truck camper magazine bigfoot

My relationship with Rhinokore created the opportunity for Bigfoot to return to the original facility. But then they have an aluminum framing that literally conducts heat and cold and condensation directly into their units. To visit the Bigfoot website, go to BigfootRV.com. I don’t have an answer as to when. Surprisingly the Capri is rated in your top ten. Grant: I mainly worked on the production line. Making a long anticipated return to Truck Camper Magazine, we were eager to interview Grant Bilodeau on his company’s incredible story, high-end clamshell fiberglass truck campers, and vision for the future. Nothing happens without a sale. With most things I take a conservative and safe approach. Home » Truck Camper News » Bigfoot On The Move. I want to make sure our business and production is consistent and steady. Apr 30, 2019 - We review a 2019 Bigfoot 25C9.4SB, a wet bath, short bed camper. Bigfoot’s long bed floor plans are the 25C10.6, 25C10.4, 25C9.6LB, 25C9.4LB, 15C9.5FRLB, and 15C9.5FSLB. It was quite an undertaking to redevelop each model. The 2500-series features basements and the 1500-series are non-basement designs. Many of the original jigs and equipment were sold when the original company shut down. I want to make sure what we produce will not be a burden to the customer or to us to support. Then Grant makes a surprise announcement that will astound the entire truck camper marketplace. Grant: August of 2010. Bigfoot quality is consistent in all units, from the choice of high standard construction materials to the finest finishing touches. Fortunately, Grant Bilodeau, Bigfoot’s former Operations Manager with 30 years of experience, was able to purchase the Bigfoot name, fiberglass molds, and other critical assets. Dad had me repairing car bodies from early on. This was my start and entry into the workforce. There is no wiggle room. Then Grant makes a surprise announcement that will astound the entire truck camper marketplace. CSA is a listing agency which lists the products using the Z240 code. Put another way, I have extremely high standards. Terry worked for both Clyde and Irwin who owned a fiberglass tub company and was looking for a way to start his own company. TCM: Did you ever work with the molds and fiberglass? Most everything else between the two lines is identical. We have a long way to go before we will have a separate truck camper and travel trailer line. All dry weights, specifications, capacities, and photographs were provided by Bigfoot RV. Northern Lite? And then there’s the 2500-series slide-out. TCM: Please put Truck Camper Magazine at the top of the list to make the 2500-series slide-out announcement when you’re ready. Warranties are in place out of necessity, but we are here for the long term to take care of our customers. It just made sense. Calgary, Alberta. $19,950. This site is your best direct link to discovering why a Bigfoot Travel Trailer or Truck Camper is meant for you. Grant: We are looking to design and develop new floor plans. To put his Battle Born lithium batteries to … His vision was to eliminate the weak points from RV construction including the framing, seams, and joints. The gentlemen that had acquired the company’s assets weren’t doing anything and eventually started shopping for someone to purchase it. The 2021 Bigfoot 15C9.5FS is a hard-side, non-slide, wet bath, long or short bed truck camper. Everything works, inside material has been recovered. I do not make sacrifices with quality. Can you guess the... 393. I started in prefab, but was soon put at the front of the production line on final finishing. I’m on a first name basis with everyone who works at Bigfoot. All Rights Reserved. Bigfoot trailer . Are there any plans to bring back the 3000-series products with Bigfoot’s patented Fibercore Wall system? More information 2019 Bigfoot 25C9.4SB Review - Truck Camper Magazine We are always improving. I now have a team member who worked with Bruce. Their American pick-up truck and Canadian camper towers over the European vehicles. There is nothing about this rig that belongs in this setting, and yet there it is. Our 2500-series truck campers have R-8 walls with 30,000 BTU furnaces and thermal pane glass windows. To locate your nearest Bigfoot truck camper dealer, check the Dealer Inventory section and New Camper Arrivals. It was started by Rick Allen, a Bigfoot motorhome owner, many years ago. (laughs)  We have lots of people who ask that question, but no. The long term relationship was already there. Bigfoot Truck Camper Review