Lance 1161 Side Entrance - Your opinions

P Colahan wrote:
We had thought about a fifth wheel but due to storage cost, registration and insurance, plus finding places to park it on the road with no reservations, we thought the camper would be a better alternative.

That was our thinking as well. We were going back and forth between a small 5th wheel and a large TC and decided to go with mobility over size.

Never owned a Lance but if you like the floorpan, tank sizes, etc, I think you will be happy.

I bought my 1161 just for the side entrance.
Our previous basement Fleetwood had 12" tall step on narrow bumper and the glow steps brought several issues.
We just ended over 7000 miles trip with Lance and side entrance is great convenience when you stop often (we have 3 small dogs).
BUT the factory steps are not too good. They are too narrow when only 3 steps for us was great convenience, our dogs had trouble on narrow steps regardless carpet liner.
Also when you drop the camper the steps are the first obstacle, so our basement model was coming to the same 2 steps what side entrance does.
After the long trip we don't plan any long one for some time, so we will be selling Lance and keeping Fleetwood.
Mainly for more space in the shower and way more storage.
Comparing TC to 5th, I don't think there is going be fair comparison.
With TC we went everywhere.
Monument Valley with "no RV" signs - drove right thru.
Bridge marked 11-8" ? I roll as per my measurements 11-8" is what my camper has, but turn out safe to pass.
Narrow city streets? So what?
Parking at front door at Walmart?
Filling up downtown where diesel was $1.99 last summer?

Kayteg1, Can you link to your Fleetwood camper? I am interested to see your set-up. I think they haven't been made in a few years? Is that correct? If you are selling your 1161 and OP is looking to buy one maybe there could be something that could work for both of you.

We have a 2004 1161 bought new, 150,000 miles 18 months of full timing and no complaints. At times it seems small other times it is to big. Have had small issues with it over the years that I was able to take care of myself. It has been a wonderful camper for my Wife and I.

I had an 05 Lance 1191 and loved it.
Side door is great. Easy access when towing, door doesn't get dirty from road grime and camper is fully usable with the slide in.
I would look for an 1191 as it has aluminum framing, and more head room.

I don't have the 61 but have the newer 91 and I love having the side door, being able to get in and out with the slide in is a huge benefit.

when I was looking at TCs many years ago, with the side entrance you lost the ability to have a gen set, in some models.
bumpy

If it were me, I'd be asking myself will my truck be able to handle this unit weightwise?

work2much wrote:
Kayteg1, Can you link to your Fleetwood camper? I am interested to see your set-up. I think they haven't been made in a few years? Is that correct? If you are selling your 1161 and OP is looking to buy one maybe there could be something that could work for both of you.

Fleetwood is out of business for several years.
What makes its floor plan standing above others is huge countertop, while you can still squeeze thru with slide in.
Than as usual it all boils to couple inches here, couple inches there.
I really missed the 2 inches in Lance shower.
I list Lance on CL both in Las Vegas and Bay Area as we are still between.
With side entrance you always loose a wardrobe.
The generator on 1161 is in the rear. Not the best spot IMHO considering COG and the generator collects tons of dust there.
The original Generac blew the control board, so having Honda -I pulled it out and used the compartment for a storage.
I had no chance of driving on scale with Lance, but judging from truck squat, Lance weights about the same what much taller, double floor and attic Fleetwood.
Fleetwood empty scaled 4200lb, ready to go 6500lb.
The same 2001 model Fleetwood has aluminium skeleton, while Lance is all wood with only same steel reinforcement under slide and on jack's corners.
I had to add metal chanel under slide as this is common weak area on the model.

We had a cab high camper shell and towed our Boat to go Boating. Did the trick, but cab high was very small. Then we decided to go with a larger Camper with side entrance. Looked at Lance and Host Campers. Very nice and with the side entrance, we would not have to climb over the Boat Trailer hitch. One problem with this, Weight. These things are heavy and would max out payload with my Dodge 2500. Plus at around $ 54,000 price tag, was a little heavy there too. Since that was not going to work for us, we looked at Toy Haulers. Plenty of room and at around $34,000 was more in our budget. We now have the Toy Hauler and love it. Can't tow the boat but having lots of fun camping. Since we live in a waterfront home with our own dock, it was no longer an issue towing the boat. Still miss a little of Boating at the lakes, but have done that for years. We did take the Boat up to Lake New Hogan in California and tent camped. It was fun. I am thinking of a Dodge 5500 Cab-Chassis like a tilt tow truck that would carry the Boat on trailer and tow the Toy Hauler. Park the Toy Hauler, then launch with Tilt Bed at ramp. Sounds good so far-someday.