Family Truck Campers Association!

[jsimpson]

I'm forming the Family Truck Campers Association. I came up with the idea after noticing how many new campgrounds are for "motorcoaches" only. I have also become irritated that some campgrounds exclude truck campers! I feel we need organizational presence and clout.



It seems that truck campers are by nature rather independent folks, and more interested in using whatever they are towing behind their campers than in sitting around trying to outbrag each other at fireside cocktail parties. So, aside from members being able to display their numbered badge (which looks similar to the Family Motor Coach Association badge), we will initially participate in advice swapping via e-mail.



If membership numbers grow large enough, an e-mail newsletter will follow, and events can even be organized if that kind of leadership surfaces. To get this thing started, no membership fee will be charged for the initial year. I have already had badge number one made and it is mounted on the left rear of my old 93 Lance. The guy that made mine at the Tampa RV show for $10 will surely make one for you for the same price, or maybe I can find someone to do them locally cheaper!

 

[Briar Hopper]

The American Gypsy Wagon Association is sure gonna love having competition, now... .

Just kidding. I sometimes wish I'd stuck to my original plan of getting a Lance slide-in. I really missed having a bass boat, while I was camping in Florida recently.

 

[jsimpson]

Shoot Briar, I'm thinking of putting my Lance on a diet and getting a Northern Lite that's a thousand pounds lighter. You can really tell that the Lance is back there!

 

[Briar Hopper]

Maybe so, simpson, I did think about how it might be quite a load. But still, I'd like to get another bass boat someday, and don't really want to tow both the boat and a travel trailer at the same time. It gets crazy when you try that... .

I'm sure there's lighter campers out there, but the Lance is fabulous quality.

 

[jsimpson]

I don't know about fabulous! Mine is a 93 model, and I had to rewire mine with marine garde wiring because of really sorry wiring and connectors. My elbow went through the VERY thin door of the storage bin next to the overhead bed. A poorly sealed bathroom wall panel allowed water to rot out some major structural wood in the left rear corner. The dinette when made into a bunk is so lumpy that NO ONE can sleep on it. The bottom of the back door rotted out. Many of the fasteners on the roof have rusted away because they didn't use stainless screws. The grey and blackwater tankage is located rear of the truck's back bumper and makes the truck very tailheavy when tanks aren't empty. Overall, I like the Lance as well as the AlpenLite and the Arctic Fox, , but I sure like the Northern Lite better.

 

[Briar Hopper]

Bummer, you'd never know it, to look at the new ones. Have to own one to find out, I guess. I can tell you, though, the Starcraft and Fleetwood brands look horribly cheap in comparision to the Lance.

 

[jsimpson]

They are! Lance is on the high end, but the high end is getting crowded. My Lance has served me pretty well, but there's better fish out there now.

 

[ralbert]

lance 945

Simpson IHave a 95 Lance 945 and I had to rebuild both rear fering. They use press board and do not seal things up. The rear wheels spray water up and I found rot. Rebuilt both sides using cca timber. That has been my only problem. Your idea of a truck camper group is not all bad. Hate to read where camp grounds don't want $65. 000 truck campers. Good luck Rob

 

[jsimpson]

I had to replace the pressboard too. I'd hate to guess how much pressboard is used in these things. Pressboard is a heavy board just waiting to be a sponge! I'm leaning more and more toward a Northern Lite. You can get into the fanciest motorcoach parks with a $3500 used Class C, and be turned away in a $75,000 truck and camper rig. It ain't right, and we need to do something aout it!