Hi Zach, thanks so much for this rebuilding series. I own a 1987 17' Bigfoot trailer just like yours, and just like yours it needs to be gutted and rebuilt. Your videos have provided a road map to help me with my rebuild. I have moved on to a truck camper just to get away from having to tow, but I may rebuild the Bigfoot to sell it. Yours turned out so well. I really like the white interior, it really brightens up the insides. Good job!!!
Great job and thank you for sharing all your work on the trailer...I look forward to seeing this rig on your future trips! Yes, I agree with the design and how you can use this relatively small trailer for sleeping a small family while still having a kitchen and bath.
The DIY elements in your camper build are so inspiring. It shows what's possible with some hard work and imagination. Great job on this one! One of my all time favourites yet!! Can't wait to see this baby outdoors in your next few camping videos, maybe even on tour through the U.S! Thanks for all your help and teachings with this process.
Wow you did a fantastic job I have a 2003 exact same layout it's hard to find anything on these trailers and I was surprised to see mine is pretty much identical to yours I really appreciate what you've done to yours I love mine and of all the other things I own I want to fifth wheel in a scamp trailer and if I have to sell those I will not sell my big foot it will be the last thing even if I end up living in it
Zac, Thank you! Been following this series. This is the best documented info on the Bigfoot 17 on the net. What a great job. I'm using this as a guide as I'm not a carpenter. lol. You should add the valve kit PN to the video description. For others out there, there is a cheap Amazon 30a twist lock with regular 15a plug adapter that fits the old holes for wire plug. The roof rib rebuild is a major problem on this vintage. Did you add any extra structure behind the bunk strap mounts? Any additional structure for an awning? Factory didn't add anything unless the awning came from the factory. FYI Grote makes an almost exact replacement for the marker lights. 45413 I believe.
Thanks for following along. And the great tips for future big foot renovators! I put the Amazon link in the description… I just bought it from there, it wasn’t that bad i think so where around 40$ Your right I saw that there was no blocking for the awning…. That’s crazy. I took two layers of 1/2 plywood and added blocking behind each awning arms at the top and bottom. Your right so many problems start from a soft roof also there were no drain holes in the bottom fiberglass pan so it just became a big swimming pool. 😬 Thanks again for the tips! 👍
I love your idea of using the speaker wire that's inside the sheath. One thing I hate in my van is the individual wires flopping around. No matter how much you try to secure them and tie them it just doesn't work. Maybe a winter project is to replace some of my lines with your wire. I have the similar USB plugs that you put into your trailer. The only thing to watch out for is on mine it has LED lights underneath the plastic covers. Not a big deal except it's a phantom draw. So I actually put an on/off switch on mine just to stop the Phantom draw when I'm not using the van.
Great tips thanks! I hear you about the individual wires…. It’s also nice to have dedicated ground circuits at each fixture. If you are running a few circuits you could also get the speaker wire with 4 wires in the sheathing.
Be careful of the Reflectex that you put around your hot water tank. The melting point for it is actually very low. I found this out one day when my Dad called me from the side of the road saying that his motorhome had filled with smoke and he had a plastic burning smell. It seems that he put some of that inside the dog house to try to cut down on the heat and noise from the engine getting into the cab and it started melting. It actually wasn't close to any thing that should have caused it to melt or burn. But the heat from the engine was enough to melt it and to give the burning melting smell. Not sure where the heating happens for the tank but if the material is close you may get melting / smell. If you put some fibreglass around the tank then the Reflectex you should be okay.
Thank you for the series. It's great to get some great ideas on a retrofit.
Well done 👍
Glad you like them!
Hi Zach, thanks so much for this rebuilding series. I own a 1987 17' Bigfoot trailer just like yours, and just like yours it needs to be gutted and rebuilt. Your videos have provided a road map to help me with my rebuild. I have moved on to a truck camper just to get away from having to tow, but I may rebuild the Bigfoot to sell it. Yours turned out so well. I really like the white interior, it really brightens up the insides. Good job!!!
Glad it could help a bit. I would totally recommend rebuilding it! They are such beautiful little trailers once done!
I’m saving this video for when I’m ready to start my camper remodel
Thankx for your detailed process
Glad it’s helpful!
