2001 Lance 815

[BajaSurfRig]

I recently bought a 2001 Lance 815 from a grandpa that kept it in a barn when not in use a couple of hours up the coast from me. This camper had everything that I wanted (electric jacks, extended cabover bed) and was at a price that I couldn’t pass up $6k. I’d love the chance to build out a total composites shell but it is not in the cards for me right now.

The only downside to this camper is the front window in the cabover section (this was almost a deal breaker for me as I know these are notorious for leaking). I will do my best to seal this front window and may even glue on a drip edge over it so at least water isn’t running over it in the rain and fog…

I picked this camper as it was the lightest hardside I could find in my budget (1667 pounds per the Lance manual) and it didn’t hang over the rear bumper and is narrower than most hard sides at 86”.

Anyway I will be full timing in this camper in a couple of months and will be re-doing the solar and battery system, adding max air fans, new dometic compressor fridge, Chinese diesel heater, guzzle H20 water system, froli mattress suspension etc…

Here is a photo of the camper on the day I bought it in storage on the PO’s truck.

 

[BajaSurfRig]

On my truck and ready for the trip home:

 

[BajaSurfRig]

First things first remove AC off the roof and replace with Maxair fan:

 

[BajaSurfRig]

This weekend I caulked the front of the camper and re-dicored the whole roof in prep for solar panels. I also removed the old three way fridge and capped the old propane line.

 

[BajaSurfRig]

Almost all of my goodies have arrived for my solar/ battery upgrade. My new 200 ah lithium battery fits like a glove in the existing cabinet under the fridge. Excited to get rolling on my projects this week after work!

 

[MrKen]

Are you replacing the fridge with anything?

 

[BajaSurfRig]

Are you replacing the fridge with anything?

Yeah a compressor driven 3.8 cu/ft Dometic fridge. I will have to do some slight trimming on the opening to fit it in place, but other than that it is a drop in replacement.

 

[Regcabguy]

I remember when those first came out. Nice compromise. I believe you had that photo of San Quintin. Put the biggest flotation tires you can on that with the dded weight and a winch bumper. Looks good on the truck. Nothing like getting out of the elements down there and climbing into a made up bed.

 

[locrwln]

Nice. Watching as we may be picking up the same model.

Jack

 

[mangymarmot]

Nice camper and truck combo!

 

[BajaSurfRig]

I remember when those first came out. Nice compromise. I believe you had that photo of San Quintin. Put the biggest flotation tires you can on that with the dded weight and a winch bumper. Looks good on the truck. Nothing like getting out of the elements down there and climbing into a made up bed.

Yeah some of the dunes down south are pretty tricky in a heavy truck. Once my current tires wear out (essentially brand new 32’s) I will look into 285/75r18’s + a regear to 4.30’s or 4.56’s. It feels quite light on the back of the truck (just slightly more than my 4wc Grandby) and doesn’t sway a ton like hard sides I have had in the past. Excited to have a hard side for getting out of the wind. El norte’s are not fun in a pop top haha.

 

[ripperj]

Nice rig, that model is pretty similar in size to my Northstar Adventurer that I like for the same reasons that you mention, narrow profile a big plus.

I’d guess that many of the issues with the front cabover windows (and the front window in the lower section) come from driving in the rain, it’s possible a drip edge over the cabover front windows would make that worse??? No actual data point, but just a thought.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Regcabguy]

Yeah some of the dunes down south are pretty tricky in a heavy truck. Once my current tires wear out (essentially brand new 32’s) I will look into 285/75r18’s + a regear to 4.30’s or 4.56’s. It feels quite light on the back of the truck (just slightly more than my 4wc Grandby) and doesn’t sway a ton like hard sides I have had in the past. Excited to have a hard side for getting out of the wind. El norte’s are not fun in a pop top haha.

We call it the erosion factor. The regear will be great as well as the high load capacity 18's. Those new fridges are nice and congrats chucking the A/C. A Hellwig Big Wig swaybar works wonders for highway travel. You can take one side off in 10 minutes for offroad.

 

[SDDiver5]

Nice find!

 

[BajaSurfRig]

Tonight after work I installed 650 watts of Renogy flex panels on the roof using 3M VHB tape. I may install some Dicor self leveling sealant around the panels for added security. Got all of the wiring cleaned up and through the fridge vent.