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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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I have a custom CALLEN cab-over camper "shell" also, (28 years old now) on a '94 long-bed 4x4 F-250 Ford. The cab-over portion is only for storage,
and is only about 15 inches high. I opted for a back door that is the total width of the camper, for good access. I kept the stock tail-gate for
security. It weighs 800lbs empty, which puts a LOT of strain on the pickup sides, especially if a tin-boat on top. I had to significantly beef up
all the supports, and steel structures that support the sides-------after they collasped on Baja's dirt roads. I love my Callen (indestructable) but
you give up all the niceities for endurance and integrity. Too me it's worth it, and keeps me out of the weather & off the ground. My wife loves
it. We do all our kitchen stuff outside anyway, and use sun-showers for bathing. It has survived at least 50 trips to Baja, all on dirt roads,
without any repairs to the camper ever necessary.
One TOUGH camper.
Barry
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chernefitter
Junior Nomad
Posts: 39
Registered: 10-23-2009
Member Is Offline
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I have a ford f150 I put a brand new Lance 8.5ft camper on. The camper was unloaded after 6 months due to some family matters but I still have the
frame mounts for the tie downs, and the spring loaded strut type tiedowns. Good price if interested, only used for a SHORT while. My truck is a 06
fx4. Bought new from dealer in Stanton,ca. (Tie downs + camper)
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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My truck is an F-350, 4wd, single rear wheels. It levels the truck nicely.
What might be somewhat counterintuitive is the fact that cabovers made for short beds often have more options for the same overall length. This is due
to the fact that they can fill the space downward where an 8 foot bed would be. If you look at the photo by dtbush above, you can see this. Lance has
managed to put a generator into that space in their 9.5 shortbed models.
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Mexray
Super Nomad
Posts: 1016
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: California Delta
Member Is Offline
Mood: Baja Time
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Capt4tuna....
....Ours is a 99 F350, V-8 gas, 4x4 single rear wheel, long bed, with a 2000 Lance model 1010 camper...
The truck had a 4 inch lift when we got it, I installed Dynatrac tapered bearing conversion hubs up front with Warn hubs, changed gears to 4.56 ratio
and added Detroit Trutrac LS in the rear, Supersprings in the rear for the camper load, Rancho adjustable shocks, Garmin GPS, XMradio, and topped it
off with some new 325/65R18 ProComp Xterrains and 9.5 inch wide alum wheels!...this sucker just 'floats' on beach sand!...
Camper's got lots of options, some are:...solar panels, inverter, (3) 130 AH 12 volt Dc batteriers, 3-stage converter/charger, LCD TV, XM radio in
truck and camper, matching Sony stereo units in truck and camper, LED light conversions, etc., etc.
I've even built an alum dia plate box that fits in the rear, in one of those 'hitch trays' for additional storage - it functions as a small 'porch'
that the folding entry ladder is attach to, worked out cool!
[Edited on 1-18-2010 by Mexray]
![Moke Camper [Desktop Resolution] [640x480].JPG - 46kB](https://forums.bajanomad.com/files.php?pid=485361&aid=25375 "Moke Camper [Desktop Resolution] [640x480].JPG - 46kB")
According to my clock...anytime is \'BAJA TIME\' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
\"It doesn\'t use numbers or moving hands It always just says now...\"
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captain4tuna
Nomad
Posts: 201
Registered: 9-3-2009
Location: Southern CA and BCS
Member Is Offline
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That's a helluva Rig there Mexray....Wow. Thanks.
Muchas Gracias to all you Nomads for your input, photos and suggestions.
Seen a couple yesterday, another today and then heading to Tucson to look at 8ft. Woody, go to U2U.
Keep 'em coming.
Baja Fever, my wife can't sit still.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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Budget some suspension upgrades if you do go with the bigger Lance.
We have a 1997 HD F250 4x4 PS, and with the 10' Lance it needed suspension help. I added airbags, rear anti-sway bar and upgraded shocks, and it
eliminated all sway and you are able to level the truck no matter what the load.
The Lance is a fine camper and served us well for over 10 years.
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captain4tuna
Nomad
Posts: 201
Registered: 9-3-2009
Location: Southern CA and BCS
Member Is Offline
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Thanks Tripledigitken...Ours is 03 SD F250 PS Shortbed ( 7ft ). Our bed seems to be the problem in trying to fit a 9.5 ft. Is yours a long bed?
