We had a 2375 lance trailer. We had the same issue with our refrigerator. While it was in transient it would turn off. While we were parked and camping it would stay on. Lazy day didn’t not fix the issue. It worked for awhile and started up again. It was probably the part you mentioned it needed.
Why are so many people commenting about other models, this is about the 1685 ok ? I would love to have my wife crawling over me out of the bed to go to the bathroom, sadly she passed away in Feb 2021. So I am now a solo traveler, this trailer is perfect for me. We towed a 23' Airstream around 70 K miles all over the western US, she would approve of me getting this Lance and I will name it after her...
We took delivery of our new Lance 1985 in early Spring 2018, so going on 5 years now. Prior to that, we owned a Lance 1685. Ours has most all of the factory upgrades, including convertible sofa, solar, 3” raised chassis for off-roading, power stabilizers, slide-out bin in the front storage area, and more. Here are our observations: Pros • A big advantage: To cut costs, most RV builders place their different length boxes on the same length chassis. This results in a less-than-optimal balance over the axles. Lance builds their frames to match the box size. Consequently, the axles are at the optimum location beneath the box, balance is enhanced, and it tows like a trailer weighing much less. • Fit and finish is excellent. Little touches like edge molding and the light fixtures are simply a cut above the competition. Quality components. • For a 23’ trailer, it’s very spacious, tons of internal and external storage. • Huge slide-out, comfortable, plush cushions, seats 4 adults easily. Never any mechanical problems. • Solid roof, 40-45 gallon tanks, 4-season capable. • Convertible sofa. It’s actually very comfy. We use it all the time. • Dual axles - rides smoothly and tracks straight. Quality tires. • Excellent solar charging system. We replaced the dual factory 12-volt batteries with dual 6-volt batteries. The batteries have never run down past 2/3 full, even over multiple cloudy days and overnight in cold weather. • Walk-around bed. The crawl-over bed in our previous Lance 1685 proved to be a pain and was one of the drivers that motivated us to step up to the Lance 1985. • Audio and TV/DVD system work fine. 6 speakers total. • Our 2018 Ram 1500 has no trouble whatsoever towing the 1985. A ½ ton will pull this trailer no problem provided you have the correct axle gear ratio. Our previous 2007 Ram 1500 did not and it struggled. • Initial price is high, but resale value is outstanding. We sold our Lance 1685 for more than we paid for it. Cons • As a rule, we’ve found that the things that malfunction are typically sourced components like the Dometic appliances, not the Lance trailer itself. • A/C is loud. You’ll either need shore power, a generator larger than 2000 watts, or install an EasyStart soft starter (recommended). A 2000-watt generator may or may not have enough juice on start-up (typically 1600 watts). We once had a pair of Generac 2000-watt generators paired in parallel (3200 watts on startup). We attempted to run both the A/C and the microwave at the same time. It fried the circuit boards on both generators. This is an issue with any trailer. Watch your wattage demands vs. supply. • Slide-out external screws come loose. Others have noted this issue. Had to replace with larger screws. • Changed the basic shower head to a better-quality head. Saves water, increases pressure. • Lance customer service is just OK. However, the Lance Owners Association (LOA) is a fantastic resource for tips, advice, etc. • The inside diameter of the rear bumper is too small to accommodate the sewage hoses. Don’t know why Lance couldn’t use a slightly larger bumper (literally just a 1/2" larger) so that you can store the hoses inside the bumper, on the outside the trailer instead of having to put them in a sealed container in the rear outside storage compartment. • Biggest complaint: The awning is rarely usable for two reasons. 1) It uses scissor arms to extend and retract. Sounds great on paper - no clotheslining as you walk around outside. However, if even a light-moderate breeze comes up, the awning starts to flap and risks torquing the arms and breaking them. The automatic retraction feature that senses potentially damaging winds is nice, but it retracts whenever there's the slightest breeze. There is no provision for attaching guy lines or poles to help stabilize. 2) The awning will hit the door if left open. If you try to extend or retract the awning while the door is open, you will surely damage the door, the awning, or both - substantially. In our view, this is a major design flaw. If we leave the auto-retract feature on, we can’t leave the door open. If we want the door open, we have to turn off the auto-retract feature, thus risking awning breakage if a gust hits. Despite the cons, all in all, we love our Lance 1985 and would buy again.
I would add the following cautions, experienced on our most recent trips this Spring, Summer, and Fall, 2023. 1. Our 2018 model 1985 and many other of the models of this same vintage use auto glass for the front window. We arrived at our first campground on our first trip of the Spring and discovered that an errant rock on the highway had shattered the window. Spider-webbed from corner to corner. The glass was hanging together, so to prevent it from falling into the trailer (it was very flexible), at night on our heads in bed, we Gorilla taped the hell out of it, inside and out. Later models now use some sort of thermoplastic or whatever for the front window. They appear to not be as likely to shatter or break as ours. Finally, the kicker is that Lance did not have any replacement glass - supply chain issues. Lance estimated they might have some by September. We still haven't rec'd the part. Our tech told us that we're #4 on the waiting list. It's now late October. We spent the entire season camping (a lot, including Yosemite!) with a taped-up front window, praying the tape would hold under both rain and road vibration. Kudos to Gorilla tape - we got through the entire 4000 mile season just fine! 2. Make sure to cover the SmartJack head. The plastic film covering the controls on top of the unit disintegrates over time. That allows water into the unit and short circuits it. We now keep an old waterproof stuff sack secured on it at all times. It prevents further sun damage, keeps the water out (both stationary and on the road), and we can operate the controls through the sack - don't need to remove it. Tip: If your SmartJack should short out or simply not work for any reason, be sure to decouple the in-line fuse below the unit. Smartjack has an auto-brake that will engage if it's receiving power. This make turning the jack manually really, really difficult. Like pushing a car with the parking brake on. We had a few other minor repairs along the way this year but we still love our trailer. Good luck!
I just bought a 2019 Lance 2375. In Canada, price was 69,000 plus paperwork fee and taxes 😳 but after looking at dozens of brands and floor plans… Lance covered all of our needs.
We just received our lance 1985. It’s sitting in our driveway waiting for us to take her out the second time. So far I love everything about it. We took a long time to decide as this is our first trailer. Lance was our second choice that quickly moved into our first choice. (started out looking at airstreams) but the price vs quality vs insulation and storage… lance won, hands down. We relied on your information to help us choose and you haven’t let us down. Still wigged out about the box rattling down the road but the comfort a trailer offers is so nice for these aging bones. Tents, even with air mattresses, are not cutting it anymore. ;-) Keep producing videos! You are a bevy of information.
Congratulations! If you haven’t already look into the Lance owners group LOA. When we first got our Lance I was doing a lot of research on LOA then saw the rallies and things decided to go to one. Have been going ever since it’s great to meet up with other Lance owners and we always have a blast. We have met wonderful people some have become close friends. It truly is like a huge family. Enjoy your Lance and your travels.
@@mumbo1956 Maybe we’ll see you down the road in the future 😊 The LOA provides more than tips and hints on your Lance. Lots of support and some humor some sarcasm depending on the situation and members replying. All in all (a few bad apples) great people. At our first rally we were all sitting around getting to know some of the members and my husband brought up a small issue with our slide out awning- next thing we knew a group of members came with a ladder and we’re fixing the awning. Friends for life👍🏽 it was awesome. The next day another member came to our trailer with foot plates for our stab jacks - in 2018 the jacks didn’t have flat plates on the bottom. He and my husband installed them immediately. He said when he ordered them online he didn’t realize it came as a set so he ordered four and received four sets. Most members he knew already had the plates on their Lances and saw that we didn’t. At the time we were very “green” super newbies. LOA helped us along beautifully and still do to this day.
Enjoyed your video. We purchased a 2018 Lance 1985 in May of 2020. Having put 10,000 miles on it through Sept 30, 2021 we love it. I have found it easy to repair when things go wrong. Have fixed Kitchen faucet (repair), power board replace under stove, broken black water tank wand pluming and a light or two. Normal happenings on any travel trailer. Our had the solar panel on top, back camera, all hitches weight distribution, good tires and had been jackknifed but did only minor cosmetic scrapping. Tows great (had rented a single axel once before) and even at 65-70 on flat smooth with lots of trucks passing is fine. F150 V8 (2015) tows great. We paid 26K plus tax and insurance. It looked brand new. Was serviced and they showed us all hookup tricks. Been off grid twice. Have 3800 generator and it runs full trailer and AC.
Very happy with our 1985 Lance. It's a 2019 we purchase in 2021. The quality is exactly what we were looking for in a travel trailer. I have to say the seating is very comfortable. We have not had any big issues. Propane flow in colder temps, a seal in the drain under the bathroom sink. Normal wear and tear replacing awning batteries and repair of soft close doors and roller shade tension. We did look at other trailers around the same price point, and decided the size and comfort were great and the size made it an easy tow vehicle. We can fit just about anywhere! We starting watching your videos when we decided on a Lance and they have been very helpful!
helpful...we just bought a 2022 2075 model from a company going out of business....we paid what they owed @ $41,000. New and fully warranted so we consider that a great deal. Appreciate all that you shared. Bottom line today, you get what you pay for no doubt. THX
Thanks for the fridge thermal fuse warning. I didn't know it has one. I have a Dometic water heater on our Kodiak trailer and the water heater went out on the second trip... It also has a thermal fuse! Removed it and had hot water the rest of the trip! Thanks for sharing your experience because I'm not taking my trailer to the dealer either! Turn around time is too long even though it's still covered by the one year warranty. I agree with you that the Lance is better quality, but we purchased a Kodiak 210QB the has the walk around residential queen bed (I'm 6'4") instead of the shorter RV queen bed.
Thanks for such a thorough review yet again! After having a couple of rvs and living in one full time many years ago in the northeast in cold weather i really question any four season claims. After doing a few home energy audits with a blower door and a thermal camera and training on building science etc. i doubt few if any u.s.made rv would pass a simple thermal analysis. My older class c had heated and enclosed basement, etc. But when you put the thermal gun on the camper in cold weather you can see energy transfer through the aluminum frame to the fiberglass or adzel or wood, etc. Building science technology has not been overly embraced by the rv industry due to cost and weight and cube. We need more competition in that area from Europe to be honest as simple things like air sealing is often left out in areas like electrical hookups or instrusions into the camper shell. And those who claim double insulated shells dont mention air cannot insulate if it is being exghanged and not sealed nor does the shiny aluminum foil stuff have an r value they claim UNLESS there is an ideal air gap with no exchange. Lots of myths and crap. I could go on and on but suffice it to say most campers are really three season at best and they waste a ton of energy. Thats why camp grounds have to recoup the electricity waste with higher rates, especially in summer cooling season. We dont need $16k in solar and lithium if some products had a very high quality and tightly sealed shell. That type of product would need very little energy for HVAC but we would have to build it ourselves in this current market.