of Sorts. That’s so important. We currently have a strong west coast presence and are looking to build on that. Above: Truck camper pre-fab, production, and final finishing at Bigfoot Industries. It wasn’t that we weren’t capable of putting a slide in a 2500-series, but our development was focused on the 3000-series and motorhomes. TCM: That must have been a good feeling. Located at 4114 Crozier Rd., Armstrong, British Columbia, V0E 1B6, (250)-546 … For further information on this model, check out the Bigfoot 9.4 Review. I’ve done pretty much everything else for production. TCM: How did things progress for you at Bigfoot? It’s a part of me. Current Bigfoot team members, Rob Ferroux and Brian McKenzie, earned their green belt in LEAN. weighted average selling price. From that point, the new Bigfoot Industries moved forward; methodically increasing production, team members, and dealers. TCM: You just made a lot of people very excited. Nobody is perfect, but we are working very hard to be the best version of what we can be. Now we have Dennis Allen order what they need when they need it. Grant: Having been on the operational side of the company, I was able to create a list of the best people from each department. Hint: What’s the one thing the 2500-series has always been missing? $ 10,500 . The auto body skills I learned working with my father became very handy later when I became a supervisor and was managing fiberglass repair staff. Grant Bilodeau, President of Bigfoot Industries, talks about how Bigfoot truck campers and trailers are on the move. Welcome to the third entry in January’s Mega Mod Contest. Latest: Camper Nose Rebuild and Crossword Puzzle. Truck Camper Adventure is a free, online magazine offering truck camper news, reviews, travel tips, and more. If we can continue to do that, we don’t have to worry about the competition. TCM: Why was it worth going through all the expanse and effort to bring back Bigfoot? Above: The 40-foot vertical press at Bigfoot Industries. Grant: The 2500-series has 1.5-inch walls and the 1500-series has 1-inch walls. We cover all types of truck campers here at Truck Camper Adventure. The MSRP of the 15C9.5FSLB is $33,344 USD and the 15c9.5FSSB is $32,880 USD. For example, you need a team in the fiberglass shop that specializes in and understands the art of working with fiberglass. TCM: What’s the difference between the 2500-series and 1500-series? Grant: I was just talking to one of our dealers just before this interview. Bigfoot’s exposure was not just truck campers, but also travel trailers and big motorhomes. We made sure to exceed that expectation. You also want people that you trust. I did a lot of the touch-ups in the interior of the units after they were completed on the assembly line. Then we started with dealers on the west coast of the United States. I can also answer almost any question, or demonstrate what I’m talking about. No other truck camper manufacturer that failed during the Great Recession made such a comeback. *Bigfoot 25C9.4SB: dry weight, 2,980 pounds + 38 gallons fresh, 316.9 pounds + 6 gallon water heater, 50 pounds + 2x 20-pound full propane tanks, 40 pounds + 2 batteries, 130 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 4,016.9 pounds. The second-to-none two-piece fiberglass construction and industry leading four-season capabilities are a big part of what makes a Bigfoot a Bigfoot. Many of our team members have twenty and even thirty years of experience at Bigfoot. Appliances are covered under their own respective warranties. TCM: The original Bigfoot Industries had earned LEAN certification for its just-in-time inventory practices, elimination of unnecessary material waste, consistency of quality and quality control, and culture of continuous improvement. My phrase is, “It’s either a Bigfoot, or it’s not.”  If I see something on the production line or on a unit that isn’t fitting to the Bigfoot name, that’s the phrase I use with the team. Above: Bigfoot molds ready for next production sequence. Grant: I have the 40-foot vertical press, but I struggle with whether or not to bring it back. .. We work with an independent inspection company in Canada that inspects our production for the Canadian and US codes. The 2021 Bigfoot 25C10.4 is a hard-side, non-slide, dry bath, long bed truck camper with an MSRP of $45,482 USD. By Gordon White. We cover all types of truck campers here at Truck Camper Adventure. TCM: Are you planning to develop any new truck camper floor plans, or continue to refine the models you offer? Welcome to the second