Towing with Lance TC:

[DesertMax]

I've been looking at a new to me rig and need to be sure I can tow with it. This one is a Lance LC480 9.6 which is the length I need but it has the rear bumper that looks like it covers the entire lower area of the truck including license plate and receiver.
Can anyone tell me if without actually loading it up, there is any way to know for sure if this is the case...

[nomadictxn]

Wow! That is cool. Great find!
I had an 86 300 but it wasn't nearly as cool as yours.
Happy camping and towing.

[sasquatchgeoff]

Wow. Looks like the PO was a real gadgethead - lucky for you 🙂
Great classic rig. I'm envious.

[DesertMax]

Thanks...

[rlb8s]

Good find. Congratulations.

[DesertMax]

Hi Guys, just want to let you know that I made my deal and found what appears to be the perfect rig for my needs at this time in my adventure..
It's a 1996 Squire 3000 and is 8.6 so leaves truck tail lights exposed and my truck handles great. I'm stoked!

Had to drive many hours yesterday to pick it up on other side of state so I'm pooped today but tomorrow will begin cleaning and whatnot..

This rig came with a lot of aftermarket items and has 2 Siemens Solar Chargers on the roof.
Also lots of aftermarket audio gear but there was one item that never appeared in the pictures in the ad.
It has a roof mounted Winegard "Movin View" unit. Looks like it may be last years model but he says it works.
I may have to post a new string in "technical" but anyone have any idea how to get started checking this thing out?
I downloaded a PDF but nothing like talking to you guys for real time information..

[DesertMax]

Not so sure where this string is off to but as for me, don't need info on extension of towing any longer as I am into the smaller Lance...
If it helps others that's fine... thanks!

[mkirsch]

Bolting the extension to the camper's bumper is a silly idea, especially now that the camper is 20-some years old. It was a Lance factory feature and probably worked okay for light towing when the camper was new. Don't depend on it for anything now, though.

As I recall the Lance extension had an upward offset to meet the bottom of the camper, though I'd expect that to be different for different trucks.

[Bedlam]

Without knowing what you plan to tow, it's hard to give advise. I think anything that is light enough that it does not need its own brakes can be made to work with the OEM receiver. Once you get to anything heavier, you better have a good understanding of engineering and fabrication or buy the life-time guarantied Torklift products.

[DesertMax]

Hey I had mentioned a deal I found on a Squire 1000.... turns out it's a 3000 and looks like the deal is going forward... It has the 8.6 so tail lights exposed, fully self contained and a 1996 in really nice shape.. elec jacks and extra huge sound system, solar... For once.. looks like I got lucky..
I'll be back in the Lance club and will send some shots of it on my truck when I get it set up... there is one issue.. he says one of the hard points for the jacks is what amounts to sound like "countersunk".. needs probably wood filler or something and then new eye bolt installed..

[nomadictxn]

Desertmax, The Lance 300 model is a full featured 8 foot that uses the trucks tail lights also. I had one previous to my 480. You see a decent one for sale every now and then.

[Boatycall]

Well, first, I wouldn't tow with that Lance. I'd tow with a truck. Works better. :B

In all my years, I haven't seen a TC that drops down completely covering the hitch receiver of the truck. That being said, as others have said, I'd get a Torklift Superhitch and a SuperTruss long enough for your needs.

Link to Torklift SuperHitch

Link to Torklift SuperTruss extensions

[DesertMax]

Thanks for all the great responses.. Right now I'm looking at the Squire 1000's or the model 815 that is an 8.5... I love the idea that it is still totally self contained but that I can use my truck tail lights and save weight by eliminating that huge rear fascia..
I'll find one eventually... just a matter of time..

[richj]

I had an LC480 up until a couple of years ago. Yes, there was a flange welded to the camper bumper. The receiver hitch extension bolted up to it. I'm in California, the truck license plate was moved to the camper - no requirement for a separate plate for the camper. I pulled a friend's ski boat a couple times, no problems.

[DesertMax]

You know I did notice what looked like a square sort of flange welded to the bottom of the center of the camper bumper. Looked to be just about where the receiver would be.. On the Superhitch idea.. I looked at those and they are super expensive.. I can't see the point when I can get a camper that doesn't need one and without the bumper the unit becomes lighter.. we love lighter!