Getting very close on finishing the frame for the Bigfoot

[Mock Tender]

Well it is on. And I feel real good about it so far.

As far as if it frame is strong enough, I've bet on it being more than strong enough. I will let you guys argue the merits of this or that, somewhere else: hopefully. I chose the three point for my reasons and if it fails- I will let you all know.

I hope to have the fixed bullbar with attachable hitch on Tuesday (at the paint shop now) and then a “headache frame” behind the cab to mount toolboxes for house batteries and storage. And a ramp/rack for my other new toy: seen below.

Dlh62c- No we have not disconnected the back-up alarm yet. Is there something special about that? Also- yes it is the Bigfoot 25B175FB trailer (see pics below).

Pugslyyy- Yes it is beefy and reinforced. The pivot point pin is off a front loader and is sleeved. The shocks and brackets were ready to be put on, but decided to go with a progressive bump-stop that I can modify when on the road (softer or stiffer). Should be mounted on Tuesday. Back-up plan is to go with the shocks and if need be, a sway bar on the mount: not the truck.

Kerry- My pictures don't do justice to what was done to brace before and after the drop. In the picture that shows the front of the pivot you can see welded on to the pivot bracket, two small ledges with holes, that now have a large “X” brace bolted to the frame and the pivot bracket- the builder has some pictures when he installed it: either he or I will post later.

DzlToy- Not a single new hole or weld on the frame. The holes without nuts and bolts are to allow for the rivets on the frame.

Mark

 

[Mock Tender]

Also something else of note- I got the Bigfoot to the builder on the evening of March 10, all but the motorcycle pictures were taken yesterday: March 13. The motorcycle today. The design had been kicked around for the better part of 2 months.

 

[kerry]

Very nice, and the wheel well matches up.

 

[Czechsix]

Looks great, TW ain't bad either!

Are you going to figure out a locking cam style handlebar triple, like the CT-90's had? Or how are you going to fit the bike between the cab and camper?

 

[pugslyyy]

Very nice. I'll be interested to hear what you do about camper sway (or if you need to) - that was a big issue with mine and a reason that there are shocks fitted between the frame and subframe.

 

[dlh62c]

Looks good!

What's the overall height?

What's your plan for steps?

The back up alarm on the frame rail is easy to disconnect if your annoyed by the sound.

 

[SkiFreak]

The back up alarm on the frame rail is easy to disconnect if your annoyed by the sound.

Yeah, but the one in the instrument cluster is much harder to disable.

 

[Mock Tender]

Czechsix- that is actually quite a concern to me at this moment. Tried looking up CT-90 handlebar- but noting. I have three potential and one I hope not ideas.

1) Having two aluminum versions of MaxTrax built (would also help with crossing gaps that might just swallow a tire) that would be slightly longer than the TW's wheel base that would have a mounting bracket on both ends. I would have the one end on the mounting bracket and once the cycle were attached, use a 6:1 block and tackle (from a sailboat ) to hoist the other end up to the other mounting bracket. The brackets would be mounted to the trailer bumper and supported off the sub-frame.
2) Mount to the front of the truck via the front receiver- completely nullifying the beautiful bull-bars.
3) The outside the nine dots would be like you mentioned between the cab and the trailer. Since I have already budgeted for the house batteries to go in boxes there, I would be above that. So how do I get a motorcycle up a skinny ramp to a height of about six feet without busting up the cab, trailer or my neck. If I had only raced trials instead of MX and enduros- no problem.
Once I get the truck weighed and decide where the cg is- I will have a better idea.

Oh, and plan 4- a trailer- on a last case scenario.

Pugslyyy- Once we get to try out the bump-stop- I will know if the shocks (which I have and the brackets are made, are needed. Watched enough videos of seeing the fuso/camper rigs swaying from side to side to know that doesn't work well.

Dlh62c- OH, I thought you meant on the trailer- the Bigfoot comes with an emergency brake as well. On the Fuso- mostly try to always be going forward: won't need the back-up camera either if I can stick with that thought process.

