Lance Camper in 4th Gen

[TJJEEPER]

I've been reading on the Lance Camper Forum about folks having to put plywood in the bed to shim up the camper to clear the bed rails or the cab roof. The two I saw mentioned were a Ford and GMC. Does anyone have any input on the Lance installed in their 4th Gen ram with any clearance issues? Also I noticed the camper doesn't have "bumpers" at the front. Does the Hapijac provide the spacing required to prevent the box from working the front of the camper? It's a new 995 10'

Many many years ago I had a 10' Vacationeer that I put a 2x4 edgewise at the front of the box at the floor to keep the rail from working against the camper.

TIA,

 

[Bill Stockard]

I've been reading on the Lance Camper Forum about folks having to put plywood in the bed to shim up the camper to clear the bed rails or the cab roof. The two I saw mentioned were a Ford and GMC. Does anyone have any input on the Lance installed in their 4th Gen ram with any clearance issues? Also I noticed the camper doesn't have "bumpers" at the front. Does the Hapijac provide the spacing required to prevent the box from working the front of the camper? It's a new 995 10'

Many many years ago I had a 10' Vacationeer that I put a 2x4 edgewise at the front of the box at the floor to keep the rail from working against the camper.

TIA,

As far as I know, there is no need for a plywood spacers to raise the height of the camper in the truck bed to clear the cab of a 4th generation Ram truck. Use a rubber bed mat to prevent the camper from moving. If you use the Happijac tie down system, you don't need a 2x4 or any kind of spacer in front of the camper for added clearance since the Happijac tie downs have built in spacers at the front of the truck bed that engage the two plastic rub strips on front of the Lance camper. If you need a photo of the spacers, let me know and I'll post it.

TDR member Boomer II (Red Rocker on the Lance forum) has late model Lance 1050S on his fourth generation truck and hasn't mentioned using a spacer to clear the truck cab or bed rails. You might send him a PM asking about the clearance.

Bill

 

[TJJEEPER]

Thanks Bill. I'll be using the Happijac tie downs so I'm good there. It's a band new camper so no bumpers on the front. I believe there is a rub strip but that's all.
Also one of the Lance owners replied that there is 5~6" clearance over the cab.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Thanks Bill. I'll be using the Happijac tie downs so I'm good there. It's a band new camper so no bumpers on the front. I believe there is a rub strip but that's all.
Also one of the Lance owners replied that there is 5~6" clearance over the cab.

Thanks for the info.

Yep, it should have the plastic rub strips, one on each side and you should be good to go...

BTW, if the dealer installs your proprietary Lance receptacle in your truck bed, don't allow them to hack your truck's wiring harness.

Post a photo when you get it loaded.

Bill

 

[TJJEEPER]

Yep, it should have the plastic rub strips, one on each side and you should be good to go...

BTW, if the dealer installs your proprietary Lance receptacle in your truck bed, don't allow them to hack your truck's wiring harness.

Post a photo when you get it loaded.

Bill

Already wise to that. I picked up the 5th wheel pigtail and it'll be ready for them, I also ran the #8 from the battery to the same location. #10s should have been enough but they insisted they would run #8 because that's whats in the Lance harness. No way the pins in the plug will handle 40 amps, but what to I know after 20+ years as an electrician. All they should need to do is splice them to the Lance pigtail.

Now I'm getting replies that say the clearance to the bed rails requires at least the 3/8 Dee Zee bed mat. I've been all over town and nobody stocks the 8'ers! I guess I'll find out tomorrow...

 

[Bill Stockard]

Already wise to that. I picked up the 5th wheel pigtail and it'll be ready for them, I also ran the #8 from the battery to the same location. #10s should have been enough but they insisted they would run #8 because that's whats in the Lance harness. No way the pins in the plug will handle 40 amps, but what to I know after 20+ years as an electrician. All they should need to do is splice them to the Lance pigtail.