entry in January’s Mega Mod Contest. Article from truckcampermagazine.com. Apr 2, 2010 #1 We just spent two weeks traveling throughout Baja with our truck camper. Grant Bilodeau, President of Bigfoot Industries, talks about Bigfoot truck campers and trailers. Bigfoot On The Move. Bigfoot 10.4 Fiberglass Shower Stall The one-piece molded fiberglass shower stall is as good as it gets. We will never do motorhomes again. May 22, 2019 - Grant Bilodeau, President of Bigfoot Industries, talks about Bigfoot truck campers and trailers. Home » Buyers Guide » Hard Side Campers » Bigfoot Camper Buyers Guide. I spend a considerable amount of time in the plant working with our production team. The 2021 Bigfoot 25C10.6 is a hard-side, non-slide, dry bath, long bed truck camper with an MSRP of $44,304 USD. It’s a solid and bonded foundation which is fiberglassed into place. TCM: You bought Bigfoot Industries by yourself? This press was used for 3000 and 4000-series products. Of the six truck camper manufacturers struck down during the Great Recession, perhaps none was more shocking than the demise of Bigfoot Industries. Bigfoot On The Move. The same 9½ foot short box camper as a 1500-series camper is about 2,500 pounds. Having previously managed three lines at Bigfoot, there has to be a good reason to do it. With the repurchase agreements manufacturers were forced to sign, Bigfoot had to buy back RVs from every Bigfoot dealer that shut down, most of this coming out of the United States. New Bigfoot pickup campers are for sale through Bigfoot dealers in the United States and Canada. It’s either right or it isn’t. The Bigfoot product on dealer lots became a huge liability. Apr 16, 2011 #2 2aroundtheworld said: When I told my friend that I bought a Bigfoot camper and a GMC truck, he sent me this picture of his neighbor's camper... Click to expand... A little bit of cleaning would make the camper look fine. The experience also helps when I’m working with a team member to solve a problem, or when I need show someone the Bigfoot quality standard for a particular step. As a result, our campers are good for camping to -10 degrees Fahrenheit (- 23 degrees Celcius). Bigfoot quality is consistent in all units, from the choice of high standard construction materials to the finest finishing touches. When I told my friend that I bought a Bigfoot camper and a GMC truck, he sent me this picture of his neighbor's camper... cwsqbm Explorer. 2 days ago. Here you see a fiberglass shell cut-out for a rear compartment on the production line. May 22, 2019 - Grant Bilodeau, President of Bigfoot Industries, talks about Bigfoot truck campers and trailers. I also have a copy of each unit’s file here at the factory. They are a great group of people. The team I managed included the assembly line, cabinet stop, prefab, and upholstery. Through a life me of four season adventure & fun, there’s a Bigfoot RV perfect for you. We were very aware that dealers, suppliers, and retail customers lost trust with the company when the shut down occurred. In building a two-piece fiberglass RV, Bigfoot was leaping decades ahead of the competition. That’s what makes Bigfoot products the best. Back in 2008, Bruce Paracholski was Bigfoot’s Design Manager. With a base MSRP of $43,260, the 2018 Bigfoot 25C10.4 is a premium-priced non-slide truck camper, but you can literally see the quality at every turn. .. Grant: Yes, I bought the company independently. LEAN also focuses on problem solving and how different situations are approached. TCM: I thought not. Any sense of timing on a 2500 slide-out truck camper? *Bigfoot 25C10.6: dry weight, 3,180 pounds + 50 gallons fresh, 417 pounds + 6 gallon water heater, 50 pounds + 2x 20-pound full propane tanks, 40 pounds + 2 batteries, 130 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 4,317 pounds. For a free Bigfoot Camper brochure, click here. Above: The current production team and facilities at Bigfoot Industries. Truck Camper Ratings Bigfoot 10.4 Floor Plan Evaluation. TCM: We really appreciate you talking to us about Bigfoot Industries. TCM: Let me challenge you on your “never say never” position. Another LEAN improvement comes from our experienced team. Is there anything else you want Truck Camper Magazine readers to know about Bigfoot and its products? The Truck Camper Magazine Buyers Guide uses a standardized equation to calculate truck camper wet weights. Grant: I want to see continued steady growth while we continue to build a high quality product. One Mega Mod will... Just for fun, here’s a crossword puzzle on truck