I'm trying to decide between two truck campers from two different manufacturers. One is northern lite and the other is lance. I like the design and construction of the northern lite except it's use of wood in construction but the fewer seams on it is really a great design point I think. The lance has more seams but uses azdel rather than wood in construction and so won't rot or mold even if it does leak. The northern lite has a great floorplan with no slides. The lance model I like has a great floorplan but has a slide. Can anyone give me pros and cons of either one? Anyone gone from one to the other and if so, why?

Logic says the more exterior seams you have the higher chance of a leak. The Lance has a lot more exterior seams than the NL.As for your comment about wood on the NL vs. Azdel on the Lance, it’s really fiberglass vs. Azdel. The wood used on the NL interior is cacooned inside/behind the exterior fiberglass, much the same as any wood used in the interior of the Lance is cacooned inside/behind the Azdel on the Lance. If either camper leaks, there’s going to be potential mold and damage to interior components that are inside the exterior shell of the camper.As for a slide vs. a non-slide camper, if you want/need the slide (extra space), then Lance is the way to go. Downsides to slides are 1) limited use of the interior with the slides retracted. 2) Another mechanical device that can break or leak. 3) makes the camper heavier.

I have owned both Lance 825 and now I own a Northern Lite 811. Both are great campers but the NL has less maintenance and will stay warmer inside in cold weather.

If your thinking about getting a Northern Lite,you should watch this video from a guy that's had one three years..He talks water leaks..Northern Lite water leaks and caulking

jaycocreek wrote:If your thinking about getting a Northern Lite,you should watch this video from a guy that's had one three years..He talks water leaks..Northern Lite water leaks and caulkingWhat's in this video is just normal, routine maintenance. A 4-5 year old camper, being used full-time (in an extremnely wet, humid OR environment) with one small leak (that could have easily occurred with any camper) is nothing particularly out of the ordinary.If this had been a typical camper with the additional roof and corner seams, he would have had 3 or 4 times as many seams to potentially leak--not to mention all the additional overhead of maintaining and caulking these extra seams.There's not a camper made by any manufacturer that's leak-proof.

otrfun wrote:jaycocreek wrote:If your thinking about getting a Northern Lite,you should watch this video from a guy that's had one three years..He talks water leaks..Northern Lite water leaks and caulkingWhat's in this video is just normal, routine maintenance. A 4-5 year old camper, being used full-time (in an extremnely wet, humid OR environment) with one small leak (that could have easily occurred with any camper) is nothing particularly out of the ordinary.If this had been a typical camper with the additional roof and corner seams, he would have had 3 or 4 times as many seams to potentially leak--not to mention all the additional overhead of maintaining and caulking these extra seams.There's not a camper made by any manufacturer that's leak-proof.I am just not seeing that..Like the guy in the video,I was under the impression the seam that connects the top and bottom molds did not need calk..It does, as well as all the windows,everything on top and all the compartments which I have never had to calk with any Lance I have owned..I see no advantage in calk or leaks with a Northern Lite over say the Lance...YMMD

Please help me decide on a truck camper | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

jaycocreek
Explorer II
Nov 19, 2019
If your thinking about getting a Northern Lite,you should watch this video from a guy that's had one three years..He talks water leaks..

Northern Lite water leaks and caulking
Old_Days
Explorer II
Nov 19, 2019
I have owned both Lance 825 and now I own a Northern Lite 811. Both are great campers but the NL has less maintenance and will stay warmer inside in cold weather.
otrfun
Explorer II
Nov 19, 2019
Logic says the more exterior seams you have the higher chance of a leak. The Lance has a lot more exterior seams than the NL.

As for your comment about wood on the NL vs. Azdel on the Lance, it’s really fiberglass vs. Azdel. The wood used on the NL interior is cacooned inside/behind the exterior fiberglass, much the same as any wood used in the interior of the Lance is cacooned inside/behind the Azdel on the Lance. If either camper leaks, there’s going to be potential mold and damage to interior components that are inside the exterior shell of the camper.

As for a slide vs. a non-slide camper, if you want/need the slide (extra space), then Lance is the way to go. Downsides to slides are 1) limited use of the interior with the slides retracted. 2) Another mechanical device that can break or leak. 3) makes the camper heavier.

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Please help me decide on a truck camper

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