Help! Just got my truck camper need advice

[Freeborn530]

Finally bought a truck camper, a used Lance LC580, so I need tiedowns, airbags, type of hitch because I will be towing a boat (18 foot boat, boat and trailer weighs about 3200 pounds), new tires, some way to extend the mirrors. I have a 2006 Dodge Ram quad cab with an 8 foot bed and equipped with the diesel engine. I would love your input, and especially anyone in the Puget Sound region. I'm excited to get this on the road and try it out.

[AnEv942]

Just for grins I priced out at one of the towshop parts houses, tlcentral and tweetys- excluding install and taxes I got approximatley within 200 bucks for parts. As the breakdown includes installation thats 600-800 to install. IF you shopped, bought this piece here that piece there Im sure you could save more-
If you need to have installed-that would be added back. Taxes depends where you buy.
Bottom line though breakdown seems high-its in ball park. I and many others could, self installing-power shopping-circumventing taxes probably shave 1200. Buying everything you need, new, one place, one time, installed has a value. Not to me but it has a cost.

If the weight of camper resonable for truck the quote at least as far stuff you need seems youve identified. You said you bought camper-do you have possesion? Has this been on truck?

[billyray50]

Hey Freeborn, Congrats on TC. Looks like you have same truck as mine. Check out my profile and see all the mods I installed on my truck. not sure what year your lance is but your model at 10.6 its going to be heavy. Not sure what dry weight is but I highly recommend weighing truck with full tank of gas, tailgate off, and yourself, spouse? Then weigh your truck/camper fully loaded for trip. If you have the 17 forged aluminum rims I highly recommend the Nitto Terra grapplers 285/70r/17 high load index 3750 lbs. or Nitto Durra grapplers 285/75r/17s high load index rated 3970 lbs. The 19.5 vision wheels and tires would be another option. I found out the hard way my TC is a lot heavier than I realized. Ignorance is not bliss. Ideally I should have purchased a dually especially if you want to haul a 10. 6 TC and also be able to tow. Best of luck.

[Sue_Bee]

Installing the superhitch is a no drill job and should require minimum tools, and if I recall correctly, installing the Torklift tie downs is too. My husband had a harder time removing the OEM hitch than installing the Superhitch, he had to soak it with penetrating oil to get it off. Once that was off, it was pretty easy, with some additional muscle to help lift it into place.

Getting additional bids is a good idea.

[Fuzzy_Bear]

wcjeep wrote:

mastercraft1995 wrote:
The only thing you should have someone do s the electrical. Everything else you can do in half a day.

2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB BED MATT AND SPRING LOAD XL $346.95. That's an expensive mat. I'm not sure why you need it?
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC SH04DGFR / D1102 SUPER HITCH $692.73.
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC FMT TIEDOWNS INSTALL $604.60
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC SHEXT INSTALL SUPER TRUSS $561.02 Is this the extension? I sold one for $250 last year. Watch CL they pop up.
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC STABLELOAD DRILL QUICK DISCONNECT $408.85 What is this?
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB PLUG 3WAY 94-09 DG INST CMPR $141.61
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB LANCE PIGTAIL ADAPTER $115.68

I'm not what the expensive mat thing is too. However, the stable loads engage the overload springs alot sooner. This adds stability. I have preproduction units on my 3/4ton Dodge.

I'm thinking that might be a bed matt and the tiedowns (fastguns?). $604 to install the tiedowns and then $561 to install the superhitch is a bit pricy. I believe I have the tools. I have a dirt/gravel driveway, but we can put down plywood and cardboard. I wired my own lights, so with the proper kits we can do it. In fact I'm probably going to rewire mine as it was a quick job in a hotel parking lot. I need to redo the connections and mount it flush in the bed. I just got the pieces for the rearview camera this week so I'll be working on that too. I replied to his message and will probably meet up with him next week.

Doug

[Freeborn530]

In evaluating the Torklift bid, the breakdown appears to be about $600 in labor. Unfortunately I don't have the location or the tools to do the job myself.
I do appreciate everybody's input and have requested additional bids.

[wcjeep]

mastercraft1995 wrote:
The only thing you should have someone do s the electrical. Everything else you can do in half a day.

2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB BED MATT AND SPRING LOAD XL $346.95. That's an expensive mat. I'm not sure why you need it?
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC SH04DGFR / D1102 SUPER HITCH $692.73.
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC FMT TIEDOWNS INSTALL $604.60
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC SHEXT INSTALL SUPER TRUSS $561.02 Is this the extension? I sold one for $250 last year. Watch CL they pop up.
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC STABLELOAD DRILL QUICK DISCONNECT $408.85 What is this?
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB PLUG 3WAY 94-09 DG INST CMPR $141.61
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB LANCE PIGTAIL ADAPTER $115.68

I'm not what the expensive mat thing is too. However, the stable loads engage the overload springs alot sooner. This adds stability. I have preproduction units on my 3/4ton Dodge.

