How bad is this?

[BurbMan]

Have been RVing for years and have undertaken extensive repairs on my TT to remediate water leaks.

I know in general how RVs are constructed and am not afraid of tearing into them for repairs, but don't know much about truck campers per se. DW and I have been contemplating selling the TT and getting a TC or Class C, and this one popped up.

This is a 2001 Lance camper with a slide, dry inside, but the RF corner where the jack goes is shot. It's sitting on cinder blocks and not sure how to get it on a truck to move it.

We were looking for a project, but am concerned about the fiberglas buckled on the opposite corner....it this a major structural damage?

The price is right, what are your thoughts?

This is the RF corner where the jack attaches




Here is the other side

[BurbMan]

Thanks for all the comments and insight, but I should point out that I'm not buying this hoping to take it camping this summer. Having done some fairly extensive rot repair on out 34' TT just last year, I know only too well that you only see about 25% of what's wrong. You only see where the water came out, not where it's going in...

I am optimistic because the inside is bone dry with no water stains at all, and even the other outside storage compartments are dry. I've never worked on a TC, but if they're built like wood framed TTs, it can't be that hard.

This unit is sitting in a storage yard costing the owner $75/mo. He just bought a boat that's going next to it in the storage yard, and apparently the wife said NO to paying $150/mo, so he is giving the camper away just to get out from under the storage bill so DW will let him keep the boat. He got it with the intent of repairing it, started taking it apart and never got the time to finish.

So I'm going ahead with the deal, meeting the guy this weekend to get the paperwork and I'll pay for 90 days of storage for the unit to give me some time to get into the details. If it's fixable like I think it is, I'll rent a trailer and bring it home next month. If it's too far gone like some of think it may be, then I'll repost it on the local camping site where I found it as a "free - come and get it".

I figure since these campers cost $50 g's new, it's worth $225 to check this one out. If it's a total loss, I'll be out my $225 wager and will have never brought it home. If I think I can fix it, I'll bring it home, put it in the garage and see what I can do with it.

If it takes me 3 years to fix it, that's OK, we have the trailer to camp in, and gives me more time to shop for a truck.

[Kayteg1]

I think lot of readers take the damage as result of dry rot.
This is not an issue with this Lance.
The damage is result of design flaw and I had the same corner separation on different Lance who had frame wood in perfect shape. In my case PO patch it with steel bar wrap around the corner, before big separation happen and getting the camper cheap, I was able to do full repair with reinforcement in about 3 days of work.
In this case corner separation lead to following damages, so there is more to fix, but if the interior is clean, getting camper for free with what can be fixed in a week for minimal material cost is not bad deal after-all.
Lance do make nice designs and beside those corners + leaks at roof lights there is lot to appreciate.

[Bedlam]

mellow wrote:
I would take and put it on a good size dual wheel car trailer and winch it up to the front if you can find a good attachment point. I would then strip it of everything you can sell and take the rest to the dump.

I have considered buying something like this for the working components to add living quarters to an enclosed trailer. I no longer have the space or enthusiasm for such a project even though it is still an economical solution.

[aruba5er]

this is 2019. would you like to use it in the next 3 or 5 years. I wound not take it for free if he delivered it. you'll have it in your yard and end up scrapping it in a couple years. Of course I don;t know you or your work ethnic but I've seen stuff like that at customers houses that never get finished. It's a lot of work not to mention the money.

[GeoBoy]

BurbMan wrote:
How do I move it?

You don’t, just walk away.

[mellow]

I would take and put it on a good size dual wheel car trailer and winch it up to the front if you can find a good attachment point. I would then strip it of everything you can sell and take the rest to the dump.

[Bedlam]

You can make good looking patches with FRP or diamond plate so they appear to be styling accents, but this camper will require a lot time from a new owner before it is road ready.

[burningman]

Overall I’d agree it isn’t worth taking for free.
Replacing the skin alone will be some real money just for the materials, I’ve looked into it a time or three.
And I’m a guy who - until recently - always had old and cheap campers that I fixed up.

[Bedlam]

Unless you fasten skids to the bottom of the camper, it will destroy it by trying to slide it without rollers.

[Kayteg1]

BurbMan wrote:
Whats something like this weigh? Right now the camper is about 3 mi from my house, could my buddy haul it over here with his F150? Or would I be better off renting a car trailer from U Haul?

You will find info HERE
Take the listed weight with grain of salt as lot of us experienced it much heavier.
When the camper looks badly damaged, Lance is desirable model and several members spend a fortune to have them professionally rebuild, since it still cost 1/3 what new camper and give you improvements option.
There is a shop in WA who specializes in that.
Check Lance forum for pictorial how actual campers were fixed.
I don't think F150 is good for any TC and since there is risk involved, I would not ask friend to use his truck. Rent a trailer.

[JIMNLIN]

BurbMan wrote:
How do I move it?

Have a roll back O/O come in give you a estimate and their plan of proper cable/big straps or what of sliding it onto the rollbacks bed.

[Bedlam]

BurbMan wrote:
Thanks burningman. DW and I have been contemplating selling the TT and getting a TC or Class C, and this one popped up. I figured "free" is certainly in my price range, and I can afford to take a year or two fixing this up. If we decide to keep it we'll sell the TT and Suburban and get a truck. I may even throw in my Challenger Scat Pack and get a NEW truck...


What do you think about this U Haul trailer? Will it hold the weight?

Most likely the ramp on that rental will be in the way. You need a flat deck trailer rated for over 3000 lbs of payload and side walls no higher than 18" if you cannot get a truck that has tie downs to secure the camper.

I would look into removable wing jacks or possibly dry wall jacks to support the camper until you roll a truck or trailer under it.

I agree that the cabover and both front corners have damage that will require disassembly and rebuilding. Unless you have the time and covered workshop, your time may be more valuable than trying to repair this free camper.

[d3500ram]

Burb- you sound like a "go-getter" who is handy with construction skills... and like all of us, are looking for a bargain. As others have stated, this camper is perhaps beyond resurrection. But if you insist on getting it, i would recommend that you consider it a total loss as you begin the journey and from there determine if anything can be saved.

perhaps you use it as a learning tool and provide free disposal for the person getting rid of it. You could do a deconstruction project and perhaps salvage components to sell if they are is acceptable shape, you could use it as a learning tool.

In my opinion, the evidence is that it is too far gone and there are many unknowns still lurking. You might spent time and money to then only discover something that will make it unusable. I have done significant repairs to a past camper and from what I learned was that I will never do it again. I would rather be camping instead of repairing the camper.

[covered_wagon]

I suggest you do not mess with it since the cab over is sagging on the passenger side and shows clue to extensive hidden damage above the area photographed. I would stay away from it since the real work is getting strength back to carry the weight of the cab over. Plus that area to gain that strength is not yet uncovered.

Sometimes it's a whole lot easier to make small payments on a good unit than uncovering a nightmare.

Wait till you look at truck price before you buy a TC though. A good low miles Class C is easier to find.

[BurbMan]

Thanks burningman. DW and I have been contemplating selling the TT and getting a TC or Class C, and this one popped up. I figured "free" is certainly in my price range, and I can afford to take a year or two fixing this up. If we decide to keep it we'll sell the TT and Suburban and get a truck. I may even throw in my Challenger Scat Pack and get a NEW truck...


What do you think about this U Haul trailer? Will it hold the weight?