We love our Lance 1985 with couch conversion. It’s perfect for us. No complaints very few issues. Simple small stuff we have taken care of ourselves. Going on 3 years of ownship. She’s a keeper- still like new. Looking forward to another 10 years of travels with our Lance!
I found this really interesting, as Lance was on our list of next trailer to buy in 2021; we actually wound up with the Intech Sol Horizon (Rover off-road edition), which was at a similar price point and is promoted for their quality. All welded aluminum frame including under & tongue, single-piece fiberglass roof combined with rear, single piece fiberglass front, all to resist what is essentially a moving earthquake going down the road from coming loose. Compared to the Lance, it is NOT a four-season trailer, ie not insulated underneath and inferior wall insulation, does not have double-pane windows. Our second-place choice was the NuCamp T@B400, about the same price, also with welded aluminum frame and single-piece fiberglass pieces, has double-pane windows, but a bit smaller interior room. Both are single axle, both very nicely appointed, both had a street price of about $33K ($39K MSRP) when we bought during late 2021, which is now increased to $40K street price (Mar 2022). HOWEVER, the Sol had numerous quality problems after we picked it up, and as you mentioned in your video this is not uncommon for RVs these days, but what it comes down to in the end is OEM warranty support and customer service. Intech is a very new manufacturer of travel trailers, doing that for less than 5 yrs, and they do not have the maret experience and resources that NuCamp, Airstream, and Lance have in terms of dealer and service network, warranty payments for their service network, and their stated culture is very profit focused inward, which results in customers facing resistance to fixing problems...unless you take your trailer back to their Indiana factory like I did for warranty repairs, which was a very different and positive experience. Looking back, I would have pushed my wife to walk away from the Intech and looked harder at the NuCamp or Lance; it seems that the Lance may not be as adept at off-road, but I'd enjoy your experiences with that. We moved down from a 24ft dual-axle Airstream, as our kids are now gone, and we are much more interested in dispersed boondocking and smaller state & NP campgrounds, as those are much in much more beautiful locations. Although I agree on most of your points of single vs dual axles, I do not when it comes to trailer sway as that is a function primarily of weight distribution over the trailer axle(s). I even experienced sway on our past two dual axle trailers, and today I know to keep weight either balanced or forward of the trailer axle, and never experience sway, and do not use a weight distribution hitch or sway bars; we were on a 30 state 14Kmi trip around the US last summer and encountered some very stiff side winds of at least 50mph at times. Intech came out with a new longer 24ft trailer (Terra Oasis) with dual axles, walk-around bed, etc, and even through it can be had with their higher-lift Rover package with off-road tires it's not really able to go the places the smaller Sol Horizon can go...ie, best for RV parks and easy-to-get to dispersed land sites...and it's about $60K or more. BTW, I towed the Airstream with a RAM 2500 Cummins, and currently tow this 19ft Sol Horizon with a RAM 1500 ecodiesel (with factory tow package which includes electric brake controller, Tow/Haul mode for engine & transmission, higher current Aux power for the trailer via the 7pin connector, beefier rear suspension for greater tongue weight handling). I like the idea of high fuel efficiency, very little strain on the drivetrain to bolster confidence and reliability when summiting mountain passes or hot desert, and superior handling when towing, so an extra payload/towing capacity truck with a high torque engine is worth it.
Holy shit. I just stumbled across this comment and about to buy an Intech OVR Navigate. We chose Intech for the exact opposite reasons you mention. People have raved about the quality, support etc. But now you have me wondering. We are 8 hours from their factory so going there for repairs is fine (we would make a mini adventure out of it and know I-80 by the back of our hand) but you have me questioning everything. My camper is ordered but I can cancel at anytime over the next couple of months. The Lance to me seems like a slight upgrade of something like Zinger or Catalina. Maybe I am wrong.
Thank You for your review I have 2019 Lance 1685 I am having trouble with my refrigerator (dometic) It works when on electric but not when it's on gas only. I will give your solution a try.
My wife and I absolutely love our 2020 Lance 2285. It is our first RV and it is perfect for us. It has been a pleasure to work with the company to resolve a few minor issues. And get real, folks, there are issues of some type with EVERY vehicle made. The quality and the company make our Lance worth every penny we paid.
You have a gift for putting things into perspective. Thanks for your honest review of the 1685. I also appreciate your reviews and explanations in other videos of towing capacity. I wish trailer and vehicle manufacturers would express real capacity in real terms. An Excel spreadsheet should not be required to make sure your family is safe towing a travel trailer.
Thank you for a very informative review . We have been doing research on the travel trailers for about a year now. We narrowed down to Lance, Arctic Fox and outdoors RV in the 28 foot range because we want theater seating.
I think it's time to say "Goodbye" to Propane in RVs. I would rather have Lithium Batteries, Solar and a Diesel Radiant Floor and water heating system. The refrigerator can be 12 Volt/120 Volt and the cook top should be an induction unit that you can take outside as well. If you need a generator, you could easily have the prep for or an option to purchase a diesel generator that could fit in one of the storage compartments. I don't know if your unit had separate gray and black water dump ports, but I would like it better if it all came out one dump connection. Also a dedicated Wet Bay would be nice to have as well. I like the Lance, but I wish everyone would stop using wood in the construction of their RVs except for interior cabinetry. Thanks for the comprehensive review.
Our 2021 Lance 1995 arrive Thursday (ordered end of January) Going Wednesday to walkthru and learn and pay balance! bringing home Friday after staying at Lazydays Prices exceed $55,000 now Ours all bells and whistles $45 out the door Towing with Ford F150 FX4 ecoboost v6 turbo UPDATE 1995 RECEIVED SUPER HAPPY TRAVELS BEGINNING
We purchased the Lance 1985 for the same reason you want one. It is a great trailer for a small couple. Problems: AC, furnace had to be replaced within warranty. More problems: We had to wait over 3 months for both! Thanks for the video!
I own the same model but 2017. The value is certainly there. Holding up well after yearly trips through Montana from California. I store indoors which is a must for any RV if you want to protect its value and longevity. I too added the dual 12 v batteries which worked out much better. Been RVing most my life I’m 65 now . Lance product has been the perfect tow for me.
You mentioned freezing up of your LP regulator value, consider self regulating heat trace cable wrapped around the valve. This will provide you the correct & consistent amount of current to heat the surfaces of the value vs. constant wattage heat tracing. In 120 volt, which you should have ample supply. Bill in Calgary, up North Eh!
We have a Lance 2375, purchased in February this year. Actually got a bit of a discount as well. Only major issue we've had is a shattered glass shower door, which other 2375 owners have experienced too. Two 190 watt solar panels on the roof is our only mod to date. We've been very happy with the Lance so far: 4100 miles and very comfortable and functional trailer. I tow with an F 150 ecoboost and a Propride 3P hitch system. I'm considering moving up to a 3/4 ton truck for the payload increase but the jury is still out on that. Looking forward to your upcoming piece on generators. Thanks!
We have a 2020 1985 model We bought it because of the walk around bed. We love it. We did have a major problem with the slide but Lance took care of it.
I agree 200% with you about the duel axels! When I get due to something like a nail on my duel axel, most often I do not even notice it, on my single axle a whole different story, it's an emergency, the trailers all over the place, often the rim gets damaged, far harder to change the tire.
Thank you for making such an informative video. I am looking forward to buying my first travel trailer and hearing real, unbias reviews, like yours are always appreciated!
They sell heater wraps for propane tanks. I just saw some in my new Northern Tool Catalog. I carry a single ramp, like the ones they sell to drive up on to change your oil to make it super fast and safe to change a tire. I also carry a battery operated impact gun for changing tires, or raising and lowing the stabilizer jacks. I've timed myself changing a tire, and have done it in about 5 min. It took me longer to gather up all the stuff then to change the tire. :)
I am considering the Lance 1475. I will travel alone across the USA so I don’t need a lot of space. I don’t like dinettes and I love the sofa or chairs instead for relaxing. The double vs single axle is relevant but at just 2600lb dry it’s more like a large pop up for weight. Also, modern tires should not blow out like the old undersized ones. I was interested in the quality issues and it was somewhat nice to hear that the issues were with components, not so much the trailer. However, I do think those choices still reflect on Lance. I plan to tow with an SUV, most likely I will get a Mercedes GLE with a 6600-7700 tow rating depending on year and model. I don’t off road any more like you. Good review and I will be watching your other videos on generators and solar and more. Well done!
We use a "SoftStartUp" to run our air conditioner. It plugs directly into the generator. No need to wire anything. It also allows you to use other things that need more power on startup, than your generator can handle.
I have the 1685 but 2017 model. Love love it. Added an extra battery. The queen size bed is nice but making the bed is a heart attack! For sure. I use a small thin wooden chopping board to slide down the sides of the bed to tuck the sheets and bedding in . Works great and saves my fingers! I’ve had no problems. Largely use the trailer for Montana two months a year. Tow with dodge half ton Ram gas truck. It’s Heaven.
I would replace the fire breathing dinosaur 2 way fridge with a 12V compressor fridge. Larger capacity, way faster cooling, don't have to be perfectly level, don't have to worry about burning to death. Add a pair of 6 V batteries or better yet a pair of Lithiums with a 190 panel on the roof or a suitcase 200 Watt panel on the ground.
We have a used 2018 Lance 1995, we bought it a year and half ago for 36 from a private party. We did need a new mother board for the hot water heater. The slide mother board also failed( big expense). We got new seals on the roof. We added 190 watt roof top solar, and 2, 6 volt agm batteries. The fridge had no problem while camping in Palo Duro canyon in May with ground Temps at 130. We had a soft start added to the air conditioner, so our 2500 watt generator can get it going. We love the north south bed and extra hanging storage. We travel with a very small dog, so no problem there. We haul with a 2018 F150 with the 5 liter V8 and 10 speed transmission. No problem there. We use sway bars, a pain to get on and off but necessary. Overall it's been a great improvement over our Tab 400 in room and convenience, but we do miss the quality of the Tab. We were tired of the wet bath, and crawling over each other at night. Still loving the Lance, but, wish we didn't have a slide. Have our eye on the Lance 2075, but currently it's way too expensive.