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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Yes ours is a long bed.
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captain4tuna
Nomad
Posts: 201
Registered: 9-3-2009
Location: Southern CA and BCS
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by chernefitter
I have a ford f150 I put a brand new Lance 8.5ft camper on. The camper was unloaded after 6 months due to some family matters but I still have the
frame mounts for the tie downs, and the spring loaded strut type tiedowns. Good price if interested, only used for a SHORT while. My truck is a 06
fx4. Bought new from dealer in Stanton,ca. (Tie downs + camper) |
Thanks. Will keep it in mind.
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mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
Registered: 12-24-2007
Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: up on step
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capitan....the air bags and anti sway bar will work wonders for you...the difference is unbelievable to the "plus" side...we have an 11' Artic Fox
cabover on our 3/4 ton chevy and have been all over the continent in it....check out artic fox...very cool
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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One other thing about the 8 footers compared to the ones up from that; the 8 footers are also narrower, or at least used to be when I was shopping new
and used around 2004.
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Bomber
Newbie
Posts: 12
Registered: 5-4-2009
Member Is Offline
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Here is a couple pictures of my "Baja" set-up. F350 4x4, 7.3 turbo diesel, 4 door & longbed. Camper is 11'6" Lance, has everything. Kind of like
an apt. on wheels. I had overload springs added over airbags, i was told airbags will add stress on the frame over time. I've taken this offroad many
times, just slow & easy. Once i get there i off load the camper, takes about 15 mins. with elec jacks. Goes back on just as easy.
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
Member Is Offline
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I don't have experience with a camper on a short bed Captain, but I asked my chofer what he thought about our Lance Lite 8.5' camper on a 7' bed and
he replied "UH uh, nope I wouldn't". That doesn't necessarily mean you couldn't, but we've had problems with campers over the years due to washboard
road travel and he says he wouldn't take the chance having the unsupported area in the back.
We have the Torklift truck- frame mounted tie downs too which are much more secure than the conventional ones which tended to pull apart the corners
of the campers especially in rocky conditions with lots of back and forth camper sway.
We got our Lance "Lite" (the name of the 8.5' model) new in 2001 and it has gotten a lot of use. Had it first on our F350 and now it's on a Silverado.
I'm sure we'll keep it til it falls apart. It's perfect for the 2 of us. The shower compartment is tiny, but I still think it's decadent to be able to
take a hot one so I'm not complaining.
These shots are from a couple of weeks ago to give you the perspective of the camper on an 8' bed. Good luck.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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is someone "praying" or checking tires?
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
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We've had our Lance camper since 2001 and have used it all over Baja. You would not believe the places we've taken our rig. Here we are in Mulege a
few years ago. Bob H
Here it is all put together. Camping for free in Catavina behind the hotel.
Here we are looking for Capt Mike in Mulege.
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BigWooo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 579
Registered: 1-2-2007
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
is someone "praying" or checking tires? |
Airing the tires back up for the pavement and drive back to the U.S. ... to stuff the trailer with load #2
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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http://denver.craigslist.org/rvs/1545850500.html
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
Member Is Offline
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One thing to keep in mind is that the older Lance campers don't fit newer trucks. I have to put a 3" spacer in the bed of my 2000 F350 so my 98 Lance
will clear the cab.
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chernefitter
Junior Nomad
Posts: 39
Registered: 10-23-2009
Member Is Offline
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Another important thing I remembered after reading other members posts here...Make sure you get the electric jacks!!! My new lance was over 16K with
all the bells and whistles but I went cheapo on the jacks, figuring no big deal. WRONG! It took me about an hour to offload the camper by myself,
running around like a monkey to each corner....what a pain. Live and learn as they say.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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16K. Thats a big camper. my extended cab cabover was only 3k
| Quote: | Originally posted by chernefitter
Another important thing I remembered after reading other members posts here...Make sure you get the electric jacks!!! My new lance was over 16K with
all the bells and whistles but I went cheapo on the jacks, figuring no big deal. WRONG! It took me about an hour to offload the camper by myself,
running around like a monkey to each corner....what a pain. Live and learn as they say. |
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