GibsRV, Coos Bay, OR
We purchased our Bigfoot 3000 from GibsRV, Coos Bay, OR. GibsRV is a large southern OR RV dealership that appears to handle most of the commonly known RV brand names. Sitting out front was an interesting group of Arctic Fox truck campers; the Artic Fox unit, heretofore unknown to us, is unique in that it includes a "slide-out" as part of the camper. Also sitting on the lot were two Bigfoot 2500s.
Our Bigfoot camper was ordered (from FL) in January 1999, and we took delivery of it on 16 July, driving from Albany, OR, after a long trip from FL, arriving at the dealership around 9:30 AM. The owner of GibsRV greeted us as we drove in and then he took us to the back lot where the camper had been delivered from Canada a couple of days earlier. We were introduced to Doug, a service manager, who went over all aspects of the camper and also told us what what service would be performed that day; basically Doug was our main contact person all day and answered all of our questions.. We also met Allen who had washed and waxed our camper the previous day and Denise who handled the paperwork associated with the camper purchase. Initially we spent about 2 hours in the camper alone day dreaming on how we would be using Bigfoot in the short term and also in the long run as well as marveling about its construction and detail and also confirming to each other again and again that we had in fact made the "correct" decision to buy Bigfoot. Later, we went to the GibsRV retail store to buy sewage and water hoses, water pressure regulator etc. and generally to kill time while GibsRV service readied our truck for Bigfoot.
Truck modifications and camper installation including a comprehensive tour of its features, options, and operations took all day, longer than we expected. GibsRV service installed the HappyJack tie down system and the electrical connection (truck to camper). At about 4:30 PM, the electrical was finally completed and it was time to mount Bigfoot on Big Red. Doug was very careful and patient in describing how to make it all happen without too much fright! First, we raised the camper on its electrical extension jacks to nearly the maximum (F-350 dually, 4x4 is a very "high" truck); then, carefully and with a little fear, I backed up the truck slowly with Doug and my wife Mary ensuring proper clearance on both sides as the bottom shell of Bigfoot filled the truck bed volume. There was some nervousness (no time for photography) on everyone's mind as a wind came up; the camper, with considerable "freeboard" was beginning to sway. Once the camper stops (rubber mounted on the camper)lightly hit the truck bed, I stopped the truck and came out to give Doug and Mary a hand at running the remote that lowered the camper onto the bed. It all took about 20-30 minutes. Once Bigfoot was firmly sitting on the truck bed (actually on the bed platform), the HappyJack tie down chains were fastened and adjusted, and then I drove the truck/Bigfoot to the service bay where Doug and others boosted the truck tire pressure from about 60 psi to 80 psi.
By 5:30 PM we were finished and driving out of the GibsRV parking lot. The entire GibsRV experience was very positive, and we are very glad that GibsRV was our Bigfoot dealer.
Immediately I noticed a big difference in truck handling. The most noticeable effect was "tipping" of the truck/camper unit when we made our first turn. Clearly, turning has to be watched and done very carefully; more about this later. We made a brief stop at the nearby Wal-Mart and then headed for Albany where we would spend the night in my aunt's driveway (in Bigfoot of course!) before heading to the Seattle area to see relatives and friends and to have Central Welding in Kent install its Torklift frame mount tie down system which would be used in lieu of the HappyJack system.
Under Construction beginning the week of 23 August 1999.
06/01/07 Last Update
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