We have a 2015 Lance 1995 (old style) and have been very happy with it. We've put about 10,000 miles on it. We have had one problem with a conduit cover coming loose under the trailer. Only one side came off and it was hanging down. I managed to do a temporary repair and got it to a dealership. I have not experienced any of the issues you describe in your video. Thankfully! We would buy this model again but not sure about the new 1995 as there are less cupboards and storage. I agree on the price issue as they have become very expensive compared to what we paid. Almost double in 6 years. great video!
I am picking up my 2021 1995 on Monday...I am a 70 year old widow and hope that I don't have issues that require dealer service since I am 3 hours away...concerned because further down the comments someone mentioned that quality control has deteriorated ...hoping that if I do have issues that there is a video....thanks for all the great info you provide in these videos
@@robinsyverson967 had to take it back for a few issues, some being a failed hold slam latch, unaligned bed latch, oven door not closing properly.....other than that the trailer was very comfortable...I did six trips this past season, two off grid and had enough power even using the invertor a couple of times...hoping the issues can be fixed despite backlog due to personnel and parts shortage
Also have the 1685, tow with a F150 eco boost like the one you had. I like everything about it, but my wife does wish we had the walk-around bed. I like the size, quality, finishes, storage. I think we would be able to get the same amount on it as what we have paid for it back in October if we decided to sell it, which is great. I’m not planning to, but my wife really likes the 2075, so we shall see. Another serious competitor to the Lance is the Outdoors RV, from Oregon. Definitely heavier than the Lances but 4 seasons and good quality (geared towards off-road towing as well, pretty sturdy).
Great video , in my area there are no Lance dealers , my wife and i ordered a 2022 Rockwood Mini Lite 22 footer , we like the dual axle on the Rockwood , the floor plan is great and the Mini Lites have great quality , we sold our Open Range 20 footer and are anxiously waiting for delivery of out new unit ...things being what they are we feel we will have a long wait especially since we live in Canada and our trailer will have to cross the border to reach us ...stay safe and happy camping
Enjoyed your video. Picking up Lance 2285 next Friday. Chose Lance after owning 3 R-pods, (first two were wonderful but the quality/craftsmanship of our 2020 Rpod was very poor). Love reading all the positive comments about Lance.
Thanks for the terrific video. I wish I could say I loved my Year 2021 Lance model 1995, but we have had so many problems that I can't seriously recommend one. Especially given the premium price I paid for a Lance to avoid all these issues. In our first year we we in the service center 4 times with some fairly major issues including a shower drain issue which flooded the bathroom, a refig/freezer door misalignment issue (still not resolved), water heater leaked (twice from poorly assembled connectors) and thermal fuse blew, propane system had moisture in it (still does), leak in the front window, and on--and-on. I have a full page of issues. Unfortunately we are still waiting on some things to be resolved under the warranty that just expired, and now new issues are arising like the refrigerator randomly wont work on LP and we have a mysterious water leak near the refrigerator that shows itself when we wash the trailer. In almost all cases except a few the issues are directly related to very poor, careless and sloppy assembly. I mean they didn't even attached the shower drain pipe - it was completely unhooked under the shower pan! We love the layout, design and towability, but they clearly blew the assembly.
All rv manufacturers have been slapping rigs together as fast as possible since Covid helped cause such a massive increase in rv interest. Result = quality control down the tubes.
I just bought a 2021 Lance 1995 after researching for 2 years that was pre-owned. I just picked it up. I had it extensively inspected before I picked it up. I looked at all sorts of brands that are considered higher end, Airstream, Oliver (Really Expensive for the size, but well built), Grand Design, Outdoors RV, Casita, Escape, Winnebago, Rockwood, etc, etc. I chose Lance for space, storage, build design and presumed quality. We'll see how it works out. I hate to hear of your troubles. So, far I towed it with a 2017 Tacoma though West Virginia and all the mountains, with a 3/4 tank of fresh water and some gear and it towed pretty well. I was surprised. We stayed one night in it and all worked as designed. But I am a small sample. I will update after a year of usage.
Well done Sir, great vid! I just purchased a 2018 Coachmen Freedom Express Ultralite 246RKS. I did zero research until I had it. Bought it as the result of a unique circumstance for a good price. I've been watching your vids a couple a day. Really appreciate the clear and well presented info. Helping a newbie so much. Keep it up. This channel will definitely grow! Peace! edit - towing with an F250 XLT Superduty 6.0 (yeah... I know, 6.0) but 75% bulletproofed, new trans, tires, heavy duty shocks, brakes and I'm building the extended part of the cab into a luxury suite for my best friend Lacy. 70 pound lab........ Still need the Champion 3500 and a good bed cover. I am dyin to get out there with you folks!!!
I've owned a 2018 Lance 1995 for 3 years now and have had very few problems with it. I've used it about a dozen times and have towed it to other states. I also put a 2" lift on it to tow it back on dirt roads to camp in remote areas. I have been very happy in how well it has held up so far and how well it has performed in very cold weather. On 1 trip with 4 other campers, and 1 rated 4 seasons like the Lance, all of their water lines and tanks froze except for mine. I would definitely buy a Lance again in the future.
@@cano1732 I've never actually checked the tongue weight on mine. My trailer is supposed to be 365lbs (it was lower on the 2018 model as opposed to the latest models). My guess is that it's a little higher, especially depending on how I load it of course.
@@bobo.4021 I found a video for the actual tongue weight of a 1985. On paper it said 550lbs but the actual dry weight was 800lbs. Check it out around the 3 minute mark here ruclips.net/video/vxr03qLhVyA/видео.html
Currently own a Flagstaff 26fks (Forrest River). Great floor plan with front kitchen and large bedroom in back slide. Have been pleased with fit and finish. Been looking at Lance 2465 which has a rear bedroom in slide. Reason for considering Lance is long term durability. We are retired and take longer trips and I’m thinking we my be able to get 10 years of use from Lance and still have a decent trailer if we would sell down the road. Also like the fact Lance is a lower profile and a bit lighter in weight. Have not been able to tour the model, we live in the Midwest and not many Lance dealers. Appreciate your reviews of your Lance, very helpful.
Don’t buy a lance. We’re buying the same floor plan as yours, it’s a rock wood. We had a lance. We had issues with it. I’m glad we sold it , very expensive to have issues. Refrigerator, stove, awning, door , window crank, issues. Look at other lance owner issues.
Thanks for an outstanding review! I am a prospective LANCE owner and respect the explanation of the technicalities delivered in everyone terms. RE: gas regulator: would a small DC heat tape around that piping work? Easy to add a circuit. RE: startup current on Dometic A/C: I don't know if they are made for these units; but to reduce start current; home A/C unit owners getting by with smaller gen-sets are using these 'soft-start' add-on modules that 'ramp-up' the compressor motor versus what is known as an 'across-the-line' (full voltage) start. Google-it; perhaps something could be utilized.
Great Video. Getting ready to take delivery of a Lance 2465 in late September. Have you considered getting a micro air easy start device to attach to your ac. This device once installed regulates the start power demand and allows you to start your AC on a limited power source such as a generator. I plan to have the easy start installed in both Coleman AC's on it
@@marytabor4728 Very much. We’ve been living in it full-time since late October, and it is a generally well-built trailer. We’ve camped in whether as cold as 17° and as warm as 80°. There’s enough space for two adults and two cats. I believe there of been a few quality control issues caused by building our trailer during the pandemic, but we’ve either been able to fix them easily or they are of a nature that they can wait until we visit the Lance factory in late March. I do recommend the trailer.
My friend has the lance cab over and the quality and features are great but you get what you pay for. I have the 5.0 Ford and am looking at the lance as well. Great video!
Lance is worth the money IF it gets used, (like yours does). They do make a better product than most. My retirement job now is doing walkthroughs on various types and brands of trailers, I'm no expert by far but I am learning more and more. On another note, time to start thinking about a Death Valley get together. :)
we bought a 1685 in 2016 loved most things except hated the front bed same as you. so we sold it and bought the 2020 2185. We thought the rear bunks beds were a great idea but discovered that they really are not practical as the kids get older. so we are looking at trading it in for the 2445 with the larger rear bunks. But we love the Lance quality.
Good job on the video! I am considering something for just me and I just bought a new car 3 months ago and the peak of car sales but my car can only tow 3500lbs, so I was looking at the 1575 model. I too wish the 1575 would have a dual axle. I appreciate all your tips. I'll have to checkout some of your older videos, especially the ones with your previous vehicles.
I own and live fulltime in my 2018 850 Lance truck camper and love it. However if considering a travel trailer for winter months I would seriously look at Oliver clam shell style campers.
Hello; I am about to order 2022 lance model 1995 next couple weeks and i will tow with my 2021 3.5 power boost with 7.2 KW option. so i won't worry about carrying generator and solar power... Your review gave me more confident to go ahead. Thanks
Thanks for this excellent video. I've subscribed and will watch more of your videos. Question that has nothing to do with Lance: Did you make that awesome RV open carport? If so, do you have a video on how you made it? Or, if you bought it, can you share the name of the company? Not sure if you have a video on best ways to store your RV. I live on the very wet in the winter, very hot in the summer, Northwest coast. Thanks.
We have watched videos on Lance but hard to see one in person or many other campers because of demand not out there much. I doubt if we could swing one on our budget anyway. We pretty much have it narrowed down to Grand design possibly but like you said prices are going up and it's affecting all the RV industry. Very impressed with Lance quality. Thank you for your informative video.
Not sure but I am thinking about it, but since 2017 when we bought our Lance 1575, after much research. Since then the price of the same model has skyrocketed. An workmanship issue with our 2017 presented almost immediately. It came with a factory installed roof mounted solar panel that sat atop 8 brackets screwed into the roof. While the front side of the brackets were caulked, the back side (inner sides) were not, leading to a roof leak and failure of a ceiling light. The seal on the factory installed backup camera leaked also, allowing water to enter the camera and destroy it. The third problem was with the front window arms breaking after a wind gust caught the window and literally blowing it off of the trailer (the trailer was parked.) At the time, the support arms that Lance used were not lockable. The Lance rep told me I had to buy an entire window and frame in order to simply replace the support arms (by the way, the window did bot break and I was able to place it back in the frame.) I was persistent and found a third-party seller of just the support arms which were sourced in Europe. Needless to say, we are a bit gun shy, but there are horror stories with all makes, and I still think Lance makes a good product when it comes to framing and materials.
