Ford Van? TIRES????

shezonit · 09-17-2009, 03:00 AM

My 1996 Bigfoot is on a Ford 250 van with a 351 engine, 4 speed auto with overdrive and ABS. . It seemed very strong and smooth on the way home ( 1400 miles) and got 16+ mpg. Any thing I need to watch out for with Fords?? It's my first one. Best oil for this vehicle? Summer in Montana, winter in Arizona. Thanks for any advice.
TIRES????? The recommended pressure is 50 to 80 lbs PSI. Do I keep them in the middle or at 80 lbs. ??????

Mike · 09-20-2009, 11:30 PM

Hi there,
Not sure about the Bigfoot engine and drive train maintenance on a '96 Ford F250.
Did it come with an owner's manual? Most of the basic care and fluid checks should be
in it. I'd refer to the OM first. As far as tire pressure, my Roadtrek runs on LT245 75R16s
load range E, which is a light truck tire design with stronger sidewalls to handle the extra
weight (about 9,000 lbs. tanks full/fully loaded) with the rears at 80 psi and the fronts at 50 psi.

Are you sure about it being a class B? I think it might be a small C actually, as I couldn't find a
Bigfoot class B anywhere online to look for specs. Or, maybe it's a B plus like an R-Vision Trail Lite.

btw, welcome aboard.

markopolo · 09-21-2009, 01:53 AM

I wish I knew more about Ford vans.

With factory specs of 50 front and 80 rear in my Chevy van with load range E tires, I ran 65 front 80 rear. Anything less it felt "soft" when cornering.

Mike · 09-21-2009, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markopolo

I wish I knew more about Ford vans.

With factory specs of 50 front and 80 rear in my Chevy van with load range E tires, I ran 65 front 80 rear. Anything less it felt "soft" when cornering.

I stand corrected, although googling "Bigfoot class b" didn't find anything that looks like that.

markopolo · 09-21-2009, 03:36 AM

They're pretty rare Mike.

I saw that one at Crater Lake in Oregon.

Mike · 09-21-2009, 04:01 AM

Was there a period in the history of Bigfoot when they made a class B? (btw, have they been resurrected?)
Everything I found online suggests they only made class C's, trailers, and truck campers.
I now remember you posted that pic up a while ago, i believe?

markopolo · 09-21-2009, 04:08 AM

Two years in production - 1996 & 1997.

I saw a Bigfoot.......

Mike · 09-21-2009, 03:26 PM

Ah yes, it's all coming back to me now......
Poster boy for sudden acute memory loss some days.

shezonit · 09-25-2009, 03:55 AM

Hi- Thanks for info re tires, I didn't think about having more air in rear tires than front. Good idea.
I emailed Mark Holmes and he said they made the vans in Oregon from 1996 to 1998. Terry Mayall designed them. When Terry died, they closed the plant. They made 60 of them, both 17 and 19 feet. I have seen a description of one that had more features than my '96. (maybe a '97?) Mine is a little cramped. I took out the rear passenger seat, that folds flat makes a single bed. That gave me a little breathing room. It has a full closet, water heater, furnace, stovetop, microwave,3-way refrig, enclosed bathroom with Thetford toilet and shower, outside shower, roof air with heat and 2.8 generator. Had a TV, but not working, so I took it out and will use my laptop to play DVDs. That gave me some more room in the overhead.
The rear bed is 48 x 70, so it's for a singles or a very happy couple....... Also , very little overhead room over the bed because of the AC.
ON THE PLUS SIDE, the interior is very plush, attractive colors, very comfortable front seats. I have already bonded to the bathroom, am thrilled to have a thermostatically controlled furnace and the water heater heated the 6 gallons in about 5 minutes! I am looking forwad to using it this winter in AZ and maybe drive it to Baja. Unless I am always on my motorcycle........

and that brings up my next TECH question.............. carrying my motorcycle?

Mike · 09-25-2009, 04:17 AM

You're welcome on the tire pressure. Sorry about the mix up on the class B - I honestly
forgot that our esteemed forum sensei, markopolo, had posted up the class B Bigfoot
picture a while back.
Other than an occasional hard starting in damp weather problem many years ago, I can't think
of any other issues with Ford engines. I used to have to keep a can of Canadian Tire
Dry and Go spray for the ignition wires and distributor cap and coil on my 1980 6 cylinder
Mustang. I currently own a 2002 Escape that does not have the same problem, so I'd say
it's probably no longer an issue.
I don't know if anyone on this site has a motorcycle they bring with them, but it wouldn't
surprise me. Does your van have a trailer hitch and receiver installed?
You might need a small bike trailer to safely travel with your "hog".

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