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In a world where RVs seem to break down or experience damage often, one company rises above the standard.
Bigfoot Industries has quality builds, and customers also know it for persevering through the 2008 recession.
It’s not without its past hardships, but Bigfoot RV has made a comeback.
Let’s consider why you should consider a Bigfoot camper the next time you’re looking to make an RV purchase. Let’s dive in!
About Bigfoot RV
In 1978, Clyde Burgess, Erwin Kreig, and Terry Mayall started Bigfoot Industries.
They combined their skills from a fiberglass tub company and Boler, a small travel trailer company.
They intended to build fiberglass shells to reduce the number of seams in an RV.
Their two-piece fiberglass design came decades before the competition.
Today Bigfoot RV focused on manufacturing top-quality truck campers and travel trailers. They don’t offer many models or varying floorplans.
They stick to what they do well and exceed expectations. After struggling in the recession in 2008, Bigfoot Industries is now a manufacturer near the top of the RV industry.
Is Bigfoot RV Still in Business?
The recession of 2008 hurt the RV industry, but Bigfoot RV survived the tumult.
It wasn’t without failure and challenges, but under the new leadership of Grant Bilodeau, the Bigfoot camper started to make a comeback.
They focused on the 2500 series truck campers and sold them in western Canada near the manufacturing plant in British Columbia.
Bilodeau explains in an interview with Truck Camper Magazine, “We did not want to spread ourselves too thin. We wanted to come back with a high standard and did not want anything to come back for a warranty. With limited dealers, limited production, and an extreme eye on quality and quality control, we slowly moved forward.”
After rebuilding trust with RV dealerships and producing top-quality products again, Bigfoot RV moved down the West Coast and introduced travel trailers back into the lineup.
The laser focus and small lineup have paid off as customers recognize Bigfoot RV for its high quality and tendency to exceed expectations.
Who Owns Bigfoot RV?
In 2008, RV dealerships were closing at a rapid rate. The manufacturer had to buy back their inventory from closing dealerships.
As the repurchase letters came in, Bigfoot Industries couldn’t keep up their camper production.
The owners decided to shut down the company.
The ramifications of the recession were too challenging to overcome.
A year later, Grant Bilodeau, an employee of Bigfoot Industries since 1987, purchased the assets and closed the deal as the new owner of Bigfoot Industries.
About Grant Bilodeau
Grant Bilodeau grew up helping in his dad’s auto body shop. He learned the trade and got a job in 1987 at Bigfoot Industries in the prefab department, working on plumbing, wiring, and propane.
Over the next twenty years, Bilodeau worked hard and earned several promotions. He was moved to cabinet installation, then became Line Supervisor.
Later, he was promoted to Production Manager and then Plant Manager. That’s where he was when the 2008 financial crisis hit the country.
After purchasing the assets from Bigfoot Industries, Bilodeau focused on building a team of individuals he could trust.
He had already formed steady relationships during his tenure there, and he knew the people who would help bring Bigfoot Industries back to life.
He also wanted to gather employees passionate about the brand and rebirthing its name in the RV industry.
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Where Are Bigfoot Campers Manufactured?
Bigfoot campers are manufactured in an 85,000-square-foot facility in Armstrong, British Columbia.
After 2008, he began a new business called Rhinokore Composites. He used the space in the same production plant to manufacture non-RV products.
Once he acquired Bigfoot Industries, it made sense to house both companies in the same vast facility.
What Makes Bigfoot Campers Unique?
According to the interview in Truck Camper Magazine, “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.” This means production areas are uncluttered and organized.
Purchasing isn’t handled by a computer but by a person so that they order inventory when necessary. The one production line for truck campers and travel trailers reduces the amount of waste and unnecessary stock.
The two-piece fiberglass design was lightyears ahead of its time in the late-1970s. The quality of the materials and expert craftsmanship with the fiberglass design means fewer seams and solid joints and framing.