After a year or two of debating many brands, we did purchase the Lance 1685, and while we don't have any regrets, I wish we would have gone for the 1995 with the bed turned. I agree with your thoughts on that. As far as problems, we seem to be having troubles with the refrigerator for a second occurrence in only owning this rig for two years. The first one was the 'thermal fuse' which I diagnosed and repaired too thanks to finding a little help on youtube for some instruction. That fuse stopped the fridge from operating, but this time the fridge turns on, it just does not get cold? Oh well, when I get to the bottom of that, I'll let you know what the issue turns out to be?
We are looking at buying a Lance 1995 or 1985 I like the 1985s bigger shower, wife likes the 1995s pantry storage abilities. Wondering what brand of shade trailer port is your lance sitting under and why did you go with it? Great channel appreciate your insight.
I’m in the exact same boat with my Jayco 166FBS. Currently looking for a better couples camper without bunks, a sofa or recliners, dual axle, tow with Gladiator Rubicon with 37s, and the walk around bed instead of the sideways bed.
We are just now about to enter our time of retirement. Since we are unsure of whether or not we want to tow a vehicle, but the idea appeals to us now, we are opting to look for something more immediately affordable. The thinking is that we wouldn't have as much invested if it turns out we don't like it. HOWEVER, based on what you saying about the Lance holding it's value pretty well, we may have to reconsider.
We have a 2022 1685 on order. Drove myself (and husband) nuts looking at 100+ videos, Facebook pages, blogs, etc. We've walked through Black Series and EXPLOR X22'S (each about a $67,000) for more rugged camping...they are better constructed, but owners report the same issues, some more complex and costly such as wheel bearings and axle issues. Your video has up'd my confidence that perhaps many of the "minor" issues that some folks have repaired at the dealership can actually be fixed by owners. Miffed that we are purchasing at the height of RV inflation ($44,000)...but we're both approaching 60, time is of the essence. Anyway, it's so good to hear such honest feedback. We'll be following you here. Thanks!
Great honest video! We looked at Lance but ended up going with a Grand Design 17MKE which has been decent (the dealership sucks) but overall like the trailer. I’m 6’6” so I really wanted a north/south bed and full sized restroom. It’s about as aerodynamic as a barn door and I truly wished it was 18” longer so the Murphy bed could be used with the slide in. After 2 years and 15,000 miles we still like it for its features for a couples unit. When I retire (2022) going to probably get something else. I’d like to see a outdoors RV 20BC or 21RD, Grand Design 22RBE, 22MLE, and Airstream 25 RBT are the front runners. I’ve got a 3/4 ton Silverado 2500HD with 3,000 pound payload to tow so I’m good there . But the current trailer is still a excellent unit so I just may put gas in the truck and enjoy life. Stay safe, Bill in Utah
Thank you for the update/review. I'm currently looking at a 1985 and there's some things I love about it and somethings I don't care for. One being the smaller bathroom and kitchen. It's only me and my dog traveling, how do those spaces work for your family? Do you find them to be too small? Are you cooking outside more due to that? I appreciate your response.
I hate our Lance. We have had EVERY problem you mentioned and many, many more. We even took it to the factory in Lancaster, CA. We have a 2020 1985 model. Have used it for three years and three months. Our slide broke first. They fixed it, but put the rubber seal on backwards. The rubber started getting chewed up in the “zipper” of the slide and broke again. Our refrigerator went out at the same time. We have had so many problems that we are getting rid of it and losing $20,000 in the process. Our brakes went out and flattened two tires. The original and the spare. Turned out when they fixed the axle, the mechanics pushed the electric brake wire into a place that ended up cutting the wire. Also, the gas went out on the entire unit. Most likely the regulator went out. We ended up rushing it back to our dealer and putting it up for sale. What happened to us was not only inconvenient, it was extremely dangerous.
We had an Rpod (177) for eight years. Loved the rpod but the east to west bed was getting old. We also wanted a walk around bed and dual axel so we bought Lance 1995. We got too lucky with Rpod; we had only one minor problem in 8 yrs. Now 2 yrs in Lance and we have had numerous problems: leaking from both skylights, blow out with one tire, leaking from propane regulator, awning, and now lance is at dealer as frig is not working. We still love the floor plan but disappointed that an expensive trailer would so many problems brand new.
I'm looking forward to your backup camera video. For my install, I hope, I can leverage a marker light. I started to buy one but bailed due to reviews that complained about latency and dropping out due to distance. I was looking at marker light specific models, which reduced my choices. I have a 29' trailer / F150 157 WB and didn't want to take the risk of doing all the work and it not working well.
Growing up in Minnesota lots of Mobil home owners use heat tape to keep pipes under the trailer warm enough not to freeze. Could be a solution for the regulator
Thanks for your review. I found it very informative and concise. Would you happen to have the part numbers , or links, to the replacement circuit board and thermal fuses you mentioned? Thanks!!😃👍🇺🇸
We have a 2018 Lance 2185 with the bunk house cause my wife snores like you wouldn’t believe. The only problem we have had is the black tank flush line came off the black tank and flooded the inside of the trailer. To make a long story shorter we don’t use it anymore, we flush through the toilet. Also the glass stove top cover nuts have failed several times so here comes the steel nuts with plastic washers. The check valve on the hot water tank has failed and I had to build a bypass loop so we wouldn’t fill the tank with glycol. I can’t get the bad check valve out. 😫
Could you put a "soft start" device on the Lance's AC so the 2000W Yamaha generator could start it easier? As for me (also having a Jeep Gladiator) -- and ONLY me as an "occupant" of a RV -- I'd be looking at 3 (but smaller than your Lance) travel-trailers (TTs) that would require less towing-capacity (be easier on my Gladiator) but still be fairly "off-road" usable (and 2 are like Lance in one way: PRICEY!): -- Airstream BasecampX -- T@B 320 Boondocj Edge -- Scamp 13 or 16 (but Scamp needs to make at least ONE :"off-road" version, and beef-up their silly tiny axles and tires. Casita is the very same in that context: Not making anything (a "ruggedized" model) for "overlanding" use. BUT, they're probably the lightest-weight TTs to be towing. Yes, Lance makes the 1475 & 1575 that I'd look at (prefer the 1575 with its dinette and slide-out), but it's a bit boxy so has more wind-resistance on the hwy...and I can't imagine towing a "street Lance" on anything but the mildest off-road "trails." Otherwise, were I only doing RV park, campground or such camping -- vs. boon-docking out in the sticks -- Lance would be on the Short List also. As for the Forest River (FR) conglomerate (parent company of maybe a dozen RV brands) I'd not buy anything THEY made -- King of the Crap-Makers, IMO. EXCEPT for their very decent (apparently) Coachmen Beyond Class B. But when it comes to any TTs (or 5ers!) that FR makes, no thanks. But aside from the product itself (50% of my buying decision) I ALSO factor-in how well a company takes care of the customer AFTER the sale (the other 50% of the equation) -- FR is only average at best, if not below. Not AT ALL good enough (for me). -- BR
What are your experiences with the easy lube axels? The manufacturer recommends that they be regreased every 6,000 miles. When I used their easy lube methodology, it forced grease out into the breaks.
I think it’s Backcountry (?) who offer a 20RB that is I guess a bit of a clone of the Lance 2075, which is the layout I like. They ride on tandem 5200 lb axels, so there’s like 3500 lbs of cargo capacity! 😳 also, a 100 gallon fresh water tank. Price point is probably in like with Lance. Also, an Onan 3600 Kw generator is standard. I really haven’t done a solid comparison of the two brands, but something to consider.
Excellent points and review. We are considering this model as a downsize, as we want to get down to under 22' overall. I'm in my 60s now and have owned many RVs since I was 25, including Lances. I would agree that Lance makes great build quality, but I think components outside of the RV manufacture count too. I've unfortunately found that Lance does not investigate much into the problems certain components might have, this has resulted in some very problematic heaters and refrigerators over the years for us (one heater in particular had many known issues, yet Lance chose to use it, and never did replace it. In the end it all equalizes out, as our current Keystone Cougar has had zero component issues, but some build quality issues. So will will certainly consider another Lance, but their price for overall quality is definitely way over priced.
Check out my new Jeep Gladiator Review. Including towing. ruclips.net/video/fMOtcX1oXxo/видео.html
We had a 2375 lance trailer. We had the same issue with our refrigerator. While it was in transient it would turn off. While we were parked and camping it would stay on. Lazy day didn’t not fix the issue. It worked for awhile and started up again. It was probably the part you mentioned it needed.
Why are so many people commenting about other models, this is about the 1685 ok ? I would love to have my wife crawling over me out of the bed to go to the bathroom, sadly she passed away in Feb 2021. So I am now a solo traveler, this trailer is perfect for me. We towed a 23' Airstream around 70 K miles all over the western US, she would approve of me getting this Lance and I will name it after her...
I know how you feel I lost my husband too. He died 3 years ago and loved to go camping. I keep going alone but it’s still fun.
We took delivery of our new Lance 1985 in early Spring 2018, so going on 5 years now. Prior to that, we owned a Lance 1685. Ours has most all of the factory upgrades, including convertible sofa, solar, 3” raised chassis for off-roading, power stabilizers, slide-out bin in the front storage area, and more. Here are our observations:
Pros
• A big advantage: To cut costs, most RV builders place their different length boxes on the same length chassis. This results in a less-than-optimal balance over the axles. Lance builds their frames to match the box size. Consequently, the axles are at the optimum location beneath the box, balance is enhanced, and it tows like a trailer weighing much less.
• Fit and finish is excellent. Little touches like edge molding and the light fixtures are simply a cut above the competition. Quality components.
• For a 23’ trailer, it’s very spacious, tons of internal and external storage.
• Huge slide-out, comfortable, plush cushions, seats 4 adults easily. Never any mechanical problems.
• Solid roof, 40-45 gallon tanks, 4-season capable.
• Convertible sofa. It’s actually very comfy. We use it all the time.
• Dual axles - rides smoothly and tracks straight. Quality tires.
• Excellent solar charging system. We replaced the dual factory 12-volt batteries with dual 6-volt batteries. The batteries have never run down past 2/3 full, even over multiple cloudy days and overnight in cold weather.
