RV REVIEW REVIEW AND PHOTOS BY HOWARD J ELMER
Lance Travel Trailer 1995 Lance adds travel trailers to its fleet There are two things most people know about the RV builder Lance. One, they have been around for a long time—more than 50 years now. Two, they make truck campers. In fact, if you’ve ever thought about a truck camper or been asked to suggest a brand name to someone, chances are Lance was the name that sprang to mind. And, yes, they still make truck campers—however, they now also build travel trailers and this expansion of their product line piqued my interest. Because this California- based company has earned a reputation for quality products, I wanted to see how its decades of building campers has translated to the travel trailer segment. I chose to pull the trailer with the new 2019 Ford Ranger. As for the trailer model, the 1995 sits smack in the middle of this new product line. (There are 10 floorplans, ranging in length from 19 to 29 feet). The Ranger is rated to tow a max weight of 7,500 pounds and this unit paired nicely with it being just over 23 feet in length and having a GVWR of 5,700 pounds. The floorplan featured a single slide-out, spacious walk-
around queen-bed and a full bath. The unit will sleep four and carries every convenience buyers expect—it is also four-season capable and can be equipped with an optional solar panel system. Quality. It’s a word Lance uses over and over in all its brochures and on-line product information. We all know what that word means—however, it also translates to something else—price. The truth is you can’t have one without the other and this Lance product definitely sits in the premium end of the market. That said, I set out to see where the design money was spent—and it’s worth remembering that it’s often on items that are not evident on first inspection. But over the long term they will make a big difference in the quality and the life of the unit. What I’m talking about here specifically is build quality, which refers to the materials and construction methods used for the frame, walls, roof, insulation, windows, tanks, and running gear. Lance uses aluminum for the framing in the sidewalls, floor, and the ceiling. Interior walls use the solid Azdel product, which is a thermoplastic composite that eliminates wood from Lance trailer walls. Most of these parts are also cut on computer-controlled CNC machines
RV REVIEW
COAST TO COAST SUMMER MAGAZINE 2019
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