Great job and thank you for sharing all your work on the trailer...I look forward to seeing this rig on your future trips! Yes, I agree with the design and how you can use this relatively small trailer for sleeping a small family while still having a kitchen and bath.
Thanks!
Hi Zach, your brother got me hooked to your videos, Bigfoot fan here from Beaverlodge, AB. Great channel and superb work! Thx.
Glad to have you along. Bigfoot trailers are awesome
The DIY elements in your camper build are so inspiring. It shows what's possible with some hard work and imagination. Great job on this one! One of my all time favourites yet!! Can't wait to see this baby outdoors in your next few camping videos, maybe even on tour through the U.S! Thanks for all your help and teachings with this process.
Thanks so much!
Thank you for sharing this video, I love the camper and you've done an excellent job restoring it! What is the weight of this trailer?
Thanks!
1876lbs dry. It’s very light for its size
@@waysoutback Thank you for the reply!
Glad you put out another update! ❤❤❤
Thanks!
Wow sure turned out nice. You are so talented.
Thanks so much 😊
Great job!
Love this channel
Glad to hear it!👍
Wow you did a fantastic job I have a 2003 exact same layout it's hard to find anything on these trailers and I was surprised to see mine is pretty much identical to yours I really appreciate what you've done to yours I love mine and of all the other things I own I want to fifth wheel in a scamp trailer and if I have to sell those I will not sell my big foot it will be the last thing even if I end up living in it
Thank you so much! It’s a great camper! The best layouts of any out there in my opinion. How long have you had yours?
Zac, Thank you! Been following this series. This is the best documented info on the Bigfoot 17 on the net. What a great job. I'm using this as a guide as I'm not a carpenter. lol.
You should add the valve kit PN to the video description.
For others out there, there is a cheap Amazon 30a twist lock with regular 15a plug adapter that fits the old holes for wire plug.
The roof rib rebuild is a major problem on this vintage. Did you add any extra structure behind the bunk strap mounts? Any additional structure for an awning? Factory didn't add anything unless the awning came from the factory.
FYI Grote makes an almost exact replacement for the marker lights. 45413 I believe.
Thanks for following along. And the great tips for future big foot renovators!
I put the Amazon link in the description… I just bought it from there, it wasn’t that bad i think so where around 40$
Your right I saw that there was no blocking for the awning…. That’s crazy. I took two layers of 1/2 plywood and added blocking behind each awning arms at the top and bottom. Your right so many problems start from a soft roof also there were no drain holes in the bottom fiberglass pan so it just became a big swimming pool. 😬
Thanks again for the tips! 👍
I love your idea of using the speaker wire that's inside the sheath. One thing I hate in my van is the individual wires flopping around. No matter how much you try to secure them and tie them it just doesn't work. Maybe a winter project is to replace some of my lines with your wire.
I have the similar USB plugs that you put into your trailer. The only thing to watch out for is on mine it has LED lights underneath the plastic covers. Not a big deal except it's a phantom draw. So I actually put an on/off switch on mine just to stop the Phantom draw when I'm not using the van.
Great tips thanks! I hear you about the individual wires…. It’s also nice to have dedicated ground circuits at each fixture. If you are running a few circuits you could also get the speaker wire with 4 wires in the sheathing.
Is there a video on how to polish the exterior, and how to reseal the windows? This is a great series, thanks so much
I’m so sorry I looked back over my videos I thought I had one on windows but I don’t! Glad enjoyed the series. Thank you for the comment.
Be careful of the Reflectex that you put around your hot water tank. The melting point for it is actually very low.
I found this out one day when my Dad called me from the side of the road saying that his motorhome had filled with smoke and he had a plastic burning smell.
It seems that he put some of that inside the dog house to try to cut down on the heat and noise from the engine getting into the cab and it started melting. It actually wasn't close to any thing that should have caused it to melt or burn. But the heat from the engine was enough to melt it and to give the burning melting smell.
Not sure where the heating happens for the tank but if the material is close you may get melting / smell.
If you put some fibreglass around the tank then the Reflectex you should be okay.
Good tips thanks for sharing, I’ll keep my eye on it! 👍