• Walk-around bed. The crawl-over bed in our previous Lance 1685 proved to be a pain and was one of the drivers that motivated us to step up to the Lance 1985.
• Audio and TV/DVD system work fine. 6 speakers total.
• Our 2018 Ram 1500 has no trouble whatsoever towing the 1985. A ½ ton will pull this trailer no problem provided you have the correct axle gear ratio. Our previous 2007 Ram 1500 did not and it struggled.
• Initial price is high, but resale value is outstanding. We sold our Lance 1685 for more than we paid for it.
Cons
• As a rule, we’ve found that the things that malfunction are typically sourced components like the Dometic appliances, not the Lance trailer itself.
• A/C is loud. You’ll either need shore power, a generator larger than 2000 watts, or install an EasyStart soft starter (recommended). A 2000-watt generator may or may not have enough juice on start-up (typically 1600 watts). We once had a pair of Generac 2000-watt generators paired in parallel (3200 watts on startup). We attempted to run both the A/C and the microwave at the same time. It fried the circuit boards on both generators. This is an issue with any trailer. Watch your wattage demands vs. supply.
• Slide-out external screws come loose. Others have noted this issue. Had to replace with larger screws.
• Changed the basic shower head to a better-quality head. Saves water, increases pressure.
• Lance customer service is just OK. However, the Lance Owners Association (LOA) is a fantastic resource for tips, advice, etc.
• The inside diameter of the rear bumper is too small to accommodate the sewage hoses. Don’t know why Lance couldn’t use a slightly larger bumper (literally just a 1/2" larger) so that you can store the hoses inside the bumper, on the outside the trailer instead of having to put them in a sealed container in the rear outside storage compartment.
• Biggest complaint: The awning is rarely usable for two reasons. 1) It uses scissor arms to extend and retract. Sounds great on paper - no clotheslining as you walk around outside. However, if even a light-moderate breeze comes up, the awning starts to flap and risks torquing the arms and breaking them. The automatic retraction feature that senses potentially damaging winds is nice, but it retracts whenever there's the slightest breeze. There is no provision for attaching guy lines or poles to help stabilize. 2) The awning will hit the door if left open. If you try to extend or retract the awning while the door is open, you will surely damage the door, the awning, or both - substantially. In our view, this is a major design flaw. If we leave the auto-retract feature on, we can’t leave the door open. If we want the door open, we have to turn off the auto-retract feature, thus risking awning breakage if a gust hits.
Despite the cons, all in all, we love our Lance 1985 and would buy again.
I am considering buying one. Your input is wonderful! Thank you for the comments
I would add the following cautions, experienced on our most recent trips this Spring, Summer, and Fall, 2023.
1. Our 2018 model 1985 and many other of the models of this same vintage use auto glass for the front window. We arrived at our first campground on our first trip of the Spring and discovered that an errant rock on the highway had shattered the window. Spider-webbed from corner to corner. The glass was hanging together, so to prevent it from falling into the trailer (it was very flexible), at night on our heads in bed, we Gorilla taped the hell out of it, inside and out. Later models now use some sort of thermoplastic or whatever for the front window. They appear to not be as likely to shatter or break as ours. Finally, the kicker is that Lance did not have any replacement glass - supply chain issues. Lance estimated they might have some by September. We still haven't rec'd the part. Our tech told us that we're #4 on the waiting list. It's now late October. We spent the entire season camping (a lot, including Yosemite!) with a taped-up front window, praying the tape would hold under both rain and road vibration. Kudos to Gorilla tape - we got through the entire 4000 mile season just fine!
2. Make sure to cover the SmartJack head. The plastic film covering the controls on top of the unit disintegrates over time. That allows water into the unit and short circuits it. We now keep an old waterproof stuff sack secured on it at all times. It prevents further sun damage, keeps the water out (both stationary and on the road), and we can operate the controls through the sack - don't need to remove it.
Tip: If your SmartJack should short out or simply not work for any reason, be sure to decouple the in-line fuse below the unit. Smartjack has an auto-brake that will engage if it's receiving power. This make turning the jack manually really, really difficult. Like pushing a car with the parking brake on.
We had a few other minor repairs along the way this year but we still love our trailer. Good luck!
Thank you for this very informative 👏
Also running a 2020 1995 - this review is very good, agreed!
I just bought a 2019 Lance 2375. In Canada, price was 69,000 plus paperwork fee and taxes 😳 but after looking at dozens of brands and floor plans… Lance covered all of our needs.
We just received our lance 1985. It’s sitting in our driveway waiting for us to take her out the second time. So far I love everything about it. We took a long time to decide as this is our first trailer. Lance was our second choice that quickly moved into our first choice. (started out looking at airstreams) but the price vs quality vs insulation and storage… lance won, hands down. We relied on your information to help us choose and you haven’t let us down. Still wigged out about the box rattling down the road but the comfort a trailer offers is so nice for these aging bones. Tents, even with air mattresses, are not cutting it anymore. ;-) Keep producing videos! You are a bevy of information.
thank you it means a lot
Congratulations! If you haven’t already look into the Lance owners group LOA. When we first got our Lance I was doing a lot of research on LOA then saw the rallies and things decided to go to one. Have been going ever since it’s great to meet up with other Lance owners and we always have a blast. We have met wonderful people some have become close friends. It truly is like a huge family. Enjoy your Lance and your travels.
@@MO-vx3br definately belong to lance owners of America. What a great group. Very active, very responsive!
@@mumbo1956
Maybe we’ll see you down the road in the future 😊
The LOA provides more than tips and hints on your Lance. Lots of support and some humor some sarcasm depending on the situation and members replying. All in all (a few bad apples) great people. At our first rally we were all sitting around getting to know some of the members and my husband brought up a small issue with our slide out awning- next thing we knew a group of members came with a ladder and we’re fixing the awning. Friends for life👍🏽 it was awesome. The next day another member came to our trailer with foot plates for our stab jacks - in 2018 the jacks didn’t have flat plates on the bottom. He and my husband installed them immediately. He said when he ordered them online he didn’t realize it came as a set so he ordered four and received four sets. Most members he knew already had the plates on their Lances and saw that we didn’t. At the time we were very “green” super newbies. LOA helped us along beautifully and still do to this day.
Enjoyed your video. We purchased a 2018 Lance 1985 in May of 2020. Having put 10,000 miles on it through Sept 30, 2021 we love it.
I have found it easy to repair when things go wrong. Have fixed Kitchen faucet (repair), power board replace under stove, broken black water tank wand pluming and a light or two. Normal happenings on any travel trailer. Our had the solar panel on top, back camera, all hitches weight distribution, good tires and had been jackknifed but did only minor cosmetic scrapping.
Tows great (had rented a single axel once before) and even at 65-70 on flat smooth with lots of trucks passing is fine. F150 V8 (2015) tows great. We paid 26K plus tax and insurance. It looked brand new. Was serviced and they showed us all hookup tricks. Been off grid twice. Have 3800 generator and it runs full trailer and AC.
I’m a new subscriber. Thanks for your video! We love our 2018, Lance 2375!
Very happy with our 1985 Lance. It's a 2019 we purchase in 2021. The quality is exactly what we were looking for in a travel trailer. I have to say the seating is very comfortable. We have not had any big issues. Propane flow in colder temps, a seal in the drain under the bathroom sink. Normal wear and tear replacing awning batteries and repair of soft close doors and roller shade tension. We did look at other trailers around the same price point, and decided the size and comfort were great and the size made it an easy tow vehicle. We can fit just about anywhere! We starting watching your videos when we decided on a Lance and they have been very helpful!
helpful...we just bought a 2022 2075 model from a company going out of business....we paid what they owed @ $41,000. New and fully warranted so we consider that a great deal. Appreciate all that you shared. Bottom line today, you get what you pay for no doubt. THX
Thanks for the fridge thermal fuse warning. I didn't know it has one. I have a Dometic water heater on our Kodiak trailer and the water heater went out on the second trip... It also has a thermal fuse! Removed it and had hot water the rest of the trip! Thanks for sharing your experience because I'm not taking my trailer to the dealer either! Turn around time is too long even though it's still covered by the one year warranty. I agree with you that the Lance is better quality, but we purchased a Kodiak 210QB the has the walk around residential queen bed (I'm 6'4") instead of the shorter RV queen bed.
Thanks for such a thorough review yet again! After having a couple of rvs and living in one full time many years ago in the northeast in cold weather i really question any four season claims. After doing a few home energy audits with a blower door and a thermal camera and training on building science etc. i doubt few if any u.s.made rv would pass a simple thermal analysis. My older class c had heated and enclosed basement, etc. But when you put the thermal gun on the camper in cold weather you can see energy transfer through the aluminum frame to the fiberglass or adzel or wood, etc. Building science technology has not been overly embraced by the rv industry due to cost and weight and cube. We need more competition in that area from Europe to be honest as simple things like air sealing is often left out in areas like electrical hookups or instrusions into the camper shell. And those who claim double insulated shells dont mention air cannot insulate if it is being exghanged and not sealed nor does the shiny aluminum foil stuff have an r value they claim UNLESS there is an ideal air gap with no exchange. Lots of myths and crap.
I could go on and on but suffice it to say most campers are really three season at best and they waste a ton of energy. Thats why camp grounds have to recoup the electricity waste with higher rates, especially in summer cooling season.
We dont need $16k in solar and lithium if some products had a very high quality and tightly sealed shell. That type of product would need very little energy for HVAC but we would have to build it ourselves in this current market.
Wow, great points. I just air sealed my attic so this hits home for me. Looking to buy an rv as well.
Great video. I added a soft start to my 15K BTU a/c unit and now my 2000W generator runs the a/c just fine.
We love our Lance 1985 with couch conversion. It’s perfect for us. No complaints very few issues. Simple small stuff we have taken care of ourselves. Going on 3 years of ownship. She’s a keeper- still like new. Looking forward to another 10 years of travels with our Lance!
Lots of excellent advice, things you don't think about, like 6V vs 12V. Great video.
I found this really interesting, as Lance was on our list of next trailer to buy in 2021; we actually wound up with the Intech Sol Horizon (Rover off-road edition), which was at a similar price point and is promoted for their quality. All welded aluminum frame including under & tongue, single-piece fiberglass roof combined with rear, single piece fiberglass front, all to resist what is essentially a moving earthquake going down the road from coming loose. Compared to the Lance, it is NOT a four-season trailer, ie not insulated underneath and inferior wall insulation, does not have double-pane windows. Our second-place choice was the NuCamp T@B400, about the same price, also with welded aluminum frame and single-piece fiberglass pieces, has double-pane windows, but a bit smaller interior room. Both are single axle, both very nicely appointed, both had a street price of about $33K ($39K MSRP) when we bought during late 2021, which is now increased to $40K street price (Mar 2022).
