Getting into and out of a Lance 1181 with the slide in
Hi.I wonder if anyone has the measurements on the opening left when the slide of a Lance 1181 is in. It looks like there would be 10-13" when the newer ones are in, going by the floorplan, although I guess it could be less. I had actually intended on getting (at least starting out with) a 2007-2009. Somewhere, I have a photo of the door opening of one of these older models, and it looks like you could squeeze in, although not comfortably. But I was concerned that the newer models' opening would be less, since the slide and the dinette on it, are larger. Can anyone give me real information about this? Supposedly I will get the money for this in the near (?) future; when I get it is when I can go look at them. As it is, we have no Lance dealers in my area (one that has a few used models every now and then, but I can't even get there easily to look at them as it is). I emailed Lance for information, but haven't gotten an answer.
Reading a thread somewhere about using with the slide in, some of the users actually got angry that people were trying to use the camper without extending the slide, as if they were just too lazy to push a button! But who wouldn't prefer to use it with the slide out, when that is an option? Those of us who want to be able to get in and out of the camper are simply thinking ahead, to the time when we won't be able to use the slide because:
1. we are parked in a regular parking lot, without room for a slide to open. In addition, we might be looked at with suspicion already, because of the bigger footprint, as if we are going to cause some trouble in that parking lot, perhaps a wreck or something with some of their "good" customers. We might be tolerated on a let's-see basis, and opening the slide is considered going over the line, figuratively if not literally. But to be able to access the camper in parking lots is even more important, when you consider that the camper can be taken along to provide storage for shopping trips; you can load your purchases through the door, and put cold things in the fridge, hide major purchases under lock and key while you eat at a restaurant, etc.
2. we are parked overnight in a Walmart parking lot, or another RV-friendly lot. Some of the Walmarts and probably some others, too, do not allow the use of a slide on the premises. Now, who wants to travel, just to camp in Walmart parking lots? I agree, and I do not think it is fair to campground owners to use them exclusively, but they are a resting spot; they are a place to come to a stop and get rest. I might intend to stay only in state parks and private campgrounds, but I would still be wise to plan ahead for the time that the next Walmart is as far as I can make it. Personal emergencies, as well as natural emergencies, might put me off the best of schedules. I need to be able to get into and out of the camper, even if with some difficulty, when the circumstances are not the best.
3. parking at a destination that doesn't allow slides. One that I am thinking of is the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier(s) on Tampa Bay. They allow truck campers, if there would be room to turn them around, and this seems like a wonderful getaway, as well as a great place to spend the night in the Tampa-St Petersburg-Bradenton area for little money, say if Ft Desoto is filled up (which is not uncommon). When you pay for access, you have it for 24 hours. Sounds like an ocean cruise to me (and, yeah, you can fish, too!). But you can't extend awnings, you can't use generators or cook or refrigerate with propane, and you can't extend the slide. Something like this, alone, is reason to insist on being able to use the camper with the slide in. I am sure there are other examples of this kind of destination slidelessness, but I can't think of any right now, since they tore down the Gulf Breeze pier after hurricane damage. But it sure makes it an issue to me!
4. Your truck is broken down on the shoulder of an Interstate highway.
5. The slide is broken.
6. You might be parked in the crowded parking lot of a hotel--you are staying overnight at a hotel!--but you are traveling with things you need that are kept in the camper, where ordinarily you would be using them. The same thing could be true if someone in your party needs to be hospitalized; I doubt that many crowded, urban hospital parking lots are going to be too friendly towards opening slides while you are in the lot, and sometimes in that situation, that truck won't be moving on for awhile. You need to be able to access the camper and what is in it, in the least obtrusive way possible.
That is the main reason, that you need to keep flexible, to be able to use the thing, not just in the best of times, but in the worst of them, and the less than ideal, pretty good ones, too.
Reading a thread somewhere about using with the slide in, some of the users actually got angry that people were trying to use the camper without extending the slide, as if they were just too lazy to push a button! But who wouldn't prefer to use it with the slide out, when that is an option? Those of us who want to be able to get in and out of the camper are simply thinking ahead, to the time when we won't be able to use the slide because:
1. we are parked in a regular parking lot, without room for a slide to open. In addition, we might be looked at with suspicion already, because of the bigger footprint, as if we are going to cause some trouble in that parking lot, perhaps a wreck or something with some of their "good" customers. We might be tolerated on a let's-see basis, and opening the slide is considered going over the line, figuratively if not literally. But to be able to access the camper in parking lots is even more important, when you consider that the camper can be taken along to provide storage for shopping trips; you can load your purchases through the door, and put cold things in the fridge, hide major purchases under lock and key while you eat at a restaurant, etc.
2. we are parked overnight in a Walmart parking lot, or another RV-friendly lot. Some of the Walmarts and probably some others, too, do not allow the use of a slide on the premises. Now, who wants to travel, just to camp in Walmart parking lots? I agree, and I do not think it is fair to campground owners to use them exclusively, but they are a resting spot; they are a place to come to a stop and get rest. I might intend to stay only in state parks and private campgrounds, but I would still be wise to plan ahead for the time that the next Walmart is as far as I can make it. Personal emergencies, as well as natural emergencies, might put me off the best of schedules. I need to be able to get into and out of the camper, even if with some difficulty, when the circumstances are not the best.
3. parking at a destination that doesn't allow slides. One that I am thinking of is the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier(s) on Tampa Bay. They allow truck campers, if there would be room to turn them around, and this seems like a wonderful getaway, as well as a great place to spend the night in the Tampa-St Petersburg-Bradenton area for little money, say if Ft Desoto is filled up (which is not uncommon). When you pay for access, you have it for 24 hours. Sounds like an ocean cruise to me (and, yeah, you can fish, too!). But you can't extend awnings, you can't use generators or cook or refrigerate with propane, and you can't extend the slide. Something like this, alone, is reason to insist on being able to use the camper with the slide in. I am sure there are other examples of this kind of destination slidelessness, but I can't think of any right now, since they tore down the Gulf Breeze pier after hurricane damage. But it sure makes it an issue to me!
4. Your truck is broken down on the shoulder of an Interstate highway.
5. The slide is broken.
6. You might be parked in the crowded parking lot of a hotel--you are staying overnight at a hotel!--but you are traveling with things you need that are kept in the camper, where ordinarily you would be using them. The same thing could be true if someone in your party needs to be hospitalized; I doubt that many crowded, urban hospital parking lots are going to be too friendly towards opening slides while you are in the lot, and sometimes in that situation, that truck won't be moving on for awhile. You need to be able to access the camper and what is in it, in the least obtrusive way possible.
That is the main reason, that you need to keep flexible, to be able to use the thing, not just in the best of times, but in the worst of them, and the less than ideal, pretty good ones, too.