Now I'm getting replies that say the clearance to the bed rails requires at least the 3/8 Dee Zee bed mat. I've been all over town and nobody stocks the 8'ers! I guess I'll find out tomorrow...

Is there a Tractor Supply in your area? They sell DeeZee bed mats that fit a Ram truck and a universal 4'x 8' bed mat. You can check the store inventory online.

Bill

 

[TJJEEPER]

Darn, I should have thought of this! Too late now. The nearest store to the dealer is out of stock (small town store). If the camper fits OK I'll get one for when it comes off the truck. Headed out to get it installed at 7:00 local time.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Darn, I should have thought of this! Too late now. The nearest store to the dealer is out of stock (small town store). If the camper fits OK I'll get one for when it comes off the truck. Headed out to get it installed at 7:00 local time.

TSC also sells horse stall mats that are thicker than a truck bed mat; however, they are in odd sizes to fit a 4'x 8' truck bed and it will require 2 mats and some trimming to make them fit.

Good luck with your installation and loading your new Lance... waiting breathlessly for photos.


Bill

 

[Dieselnerd]

No clearance problems with my 2012 Lance 850 on my 2014 truck. It actually has more clearance than it did on my 2005 RAM 3500.

 

[TJJEEPER]

I'll close this out as far as clearance...
Plenty of room, about 4" above the cab and at least 1" maybe a bit more on the bed rails. There is a mat under the camper. Dealer stocks the generic 4x8 so I figured what the heck.

Pictures is a week or so once I get it out from beside the house. Got a couple trips planned over the next two weeks.

 

[TJJEEPER]

Here she is

 

[Bill Stockard]

WOW!! Nice looking truck/camper combination! The black/grey striping on the Lance goes well with your black truck. It appears your truck sits level with the camper on board. How much air pressure in the air bags? Do you have the factory 5th wheel hitch pucks in your truck bed? If so, do they make humps in the bed mat under the camper?

Bill

 

[TJJEEPER]

WOW!! Nice looking truck/camper combination! The black/grey striping on the Lance goes well with your black truck. It appears your truck sits level with the camper on board. How much air pressure in the air bags? Do you have the factory 5th wheel hitch pucks in your truck bed? If so, do they make humps in the bed mat under the camper?

Bill

Bill, it sits pretty much level front to back but the slide side is heavier than the drivers side. I run about +20 lbs in the right side bag to level it. I do have the turn-over-ball in the middle but the 12's didn't have the puck option. The B&W doesn't stick above the rest of the bed, it sits flush.

After towing a 38' Toy hauler for 3 years, this thing is like a JET. I pulled the I-5 Grapevine out of LA at 65 with more left if needed! I got 10.5 mpg on this trip, one tank.

I think it will benefit from a rear sway bar and that's on the to do list as well as new beefier shocks.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Bill, it sits pretty much level front to back but the slide side is heavier than the drivers side. I run about +20 lbs in the right side bag to level it. I do have the turn-over-ball in the middle but the 12's didn't have the puck option. The B&W doesn't stick above the rest of the bed, it sits flush.

After towing a 38' Toy hauler for 3 years, this thing is like a JET. I pulled the I-5 Grapevine out of LA at 65 with more left if needed! I got 10.5 mpg on this trip, one tank.

I think it will benefit from a rear sway bar and that's on the to do list as well as new beefier shocks.

OPPs! I forgot you have a '12... no pucks.

Yes, a rear sway bar will help a lot lessening the top heavy feeling. It will help driving your truck empty and doesn't affect the empty ride. Also better shocks on the rear will help. I have Bilstein on the front and adjustable Ranchos on the rear. When these Ranchos wear out, I thinking of replacing them with Bilstein also. I added upper Torklift StableLoads which almost completely eliminated any sway from strong cross winds and passing 18 wheelers in the opposite direction on two lane roads. The StableLoad bolt-on (no drill) spacers place more weight on the stiffer overload springs.

Bill