HOWEVER, the Sol had numerous quality problems after we picked it up, and as you mentioned in your video this is not uncommon for RVs these days, but what it comes down to in the end is OEM warranty support and customer service. Intech is a very new manufacturer of travel trailers, doing that for less than 5 yrs, and they do not have the maret experience and resources that NuCamp, Airstream, and Lance have in terms of dealer and service network, warranty payments for their service network, and their stated culture is very profit focused inward, which results in customers facing resistance to fixing problems...unless you take your trailer back to their Indiana factory like I did for warranty repairs, which was a very different and positive experience. Looking back, I would have pushed my wife to walk away from the Intech and looked harder at the NuCamp or Lance; it seems that the Lance may not be as adept at off-road, but I'd enjoy your experiences with that.
We moved down from a 24ft dual-axle Airstream, as our kids are now gone, and we are much more interested in dispersed boondocking and smaller state & NP campgrounds, as those are much in much more beautiful locations. Although I agree on most of your points of single vs dual axles, I do not when it comes to trailer sway as that is a function primarily of weight distribution over the trailer axle(s). I even experienced sway on our past two dual axle trailers, and today I know to keep weight either balanced or forward of the trailer axle, and never experience sway, and do not use a weight distribution hitch or sway bars; we were on a 30 state 14Kmi trip around the US last summer and encountered some very stiff side winds of at least 50mph at times. Intech came out with a new longer 24ft trailer (Terra Oasis) with dual axles, walk-around bed, etc, and even through it can be had with their higher-lift Rover package with off-road tires it's not really able to go the places the smaller Sol Horizon can go...ie, best for RV parks and easy-to-get to dispersed land sites...and it's about $60K or more.
BTW, I towed the Airstream with a RAM 2500 Cummins, and currently tow this 19ft Sol Horizon with a RAM 1500 ecodiesel (with factory tow package which includes electric brake controller, Tow/Haul mode for engine & transmission, higher current Aux power for the trailer via the 7pin connector, beefier rear suspension for greater tongue weight handling). I like the idea of high fuel efficiency, very little strain on the drivetrain to bolster confidence and reliability when summiting mountain passes or hot desert, and superior handling when towing, so an extra payload/towing capacity truck with a high torque engine is worth it.
thanks for sharing this!
Holy shit. I just stumbled across this comment and about to buy an Intech OVR Navigate. We chose Intech for the exact opposite reasons you mention. People have raved about the quality, support etc. But now you have me wondering. We are 8 hours from their factory so going there for repairs is fine (we would make a mini adventure out of it and know I-80 by the back of our hand) but you have me questioning everything. My camper is ordered but I can cancel at anytime over the next couple of months. The Lance to me seems like a slight upgrade of something like Zinger or Catalina. Maybe I am wrong.
Thank You for your review I have 2019 Lance 1685 I am having trouble with my refrigerator (dometic) It works when on electric but not when it's on gas only. I will give your solution a try.
My wife and I absolutely love our 2020 Lance 2285. It is our first RV and it is perfect for us. It has been a pleasure to work with the company to resolve a few minor issues. And get real, folks, there are issues of some type with EVERY vehicle made. The quality and the company make our Lance worth every penny we paid.
agree
Thanks for letting us know. Helps to see views from Lance owners.
The lightbulb trick is such a north Midwest trick. Growing up in Minnesota we’d do this in the winter on certain things.
You have a gift for putting things into perspective. Thanks for your honest review of the 1685. I also appreciate your reviews and explanations in other videos of towing capacity. I wish trailer and vehicle manufacturers would express real capacity in real terms. An Excel spreadsheet should not be required to make sure your family is safe towing a travel trailer.
I appreciate that!
Thank you for a very informative review . We have been doing research on the travel trailers for about a year now. We narrowed down to Lance, Arctic Fox and outdoors RV in the 28 foot range because we want theater seating.
I have watched all your videos on your Lance trailers. You are very informative to detail. Just wanted to thank you
Awesome! Thank you!
I think it's time to say "Goodbye" to Propane in RVs. I would rather have Lithium Batteries, Solar and a Diesel Radiant Floor and water heating system. The refrigerator can be 12 Volt/120 Volt and the cook top should be an induction unit that you can take outside as well. If you need a generator, you could easily have the prep for or an option to purchase a diesel generator that could fit in one of the storage compartments. I don't know if your unit had separate gray and black water dump ports, but I would like it better if it all came out one dump connection. Also a dedicated Wet Bay would be nice to have as well. I like the Lance, but I wish everyone would stop using wood in the construction of their RVs except for interior cabinetry. Thanks for the comprehensive review.
Our 2021 Lance 1995 arrive Thursday (ordered end of January) Going Wednesday to walkthru and learn and pay balance! bringing home Friday after staying at Lazydays Prices exceed $55,000 now Ours all bells and whistles $45 out the door Towing with Ford F150 FX4 ecoboost v6 turbo
UPDATE 1995 RECEIVED SUPER HAPPY TRAVELS BEGINNING
awesome
We purchased the Lance 1985 for the same reason you want one. It is a great trailer for a small couple. Problems: AC, furnace had to be replaced within warranty. More problems: We had to wait over 3 months for both! Thanks for the video!
Thanks for sharing!
Love your content first style man. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your review! I'm in the market for an rv and am seriously considering a Lance! They seem to be better quality than most.
I own the same model but 2017. The value is certainly there. Holding up well after yearly trips through Montana from California. I store indoors which is a must for any RV if you want to protect its value and longevity. I too added the dual 12 v batteries which worked out much better. Been RVing most my life I’m 65 now . Lance product has been the perfect tow for me.
awesome thanks for sharing
Thank you for sharing all of the information reference your Lance trailer.
You mentioned freezing up of your LP regulator value, consider self regulating heat trace cable wrapped around the valve. This will provide you the correct & consistent amount of current to heat the surfaces of the value vs. constant wattage heat tracing. In 120 volt, which you should have ample supply.
Bill in Calgary, up North Eh!
We have a Lance 2375, purchased in February this year. Actually got a bit of a discount as well. Only major issue we've had is a shattered glass shower door, which other 2375 owners have experienced too. Two 190 watt solar panels on the roof is our only mod to date. We've been very happy with the Lance so far: 4100 miles and very comfortable and functional trailer. I tow with an F 150 ecoboost and a Propride 3P hitch system. I'm considering moving up to a 3/4 ton truck for the payload increase but the jury is still out on that. Looking forward to your upcoming piece on generators. Thanks!
thanks
We have a 2020 1985 model We bought it because of the walk around bed. We love it. We did have a major problem with the slide but Lance took care of it.
I agree 200% with you about the duel axels! When I get due to something like a nail on my duel axel, most often I do not even notice it, on my single axle a whole different story, it's an emergency, the trailers all over the place, often the rim gets damaged, far harder to change the tire.
yep
Thank you for making such an informative video. I am looking forward to buying my first travel trailer and hearing real, unbias reviews, like yours are always appreciated!
They sell heater wraps for propane tanks. I just saw some in my new Northern Tool Catalog. I carry a single ramp, like the ones they sell to drive up on to change your oil to make it super fast and safe to change a tire. I also carry a battery operated impact gun for changing tires, or raising and lowing the stabilizer jacks. I've timed myself changing a tire, and have done it in about 5 min. It took me longer to gather up all the stuff then to change the tire. :)
I am considering the Lance 1475. I will travel alone across the USA so I don’t need a lot of space. I don’t like dinettes and I love the sofa or chairs instead for relaxing. The double vs single axle is relevant but at just 2600lb dry it’s more like a large pop up for weight. Also, modern tires should not blow out like the old undersized ones. I was interested in the quality issues and it was somewhat nice to hear that the issues were with components, not so much the trailer. However, I do think those choices still reflect on Lance. I plan to tow with an SUV, most likely I will get a Mercedes GLE with a 6600-7700 tow rating depending on year and model. I don’t off road any more like you. Good review and I will be watching your other videos on generators and solar and more. Well done!
I'm here in Abq picking up my 1995 tomorrow morning. Very excited.
Right on!
Any chance you know your actual tongue weight. On paper it's 390lbs but I would love to know the real number.
@@cano1732 its 520 loaded with stuff. Not tanked filled
@@robinsyverson967 thank you! Been looking everywhere for this
Great video with all the information that I was looking for. Thank you.🐈⬛
We use a "SoftStartUp" to run our air conditioner. It plugs directly into the generator. No need to wire anything. It also allows you to use other things that need more power on startup, than your generator can handle.
Enjoyed your video I might add that my single axle tows very very nice.
I have the 1685 but 2017 model. Love love it. Added an extra battery. The queen size bed is nice but making the bed is a heart attack! For sure. I use a small thin wooden chopping board to slide down the sides of the bed to tuck the sheets and bedding in . Works great and saves my fingers! I’ve had no problems. Largely use the trailer for Montana two months a year. Tow with dodge half ton Ram gas truck. It’s Heaven.
I would replace the fire breathing dinosaur 2 way fridge with a 12V compressor fridge. Larger capacity, way faster cooling, don't have to be perfectly level, don't have to worry about burning to death. Add a pair of 6 V batteries or better yet a pair of Lithiums with a 190 panel on the roof or a suitcase 200 Watt panel on the ground.
Love our 1995. Pros just about everything except for the small shower. Love the light tongue weight.
Any chance you know your actual tongue weight. On paper its 390lbs but would love to know the real number.
Install a soft start on that A/C to make it far easier to start running it.
The Lance 2075 is the one I would like to get, no slideout.
We have a used 2018 Lance 1995, we bought it a year and half ago for 36 from a private party. We did need a new mother board for the hot water heater. The slide mother board also failed( big expense). We got new seals on the roof. We added 190 watt roof top solar, and 2, 6 volt agm batteries. The fridge had no problem while camping in Palo Duro canyon in May with ground Temps at 130. We had a soft start added to the air conditioner, so our 2500 watt generator can get it going. We love the north south bed and extra hanging storage. We travel with a very small dog, so no problem there. We haul with a 2018 F150 with the 5 liter V8 and 10 speed transmission. No problem there. We use sway bars, a pain to get on and off but necessary. Overall it's been a great improvement over our Tab 400 in room and convenience, but we do miss the quality of the Tab. We were tired of the wet bath, and crawling over each other at night. Still loving the Lance, but, wish we didn't have a slide. Have our eye on the Lance 2075, but currently it's way too expensive.
