New (to me) Lance 815 truck camper owner. Got a few q's

[EddieS]

Just got my first truck camper. Have had a 5th wheel for a while before. Got a few questions:

I have a 2007 F250 crew short box, 4x4, 6.0. Just picked up a used 2006 Lance 815 with east/west queen. The fellow I got it from had a similar truck (but long bed), and helped me construct a 2.5" platform in the bed (horizontal 2x4s with two sheets of 1/2" OSB). He said he read it somewhere that the camper needed to be raised off the tops of the bed rails by that much.

Q 1 - Is there a standard?

He had the short bed modification boxes that came with it from the factory (and the original owner before him), but my tailgate cables were in the way, and I had to cut slots in the plastic boxes to be able to slide the camper all the way forward.

Q 2 - Is this typical?

I have the towing and camper package on the truck, and my GVWR is 10K (5,600 FAWR/6,100 RAWR), and my sticker states I have a 2,399 max load rating. Before getting this camper, I hauled a load of landscaping rock. My before weight was 7,860, with only me, some basic tools, 5th wheel rails and frame brackets, a removable bed liner (on top of the 5th wheel rails) and a full tank.

After I got the camper, I took the truck and camper to a CAT scale. My steer axle was 4,720, drive axle was 5,540 (total 10,260), with a full tank, and some basic tools. There was no water or anything in the holding tanks. The camper only had a few cleaning supplies, fridge, Mach 3 AC and a microwave (no TV, stereo or oven).

Q 3 - Is this 260 lbs of over weight acceptable?

There's almost nowhere I can cut weight, other than removing the 5th wheel rails and frame mounts, microwave, and maybe a sheet of OSB. Kind of perplexed here, as I was hoping it would be near the weight of 1,992 (as per the factory sheet, after adding the microwave).

Based on my figures, I should have been at ~7,860 (truck) + ~1,992 (camper) and maybe around 100-150 lbs in lumber, torklift/fastguns and a few extra tools. That should have been at or just below 10K. I really don't know where the extra 250-300 lbs is coming from on this camper...

Thanks for any advice on these questions.

-Ed

[EddieS]

c.traveler2 - I notice you have a step ladder in that photo, and you've previously had scissor steps. Any strong opinion of one over the other?

[EddieS]

I looked at an'02 Lance 835 before I got my 815, and it had a window unit in the rear window. I looked at it in person, and it was very nicely done. They just moved one of the ladder rungs down a bit. Oddly enough, at the time, this was one of my criteria, that it have a back-facing dinette window. Love to have 360 views.

[jaycocreek]

I installed a AC unit using the back window.

I also do not have or want a top mounted AC because of the problems off road..I have a window unit I have been using that is very light and easy to put in and out but I have been thinking of mounting it in the rear window as pictured above...The ladder rack would have to be modified and that bothers me or it would have already been done.

The little window unit cools my 9.6 TC very well(95 out to 70ish in) with less noise than the top mounts and my honda 2k just purrs with it going.

I would like to see a step by step guide to making this mod especially on the ladder rack and frame fr the AC if there is one.

[c_traveler2]

EddieS wrote:
For those who've removed an AC unit from a truck camper, is there a noticeable difference in wind load/handling? Or from those who've added one? If not, I might as well keep i

Removing the roof top AC will help with lowering the COG some what. Unless your going off road like I do i wouldn't brother. As you did see by my videos I installed a AC unit using the back window.

[Buzzcut1]

truck campers are way smaller than 5th wheels my ac will keep my big lance nice and cool. There have been times where it never dropped below 110 out in the desert at night and it was so nice to sleep in a cool camper. 100 or so pounds is got going to make a difference in cqrrying my 4600# camper. I don't even notice a difference when I added 140 pounds of kayaks up onto the roof for trips when i had my SRW with 19.5 tires, sure don't notice it with my dually.

[EddieS]

Thanks all for the replies.

I ended up taking all 2x4s and OSB out, the 5th wheel rails out, as well as taking the tailgate off. Put in my plastic liner to see how it did on a roadtrip (I know, I know, but needed to see before ordering a bedmat). Went boondocking for a few nights in the NF. Didn't shift on the forest roads, but did a little with a strong head/side wind coming home. Ordered a DeeZee heavyweight mat. Planning to put it on top of the plastic liner, to give just a bit more cab clearance (with only the liner, have just under 2", and plenty on the bed rails).

Have a few more questions though.

On steps: the camper originally came with Step-Up Products 4 scissor step, with mounting bracket just under the door (horizontally mounted). Bracket and steps weren't included, but the bolts and nuts are there. Lance (and Step-Up) sell the model for around $299. This is about what a Brophy model is, and Torklift is a bit more. Any significant difference between these? I'm not sure how the others will mount , as there's only 1.5" vertical under the door to mount the bracket, as Step-Up mounts under the door floor.

I've also been looking at folks who use a Little Giant, or have constructed a hitch mounted step or step/generator rack. I have a Honda 2000, that I may or may not be carrying, after the next question...

On AC: My camper has a Mach 3 PS, and it pulls just over 1000 watts, so great for the Honda 2000, but, I'd kind of like to ditch the generator and 90lbs of AC off the roof, and add a MaxxAir fan (roof is prewired for the fan). Been in the desert all my life, and tent camp a lot, so, the heat isn't that big a deal, though, there were times when my AC couldn't cool off my 5th wheel fast enough. The weight was never an issue with the 5th wheel, but it is now.

