Lance Travel Trailers | Honest Owner Review

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LANCE UPDATE:

We have owned our Lance 1685 for over a year and taken many trips with it. I will talk about why we chose a Lance product, what trailers we had before, important upgrades that the Lance offered, why it may be worth paying more for a Lance, a few complaints I have about it, and then some conclusions. Specific comparisons to the forest river r-pod which is what we had before. Happy camping! Please note I have zero affiliation with Lance or any other RV company. Thanks for watching!

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[becausehelives]

My wife and I just purchased our first camper five months ago and it’s a 2020, model 2185. I researched for couple of years as well and came to the same conclusion about Lance quality. I normally purchase big ticket items for the long haul, no pun intended or maybe it We absolutely have no regrets with our investment. The floor plan is outstanding, especially the jack knife couch and “ Murphy style “ bed that stows away extremely easily during the day. Quality, quality, quality and last but not least, quality. I tow her with a 2015 Toyota Tundra with a Blue Ox sway bar package with no issues! If you’re going to put your hard earned money out there, make it count once and by a Lance. I sound like a commercial for Lance but I’m not paid by them, just a happy- happy owner.

[nortonnewmann]

Our Story:
I spent nearly a year researching trailer/tow vehicle combinations (a "couples" trailer with two pups).
We bought a new 2017 Grand Design 2150RB towed with a 2017 Ford F-150 (which we recently traded for a Class C).
I found that you had to get at least a 21' trailer to get away from the "sideways" bed. I'm over 6' tall, and I was cramped in those beds.
Our Grand Design had a residential queen "lengthwise" walkaround bed. The mattress was decent, but we added a memory foam topper.
What I REALLY loved about the Grand Design was the HUGE rear bath - tons of room, and the shower wasn't cramped.
The shower had a "squeegee" curtain, which I originally had my doubts, but I haven't heard any real complaints.
The walls were Azdel, which is supposed to be waterproof. The underbelly was sealed - supposedly 4 season.
Missing desirable features were slam latches and slide toppers/covers.
We boondock a lot, and NOT having slide toppers created a PIA - I had to climb up on the roof and broom off the slide roof before retracting. That gets old real quick! We have slide toppers on the class C, and I'd never go back!
Slam latches were also missing on the Grand Design - a bonus when you have your hands full in a pouring rain!
Mixed feelings on the wind sensing awning and keyless entry. I've read reviews about erratic behavior, and weak internal mechanicals.
We NEVER leave the trailer with the awning extended, and I do a walkaround checklist at night - the awning always gets retracted.
About the "minor details"... I noticed in MOST trailers (including Grand Design) that they are put together with MILLIONS of staples, then the holes are "somewhat" filled with color-matching filler. I noticed that in nearly EVERY trailer we looked at. It looks CHEAP, but I guess it keeps labor costs down - time is money!
The Lance products are definitely a premium product. The build quality is a step above most trailers (except Airstream). Bottom line is you get what you pay for... BUT with nearly ALL RVs, one needs to have a mindset that "RVs ARE NOT MOTOR VEHICLES". They WILL break - usually when you least expect it. Being prepared with the correct tools, Dicor sealant and duct tape is a must! AND proper maintenance is a MUST!

[williampellegrino]

I bought a 2019 Lance 1985. Between the bed and large shower there was know choice for me. Best trailer I have ever owned in 35 years of RVing. I have owned 6 different Trailers in that time and none have compared to the 1985.

[pattiedifraia]

We own a 2018 1685. Agree with you on the shower- we replaced shower track with longer one that gives an extra couple of inches width that make a big difference. Found shower curtain with pockets to hold shampoos and soaps. Replaced ceiling light in dinette with flush mount- no more head banging. Added memory foam cushion to mattress on queen bed for better support. (awkward to change sheets but doable) Added shelves in both closets for more storage and strategically placed removeable “command hooks” throughout for additional hanging options. One feature we really don’t like is the fact that the door must be completely closed before opening or closing the awning. Like the fact that the side bars don’t stick down on the sides to whack you in the head but am always afraid someone might forget when operating mechanism and the awning gets bent. We upgraded from a 1575 and stayed with Lance because of the quality of the build. For the most part, we are extremely happy with our trailer - it is our escape to the woods.

[mimijohnson]

Lance makes a great quality trailer and I prefer the lights as it is made. I do agree that the door needs a friction hinge, most prefer a walk around bed, and for showers it’s a toss up. I don’t like glass enclosures because they are very difficult to clean, I’d prefer a regular shower curtain with liner. If the liner gets too dirty toss and replace, easy and inexpensive.
The four season insulation is a big deal! Here in Texas the average trailer just won’t stay cool in the Summer months, and I’m sure they don’t do well in cold winters either.

