Lance truck campers?

[Dieselnerd]

I've been thinking of getting a 2012 Lance 850 for summer camping and fishing. The 850 is the smallest long bed camper that Lance makes. I can then pull my boat or 4 wheeler easily. My 5th wheel is way too big for forest campgrounds.



I had a new Lance in 1994 and it was fairly problem free but I've been reading a lot of bad reports on the Internet about poor service, numerous electical problems and shoddy construction.



Just curious if anyone here has a newer model Lance and if you had any serious problems. Here is the website that got me concerned about the Lance.



This may just be sour grapes but I'd appreciate other Lance owners input.



LanceCamperSucks.com - Experiences by other Lance Victims

LanceCamperSucks.com

 

[Bill Stockard]

I've owned four Lance campers over the past 25+ years for thousands of miles and had no real problems with any of them. However, all of the Lances I've owned were wood framed. The aluminum framed models have been in production since about 2005. I don't pay any attention to websites like you listed. I imagine you can find similar websites on just about anything that is manufactured and sold to the public.



A more enlightening and honest web site might be an actual users site like The Lance Owners of America (LOA) The Lance Owners of America



Bill

 

[jeepit]

Ron,

We have a 2006 Lance. Almost the same model you are looking at. We purchased it newand have been more than happy with ours. Though at times we wish we would have purchased a larger model. We have had zero problems with it and I wouldnt hesitate to buy another.

We tow our CJ7 or Rubicon on a trailer and camp at various Jeep activities around the country.

If you have any specific questions let me know!

 

[OGaddis]

We have a 1998 Lance Squire 4000 (9-1/2') that we purchased new. As noted above it is one of the wood-framed models prior to the newer aluminum frame design. We've never had a moment's problem with the camper itself (have had some work done on the furnace which is to be expected of a 14 year old camper). We use it much the same way as you describe for back country camping. We drive it each year up to high mountain lakes on rough Forest Service roads and it has held up remarkably well. It is relatively light weight compared to the newer units with slides. We use an Arctic Fox fifth wheel for camping for longer durations and in easily accesible campgrounds. We also use the Lance rather than the fifth wheel once the winter weather and poor road conditions start setting in. My only concern with the newer aluminum frame slide in campers would be the possibility of fatigue cracking with off highway road conditions. I haven't heard of this being a problem with campers but it is a problem around here when pulling aluminum horse trailers on rough Forest Service and BLM roads. Seems like most of the better campers these days have aluminum frames.

 

[Grizzly]

All Lance slide-in campers have always been 4 star rated on RV Consumer Group. I purchased a new Lance Legend 11' 3" in 98. We hauled it coast to coast and to Alaska and numerous trips without any problem, except for the Dometic refrigerator, which had a recall notice anyway.



It was a great camper, however my wife and I did get a little claustrophobic in it on our Alaska two month trip, which is the reason we sold it after 10 years of ownership and purchased our present Arctic Fox 5th wheel.



Speaking of Arctic Fox, they too make a 4 star rated camper and I hear nothing but great things about it.



george

 

[ktimmer]

I have owned 3 Lances including my current 2009 981 (has a slide). Have had no problems and have hauled all to all parts of the US. I would certainly buy another one. Good luck

 

[Sikos]

Ron, if you are looking at a used camper, look for soft spots. I bought a used 2003 Lance 1025 and had to replace both wings due wood rot caused by water leaks. Also replaced floor around entry door. I had a 5th wheel with a similar problem. Water infiltration is not specific to Lance, any camper has the exposure if the caulking isn't maintained.

Joe

 

[Dieselnerd]

Thanks for all the positive responses!



My old 1994 Lance held up well while we traveled with it until 2003. I still have it but it's permanently parked on my hunting land as a hunting shack with skirting around it. All the appliances still work too.



I wasn't sure about the new models though. After a lot more research I did place an order for a 2012 Lance 850 this morning. The response from you guys, my friends on TDR, helped me make up my mind.



Thanks again!

 

[Bill Stockard]

I bought a used 2003 Lance 1025 and had to replace both wings due wood rot caused by water leaks. Also replaced floor around entry door. I had a 5th wheel with a similar problem. Water infiltration is not specific to Lance, any camper has the exposure if the caulking isn't maintained.

Joe

Your post is a coincidence. I have just completed replacing the vinyl trim where the skirt (rear wing) meets the main camper body with replacement white powder coated aluminum trim and stainless steel screws I ordered from Lance. The vinyl trim had begun to shrink slightly and had exposed a tiny bit of the seam at the ends of the vinyl. The seam sealant was still in very good condition and no water damage had occured. The camper's original caulk is still in very good condition thanks to the camper being stored inside a building when it's not in use.



Bill

 

[Sikos]

Not trying to hijack Ron's thread, the problem areas that I found on my Lance were the seams that Bill mentioned, the battery box seal inside was broken and the edge trim on the wings had problems with the breaks in the caulk.

Joe