Newbie Question on removing small Lance
Thinking about buying a small Lance camper. My need for it will be occasional. How hard would it be to take it off and put it back on the truck?
Forum Discussion
You absolutely don't want a 1500 truck no matter how small the camper. A 2500 truck is marginal for all but the smallest campers. Since you're talking RAM then definitely skip the 2500 because the RAM 2500 has coil springs in the rear.
I would consider a 3500 SRW bare minimum for any reasonable size TC. If you want something with slides and longer then 9 feet you should really consider a dually.
When I had my 11' TC with remote control jacks I could take it off in about 20 minutes start to finish. If I would have had Fast Guns or some other quick detach system for the tie downs it would have been quicker. It generally took me about 30 minutes to put it on but I had a dually with an 8' flatbed so there was very little room for error. A regular truck bed would have probably been quicker.
My first TC was an 8' pop-up with no bathroom, no basement, and no slides. I had it on a 1996 Dodge 1500 and the truck was over it's GVWR with no passengers and no gear in the TC.
I then got an 11' TC with no basement and no slides. I had it on a 2007 Chevy 3500 SRW and it was right at GVWR with nothing in the camper, no fuel in the truck, and no people inside. Loaded up for a trip I was at about 11,150 pounds.
I then moved that camper to a 2005 Chevy dually. Loaded up for a trip with the family I was about 13,100 pounds. This is why you shouldn't even consider a 1500 or even a 2500.
I would consider a 3500 SRW bare minimum for any reasonable size TC. If you want something with slides and longer then 9 feet you should really consider a dually.
When I had my 11' TC with remote control jacks I could take it off in about 20 minutes start to finish. If I would have had Fast Guns or some other quick detach system for the tie downs it would have been quicker. It generally took me about 30 minutes to put it on but I had a dually with an 8' flatbed so there was very little room for error. A regular truck bed would have probably been quicker.
My first TC was an 8' pop-up with no bathroom, no basement, and no slides. I had it on a 1996 Dodge 1500 and the truck was over it's GVWR with no passengers and no gear in the TC.
I then got an 11' TC with no basement and no slides. I had it on a 2007 Chevy 3500 SRW and it was right at GVWR with nothing in the camper, no fuel in the truck, and no people inside. Loaded up for a trip I was at about 11,150 pounds.
I then moved that camper to a 2005 Chevy dually. Loaded up for a trip with the family I was about 13,100 pounds. This is why you shouldn't even consider a 1500 or even a 2500.