[sharlamccall]

I just bought a 2023 1685 and just love it. Perfect size for my dog and I.

[charlesmdoc]

We have a 2011 1685. Awesome Take it everywhere. Zmatter of fact i'm sitting in the Half Moon Bay CA campground, right now. We have been at this since 1993. This is our second trailer. The Lance is durable, sound and darn near problem free. There isn't a coach made that will never have problems. We take it to some off the beaten path, trails, no sweat. Will probably not need to buy another travel trailer. Ever. Maintenance is key. Try to never overlook, anything, cause that is the one thing that will bite you in the butt.. Have fun y'all!

[laurieclark]

We bought our very young son a used Lance 27 ‘ - 2012 yr. first owner did some changes tires etc. our son happened to like that model the best of what was made in those years - hasn’t had any issues - no delimitation- he’s a storm worker - stayed in N C in the winter one year had no window sweating -condensation problems. It towed just fine with RAM 250 - yes he likes the walk around bed- lg kitchen counters - he’s still using it in Destin Fla. glad I found it - he had no time for repairs.

[janicekanaly]

We have a 2015 Lance 1685. I agree with everything you said. The only thing about our 1685 is that we have issues with the fresh water pipes leaking at the joints. The ISSUE is with repairing the water pipe joints. are NOT all accessible. We had a leak under the bathroom sink. The back panel and shelves inside the cabinet DO NOT disassemble; therefore you have to cut holes into your cabinet to reach the water line joints. Now we have a leak in the water line joint behind the toilet. The water line and joint are located under the shelf behind the toilet. This berm, intended to hide the water line, does not come apart. I called the Lance factory and was told I could get the berm up by removing the bathroom wall on the right and the shower stall on the left side. Needless to say, we will be cutting a hole in the berm. Lance could have built the unit so that the back wall of the bathroom cabinet and berm could be disassembled to allow fresh water line repairs.

[stevejanek]

Great review! Each point short & direct. Tempo & volume were consistent. Camera work was steady, edited perfectly and captured/matched the commentary perfectly. Great presentation. Thank you for your professionalism!

[paulariggs]

One of the major selling points for me was the azdel panels which are lighter and better for indoor air quality, and prevents water and mold issues . Much less off gassing. I have the 24' and love it. Yes the added quality is worth it. Porcelain toilet. No floor vents. Superior quality all around.

[garyhensley]

We had the same size concern you shared with the 1685 and bought the 1995. Not only do you get the walk around bed, but the choice of under bed storage or a couch, and a small closet and drawer on each side. Regarding the shower soap trays, take a look at Bed Bath & Beyond they sell a three chamber soap dispenser, we mounted it above the top tray and shampoos and conditioners are easy to access. It made a good upraise. Thanks for the review.

[troyrice]

My wife and I love our lance. The 1985 with the under bed storage is awesome.

[debp.]

Awesome review! Love when actual owners do reviews so they talk about things that actual owners need/want to know!

[winnguyen]

Really appreciate your great video, for a person leaving tent trailers and going to truck and travel trailers it’s great to have real world experience being shared.

[BRP_USA]

This is a solid review.
Waiting for my house to close. I'm going to RV for several months. I have nothing but time for research.
Longevity, Durability, and Quality must not be overlooked. Take your time and be ready to spend a bit more. Yes, most important factor to me is resale value.
So far I have narrowed my search to Northwood Manufacturing w/ either the Desert Fox or the Arctic Fox line. They are heavy, but the build quality and insulation values are impressive.
Lance is probably the second on the list.

[cwmoser]

We have an Rpod 180 that we have just put up for sale - the blue one, a 2017.5 model.
We've wanting a little roomier travel trailer. If we don't sell our Rpod, well we can live with it.
Our local dealer is not willing to offer much at all on trade-in and I refuse to let go of our Rpod
for a ridiculously low price.
I can tell from your video that your Lance has a lot more quality look both inside and outside.
Personally, I want a trailer under 4, 000 lbs - my SUV can tow 6, 500 but when you do the calculations there is an overall weight that seems to max out at trailers weighing unloaded over 4, 000 lbs.
You have a very informative video.

[loriar]

I’ve had my eye on a Lance 1475 for a little while now. I particularly like the two comfy chairs in the new models since it’s just two of us. I hope to get one someday.

[jokermtb]

I gotta have a walk around bed. Some friends had a 1985 model and it was very nice. I’d definitely consider one. Currently enjoying a Whitewater Retro 177se

[KUL]

We have a 2017 Lance 1985 and have had many adventures with it, it has also been our lifeboat when running from hurricanes like Irma and such. We keep it ready to go at any moment and only recently have considered changing to a motorhome because we miss the jeep we had when we had our 2012 Lance 1181 truck camper.