Slide-In Lance Camper

[mwilson]

Well, a long weekend has passed and sure enough I wound up with another project. We have been discussing a seasonal lot next summer for the fifth wheel and after discovering what insurance, registration and repairs to any older Class C that would tow the Can Am and trailer were going to cost we started looking for a slide in unit.

Finally found a Lance 186 which is made for a short body truck and has the loooong overhead for a queen bed.

Needs a little work as any older RV does but major stuff all there and working. Fridge won't work on A/C voltage but determined it needed a new heater element, that should arrive next week. $65.00 fix if I have diagnosed it correctly....a few leaks to fix as well.

Went with the Torklift tie down system, should arrive today....

 

[mwilson]

The clean up starts tomorrow, wife already stripped curtains and is making new ones. I'll start on the outside......

 

[jeepit]

You will like the Lance a lot! They are quality made and comfortable to live in. We really enjoy ours.
I think your diagnosis is right on with heating element.

 

[mwilson]

A surprising amount of room in it. All quality for sure. Even the propane lines are bent to precision!!!

Fridge works great on gas. Ohmed out the AC heater and it does not meet spec so I think I'm barking up the right tree...pretty basic unit, no circuit board to deal with. DC heater working for sure, interior lights dim when fridge is turned to DC so I didn't test that one.....

 

[Killer223]

That's a nice find. we were on the same path of getting a slide in as well until we found our 5th wheel, yes it's used, but i don't mind that. And it had room for our commander max. be it you have to take the max out to make good use of the inside, we can still reach fridge, front queen bed, and toilet. just the rear bunks and side seating are not accessible with the max inside. only into it a few grand. then 400$ for new Hercules tires. everything else works great. changed the oil on the generator, it was at 93 hours.
still might look into a slide in in a few more years, when the kids no longer need to tag along.

The trailer looks a lot bigger in the pic than it really is. but it's sure nice..

 

[Regcabguy]

Consider a Hellwig swaybar or Timbrens and upgraded shocks.

 

[jgillott]

Nice find Mike.

 

[Shadrach]

Mike What do you do with all your spare time and money David

 

[mwilson]

Mike What do you do with all your spare time and money David

No spare time OR money......

Buy it cheap and fix it up......build sweat equity!!!

 

[mwilson]

Got the Tork Lift ties downs installed yesterday, went on pretty good. Will get pictures tomorrow night.

 

[mwilson]

Got home late from Portland last night, but the new AC heater had arrived for the fridge. Changed it in the dark standing on a stepladder with an LED Little Larry flashlight held between my teeth....

Turned the temp dial to Max after changing the heater and left it for the night plugged in and running.....15 degrees in the middle of the fridge at 6.00am this morning so I guess I fixed it...

 

[GaryOwen]

Was looking for a fifth wheel, but ... picked up this 2004 Lance 1010. The 2004 Dodge 3500 came with it as a package. Too good a deal to pass up.:-laf

 

[crispyboy]

Those are nice looking campers. Have any interior pictures?

 

[mwilson]

First trip out this afternoon, 200 miles so far. Taking the Can Am over to Errol NH in the morning and will ride the Dixville Notch trails...

 

[mwilson]

Very dusty riding, just awful on Sunday. Saturday ride through Dixville Notch not so bad but ledge doesn't get dusty...

Hard to show just how steep this was, take my word for it...

 

[mwilson]

Truck pulls the trailer well, but a passing tractor trailer will give me a couple of shoves for sure. Only running air bags at this point, may have to add a sway bar.

This was a lot longer trip than I will typically take with the Lance / Can Am combo, went about 500 miles.

100 mile round trip will be far more common next summer...