It also means better insulated RVs. A Bigfoot camper is indeed four-season, built to withstand temperatures that dip down to negative ten degrees Fahrenheit.
Bilodeau also uses materials from his company Rhinokore Composites, in the flooring.
The unique honeycomb structural insulation and marine-grade gel coat and resins contribute to the four-season capabilities of Bigfoot campers.
Owners regularly share how impressed they are with the insulation and even camp in low temperatures.
The Bigfoot RV Truck Camper Line Up
The Bigfoot truck campers include shortbox and longbox models.
The 1500 series is lightweight with R6 one-inch high-density EPS insulation.
The 2500 series features R8 1-1/2” high-density EPS insulation and a 30,000BTU furnace.
1500 Series
There are three floorplans in the 1500 series. Standard features include a 60” by 74” foam mattress, shirt closet, bedside storage cabinets, three-burner cooktop, and two-way six cu. ft. refrigerator. Additional options include an exterior shower, a rearview camera system, and a solar energy system.
The 8.2FR Bigfoot camper model is 15’1” in length, and the 9.5FS and 9.5FR models are 16’6” in size, while the interior headroom is 6’5” to 6’7”. The dry weight is 2,061lbs for the 8.2FR and 2,245lbs for the two larger units.
2500 Series
In the 2500 series, the 9.4 and 9.6 units are available in shortbox and longbox options. The 10.4 and 10.6E units are longbox only. The features and add-ons are similar to the 1500 series and include the furnace, a microwave, double stainless steel sink, electric jacks, and a skylight in the living area.
The 25C9.4SB, 25C9.4LB, 25C9.6SB, and 25C9.6LB units all measure 16’6” in length. The 25C10.4 and 25C10.6E models are pretty long at 17’11”. The interior headroom across the board is 6’4”. While the two more extended units are also heavier, they remain under 3,300lbs.
The Bigfoot RV Trailer Line Up
Bigfoot Industries also manufactures travel trailers that feature the same fiberglass shell. These three units have the same high-density insulation and thermal pane windows.
All the travel trailers come standard with a Maxxair Fan, dual propane tanks with the auto changeover, and heated and enclosed water tanks. The Bigfoot Travel Trailer 2500 Series ranges from 17’5” to 25’6” in length and 3,360lbs to 5,563lbs in dry weight.
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B17FB
The smallest Bigfoot camper at 17’5” with a GVWR of 4,300lbs, the B17FB features a front bedroom with a rear kitchen/dining/living area and a central bathroom.
There is overhead storage throughout the unit and a large rear window by the dinette. This unit has a 20,000BTU furnace, while all other travel trailers have a 30,000BTU furnace.
B21
The B21 comes in two floorplans: the B21FB and B21RB. Both feature ample overhead storage and a large pantry. The front bedroom model has a rear bathroom and center kitchen/dining/living space.
The back bedroom model has a front kitchen/dining/living space and a rear bathroom across from the bedroom. Both units measure 21’6” in length and have a GVWR of 7,500lbs.
B25
The B25 Bigfoot camper comes in a few options. The B25RQ (Twin) features two twin beds in the rear of the unit, separated by a nightstand. Their front kitchen/dining/living space is larger than the B21 units, with extra seating along the driver’s side.
In the center is the full bathroom. The B25RQ model replaces the twin beds with a standard queen, and the rest of the unit is the same.
The B25FB moves the bedroom to the front of the trailer and the bathroom to the rear. The center space is the kitchen/dining/living area, which is a smaller space than the B25RQ units.
However, the overall length of 25’6” is the same. Like the B21 models, the B25 units have ample overhead storage.
You’ll Have Big Adventures in A Bigfoot Camper
Bigfoot RV has experienced the ups and downs of the RV industry. The company has also shown its resilience and dedication to quality.
If you’re looking for a smaller travel trailer or considering purchasing a truck camper, check out Bigfoot campers. You can trust that the management has the customers in mind with every build.
Where will your next adventure take you?
