When attempting to load my new 2015 Lance 1172 into my new 2015 Chevy 3500HD Dually the camper started to sit on the rails rather than sitting on the bed floor. I would have thought the dealer would have known this was a problem. They made me buy a sheet of plywood that they laid in the truck bed. This seems like a poor solution. I am not mechanical or handy but seems like there should be a better solution than storing this sheet of plywood somewhere (I don't have an indoor place) and shoving it into the bed when I want to load the camper. Anybody else ever have this problem? Is it common? Are there better solutions than hauling a loose sheet of plywood around.Appreciate any solutions/guidance/suggestions ... except ones about how the solution if obvious, of course! :-)

I have to run a spacer to keep the cabover off of my cab (older camper, newer truck) and I know thats a pretty common issue.Doesnt offend me at all. I just screwed the spacer to the bottom of the camper so its a permanent fixture now. I'd prime and paint it first for something as new as you have, though.Could also look at doing a thick rubber mat in your bed. A friend of mine is in a similar scenario, he has a 1" thick rubber mat in his bed purchased at a tack and feed store, intended to go in the floor of a horse trailer. Was like $45, and stops his camper from sliding around.

I use to use the 2" pink styrofoam (or blue). You can get it in 1" also. It comes as a 2'x8' sheet,so get 2 and cut them in half (2'x4') and store them in your TC, any big box store or lumber yard will have them. Congratulations on your new toys, now go enjoy them.

I had to do the same thing with my 2014 Chevy dually. I already had the rubber mat in the box and had the camper almost down when I noticed it was on the bed rails. Off to the lumber store for a sheet of 3/4 " pressure treated plywood.Camper rides fine, and I am thinking of making a support to put under the camper, should I take it off at a camp site.

You may also find the radiused tailgate opening does not allow your TC to sit on the bed floor. Horse stall mats laid in the bed under the TC will cure both your problems. Each truck manufacturer bed is a little different and may cause fitment issues. These are not new problems and work arounds are documumented.

2015 Lance 1172 Too Shallow for 2015 Chevy 3500HD Bed

Reddog1
Explorer II
Feb 25, 2016
It is okay.

Wayne
Moderator
dwightmccann
Explorer
Feb 25, 2016
Yes, I hope that "dredging up an old topic" is OK when there is pertinent information to be added, particularly by the OP!
ticki2
Explorer
Feb 25, 2016
mkirsch wrote:
This thread was started in September 2014.

If the guy hasn't figured it out by now...

For anyone who dredged up this old thread to piggyback their own question, start a new thread.

It was the OP who dredged it back up to report on his solution , always a good thing IMHO . Too many threads die a silent death with no resolve.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Feb 25, 2016
mkirsch wrote:
This thread was started in September 2014.

If the guy hasn't figured it out by now...

For anyone who dredged up this old thread to piggyback their own question, start a new thread.
What difference does it make, starting a new thread or continuing an old one? It is not unusual for an old thread to have information that needs not to be repeated in a new thread.

Wayne
CAJW
Explorer
Feb 25, 2016
As a point of reference, our 2013 (in signature) has a side bed rail height above the bed floor of 21 3/4". Also, the opening at the tail gate (rounded stake pockets) is 59 1/2", which is about 2" wider than our AF996. Made for interesting loading the first few times until one gets the hang of it.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Feb 25, 2016
This thread was started in September 2014.

If the guy hasn't figured it out by now...

For anyone who dredged up this old thread to piggyback their own question, start a new thread.
Fisher_Bill
Explorer
Feb 24, 2016
After reading through this thread I think I would just attach the plywood to the bottom of the camper (think lift kit), add a thin mat and forget about it.

Sorry to hear about the change of heart on the relationship and hope you can get the rig out and use it.

We have our first trip set March 4th and can't wait.

Bill
SP1
Explorer
Feb 23, 2016
Ive been using the rubber bed mat and a 3/4 inch 4x8 sheet of foam board from Lowes.They have different thicknesses; I started out with a 1 inch but decided that, though it worked in providing clearance, it was just a bit too tall. Went to the 3/4 and am getting a season out of each piece.
Probably could go longer but it does compress some and want to be on the safe side. My truck is a 2010, camper a Lance 1017. Height to frame rail clearance may be different than yours.

Good luck and see you out there.
dwightmccann
Explorer
Feb 23, 2016
It's been a while but I wanted to report back that I decided on using horse stall high density rubber mats. Worked perfectly! I did need a second, thinner pad for the back end. The mats cut very easily with a box cutter so they are easy to form fit to your bed.
Grodyman
Explorer
Oct 03, 2015
I would use either the foam or plywood painted and or sealed and throw a bedmat over the top and just keep it in.

Gman

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2015 Lance 1172 Too Shallow for 2015 Chevy 3500HD Bed

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