We have a 2015 Lance 1995 (old style) and have been very happy with it. We've put about 10,000 miles on it. We have had one problem with a conduit cover coming loose under the trailer. Only one side came off and it was hanging down. I managed to do a temporary repair and got it to a dealership. I have not experienced any of the issues you describe in your video. Thankfully! We would buy this model again but not sure about the new 1995 as there are less cupboards and storage. I agree on the price issue as they have become very expensive compared to what we paid. Almost double in 6 years. great video!
I am picking up my 2021 1995 on Monday...I am a 70 year old widow and hope that I don't have issues that require dealer service since I am 3 hours away...concerned because further down the comments someone mentioned that quality control has deteriorated ...hoping that if I do have issues that there is a video....thanks for all the great info you provide in these videos
I have the same and have not had any issues. I did take an owner RV the course to maintain it
@@robinsyverson967 had to take it back for a few issues, some being a failed hold slam latch, unaligned bed latch, oven door not closing properly.....other than that the trailer was very comfortable...I did six trips this past season, two off grid and had enough power even using the invertor a couple of times...hoping the issues can be fixed despite backlog due to personnel and parts shortage
Also have the 1685, tow with a F150 eco boost like the one you had. I like everything about it, but my wife does wish we had the walk-around bed. I like the size, quality, finishes, storage. I think we would be able to get the same amount on it as what we have paid for it back in October if we decided to sell it, which is great. I’m not planning to, but my wife really likes the 2075, so we shall see. Another serious competitor to the Lance is the Outdoors RV, from Oregon. Definitely heavier than the Lances but 4 seasons and good quality (geared towards off-road towing as well, pretty sturdy).
thanks for sharing
Great video , in my area there are no Lance dealers , my wife and i ordered a 2022 Rockwood Mini Lite 22 footer , we like the dual axle on the Rockwood , the floor plan is great and the Mini Lites have great quality , we sold our Open Range 20 footer and are anxiously waiting for delivery of out new unit ...things being what they are we feel we will have a long wait especially since we live in Canada and our trailer will have to cross the border to reach us ...stay safe and happy camping
Good choice!
Be glad you bought when you did. I just priced a 1985 and it's over $ 60,000.😢
Enjoyed your video. Picking up Lance 2285 next Friday. Chose Lance after owning 3 R-pods, (first two were wonderful but the quality/craftsmanship of our 2020 Rpod was very poor). Love reading all the positive comments about Lance.
We have a 2285 year 2018. We love ours.
I think you did a great job covering questions I had about the Lance! Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the terrific video.
I wish I could say I loved my Year 2021 Lance model 1995, but we have had so many problems that I can't seriously recommend one. Especially given the premium price I paid for a Lance to avoid all these issues. In our first year we we in the service center 4 times with some fairly major issues including a shower drain issue which flooded the bathroom, a refig/freezer door misalignment issue (still not resolved), water heater leaked (twice from poorly assembled connectors) and thermal fuse blew, propane system had moisture in it (still does), leak in the front window, and on--and-on. I have a full page of issues. Unfortunately we are still waiting on some things to be resolved under the warranty that just expired, and now new issues are arising like the refrigerator randomly wont work on LP and we have a mysterious water leak near the refrigerator that shows itself when we wash the trailer. In almost all cases except a few the issues are directly related to very poor, careless and sloppy assembly. I mean they didn't even attached the shower drain pipe - it was completely unhooked under the shower pan! We love the layout, design and towability, but they clearly blew the assembly.
Thank you for sharing this valuable info. Sorry about your experience.
All rv manufacturers have been slapping rigs together as fast as possible since Covid helped cause such a massive increase in rv interest. Result = quality control down the tubes.
I just bought a 2021 Lance 1995 after researching for 2 years that was pre-owned. I just picked it up. I had it extensively inspected before I picked it up. I looked at all sorts of brands that are considered higher end, Airstream, Oliver (Really Expensive for the size, but well built), Grand Design, Outdoors RV, Casita, Escape, Winnebago, Rockwood, etc, etc. I chose Lance for space, storage, build design and presumed quality. We'll see how it works out. I hate to hear of your troubles. So, far I towed it with a 2017 Tacoma though West Virginia and all the mountains, with a 3/4 tank of fresh water and some gear and it towed pretty well. I was surprised. We stayed one night in it and all worked as designed. But I am a small sample. I will update after a year of usage.
Well done Sir, great vid! I just purchased a 2018 Coachmen Freedom Express Ultralite 246RKS. I did zero research until I had it. Bought it as the result of a unique circumstance for a good price. I've been watching your vids a couple a day. Really appreciate the clear and well presented info. Helping a newbie so much. Keep it up. This channel will definitely grow! Peace!
edit - towing with an F250 XLT Superduty 6.0 (yeah... I know, 6.0) but 75% bulletproofed, new trans, tires, heavy duty shocks, brakes and I'm building the extended part of the cab into a luxury suite for my best friend Lacy. 70 pound lab........ Still need the Champion 3500 and a good bed cover. I am dyin to get out there with you folks!!!
thanks for sharing!
I've owned a 2018 Lance 1995 for 3 years now and have had very few problems with it. I've used it about a dozen times and have towed it to other states. I also put a 2" lift on it to tow it back on dirt roads to camp in remote areas. I have been very happy in how well it has held up so far and how well it has performed in very cold weather. On 1 trip with 4 other campers, and 1 rated 4 seasons like the Lance, all of their water lines and tanks froze except for mine. I would definitely buy a Lance again in the future.
Any chance you know your actual tongue weight. On paper its 390lbs but would love to know the real number.
@@cano1732 I've never actually checked the tongue weight on mine. My trailer is supposed to be 365lbs (it was lower on the 2018 model as opposed to the latest models). My guess is that it's a little higher, especially depending on how I load it of course.
@@bobo.4021 I found a video for the actual tongue weight of a 1985. On paper it said 550lbs but the actual dry weight was 800lbs. Check it out around the 3 minute mark here ruclips.net/video/vxr03qLhVyA/видео.html
thanks for sharing
Currently own a Flagstaff 26fks (Forrest River). Great floor plan with front kitchen and large bedroom in back slide. Have been pleased with fit and finish. Been looking at Lance 2465 which has a rear bedroom in slide. Reason for considering Lance is long term durability. We are retired and take longer trips and I’m thinking we my be able to get 10 years of use from Lance and still have a decent trailer if we would sell down the road. Also like the fact Lance is a lower profile and a bit lighter in weight. Have not been able to tour the model, we live in the Midwest and not many Lance dealers. Appreciate your reviews of your Lance, very helpful.
thanks! good luck
Don’t buy a lance. We’re buying the same floor plan as yours, it’s a rock wood. We had a lance. We had issues with it. I’m glad we sold it , very expensive to have issues. Refrigerator, stove, awning, door , window crank, issues. Look at other lance owner issues.
@@Berrypancakes229 we did not buy a Lance, did buy and Outdoors Rv 24rks. Enjoy your Rockwood. We were happy with our Flagstaff 26fkbs
Great review!! Enjoyed your other two trailer reviews also.
Am I seeing a Window Cover on the front ? And of course another great video, thanks for fridge tip.
Good for you Ian trouble shooting your own issue with the water heater. Self-reliance can go a long way
Thanks for an outstanding review! I am a prospective LANCE owner and respect the explanation of the technicalities delivered in everyone terms.
RE: gas regulator: would a small DC heat tape around that piping work? Easy to add a circuit.
RE: startup current on Dometic A/C: I don't know if they are made for these units; but to reduce start current; home A/C unit owners getting by with smaller gen-sets are using these 'soft-start' add-on modules that 'ramp-up' the compressor motor versus what is known as an 'across-the-line' (full voltage) start. Google-it; perhaps something could be utilized.
Great Video. Getting ready to take delivery of a Lance 2465 in late September. Have you considered getting a micro air easy start device to attach to your ac. This device once installed regulates the start power demand and allows you to start your AC on a limited power source such as a generator. I plan to have the easy start installed in both Coleman AC's on it
How are you liking the 2465 as this is #1 on my list
@@marytabor4728 Very much. We’ve been living in it full-time since late October, and it is a generally well-built trailer. We’ve camped in whether as cold as 17° and as warm as 80°. There’s enough space for two adults and two cats. I believe there of been a few quality control issues caused by building our trailer during the pandemic, but we’ve either been able to fix them easily or they are of a nature that they can wait until we visit the Lance factory in late March. I do recommend the trailer.
I’m actually going to look at the Lance but like you said I do like the walk around bed
Great concise informative video.
I would recommend installing a soft start in your AC so you can run it on a 2000 watt generator
Yes Works Great
My friend has the lance cab over and the quality and features are great but you get what you pay for. I have the 5.0 Ford and am looking at the lance as well. Great video!
Thanks
Lance is worth the money IF it gets used, (like yours does). They do make a better product than most. My retirement job now is doing walkthroughs on various types and brands of trailers, I'm no expert by far but I am learning more and more. On another note, time to start thinking about a Death Valley get together. :)
yes on DV
we bought a 1685 in 2016 loved most things except hated the front bed same as you. so we sold it and bought the 2020 2185. We thought the rear bunks beds were a great idea but discovered that they really are not practical as the kids get older. so we are looking at trading it in for the 2445 with the larger rear bunks. But we love the Lance quality.
Good job on the video! I am considering something for just me and I just bought a new car 3 months ago and the peak of car sales but my car can only tow 3500lbs, so I was looking at the 1575 model. I too wish the 1575 would have a dual axle. I appreciate all your tips. I'll have to checkout some of your older videos, especially the ones with your previous vehicles.
I own and live fulltime in my 2018 850 Lance truck camper and love it. However if considering a travel trailer for winter months I would seriously look at Oliver clam shell style campers.
Hello;
I am about to order 2022 lance model 1995 next couple weeks and i will tow with my 2021 3.5 power boost with 7.2 KW option. so i won't worry about carrying generator and solar power... Your review gave me more confident to go ahead.
Thanks
Good choice
Good info. Well done. Thanks.
