What kind of camper do you have???

Awesome setup! Did you go with any additional height for bedding? Also curious why folks are opting for barn doors over a traditional hatch that will give you some rain protection?

 

I sure did; that was my biggest issue w the Habitat is that I couldnt keep bedding up there. With the propex install, I wont need a ton of bulky bags and bedding, so I'll have plenty of room.

The rain protection from a hatch wasnt that great, after running normal caps, and the Hab and now this camper. Water still drips down between the openings, and with the barn doors, you can hang more stuff on them, like kitchen thangs and what not. They are fairly robust and can handle a few large humans hanging on them without deformation.

 

Does anybody have any knowledge or experience with the Atwood heaters? We have a 1994 Starcraft Pop up and went late fall camping last year. I had gone thru and cleaned out the heater earlier in the year and got it firing. But as we went camping it the temps were dipping, the only way I could get the heater to light is if I went outside to the exhaust port as it was igniting and hold my hand up to the exhaust port. But if you didn't do that, it would just cycle until it coded out.

 

Just got back from a week in Howe Sound. The California sea lions were making all sorts of noise to welcome everyo ne to the area.

 

WOW...Beautiful camp site...Whats the name of the campground

 

The BC Provincial Park is called Porteau Cove.

 

Well that would be one heck of a ride from New England (Rhode Island). But I sure will put it on my bucket list when I retire and travel with camper in tow.

 

Book ahead as well This one is hard to get into. Shoulder seasons are a bit easier. It is about 45 minutes drive from our house so it makes for a quick get away. Coming from Rhode Island would probably take a bit more planning and a few tanks of gas

The sea lions appear in late winter and leave in early spring. Probably heading North towards Alaska following the food. Most campers are just annoyed with all the barking but we were far enough away to rarely hear them.

I am sure you have some great spots in your area.

 

So we had picked up a truck camper but it was way over payload. So sold it pulled the Tork lift mounts off(eventually will sell them) and started shopping. Found this beauty and loved the space. My wife was worried about towing. Neither one has towed before but I wasn’t to worried. Just take your time and learn. So we bought a brand new Keystone Passport Sl to tow behind Papa smurf. After the 40 mile drive home from the dealership. Asked my wife how she felt now and she said she forgot it was there a couple times. So happy with both my 2022s

 

Wheels on both almost match too!

 

told my wife next set of rims i buy, i may try and get matchy matchy lol

 

I tow a 2020 Coleman Lite 2605RL with my stock 2021 SR5 4x2 with tow package. Truck handles trailer just fine. Did spend the money and purchased a Reese 11.5k weight distribution hitch. Little overkill however I’d rather have a strong hitch system. I camp all over Arkansas and see an average of 9.5 MPH. I don’t try to break and speed records and I let the truck tell me what gear it wants to pull in. I try to keep the RPMs under 3000

 

Just bought this 2022 Black Series HQ17. Been testing everything out hooked up to shore power outside my house and towing it around Oceanside. Shakedown trip planned for this weekend!

 

That trailer looks very robust and heavy duty!

 

Yeah man emphasis on the “heavy” haha. It’s very tongue-heavy.

Being very conscientious about weight and momentum when driving. It tows great and has decent suspension and drum brakes. No issues so far.

 

Nice trailer! We've got the Keystone 268BH. Is that what that one is? Looking at a 2022-23 Tundra as a tow vehicle, and we have ~610+ lbs of family and dog that would be going with us on a 820 lb tongue weight. Not too excited to find the 'payload capacity' on these new Tundras often ring it at only 1,355 lbs, even on the SR5s I've looked at. Mind letting me know what yours is, as well as if the trailer is the same length? Thanks! :-D

 

thank you. mine is a keystone passport sl 221bh. no mine is only a 22' where yours is a 26' with our family of 3 and our dog we are about the same weight. we have taken the trailer out twice now and it handles it really easy. with the wdh on there my wife is fairly at ease. she was nervous cause she never been in a tow rig. so the first trip was a 40 minute drive from the dealership. so i asked her how she felt and she said she forgot it was there until she looked in the mirror. and keep in mind it was on a liquid sun shine day here, sorry that what we call rain storms, so i was expecting her to white knuckle it the entire way home

 

Good looking rig sir. Glad you ditched the slide in. Your prior posts about being “a little over payload” with that slide in were a bit misleading to others.

 

I'll say we have to be pretty dang close! We also have 3 kids and a dog, along with the WDH and our 820lb loaded trailer tongue weight we ring in at over 1,400 lbs. Of course the kids are just going to keep getting bigger(they are now 9, 10, and 12), and we currently are at the payload capacity on our 1500. Can't even really put bikes or a good-sized cooler in the back without wanting to go over the limit. We also have the 5'7" bed, and I've really been eyeing the Tundra as the 6'5" bed would really be additional stability. Haven't had anything to really worry about yet, luckily, but don't want to have to worry about it. That, and another foot of space in the bed never hurt! What is the stated payload max on your sticker? Sounds like it's pretty solid, and it also sounds like Toyota is rather conservative with their payload max ratings. I've seen around where a 1,395 lbs sticker may be more like 1,680 lbs when comparing the weight and GCVR. Not quite comforting they don't include 'all' of the difference on the stated 'payload', however.

 

Got word that our 2023 Bigfoot 25B25RQ twin bed model should be ready by mid to late June! The new Tundra will be plenty broken in and have had its first oil change by the time we can drive out west to pick up the new trailer. Close to 4 years of research and saving is coming to an end. Can’t wait!

 

Congrats. Especially on the savings part.

 

Does Bigfoot have a Ontario distributor? are you heading to Armstrong, BC to tour the Bigfoot factory and get your trailer? Sounds like a great trip if so.

 

Yes. One. RV Canada in Ottawa.
We will be. Hopefully sometime in July when I have vacation. No time in June unfortunately.
Thanks bud! Only driven our own vehicle as far as Brandon. Haven’t driven a rental anywhere between Chilliwack and Banff. Will be new territory for sure.

 

That is really nice! The 360 views show an underbody pan. Does it have that too?

 

It does. The underbelly is heated so it’s a technically considered a 4 season trailer.

 

That's nice. Hell, real damned nice. My Gulfstream has a the fresh water line from the tank just hanging out in the breeze. You did your homework. I just bought the one my wife liked the looks of.

 

Last trip before the Eibach 2.0’s, RAS, Methods, and tires go on. If anyone is looking at Ember’s I would suggest a 2023 or later, it’s getting fixed but there have been more issues with this ‘22 than I would prefer. Spent 3/4 of its life so far getting warranty work, but I still love the setup lol.

 

Thanks! Oh boy did we ever! Took us close to 3 years of shopping and research to finally decide what we would purchase. I’d shown her a Bigfoot in the very beginning and she’d poopooed the interior styling. We almost bought an Airstream then a General Coach Canada Citation Reward then a few used trailers. Finally came back to the Bigfoot and made up our mind.

 

Itty bitty.

 

Nice rig! Do you carry that in the truck bed? Or the glove box!