All TCs are a compromise in one way or another. I prefer smaller and more maneuverable and thought my previous Lance 981 was the perfect size at 9’11”However, a full wall slide 11 1/2’ like the Lance 1181 or AF 1150 has so much more room and offers a dry bath, more storage and bigger tanks with only 1’7” more overall length. I know the triple slide monsters are great but are bigger and heavier than I would want. Also, the smaller dry bath models like the AF 992 and Lance 975 are a consideration. My question, has anyone with one of the larger 11 1/2’ models been unable to access or park/camp in an area where a 9 1/2 ‘ would have made it possible?I’m sure one advantage with the shorter model is having a shorter hitch extension when towing. Realistically, I’m thinking any where you could get with a 9 1/2’ you could get to with a 11 1/2’?What are your experiences.

For us the 12-foot TC with single slide is a minimum I would settle for for long trips. We made >7000 miles with 1 back in 2017 and last year >8000 miles Alaskan trip. I think we have been the smallest RV whenever we did camp. Only smaller were tents. Couple of times the campground screwed reservation and they put us in the corner. Not a problem. Even when parking in the city, I look for a spot who backs into landscaping and can park my set on it. Width is bigger issue than length.Than even with our previous 40' bus I had no problem to fit at "32' maximum" campgrounds.

1996 Skyline WeekEnder 9101995 Lance 945Size really doesn't matter. ;) My last camper was 9' and my current camper is 11'. From the outside I really don't see a big difference.This counter space and a larger bathroom is what I gained with 2' and I LOVE the added space.I have no use or desire for a slide. Too much added weight and I don't like having to step up to the table.Its just me in there and this Lance camper is perfect for me.

You will have to decide if your rig is too big for the places you want to visit. I can tell you for sure that many of my favorite places would not be accessible towing a trailer.A small popup TC can handle a pretty rough jeep trail. I would not even consider trying to do the same with my 9 1/2 foot TC. Any increase in size and weight will limit access. Even just the weight can be an issue on soft ground and sometimes even on a wide hard gravel road. I lost a tire when a rock went right through the tread area of a new tire. It seemed to just be a matter of weight and I will never try again to drive my rig to the Alvord playa.

Height has been our only restriction and that isn’t much different from our last camper (arctic fox)

Our Lance TC is a 1997 990 Lance Legend 11' 3" or 4" long. Ordered new and our brochure said the floor length is 11' 4" but later brochures stated 11' 3" floor length. One inch difference and it depends where from where you take the measurement. Crazy! We love TC's and have had one or more constantly for 55 years now.That said, Ours is on a 2004.5 Chevy Duramax LLY crew cab long box 4X4 diesel single rear wheel truck and has been for well over a decade now. Yes, it's a lot of overhang behind but unlike forum member Specta we do mot have a very long cabover issue we sure didn't like even when thesame TC was on our ext cab dually truck or want as it makes for more like looking out thru a tunnel when driving. Personal choice perhaps, not that either is the best for all TC owners driving the rig. Prior to using the 990 Lance Legend on the diesle we had a Lance 9.5 TC also we used on the same truck. Yes, the extra length and especially the added weight. ~700 lbs as the 990 has more length all behind the rear axle and has a 3400 watt heavy built in Propane generator in the back end with larger holding tanks too. However, the added floor length is so nice with the large extra storage and we love the large counter space it has next to the fridge. More storage means more weight carried too or why even have more storage available? Really maxes out the truck's capacity with enhanced tire size capacity, air bags, and 4 Rancho 9000X adjustable shocks when we pull the 2150 lb outboard boat on its trailer with it's 270 lb tomgue weight added about 4 feet behind the truck's rear bumper. Over 90K miles just with the 990 TC on and handles great but you sure know the big TC is on the back. Yes, we do notice the extra TC length a lot over the 9.5' Lance when trying to get in a parking spot as it requires a double length (2 parking spots) to park the over 26'long rig which includes the OEM TC rear bumper in even without my added 22" X 90" rear porch on the back. 28+ feet then. Wife is disabled and parking way out isn't a real option for us or so many older TC RV'ers either.Fine for open space or site parking many areas like out west but not in short sites with trees etc behind like are in most of the country. Been there, done that so many times and know all too well over our 55 years of owning TC's.

11 1/2’ TC owners wish they had a 9 1/2’ | Good Sam Community

tmartin000
Explorer II
Jan 31, 2020
Broke-folks love to trash the lavish.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jan 31, 2020
SIMPLE PHYSICS.
Hint.... Compare turning radius.
jimh406
Explorer III
Jan 30, 2020
Kayteg1 wrote:
Why do you think Dodge doesn't offer Mega Cab with long beds?
Would not work for grocery getter as impossible to park at common parkings.

Since you have no issues with your truck and camper, how could they have an issue? :D
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jan 30, 2020
Why do you think Dodge doesn't offer Mega Cab with long beds?
Would not work for grocery getter as impossible to park at common parkings.
Bedlam
Moderator
Jan 30, 2020
Grit dog has a 2500 Mega Cab with an Arctic Fox 860. The overall length would be equivalent to a crew cab long bed pickup with an Arctic Fox 990.
jaycocreek
Explorer II
Jan 30, 2020
G-dog

Show us a picture of your setup...I don't think I have ever seen a photo of it..
Grit_dog
Navigator
Jan 30, 2020
jaycocreek wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
One would have to be pretty spacially challenged to not be able to take the same truck with an 11’ camper the same places as one with a 9’ camper.
The only real world inconveniences I can think of are towing, you would need a fancier hitch setup with the long camper and maybe parallel parking in urban areas.

You must not have owned an 11ft TC and used it in the mountains..That extra 2ft makes a huge difference in being able to go down into camps and get back out..Also a night and day difference in a plain old parking spot at the local Walmart..

2ft of overhang makes a big difference..

Similar setup, mine overhangs 3’ off a short bed but has about as good of departure angle as you can get with that much overhang save for a lift kit on the truck or removing the rear jacks.
Been in a few unimproved areas where it was pretty much at the limit of where a guy would take a high c of g vehicle and been close to scraping a jack on departure angle.
But I “think” the OP was talking about normal driving and parking, in which I don’t see much of a difference.
So we can overanalyze it all we want, but you can take a 11’ camper anywhere you can take a 9’ camper, save for the extreme situations you so astutely recognized.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
Jan 30, 2020
Even with a quad cab and only a 9 1/2 foot camper, parking is an issue. The issue is often being able to back up far enough to turn out of the parking space. I pulled into a Costco parking space, then cars pulled into the aisle behind me and I could not get out.
specta
Explorer
Jan 30, 2020
bukhrn wrote:
1995 Lance 945

Looks like you have plenty of room for the important things ;)

That's one of my favorite things about this camper.

That and it didn't come with a TV. LOL
specta
Explorer
Jan 29, 2020
northshore wrote:
I don't want to take this thread off topic but it seems to me the darn parking spaces seem to be getting smaller and smaller. In some of them I have a hard time parking my f 150. Just seems smaller and smaller.

I totally agree, they are getting smaller and smaller.

But then cars are too.