I have an older 9.5 ft Lance right now. It's on a 2001 F250 Powerstroke. Upper and lower Stable Loads, an an extra leaf in back. I'm looking to get a newer, used camper at the end of this season. Looking at mid 2000s Lances. However, I like that Eagle Caps are built in Oregon, and use an aluminum frame. I also like the layout, similar to the Lances in that era. However, I'm concerned about the weight. My current Lance says it's 2400 lbs. I have 5900 lbs on the rear axle, and weigh 11.5k lbs with the family in the truck. The Eagle Cap in 2004 says 2720 lbs dry, 3100 wet for a 8' 11" 850. I'm not sure if that's a slide unit, I don't want a slide. Can anyone comment on their experience with the Eagle Cap 850?

Let me just say, we toured the Eagle Cap factory and the Arctic Fox factory before buying. We did not buy AF.

daily double wrote:Let me just say, we toured the Eagle Cap factory and the Arctic Fox factory before buying. We did not buy AF. What does this have to do with the OPs question?

Eagle Caps are now built in Yakima, used to be across the street from Arctic Fox in LaGrande, OR until 2011 time frame.The new EC will not, I repeat, will not service any EC built before the move to Yakima, WA even though the present owner (Adventurer RV) is the brother of the owner when EC was in LaGrande, OR. Only EC can fix the front or rear caps if they somehow delaminate, but if it was built in LaGrande, OR will refuse to do so. Their present comment is "if we didn't build it we won't service it." Just a heads up since some of these caps have delaminated and there isn't anyway to repair them. I am in that boat now.Great campers and used to have awesome customer service. Recommend that you look at the newer Eagle Caps, the factory may service them if the cap delaminates, but don't hold your breath.Eagle Cap presently uses Adzel in their lamination and Arctic Fox still uses luan which will delaminate if water gets in. Generally speaking the EC is a high end camper and will cost more. AF not so much, but okay.

We are on our 2nd AMLRV (had an Adventurer previously) and have been very pleased with both. Early on there was an 850 without slide and an 850S (w/slide). The 850 is now a slide only...actually all EC's are now slides.We looked at a lot of SB slides and decided the EC850 was best for us. The slide 850 is a heavy camper but properly outfitted we have no issues on a SRW. I am sure the non slide 850 would be lighter.EC have a 3 yr warranty-one of the longest in the industry.I am not aware of any Mfr that will service out of warranty units.Good luck, they are nice campers.Bill

2007 Eagle Cap 850 owner. It has been a wonderful camper. They are heavy, no doubt.

Eagle Cap campers, experience? | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

Bedlam
Moderator
Jun 22, 2015
SugarHillCTD wrote:
sky_free wrote:
Just curious...where can you get a camper custom built?

Call the family at NorthStar. Done.

NorthStar does not have experience with multiple slides and basements with large capacity tanks. If you have some examples of TC's that rival the large Host, Chalet and Eagle Cap models, I would like to see them.
SugarHillCTD
Explorer
Jun 21, 2015
sky_free wrote:

Just curious...where can you get a camper custom built?

Call the family at NorthStar. Done.
bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Jun 21, 2015
sky_free wrote:
Just curious...where can you get a camper custom built?

That's a good question - and deserving of it's own topic.
sky_free
Explorer
Jun 21, 2015
covered wagon wrote:
kerry4951 wrote:
daily double wrote:
Let me just say, we toured the Eagle Cap factory and the Arctic Fox factory before buying. We did not buy AF.

What does this have to do with the OPs question?

I thought this post is rather helpful to the OP. After all an industry where they primarily pay on piece rated work needs to have tighter quality controls.

What they charge for trucks and campers now a days you could start with an armored truck, turn it into a nice camper and you'd have something really bullet proof.

I would in essence strongly consider having a camper custom built as an alternative. That is because of workmanship standards seemingly dropping in most industries.

Just curious...where can you get a camper custom built?
covered_wagon
Explorer
Jun 20, 2015
kerry4951 wrote:
daily double wrote:
Let me just say, we toured the Eagle Cap factory and the Arctic Fox factory before buying. We did not buy AF.

What does this have to do with the OPs question?

I thought this post is rather helpful to the OP. After all an industry where they primarily pay on piece rated work needs to have tighter quality controls.

What they charge for trucks and campers now a days you could start with an armored truck, turn it into a nice camper and you'd have something really bullet proof.

I would in essence strongly consider having a camper custom built as an alternative. That is because of workmanship standards seemingly dropping in most industries.
pcoplin
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2015
I was looking at a 2004. Well, looking online, ready to buy.

I ended up finding a 2001 915 Lite with all weather package, electric jacks, awnings, and dual propane tanks. Perfect for us, a a couple hundred lbs over our current 9'6".

I may look at newer Eagle Caps if the time comes to get a slide out down the road.

Thanks all!
3_tons
Explorer III
Jun 19, 2015
2004's did not use the fiberglass caps.
bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2015
It sounds like you are looking at a 2004 model Eagle Cap.
In 2004, the Eagle Cap was manufactured by Intermountain RV which went bankrupt in 2005. By 2006, the Eagle Cap manufacturing equipment was purchased out of bankruptcy by an owner of the old Okanagan factory and the Eagle Cap brand name was restored.
Eagle Cap was restored to production. Service was restored. The owner fell to a serious illness and the Eagle Cap brand (and equipment) was purchased by Adventurer Campers which is now in Yakima Washington.
The Eagle Cap in 2004 was actually lighter than other brands at that time and will be lighter weight than a comparable Lance. I purchased a 2005 Eagle Cap camper new at that time and have since found that few, if any, other campers are as technically advanced or as light in weight as that camper.
A 2004 Eagle Cap camper, if kept in good condition, will be superior to the Lance camper.
Once you've owned an Eagle Cap, it's hard to own another camper without measuring and observing it's short comings compared to the Eagle Cap.
Pick the camper that feels right to you.
Inspect and verify every aspect. 2004 was over ten years ago and many things may have affected any camper during that time.
av8rds
Explorer
Jun 17, 2015
I have a 2015 1160. I have a lot of small quality issues. I'll admit I was blinded by the 'big' picture and didnt look at the little pictures close enough before I signed

I have a bathroom wall that isnt straight. It causes the bathroom door not to close properly. My dealer did offer to 'try' to fix it but he wasnt sure how the wall was laid out and if he could make a difference. I didnt want him tearing a wall apart with no assurances. Also when I bought I thought it was just a hinge out of alignment and would be no big deal.

Fit and Finish is poor on a lot of places(I have pics just not the time to post)

Ceiling seams are showing through the cloth headliner inside.

NO hold downs for the batteries.

fridge isnt working for the second time(Dometic problem but still reflects on EC)

Now they have dumped my local dealer that I bought it from because he complained about quality issues.....go figure....

I have a friend with a 2013? 14? and he has Zero complaints about his....hit or miss I guess.
Glacier_D
Explorer II
Jun 17, 2015
If you go to eaglecapowners.com someone there may be able to answer your question. Hope that helps.