For those who've removed an AC unit from a truck camper, is there a noticeable difference in wind load/handling? Or from those who've added one? If not, I might as well keep it.

Thanks all.

[c_traveler2]

EddieS , congratulations on your Lance 815, I've had mine since 2002 (bought it new) and current truck is a 2007 F250 6.0PSD/4x4 long bed. Just make sure you have the rated tires and rims for your rig. I've had no trouble hauling this camper around and rising the camper up is important to clear the cab as well as to make sure that the shore water connection is off the truck rail.

The weight tag on most of the TC's are wrong and most likely your 815 weights more than what's on the tag like mine. So don't worry if your a little over on your weight, the truck can handle it.

Any questions other than what you posted just PM me.

[mountainkowboy]

Grit dog wrote:
^If it makes you feel better, I got about 7 mpg on the last leg coming home yesterday with the camper and boat behind. 70+mph into a 30 mph head wind will doo that! Had to slow down to 65 for a while when the wind was starting to suck the front windows out of the truck!
On the upside, I burned out any carbon deposits that may have been lurking in the ole engine!

We got her down to 6.5 mpg on one leg of our trip a few years ago towing an IH Scout behind her into the wind...or should I have said gail....lol. That 'ol 460 sucks some fuel, but will do whatever you ask of it.

[Grit_dog]

^If it makes you feel better, I got about 7 mpg on the last leg coming home yesterday with the camper and boat behind. 70+mph into a 30 mph head wind will doo that! Had to slow down to 65 for a while when the wind was starting to suck the front windows out of the truck!
On the upside, I burned out any carbon deposits that may have been lurking in the ole engine!

[mountainkowboy]

jaycocreek wrote:
And my '94 F-350 Supercab Dually is 1400 pounds lighter. Older truck lighter metal.. (laughing)

Mine too, I come in at 10,600lbs with the S&S fully loaded and ready to camp. Way under on my tires and axles and the truck handles it fine. I have Bilsteins and Stableloads on it, it was a factory camper pkg. so I have the swaybars and heavy overloads.

Now if I could only get better than 9.5 mpg.......

[jaycocreek]

I kinda get a kick when someone on here starts spouting facts and figures about how things should be done , I say , just do it and if it does not work do it different next time !

X2

[wanderingbob]

At 10 am I bought a 2004 915 , and yes the skirts came off , 4 bolts each side. It sat my Ram 2500 CTD down not quite 2 inches . This is my 3rd RV in less than one year . I started at Thanksgiving with a 2016 Work and Play 26 , to **** heavy . Bought a 2016 Forest River pop up Truck camper , wife did not like the bath room . So for this week I kinda like the 915 . Fortunately we actually only lost $300 on all these transactions .
We have had near twenty RVs in the last 30 years . Someday we will find one we keep .

I was an automobile auctioneer and transporter for 32 years so RVs were part of my stock in trade . I still deliver and spot trailers for several businesses in GA and FL and move 10 to 15 trailer per month . I kinda get a kick when someone on here starts spouting facts and figures about how things should be done , I say , just do it and if it does not work do it different next time !

[Grit_dog]

jaycocreek wrote:
They make a tailgate support that I had looked pretty hard at for hauling my Yamaha Rhino in the rear of my truck..

Tailgate Support

I personally liked having the tailgate on with my truck camper when I had a camper it worked on.Storage on each side was a plus and easy access to the wheel wells for shovels/axes and such...Never had an issue with it down..But we are all different in our likes and dislikes..

Those tailgate supports are pretty cool though....like back in the day when tailgates had real chains or hinge bars.

I agree with fish though that truck beds are getting lighter by the year. My 2016 Silverado work truck got dinged in the corner of the back bumper. Just enough to flex it into the corner of the bed side but not enough to crease or dent the bumper. So super minor. It actually bent the structure of the bed side where the tailgate wouldn't open though. Took a few blows with a bfh under the truck to straighten it so the tailgate would work again.
Maybe I take back my statement about leaving the tailgate on. Just make sure it's not taking too much weight. Apparently 3rd gen Rams still have heavy duty enough tailgates. As do the old style Super Dutys and GMT 800/900 trucks.

[Grit_dog]

mkirsch wrote:
Yes, keep the tailgate on if you enjoy broken tailgate cables from the camper bouncing up and down on it, and a dented/scratched tailgate from all the rocks and road debris that gets kicked up behind your truck. Not to mention the lovely slots you will have to cut into the saddle bags to make it fit.

It's entirely up to you but most leave the tailgate at home, especially considering there are more downsides to having it on than off.

Maybe if the tailgate somehow sits higher than the truck bed and takes an undue amount of weight. If the camper will cantilever off the back without a tailgate, it's not going to break the tailgate.
Or did you just read that it's a bad thing to do?
Kind of like the other old wives tale about dented and scratched from rocks. Or maybe I just have a super tailgate that is impervious to rock chips....well I do have good mud flaps on the Dodge, but the other couple,dozen trucks that have run a lot of miles on dirt, winter and paved roads with the tailgates down didn't get trashed either. Maybe a couple tiny rock chips over the course of many miles, but way less than fenders, hood and rocker panels.

What about the upside of actually having your tailgate when you reach a destination and dump the camper for a while?