2015 Lance 2285 vs 2015 Outdoors RV 240 rks

[Wood_chip]

These are my final two contenders before ordering.Both are very good. My tow vehicle is not an issue as I could pull much bigger than these.I do like the heavier frame, the underbelly clearance and the interior headroom on the 240 rks and the fit/finish on the Lance. Its a coin toss right now I think. Everyday I lean toward one or the other with no conclusion.Today the wind has shifted toward the 240 rks.

[chr_]

The 2285 was my choice too, then I walked in two of them and it felt like the floor was giving way. I'm only 200 lbs. Bummer. The non ducted AC was also something I didn't like. I wish Skyline made the same basic floor plan, but they don't. I have read there are axle loading issues with Lance too. They make a good truck camper, but probably too used to that nice solid truckbed to plop their campers into.

Ducted AC moves the air better, but make sure that you seal as much of the ducts at the registers yourself with foil tape. You would be surprised how much air goes into the attic.

[Sifter]

Wood chip wrote:
These are my final two contenders before ordering.Both are very good. My tow vehicle is not an issue as I could pull much bigger than these.I do like the heavier frame, the underbelly clearance and the interior headroom on the 240 rks and the fit/finish on the Lance. Its a coin toss right now I think. Everyday I lean toward one or the other with no conclusion.Today the wind has shifted toward the 240 rks.

Like you, I initially fell in love and was completely sold on the Timber Ridge 240RKS, however, no more. We were extremely disappointed with the fit/finish of the unit. Bubbling/rolled up flooring, split out cabinetry construction, nails/screws not hitting anything when put in. Just an overall cheap experience. No where near the quality of a Arctic Fox like the Outdoors RV factory or dealers tell you.

I cannot comment on Lance, but have "heard" good things about them.

[firemedic85]

Lots of difference between the two from ground up. The ORV much heavier with Buffy frame 15 inch wheels shock absorbers. Lance is more 1/2 ton towable. Fresh water capacity will be huge factor if you dry camp a lot. ORV built by same company as Arctic Fox Northwood MFG.

Lance great trailer but like I said ones half ton towable and the other is borderline. I personally would check out the Arctic Fox line and the Snowriver line on the northwoodmfg website if towing is not an issue.

[Bama_bluejay]

The lance look really nice, but most of the floorplans don't have anywhere to relax. The dining booth or bed gets old when it's a rainy day. Our unit has a sofa and 2 chairs, very comfortable.

[nOsSnakeEyes]

Have you considered the Wind River or Black Stone? You get a little different bathroom configuration and extra slide I believe.

[Galvanizd]

Wood Chip, interesting you picked those two trailers. Our picks are very similar. We went to the Pomona Rv show and looked at all the 2015 Lances. They had a bunch and talked to a factory rep named Lou, good guy. We really like the 2185. The one with the big door and the movable bunk beds to the rear. (Forget the grandkids, we could use it as storage). I too like the Outdoor 24 (both the Timber Ridge and the Wind River). Those too, like your choices, are what we're looking at. Right now the Lance is winning out based on the type of traveling we do. After 11 years in a Class A, we found that we don't do much off roading and very little dry camping. We're looking at something a newer 1/2 ton pickup will easily pull. I may travel over to the Lance factory and take a look. Good luck with your choice

[FrankShore]

The BAL/Norco frame that Lance uses is extremely sturdy and it has the capabilities of being a huckbolted frame, over a conventional welded frame. It is stress tested above and beyond the frames used by Outdoors Mfg and Northwoods Mfg as well.

Here is some additional information

BAL/Norco Ultra Frame

[bmj11]

I love my step up dinette in the Lance, easier to get out and extra storage under it. As I always say, choosing a RV is nothing else than making compromise. And the compromise is decided our YOURS needs not ours.

[Wood_chip]

Well, after sitting in the ORV Timber Ridge 240 again, a few more downsides appeared. As another reply ealier had mentioned, the seperate toilet room is cramped to where my knees would barely clear the wall in front the toilet and while simulating real use, my head would hit the same wall while bending down and pulling up my pants. (sorry for the visual).

The queen bed is not a "real" queen size and my feet hung over a few inches. I still cant get over the sofa bed as its the worst I have seen . The Dinnete is sooo much smaller than the Lance.

Things I still love about it are the vaulted ceilings with nice headroom, Ducted AC, sturdy frame, higher road clearance, one piece front nose cap, larger 80 gal freshwater tank, General exterior appearnce is awesome.

My next step today is putting my boots back in the Lance 2285. As I stated in the original post, a different day brings a different conclusion. I suppose if I flipped a coin, I would be happy with either unit.

[BubbaChris]

The step-up into the dinette slide was a big mark against it while we were shopping (considering the 1985 model)

Now that we've had our TT for 6 months, the two you're looking at are short on storage space in comparison. That said, they're both very nice looking for that style of floorplan.

[Wood_chip]

I would anticipate the same tongue weight for myself as well. We like to have our creature comforts

[brulaz]

Wood chip wrote:
brulaz-
What weight distribution system are you using for your 1100 lbs of tongue weight?

A barely adequate one!!!

It's a cheap, generic WDH. Think it's only rated for 1000# tongue weight. I've got it tightened up to the max as I needed to get as much weight as possible off the truck's rear axle (GAWR limitations).

I put a separate friction sway bar on but with over 15% tongue weight sway isn't much of an issue.

What I ordered was a 12K Equal-i-zer (the brand name) but the salesperson at the dealership had no idea what that was. :R So I ended up with the el cheapo WDH.

The trailer's high tongue weight is because of the twin 6V batteries, twin 30# propane tanks, the big pass-thru and all the storage over and under the bed. We're snowbirds and live in the thing for 3-4 months at a time, so we bring a lot of stuff.

[goducks10]

If your 6'4" you may have a hard time sitting on the toilet in the 240RKS. Physically walk in and shut the door then try sitting on the toilet. We have a very similar floor plan in a Fox Mountain with the toilet in a separate room. I'm 5'6" and have to contort a little to not hit my head when sitting on the toilet. Sounds silly but after our 1st SOB TT that was virtually impossible to sit on the toilet without our heads hitting the door, we're leery of enclosed toilet rooms.

Other than that I would give the nod to the 240RKS. And like mentioned before if you don't need the sofa get recliners.

[Wood_chip]

I should have added to be fair,at 6'-4" and 270lbs, that any ladder would be challenged most likely