[mastercraft1995]

The only thing you should have someone do s the electrical. Everything else you can do in half a day.

2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB BED MATT AND SPRING LOAD XL $346.95. That's an expensive mat. I'm not sure why you need it?
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC SH04DGFR / D1102 SUPER HITCH $692.73.
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC FMT TIEDOWNS INSTALL $604.60
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC SHEXT INSTALL SUPER TRUSS $561.02 Is this the extension? I sold one for $250 last year. Watch CL they pop up.
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC STABLELOAD DRILL QUICK DISCONNECT $408.85 What is this?
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB PLUG 3WAY 94-09 DG INST CMPR $141.61
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB LANCE PIGTAIL ADAPTER $115.68

[Fuzzy_Bear]

I agree, those prices seem a bit high and some even seem to duplicate others. I could look for my receipt for when they installed everything on my current truck. I know it wasn't anywhere close to that. I did have the old tiedowns off my 03 that they gave a credit for and didn't need new fastguns. I work in Bothell and can show you what is on my truck and give you some pointers on yours. I also have a torklift extension hitch from my 10 1/2 camper that I no longer need.

Doug

[smooth1]

The price seems high to me too. I would check with Clearview RV, Apache Campers in S. Everett, & Ryan's RV in S. Everett for their prices. $600 for front mount tiedowns and install where the parts are $250 on Amazon seems high. The local RV shops are not too busy right now and if you know what the prices are on these parts it will help you negotiate the labor.

[jmckelvy]

Freeborn530 wrote:
Just got my bid from torklift, next is to decide on new tires for the truck.
Here is the bid.
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB BED MATT AND SPRING LOAD XL $346.95
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC SH04DGFR / D1102 SUPER HITCH $692.73
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC FMT TIEDOWNS INSTALL $604.60
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC SHEXT INSTALL SUPER TRUSS $561.02
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC STABLELOAD DRILL QUICK DISCONNECT $408.85
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB PLUG 3WAY 94-09 DG INST CMPR $141.61
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB LANCE PIGTAIL ADAPTER $115.68
Summary
Job Subtotal: $2,871.44
Tax: $272.79
Total: $3,144.23
Less Deposits: $0.00
Total Due: $3,144.23
spring load xl and stable loads lance camper

Not exactly sure what some of those prices cover but they seem really high to me.

[campn4walleye]

You'll want to add a RUBBER bed liner, to keep the TC from sliding around.

We use Torklift tie downs and fastguns. We also pull a heavy boat, so use a superhitch. Very solid products and great customer service. Buy from Tweety's...good prices and had free shipping when we bought last yr.

[Ol__Gold]

Freeborn530 wrote:
Just got my bid from torklift, next is to decide on new tires for the truck.
Here is the bid.
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB BED MATT AND SPRING LOAD XL $346.95
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC SH04DGFR / D1102 SUPER HITCH $692.73
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC FMT TIEDOWNS INSTALL $604.60
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC SHEXT INSTALL SUPER TRUSS $561.02
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB TC STABLELOAD DRILL QUICK DISCONNECT $408.85
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB PLUG 3WAY 94-09 DG INST CMPR $141.61
2006 DODGE RAM2500 CC LB LANCE PIGTAIL ADAPTER $115.68
Summary
Job Subtotal: $2,871.44
Tax: $272.79
Total: $3,144.23

If it were me I think I would shop in a state just south of you. That would be an instant $272.79 savings in tax alone. You just may be able to work a better deal on some of that stuff too. Take a drive down with the DW and score some points taking her to lunch while you have all of those goodies installed on your pick up. Either way, you are going to love that single trip to the water and having all of the comforts of home. Please show us some photos when you get it all set up.

Less Deposits: $0.00
Total Due: $3,144.23
spring load xl and stable loads lance camper

[Camper_Jeff___K]

Big fan of Torklift. Here's their website in Kent, WA. Torklift.
I bought my firestone airbags, torklift frame mount tie downs, and 10' 7 pin bumper plug extension with a 4 foot trailor split on it to feed both the TC and a trailor. If you are able to do your own installation, order your stuff here online. If you need them to install it, friends tell me you'll get a good job.

Come up to the PNW Spring Rally to meet a few of us and get some of your questions answered. PNW Spring Rally. April 12 - 14 - 2013 Deception Pass SP.

J&K

[wcjeep]

NEOK wrote:
For Torklift products you might price them at Tweety's and RAD Auto. Both offer good prices and free shipping. I use Torklift tie downs, Fastguns and a Torklift SuperHitch with a Supertruss extension. The boat I pull is an 18' bass boat. I've been very pleased with all of the Torklift products I use.

Friends have bought from both vendors. No problem with either.