Forum Discussion

Likes_to_tow's avatar
Dec 07, 2017

Price of the Lance 650

I owned 4 truck campers in my life and only moved into a 5th wheel at early retirement. Now I'm on my 3rd 5th wheel and can see the real need for another truck camper. After looking online at the Lance 650 I believe this is what I need. However the MSRP is profane!!
How can a truck camper with no suspension or frame cost as much as a trailer?? Generally speaking you can get deal on a 5th wheel or travel trailer for about 70% of MSRP with many dealers. Has anyone landed a good cash deal on a Lance 650?? I think $28K on a small truck camper with no slides is out of the question.

18 Replies

  • Buzzcut1 wrote:
    And those of us that have TCs instead of a fifth wheel or travel trailer do so because we go places where we would not want to tow anything behind us. I have had a TC for 8 years. It doesn't have slide outs and it fits our lifestyle and needs perfectly. 4x4 diesel and we can go almost anywhere at any time of year in snow heat rain and go camping. Nothing like waking up with 20" of snow covering the rig, strapping on the snowshoes and heading out into the forest. Strap on some chains and put it in 4x4 and head on down the mountain when the time comes. No way I want to be going down the mountain in snow with a trailer even if the trailer has chains on it's wheels.


    I get why we all have truck campers,I do not get why there so expensive(new) compared to a trailer or fifth wheel.Less everything..
  • And those of us that have TCs instead of a fifth wheel or travel trailer do so because we go places where we would not want to tow anything behind us. I have had a TC for 8 years. It doesn't have slide outs and it fits our lifestyle and needs perfectly. 4x4 diesel and we can go almost anywhere at any time of year in snow heat rain and go camping. Nothing like waking up with 20" of snow covering the rig, strapping on the snowshoes and heading out into the forest. Strap on some chains and put it in 4x4 and head on down the mountain when the time comes. No way I want to be going down the mountain in snow with a trailer even if the trailer has chains on it's wheels.
  • I think taking TC complexity the prices are not that bad.
    Not only you have engineering marvel, but I compare my Lance to house.
    My Lance has more lights than average 3 bdrms house.
    No house has 3-way refrigerator, or dual power WH.
    Only few stick houses have back-up generators permanently mounted.
    All that design to withstands 100 mph winds, when this season we have seen in few states what 70 mph winds can do to stick houses.
    If you don't like new sticker value - buy used. Lot of people having disposable income buy new TC, use it once or twice and 3 seasons later sell for 1/2 price.
  • How can a truck camper with no suspension or frame cost as much as a trailer??


    My question also..

    I have been kicking around the idea of full timing again and I could get a new fifth wheel or a new big travel trailer for less than the price of a new truck camper.A Jayco HT 306rk is less than 40K while most 9ft+ truck campers are over 40K and some 50K..

    I truly do not understand why with less materials and other things than a trailer or fiver.
  • Frame and axles are cheap so aren't much of the price. A TC has just about as much as a TT, just crammed into a much small space. Then combine the lower quantity being built and the price goes up per unit.

    When I have metal parts fabricate, I can get 10 made for 2x the price of 1. And I can get 100 made for only 4x the price of 10. And a 1000 made for only 6x the price of 100. It's all because of order time, management, set up time and repetitive time savings.
  • I agree and I see no advantage of a new truck camper over a used Class B/C built on a truck chassis. For $28000 I can find 2012 Winnebagos on a 350 Ford Chassis with a V10 engine.

    It must be people that buy without thinking about what is needed vs what their friends think is cool. I still cannot understand why anyone would buy a Harley given all the better options out there....
  • Look at a Northstar Liberty camper, well made and affordable.
  • The price of any good is what someone will pay for it. The manufacturers are building at capacity, so apparently they can sell enough campers. RV prices have been soaring as demand is high.

    Contact a Lance dealership near the manufacturer in Lancaster, CA, and you will find significant discounts. But how to get the camper to WV? If you want it shipped across the US, someone will have to pay for that.