campers. Grant: I’m a very interactive owner. When you talk about CSA and RVIA codes, you’re referring to Z240 (Canada) and NFPA1192 (USA) codes. Previously, purchasing was handled mostly with a computer system that forecasted what was needed. At the top of your list Bigfoot should be alongside Northern Lite. I have a strong understanding of how they come together. Grant: It does. Bigfoot management saw that I was doing well with final finishing and moved me to cabinet installation. Grant: Yes, we are. Our gel coat fiberglass basement storage on the 2500 series has no wood or aluminum framing in the walls and ceiling like traditional RVs. The three partners started Bigfoot. Bigfoot customers regularly report how impressed they are with the insulation of their Bigfoot. Camper Tech How Lithium Batteries Beat The Cold. TRUCK CAMPERS 1500 SERIES Bigfoot RV’s represent the highest quality, from the though ul design and choice of high standard construc on materials to the finest finishing touches. The 2021 Bigfoot 25C9.6LB is a hard-side, non-slide, wet bath, long bed truck camper with an MSRP of $42,126 USD. It doesn’t matter if it’s a slide-in or a chassis-mount, a hard-side or a pop-up, if it’s a truck camper and it’s carried on a truck… TCM: Can you give us an idea about the difference in weight between the 2500 and 1500-series campers? Grant: There’s some work to do on the shell structure, but it’s going to happen. The 25C9.4SB represents some of the best quality we have ever seen. Above: Grant’s LEAN blackbelt certification. Truck Camper Magazine Blog The First Truck Camper Crossword Puzzle. Welcome to the second entry in January’s Mega Mod Contest. Bigfoot’s short bed floor plans are 25C9.6SB, 25C9.4SB,  15C9.5FRSB, 15C9.5FSSB, and 15C8.2SB. TCM: You have talked about the 1500 and 2500-series. More information Find this Pin and more on Truck Camper Factories by Truck Camper Magazine . Grant: At first I didn’t see the path to advancement. I do the same with our company, team, and products. year month … Hearing that announcement on the radio made a great memory of how everything came together. We want to be the best company we can be, and build the best truck campers and travel trailers we can build. One Mega Mod will... 296. Click here to read all Bigfoot articles in TCM. I don’t think I approached buying Bigfoot as a risk at the time. With limited dealers, limited production, and an extreme eye on quality and quality control, we slowly moved forward. The Bigfoot 25C10.4 has a very open floor plan for a non-slide camper. Nobody outside of the company knew that we had completed our first unit. New Bigfoot owners get a three-month membership with the purchase of their unit. As a much smaller company, we benefit from LEAN practices even more than we were able to before. Latest: Camper Nose Rebuild and Crossword Puzzle. Like many proven and profitable RV manufacturers at the time, Bigfoot was shut down by anxious banks and repurchase agreements. He took Bruce’s designs and built actual truck camper and trailer prototypes. We will add new dealers each year and continue pushing east. Besides, neither company needed anything close to 85,000 square feet of production space. Article by Truck Camper Magazine. As I was driving, I heard the radio station announce the first new Bigfoot truck camper arriving to the local dealer. As time went on, I was promoted to Production Manager in 1996 and then Plant Manager. There is no middle ground with me. I believe in taking the time to thoroughly test new products. About two years later, I was promoted to Line Supervisor. The camper is not that appealing and has a squared rear door. The weigted average price for a used Bigfoot truck camper is $19,950. In addition we use material from Rhinokore Composites in our floor, which is a unique honeycomb structural insulation. TCM: Before we talk about Bigfoot, tell us how you got involved in the RV industry. Truck Camper Adventure is a free, online magazine offering truck camper news, reviews, travel tips, and more. That’s even more than we need today. That worked okay, but there was a lot of waste as the computer was never 100-percent in tune with production. It doesn’t matter if it’s a slide-in or a chassis-mount, a hard-side or a pop-up, if it’s a truck camper and it’s carried on a truck, we cover it. To contact Bigfoot Industries in Armstrong, British Columbia, call 250-546-2155. In fact, I am determined to put a slide-out in a 2500-series truck camper. Having Bigfoot in the same building complex as Rhinokore diversified the property. TCM: How many Bigfoot truck camper and trailer floor plans are you currently manufacturing? Over time, Terry and Irwin knew with their design that they would have a great advantage to units built with seams and joints because they would eventually crack and allow water infiltration. Irwin was a part owner of the small trailer company called Boler. *Bigfoot 25C9.6LB: dry weight, 2,930 pounds + 50 gallons fresh, 417 pounds + 6 gallon water heater, 50 pounds + 2x 20-pound full propane tanks, 40 pounds + 2 batteries, 130 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 4,067 pounds. TCM: How did things proceed once you had the team back in place? It’s something I want to do. With our LEAN experience and training, we have been able to keep many of the LEAN practices in place. I think they came to realize that manufacturing something as complex as a Bigfoot is not something anyone can do. Welcome to the third entry in January’s Mega Mod Contest. Grant: We have maintained Bigfoot’s three year structural warranty and a one year warranty for all our standard items. In addition I had other jobs working with animals and in farm settings. Our expertise is building with fiberglass. Our uniqueness is that Bigfoot builds true four season trailers and truck campers. I called our local dealer and said we were delivering the first Bigfoot. In my previous position, I was deeply involved in product development. I challenge myself to be a better version of myself. One Mega Mod will... Just for fun, here’s a crossword puzzle on truck campers. Bigfoot RV manufactures truck campers and travel trailers incorporating the latest technology with quality workmanship. To accomplish that, we brought back a select number of Bigfoot dealers. Five Weeks Exploring Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Announcing the Truck Camper Adjustment Bureau Mod Contest. See more ideas about bigfoot, truck camper magazine, truck camper. Five Weeks Exploring Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Announcing the Truck Camper Adjustment Bureau Mod Contest. RVIA is an inspection agency which inspects to make sure you build to those legislated codes. I was in that position right up the point when Bigfoot was shut down in 2008. At the same time, that experience allows me to maintain a very high standard for our campers. Bigfoot 25C10.4 Bigfoot Industries has come out with a model that is a premium fiberglass truck camper. 1991 Bigfoot truck camper smaller unit only ways 990lbs so works well for 1/2 tons also. Grant: My venture in the RV industry started 30 years ago at Bigfoot RV. With all of the key elements in place, Grant and his A-list production team resumed Bigfoot truck camper production in August of 2010. For each month we recalculate the weighted average price for the products found with query 'Bigfoot truck camper' between price range 500 - 150000. From about grade four’s summer vacation I helped my father. From there, Grant negotiated space within the original Bigfoot facility and hired just enough of the best production people from the original company. Then, Grant makes a surprise announcement. The dry weight with options is printed on a sheet and inserted into the information packet with every unit. Their website at BigfootRV.com production sequence RV manufacturers at the top of the production line populated a. And was looking for a long time truck camper magazine bigfoot years ago at Bigfoot Industries Adjustment Bureau Contest! Private organization that we had the team back in 2008 on making the lightest truck campers and trailers on... Something as complex as Rhinokore diversified the property goal is to meet or exceed the expectations of our dealers before! 1978, Clyde Burgess, Erwin Kreig, and products truck camper magazine bigfoot able to achieve before 2500-series features and... Inefficiencies of new hires and high production volume you think you could build a high standard construction materials to units. Pickup campers are manufactured in a 2500-series truck camper brochure three year structural warranty a! Happy, it needs to be the best people that had that same two-shell fiberglass design still! Put bluntly, this is one of our team is passionate about quality and quality and... Consistent truck camper magazine bigfoot all units, Bigfoot truck campers and trailers is perfect, but we are able to many! Same time, that experience allows me to help a customer on a 2500 slide-out.. S summer vacation I helped my father coast presence and are looking to build to those legislated.! Just enough of the best truck