I am new to the camper world so I have many questions like, when you are camping is it alright to unload your camper and still use it? Would it be reasonable to run a 12 to 16 inch reciever extention on a catogory 4 hitch, when pulling a 25 ft. boat roughly 5000 lbs. with apr. 500 tounge weight?

Welcome to the group Johnny, I have Firestone Ride Rites and Happyjac tie downs on my 1989 F-250 SC 2WD pickup. I carry a Lance 780 which is 11'3" in length and with stock tires, it handles like a dream. I think you will be happy with the same set up. Good Luck, Bob

Hey All,

I pray everyone has had a great Christmas and will have an awesome New Year celebration. I wanted to let you all know that I posted some pics of my rig on Facebook. Sorry I don't know how to do one of those fancy links. You can just search for Dan or Daniel Clark from Las Cruces, NM. You will know it's me because my profile pic has my goofy face with the camper in the backround. I hope to see you there!

Dan-O

If you're talking about resealing the windows (which should be done every few years anyway), you need to pop the windows out (take out mounting screws, possibly a staple or two as well), scrape them down thoroughly, then use butyl putty tape along the window flange. Pop the window back in place, tighten down the screws, and then run a bead of acrylic caulking around the outside of the window. If you use silicone containing caulk, nothing will ever stick again, and you'll never get it loose.

I dealt with small areas of wood rot with a special anti-rot liquid I bought at Home Depot or Lowes. Comes in a big plastic bottle--might be made by Elmers (the glue people). I have also used fiberglass resin in larger areas where I couldn't remove the damaged wood. In those instances I drilled small holes through the wood, then did my best to "inject" the liquid resin into the holes and impregnate the rot areas. The old camper held up for another 3 years before I sold it off.

LAST CALL!!!! If nobody is interested I will be tossing it out. I am offering it just for whatever the shipping would be.

Hello everyone,

I just was given a 1986 Lance 480 / 9.6 camper. For the past 8-10 years it has been a mouse condo for someones backyard. Everything amazingly still works in it! mice have been evicted and I am disinfecting it as well. I'm looking for suggestions on what to replace the mattress with. Would a double size mattress work? I know there is that angle cut on the one side. I look forward to hearing from everyone.

Dan-O

The Wood where my jacks are located is all chewed up and the jack no longer holds to the camper very well i have the one jack off and just want to know whats the best way to go about fixing it.

While we never got mice, our OEM mattress was moldy from water leakage issue of prior owner. In our case, simply moved in a new air mattress--the big, boxy ones.  I've had to patch it a couple of times in the last two years, but it sure has been comfortable, once I added a couple of inches of memory foam.

In an earlier rig, we ordered a custom cut chunk of 4" high density foam. It's not an inexpensive proposition, but it does beat the daylights out of a "custom RV mattress." If you go this route, don't go cheap, but the best density foam you can afford, and do the memory foam trick on top.  We once bought the less expensive foam and wound up "sleeping in a trough" when the foam broke down where the bodies lay.

How's about everybody tell us where you live or are located so maybe we can exchange info about camping in your area. I am in Silver City NM and do a lot of camping here in the Gila Wilderness. Also go over to west central Arizona.
                                                                                  Gary
Also would like to hear from folks who geochache.

Flagstaff from Phoenix, towing our Harley and day riding with friends who are also camping.  Just being in the pines with our 830 for the weekend is worth it.

so im trying to figure out what tie down equipment i should go for. ive used the bars on my dads truck to pick up my camper but the chains rub on the front jacks and dont allow me to open the back doors of the quad cab. does anyone know of a good combination for a fleetwood angler and a quad cab dodge for tie down equipment? im a total newbie!

I have a 2005 Chevy Silverado 1500 crew cab and am totally confused what slide in will fit. I found a 1995 Fleetwood Angler - 1480lbs.... but it appears too long? The camper would end past the tailgate if gate left down??

Same to you Dan-O,
      I am going down to the Hatch Chili Festival saturday and then over to San Francisco River to do a little Jeepin.
                                                                          Gary

Hi I am new to the forum (I am happy I found it not a lot of stuff that I have found for cabover campers yet).  I tried to do a search but I cant easily find anything on what I would like to ask. 

My issue is that I have a tripod camper jack that has broken teeth on its gears.  When it gets enough weight on it it just slips and doesnt lift anymore.  My issue is that I would like to be able to take it off my truck so I can use it and also work on my camper. 

Question number 1:  The gears in the jack look like they would be fairly easy to replace, but I have not been able to find anything in the way of replacement parts for the jacks (which is a bummer as jacks are expensive).  Is there any place that carries parts like this? 

Question number 2:  I can not afford to buy a jack at the moment.  Is there places that rent them?  I have checked on Ebay and Craigslist for cheap jacks but havent found anything as of yet.

Question number 3:  (this one is a little off topic but maybe someone can guide me as well)  My camper has all the electrical wires all "bird nested and not hooked up to anything.  I have no clue where to start, nor do I know how to run new wires if i wanted to start fresh (there is no apparent access panels inside or outside that I have found any wiring (I assume I will have to do major demo to find them...I wish I had plans or something for this old camper  ).  Pretty much at this time my camper is just a place to rest my head with a stove.  I would like to change that, but there isnt really anyone that I know of that has a cabover camper and knows anything about them.  I guess if there isnt anything helpful I can find I might gut the camper and redo it into something creative .

Thank you for your time .

I'm on my second Chevy Dooley (2002 and 2006) with the Duramax-Allison option and have nothing but great things to say about the trucks.  I've owed Fords along with Chevys over the years hauling truck campers in the beds but with the Duramax-Allison option you really can't go wrong with the Chevy.  Both of my Chevy doolies were used (both under 10K miles when purchased) so I was able to get around the often complained about high entry price Chevy trucks typically bring when new. 

I know quite a few current Dodge and Ford owners and after a couple of beers they've admitted I'm better equipped overall (especially with the Tow/Haul feature when ascending or decending steep grades) then they.  When fully loaded with the truck camper (5K lbs), hitch extension and 16' open car trailer with toys loaded and in place (7K lbs) I'm just over 19K lbs gross.  I've driven many miles without a trace of serious problems many other brands have found when under heavy use (ie: driveline failures). 

In the end, I'll most likely buy another new-used Chevy with the Duramax-Allison combo if the General is still making them when the time comes and I don't move up to the Gulfstream Supernova 6331 Super Class C by that time.  Good luck in your truck search efforts and let us know what and why you decided after you've finalized your purchase.....

I am getting ready to trade up for a Lance 971.  This is the 9'-11" model with dry bath.  Marketing material states this requires a long bed truck.

I currently have a F-250 diesel crew cab short bed, and have 2 questions.

1.  Is it possible to load and transport this camper on my short bed just to transport it home since it was designed for a long bed.  Most dealers we found are several states away.   I am asking because we have found some good deals on the 971 that we want, but may be some time before we can trade up to a long bed for permanent installation of camper.

2.  Since I am also going to upgrade to a long bed truck, I have concerns that this 3,400 pound trailer may be top-heavy for a single rear wheel 250, so does this mean I need to shop for a dully rear wheels?    

3. Since I may end up with the camper before the truck upgrade, do most dealers include the truck prep in price or is this extra.  Since I may need to "ship" the camper or transport with a different truck, will any local dealer prep the new truck for this camper.
Thanks,