I am researching getting a different camper. I have viewed a few Lance basement models. Lance has a unique entry step where immediately inside the door there is a step. This step is lower then the rest of the interior floor. This step appears to help in not needing to have as high of steps from the ground leading up to where you would step into a camper. Does anyone know of any other brands that have this similar feature? For those of you who do have a Lance camper with this step, do you have any problems with it, such as accidentally stepping in the “hole” where this step is when you do not intend to?Thanks in advance for your help with this!

Outfitter does this to help with entry through the shorter door. Works well since I am 6'2" don't remember hitting my head in 7 years of ownership.

I like it on my new Lance 850. As you say, it allows fewer steps (I declined to buy steps, and use a much lighter, cheaper, and far more versatile 2' stepladder, which stows just inside the door, and is always in the right place, if you think about it :). I use the little $40 ladder constantly, for various chores. When it's nasty out, and Sally comes in with muddy paws, I can sweep/wash into the well without opening the door. Much less blowback then, when I do open door to sweep out. My dog Sally and I are just dirty, I reckon, but I like a clean house. Joe

As stated, Outfitter has a similar entry step -- and it's right in front of the bathroom door. Originally, I thought about making a fold down floor extension there to avoid an unintended step down, but in practice, it's never been a problem. Also as stated, it's very handy for keeping the main floor clean.

The step starts behind the dinette seat cushion on my 1055 so its kind of hard to accidentally step into it.My truck is a 4x4 and this is my set up.

cewillis wrote:As stated, Outfitter has a similar entry step -- and it's right in front of the bathroom door. Originally, I thought about making a fold down floor extension there to avoid an unintended step down, but in practice, it's never been a problem. Also as stated, it's very handy for keeping the main floor clean.Same here, except I wasn't going to make a floor extension. It's never been a problem.

Lance basement model low entry step questions. | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

billtex
Explorer II
Mar 17, 2014
Junket wrote:
I have a 981 Lance with the cutout step in the 9 years of owner ship the wife and I have never had a problem. We do like the storage slide out box under the floor.
Ken

No slide basement storage on the new Lance's...don't know why...too bad.
Junket
Explorer
Mar 16, 2014
I have a 981 Lance with the cutout step in the 9 years of owner ship the wife and I have never had a problem. We do like the storage slide out box under the floor.
Ken
turboo
Explorer
Mar 16, 2014
I believe the Lance (855) is called a semibasement model as the the "basement" is not as thick and they can get by with just the lower inboard step. It a kind of compromise compared to the real basements and their outside flight of stairs .
hedge
Explorer
Mar 16, 2014
this isn't the only way to solve the problem, My adventurer has the comfort step bumper and the first step is quite low.
Greg_B
Explorer
Mar 16, 2014
Although not a basement model, our 1161 has that lowered entry step inside. This will be our 10th year with it and never once stepped in it by accident. Much better than using scissor steps imho.
svjim
Explorer
Mar 15, 2014
So does the door on the back of the step access basement storage or something else like plumbing?
dadwolf2
Explorer
Mar 15, 2014
cewillis wrote:
As stated, Outfitter has a similar entry step -- and it's right in front of the bathroom door. Originally, I thought about making a fold down floor extension there to avoid an unintended step down, but in practice, it's never been a problem. Also as stated, it's very handy for keeping the main floor clean.

Same here, except I wasn't going to make a floor extension. It's never been a problem.
Buzzcut1
Nomad II
Mar 15, 2014
The step starts behind the dinette seat cushion on my 1055 so its kind of hard to accidentally step into it.

My truck is a 4x4 and this is my set up.
cewillis
Explorer
Mar 15, 2014
As stated, Outfitter has a similar entry step -- and it's right in front of the bathroom door. Originally, I thought about making a fold down floor extension there to avoid an unintended step down, but in practice, it's never been a problem. Also as stated, it's very handy for keeping the main floor clean.
stickbowjoe
Explorer
Mar 15, 2014
I like it on my new Lance 850.

As you say, it allows fewer steps (I declined to buy steps, and use a much lighter, cheaper, and far more versatile 2' stepladder, which stows just inside the door, and is always in the right place, if you think about it :). I use the little $40 ladder constantly, for various chores.

When it's nasty out, and Sally comes in with muddy paws, I can sweep/wash into the well without opening the door. Much less blowback then, when I do open door to sweep out.

My dog Sally and I are just dirty, I reckon, but I like a clean house.

Joe