Thanks for the review
You bet
Thanks for this excellent video. I've subscribed and will watch more of your videos. Question that has nothing to do with Lance: Did you make that awesome RV open carport? If so, do you have a video on how you made it? Or, if you bought it, can you share the name of the company? Not sure if you have a video on best ways to store your RV. I live on the very wet in the winter, very hot in the summer, Northwest coast. Thanks.
Very informative. Thank you
Very welcome
This is a very helpful video. Thanks !
great thanks
We have watched videos on Lance but hard to see one in person or many other campers because of demand not out there much. I doubt if we could swing one on our budget anyway. We pretty much have it narrowed down to Grand design possibly but like you said prices are going up and it's affecting all the RV industry. Very impressed with Lance quality. Thank you for your informative video.
thanks!
Not sure but I am thinking about it, but since 2017 when we bought our Lance 1575, after much research. Since then the price of the same model has skyrocketed. An workmanship issue with our 2017 presented almost immediately. It came with a factory installed roof mounted solar panel that sat atop 8 brackets screwed into the roof. While the front side of the brackets were caulked, the back side (inner sides) were not, leading to a roof leak and failure of a ceiling light. The seal on the factory installed backup camera leaked also, allowing water to enter the camera and destroy it. The third problem was with the front window arms breaking after a wind gust caught the window and literally blowing it off of the trailer (the trailer was parked.) At the time, the support arms that Lance used were not lockable. The Lance rep told me I had to buy an entire window and frame in order to simply replace the support arms (by the way, the window did bot break and I was able to place it back in the frame.) I was persistent and found a third-party seller of just the support arms which were sourced in Europe. Needless to say, we are a bit gun shy, but there are horror stories with all makes, and I still think Lance makes a good product when it comes to framing and materials.
thanks for sharing
After a year or two of debating many brands, we did purchase the Lance 1685, and while we don't have any regrets, I wish we would have gone for the 1995 with the bed turned. I agree with your thoughts on that. As far as problems, we seem to be having troubles with the refrigerator for a second occurrence in only owning this rig for two years. The first one was the 'thermal fuse' which I diagnosed and repaired too thanks to finding a little help on youtube for some instruction. That fuse stopped the fridge from operating, but this time the fridge turns on, it just does not get cold? Oh well, when I get to the bottom of that, I'll let you know what the issue turns out to be?
We are looking at buying a Lance 1995 or 1985 I like the 1985s bigger shower, wife likes the 1995s pantry storage abilities. Wondering what brand of shade trailer port is your lance sitting under and why did you go with it?
Great channel appreciate your insight.
Thanks for the video.
Great video! i'm a newbie and am looking online at different models including Lance.
I’m in the exact same boat with my Jayco 166FBS. Currently looking for a better couples camper without bunks, a sofa or recliners, dual axle, tow with Gladiator Rubicon with 37s, and the walk around bed instead of the sideways bed.
We are just now about to enter our time of retirement. Since we are unsure of whether or not we want to tow a vehicle, but the idea appeals to us now, we are opting to look for something more immediately affordable. The thinking is that we wouldn't have as much invested if it turns out we don't like it. HOWEVER, based on what you saying about the Lance holding it's value pretty well, we may have to reconsider.
We have a 2022 1685 on order. Drove myself (and husband) nuts looking at 100+ videos, Facebook pages, blogs, etc. We've walked through Black Series and EXPLOR X22'S (each about a $67,000) for more rugged camping...they are better constructed, but owners report the same issues, some more complex and costly such as wheel bearings and axle issues.
Your video has up'd my confidence that perhaps many of the "minor" issues that some folks have repaired at the dealership can actually be fixed by owners. Miffed that we are purchasing at the height of RV inflation ($44,000)...but we're both approaching 60, time is of the essence. Anyway, it's so good to hear such honest feedback. We'll be following you here. Thanks!
great video.
Great honest video!
We looked at Lance but ended up going with a Grand Design 17MKE which has been decent (the dealership sucks) but overall like the trailer. I’m 6’6” so I really wanted a north/south bed and full sized restroom. It’s about as aerodynamic as a barn door and I truly wished it was 18” longer so the Murphy bed could be used with the slide in. After 2 years and 15,000 miles we still like it for its features for a couples unit.
When I retire (2022) going to probably get something else. I’d like to see a outdoors RV 20BC or 21RD, Grand Design 22RBE, 22MLE, and Airstream 25 RBT are the front runners. I’ve got a 3/4 ton Silverado 2500HD with 3,000 pound payload to tow so I’m good there . But the current trailer is still a excellent unit so I just may put gas in the truck and enjoy life.
Stay safe, Bill in Utah
thanks!
Thank you for the update/review. I'm currently looking at a 1985 and there's some things I love about it and somethings I don't care for. One being the smaller bathroom and kitchen. It's only me and my dog traveling, how do those spaces work for your family? Do you find them to be too small? Are you cooking outside more due to that? I appreciate your response.
I hate our Lance. We have had EVERY problem you mentioned and many, many more. We even took it to the factory in Lancaster, CA. We have a 2020 1985 model. Have used it for three years and three months. Our slide broke first. They fixed it, but put the rubber seal on backwards. The rubber started getting chewed up in the “zipper” of the slide and broke again. Our refrigerator went out at the same time. We have had so many problems that we are getting rid of it and losing $20,000 in the process. Our brakes went out and flattened two tires. The original and the spare. Turned out when they fixed the axle, the mechanics pushed the electric brake wire into a place that ended up cutting the wire. Also, the gas went out on the entire unit. Most likely the regulator went out. We ended up rushing it back to our dealer and putting it up for sale. What happened to us was not only inconvenient, it was extremely dangerous.
Are you me? Same Brand, same model, same year, same piece of (RUclips appropriate) dog doo doo. Most expensive regret of all time
We’ve rv’d for long enough that we favor having the most/biggest windows facing OUR camp site. Listening, Lance?
We had an Rpod (177) for eight years. Loved the rpod but the east to west bed was getting old. We also wanted a walk around bed and dual axel so we bought Lance 1995. We got too lucky with Rpod; we had only one minor problem in 8 yrs. Now 2 yrs in Lance and we have had numerous problems: leaking from both skylights, blow out with one tire, leaking from propane regulator, awning, and now lance is at dealer as frig is not working. We still love the floor plan but disappointed that an expensive trailer would so many problems brand new.
thank you for sharing, sorry to hear all that
I'm looking forward to your backup camera video. For my install, I hope, I can leverage a marker light. I started to buy one but bailed due to reviews that complained about latency and dropping out due to distance. I was looking at marker light specific models, which reduced my choices. I have a 29' trailer / F150 157 WB and didn't want to take the risk of doing all the work and it not working well.
Growing up in Minnesota lots of Mobil home owners use heat tape to keep pipes under the trailer warm enough not to freeze. Could be a solution for the regulator
Thanks for your review. I found it very informative and concise. Would you happen to have the part numbers , or links, to the replacement circuit board and thermal fuses you mentioned? Thanks!!😃👍🇺🇸
We have a 2018 Lance 2185 with the bunk house cause my wife snores like you wouldn’t believe. The only problem we have had is the black tank flush line came off the black tank and flooded the inside of the trailer. To make a long story shorter we don’t use it anymore, we flush through the toilet. Also the glass stove top cover nuts have failed several times so here comes the steel nuts with plastic washers. The check valve on the hot water tank has failed and I had to build a bypass loop so we wouldn’t fill the tank with glycol. I can’t get the bad check valve out. 😫
Could you put a "soft start" device on the Lance's AC so the 2000W Yamaha generator could start it easier?
As for me (also having a Jeep Gladiator) -- and ONLY me as an "occupant" of a RV -- I'd be looking at 3 (but smaller than your Lance) travel-trailers (TTs) that would require less towing-capacity (be easier on my Gladiator) but still be fairly "off-road" usable (and 2 are like Lance in one way: PRICEY!):
-- Airstream BasecampX
-- T@B 320 Boondocj Edge
-- Scamp 13 or 16 (but Scamp needs to make at least ONE :"off-road" version, and beef-up their silly tiny axles and tires. Casita is the very same in that context: Not making anything (a "ruggedized" model) for "overlanding" use. BUT, they're probably the lightest-weight TTs to be towing.
Yes, Lance makes the 1475 & 1575 that I'd look at (prefer the 1575 with its dinette and slide-out), but it's a bit boxy so has more wind-resistance on the hwy...and I can't imagine towing a "street Lance" on anything but the mildest off-road "trails." Otherwise, were I only doing RV park, campground or such camping -- vs. boon-docking out in the sticks -- Lance would be on the Short List also.
As for the Forest River (FR) conglomerate (parent company of maybe a dozen RV brands) I'd not buy anything THEY made -- King of the Crap-Makers, IMO. EXCEPT for their very decent (apparently) Coachmen Beyond Class B. But when it comes to any TTs (or 5ers!) that FR makes, no thanks.
But aside from the product itself (50% of my buying decision) I ALSO factor-in how well a company takes care of the customer AFTER the sale (the other 50% of the equation) -- FR is only average at best, if not below. Not AT ALL good enough (for me).
-- BR
thanks for sharing
I wonder if you used the hand warmer ( for hunters )🎉 on the propane tank for the few night if needed.
Can you put Locktite around the screws in the windows to stop them from coming loose?
What are your experiences with the easy lube axels? The manufacturer recommends that they be regreased every 6,000 miles. When I used their easy lube methodology, it forced grease out into the breaks.
I think it’s Backcountry (?) who offer a 20RB that is I guess a bit of a clone of the Lance 2075, which is the layout I like. They ride on tandem 5200 lb axels, so there’s like 3500 lbs of cargo capacity! 😳 also, a 100 gallon fresh water tank. Price point is probably in like with Lance. Also, an Onan 3600 Kw generator is standard. I really haven’t done a solid comparison of the two brands, but something to consider.
Excellent points and review.
We are considering this model as a downsize, as we want to get down to under 22' overall.
I'm in my 60s now and have owned many RVs since I was 25, including Lances.
I would agree that Lance makes great build quality, but I think components outside of the RV manufacture count too. I've unfortunately found that Lance does not investigate much into the problems certain components might have, this has resulted in some very problematic heaters and refrigerators over the years for us (one heater in particular had many known issues, yet Lance chose to use it, and never did replace it.
In the end it all equalizes out, as our current Keystone Cougar has had zero component issues, but some build quality issues. So will will certainly consider another Lance, but their price for overall quality is definitely way over priced.