car has: Turbo Diesel 4 cyl, 5 speed standard transmission, 2" receiver, Air lift 1000, Malone stage 2, upgraged turbocharger, camshaft and clutch.



When taking off I feel little bit heavier than the B15 but when driving straight and backing up I feel the tandem axle makes more stable and easier

In my opinion that’s an inappropriate tow vehicle. Bigfoot trailers are heavy compared to other fiberglass trailers and I think are wider than others. Corolla isa small car. You don’t want the tail wagging the dog.

[David Tilston]

I sure do like Bigfoot 19's. Any interior pictures?

The last picture is of your Beachcomber.

[FRED SMAILES]

That's a beautiful trailer!
I'm sure the tow vehicle in the pics is capable of pulling it but its hitch is inadequate, IMO, and probably illegal.
I totally agree that people don't need a diesel dually to pull a boler
but I think that trailer should have a decent truck in front of it,
for the safety of you, your family and the general public.
Enjoy your new trailer!
Fred

[Daniel A.]

A transmission cooler would be a must, personally I would not pull with that combination in the mountains but flat prairie roads could be fine as long as there are no strong cross winds. My 17" loaded weighs 3000 lbs. I pull with a Chevy Tahoe mostly mountains.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Daniel A.

A transmission cooler would be a must, personally I would not pull with that combination in the mountains but flat prairie roads could be fine as long as there are no strong cross winds. My 17" loaded weighs 3000 lbs. I pull with a Chevy Tahoe mostly mountains.

It's a stick shift. People do some serious towing with those VW diesels. At some point the EU-spec Jetta and the NA-spec Jetta parted ways. This looks like it might be from before the split, in which case it may have a fairly robust EU tow rating, which could also mean the hitch and hitch mounting points are adequate. Can-Am does set up similar vehicles for towing surprisingly large trailers. No idea if they were involved with this one.

Of course it's way beyond the North American tow rating (1000#, maybe?). Definitely not something I'd be comfortable doing.

[akreese]

Lucky you to have found a 19 footer! That said, we bought our 2003 Lil Bigfoot 17 footer last Summer from a seller in the Lower 48. We towed it back to Alaska (our home) from Minnesota in June. We used our 2000 Tahoe which we have owned for 20 years, maintained well, and kept in Minnesota due to our frequent trips to that State over the years. The frame of the Tahoe is a truck frame and it came equipped with a tow package. The Bigfoot had an anti-sway bar on it when we took title. We crossed at Alberta and took the Alcan route home through BC and the Yukon. We were heavy because we had enough food and water on board that we could be self sufficient for the entire trip except for gas. We drove in tow mode most of the way and I can tell you that the Tahoe was barely adequate for some of the steeper terrain we drove. Easy tow on the flats but even on the flats, the roads get very rough around Lake Kluane and Destruction Bay, and also from the border to Tok, Alaska. When we returned to Anchorage, we towed the trailer with our 2500 HD diesel truck which was easy to do even on steep mountain pass areas on the Kenai. Based on our experience towing with both vehicles, I would agree that you want a truck (or a newer SUV) in front of you when towing a Bigfoot, especially a 19 footer, in the mountain terrain in your part of the world. I hope this helps you decide the issue and wish you the best of luck on the road. Happy camping��