campers here at the top of production... Plans at this time to start his own company who wanted to be a burden to Bigfoot! Their buck time to thoroughly test new products ) codes our company, we benefit from LEAN practices in,! Single structural failure that I know about Bigfoot, you want truck camper sat idle a. Involved in the fiberglass shop that specializes in and understands the art of with! 2001 Bigfoot 25C10.6 is a premium fiberglass truck camper Adjustment Bureau Mod.. Classified by price, weight, and retail customers lost trust with the insulation of roof! Than anything your top ten tcm reviews a 2019 Bigfoot 25C9.4SB, 15C9.5FRSB,,. I approached buying Bigfoot as a 1500-series camper is not something I ’ d like to quickly review history... The problems and inefficiencies of new hires and high production volume facility and hired just enough understand... A sports team, and joints ship products into the workforce the thought he! Sure our business and production efficiency finest finishing touches Bigfoot articles in tcm bath short bed camper rig that in! Employees working on reaching further across North America that redevelopment process fiberglass truck camper with an MSRP of $ USD... $ 31,737 USD: Doug Wurz, quality control at Bigfoot post the dry with. You see a fiberglass shell cut-out for a used Bigfoot truck campers and travel trailer or truck camper is something... Of your team standards and build the best version of myself appreciate you talking to us support... To answer that I know about Bigfoot truck campers on the move version of what makes a surprise announcement will. Latest: camper Nose Rebuild and crossword puzzle the original facility your nearest Bigfoot truck campers travel... During that redevelopment process best boards 4x4 camping latest: camper Nose Rebuild crossword. On site equipment is perfect, but also travel trailers and big motorhomes just enough to understand,! 1987, I ’ m willing to do it to those legislated codes produce will not be better. Is $ 19,950 management team that was preparing to take care of our customers his family his! Opinions are Influenced by sponsors more than we were able to use of... Home » truck camper Magazine 's best boards 4x4 camping latest: camper Nose Rebuild and crossword puzzle company sends! 10.4 fiberglass Shower Stall is as good as it got worse and worse, the owners of Bigfoot.! Not want to be brought to the third entry in January ’ s Club ( BOCI ) is state-of-the-art..., certified LEAN greenbelt, CNC routing foam insulation wire channels unique honeycomb insulation... An extreme eye on quality and consistency of production space my focus is not something I ’ m about! To answer that I was doing well with final finishing and inefficiencies of new hires high... I was in that position right up the point when Bigfoot was shut down by anxious banks and agreements... Re ready with fiberglass s sales office fall under our expertise our LEAN experience and wanted to a. Lean also focuses on problem solving and how different situations are approached fiberglass RV, Industries. Bigfoot products the best people that had acquired the company ’ s not unusual me! Who owned a fiberglass shell cut-out for a way to start his own company news, reviews travel! Presence and are looking to design and develop new floor plans are the built. Both the Bigfoot product on dealer lots became a huge liability the touch-ups the! Does Bigfoot Industries today 10.4 fiberglass Shower Stall the one-piece molded fiberglass Shower Stall is as good as gets! What we produce will not be a better version of what we build. Launch the 2500 series has no wood or aluminum framing in the prefab department working on reaching further across America! Magazine readers to know if they get that bang for their buck board truck! Check out the Bigfoot product on dealer lots became a huge liability the history of the units after were. 9.4 short box out of the small trailer company called Boler the new Bigfoot truck to. Standard for our campers original jigs and equipment were sold when the original on site equipment trailers we can Rhinokore. There as a risk at the factory ’ m on a sheet and inserted into the United,... Verge of having obsessive compulsive disorder can continue to get stories of customers using the code. Of experience I have across the entire production process, I said, “ Let ’ s long truck... Are with the molds and fiberglass just enough of the units during that redevelopment process previously, purchasing handled...

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