 

[Czechsix]

I'll take a pic of a CT110 we have here, that'll show you the folding bars. Quite possible to fab something like them, just take a bit of time. Basically there's a camming lever that, when released, allows you to turn the bars ninety degrees, inline with the long axis of the bike.

I'm going with the front of the truck, right now, but ideally the rear is a better place for it.

Getting the bike up into that space between the cab and coach...ramp, small ATV winch, and a removable railed side support that holds the bike upright while allowing it to travel up the ramp. Either that, or an extendable ramp/rack that's limited on one end. It would extend/retract, becoming a steep ramp once close to the ground. Bike would be started, then putt putt up the ramp until the front tire is in the locator/lock/socket, shut bike off, strap bike down to the other two points at the rear of the ramp, engage winch or hydraulic ram to retract ramp, pulling it into the space behind the cab, with the bike loaded on. :sombrero:

 

[Mock Tender]

Well damn- I didn't think it would be that easy.

 

[jhrodd]

Get some Jota style bars or use them for parts : http://www.tecbikepartsusa.com/Cafe_Racer_Ace_Bars_Rocker_Triton_JOTA_Clip_Ons_Ol_p/o-jota.htm

 

[Czechsix]

Well damn- I didn't think it would be that easy.

LOL...I'll happily spend your money too, just give me a chance

 

[yabanja]

Your subframes are beautiful! I think I will be taking some cues from your design as I proceed with my Mount! Thanks for the pics! More would be welcome!

Allan

 

[Mock Tender]

Czechsix- Wife says “hell no”- that is her job exclusively. But thanks for the offer.

Yabanja- Thanks. Perusing this and other sections of the forums on EP- I saw the good, the bad and the ugly. This place and the suggestions you get are often quite valuable.


Another big step today. I got a chance to take the (yet to be named) FG/BF out for a quick run to have her weighed. Amazing the difference in the ride with the trailer weight, new bullbars and sub- frame on the Cooper ST/Maxx mounted on EC singles.

I had really been gung ho for getting either the ATW or EC springs- now I am going to wait. The ride is at least as smooth as my daughters Ford Escape on the rough sections of road. The wash board, maybe not as much. Smooth roads, no problem. It is really a different beast now.

The builder decided to add the shocks with the adjustable bump stops (they are paid for). They got some interesting video of the FG going over some mildly rough terrain before and after the Bump stops and shocks were added. Very dramatic difference. Some sway, but them a return right to dead center.

As far as the get up and go- being under 600 miles, I am not pushing it over 2800 rpm yet; but, even with that restriction I was staying with traffic no problem. I am looking forward to passing the 600 mile mark and seeing what it can really do.

The biggest “Yeah!” of the day was when we got weighed. With me, the new bullbars (200 lbs.), full fuel and the Bigfoot and frame: 9780 lbs total. The front axle weight came in at 4800 and the rear at 4960 (we lost 20lbs somewhere in there). So with the house batteries, motorcycle, gear, water and wife, I will be well south of 12,000 lbs: with most of the new weight skewed toward the rear.

So what we have left to build out is the space between the cab and BF for the spare, house batteries, chargers and propane,a and the motorcycle ramp/platform on the rear. Forgot the rub rails. I will save the “what to do with the wheel wells” for another day. Although, someone was curious to know just “how much wheel travel do you have”?

Feels like Christmas all over again- only better. I didn't actually get anything for Christmas last year for all the money we were spending getting this ready.

Attached is the “X” brace in front of the drop in the frame; the adjustable bump stop and shock, and another shot of the FG, this time with the Bull-bar on.

Oh- yeah- total height with new wheels right at 11.5 feet.

Mark

 

[pugslyyy]

Nicely done. The Fuso is a fantastic chassis, and Bigfoot makes fantastic campers. Hope to be able to see the rig in person one of these days!


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