DMas
Long Island, NY
New Member
Joined: 07/11/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
I remeber someone else posting about this problem, but I'm not sure if they resolved the issue.
We have a 2003 Lance 1161 with the drivers side slide-out. A noticeable "sag" has developed under the slide-out. From the limited access I can get, it doesn't appear to be wet in there, but.....
I live on Long Island, in New York. My dealer has had a falling out with Lance and is no longer a Lance dealer. I found this out when I contacted him last summer when I discover rot on the passenger side skirt. He apologized, said he could help me, but wouldn't be able to get to it for six to eight months. I ended up fixing that myself, but found it to be a major pita. And now this. Kind of disgusted with Lance at this point. If I could afford to, I'd trade it in.
So, other than driving it across the US to Lance for repair, which isn't really an option right now,timewise or financially, does anyone have any ideas?
Previously, somebody was pondering the possibility of removing the stops on the slide to move the slide out into the camper to access the bearing structure underneath. Does anyone know if anything came from that?
Thanks in advance.
Dave Masopust
dmasopus@optonline.net
2003 Lance 1161
2003 Ford F350
2 Large Malamutes
|
nycsteve
NY
Full Member
Joined: 01/26/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
The Lance dealer for Long Island now is Bills Vacation Trailers in Lyndenhurst on Sunrise Hwy. I bought my Lance last year from him. I have had some service done and some mods done by his shop. I found them reasonable and competent. Try em , they are the legit Lance dealer now.
Good Luck
nycsteve
|
palmwhit
Arizona
Full Member
Joined: 09/24/2005
View Profile
|
I think I'd call Lance directly and ask what they recommend. Worst case it'll be a waste of time. They may have a remedy that will solve your problem and restore your product confidence. Let us know and good luck.
|
Gary3
Windsor, ON
Senior Member
Joined: 12/26/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I seen a 2002 Lance 1161 in the Gallup NM walmart last spring on the way home he also had a major sag in his slideout.Its as is they weren't built strong enough there made of wood.From what I,ve heard the aluminum framing is a lot stronger.I heard the fix was they took them apart and used a steel angle iron as a frame.
Gary Lance 1181 solar Gen.
|
Beddows
Abbotsford, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 04/14/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
It has been a problem on a lot of brands. Most now reinforce it with flat or angle iron under there. You need to get it fixed before cracks appear in the filon. A dealer should be able to pull up the filon across the bottom & install a length of flat iron across the wood frame to reinforce it. Hopefully. Best bet would be to take it to the factory, but that apparently is not an option.
Get it fixed quick or you may be facing more structural damage.
You might want to talk to Bill Penny at East End Campers. 631-765-1333. I think he has dealt with this problem before, if not on an 1161. 1121's had this issue..
2004 Chevy 3500 Duramax DRW
2008 Snow River Prestige Signature Edition. (The first, and maybe last of its kind)
 (2).JPG)
|
|
|
DMas
Long Island, NY
New Member
Joined: 07/11/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Bill Penny is the dealer of whom I spoke. He is no longer a Lance dealer. I will be calling him anyway, along with Lance.
The Filon is starting to buckle a bit under the slide-out, which has me concerned. The motor seems to be struggling as well. Right now it's off of the truck with a jack under that point, relieving the stress, and the slide-out motor seems much happier.
I'll let you guys know when, and if, I find anything out.
|
wcjeep
Tacoma, Wa
Full Member
Joined: 04/11/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Hope this helps.
http://www.truckcamperforums.com/index.php?showtopic=9289&hl=slide+strength
|
nycsteve
NY
Full Member
Joined: 01/26/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
You might want to try Bills Vacation Trailers in Lyndenhurst. They are now the Lance Dealership for Long Island. So anything Lance authorizes they can do. The have an enclosed shop. I found them honest ,competent and fair. I dont have the number handy but if you cant find it pm me. Ralph runs it , Billy is in charge of the repairs.
Steve
|
Greg B
Minnesota
Senior Member
Joined: 07/28/2003
View Profile
|
Hi Dave.
I have an 1161 also. Last spring I had the Lance dealer repair the very same sag that occurred in my camper. To repair it, they removed the slide out from the camper and installed an aluminum channel across the bottom of the opening. So far, I've had no problems with the repair. Luckily I caught it before the warranty ran out.
Seeing how yours is an 03 your probably out of warranty. Id start with finding a Lance dealer and see what they can do for you. If the dealer cant/wont help, Id contact Lance's customer service directly and see if they will work with you on it, as this seems to be a pretty common problem. If they wont authorize a repair, maybe you can get them to cover the materials and send you a repair proceedure. If it ends up being more than what you can do yourself, any RV repair shop should be able to do the fix.
Also, you mentioned repairing the skirt on the passenger side. I had my drivers side repaired last year while it was still under warranty, but this summer I noticed that my passenger side skirt is now getting soft at the bottom corner. How much of a PITA was this repair? Looks like you have to remove the door to do it. Its now out of warranty so it might end up being one of my spring projects. Any Advice?
Thanks and good luck
-Greg
04 Dodge 1 ton dually, Cummins, auto, quad cab, 4x4, SLT, Sport, Reese Titan V
04 Lance 1161, TV/DVD, high efficiency A/C, Honda EU2000
|
DMas
Long Island, NY
New Member
Joined: 07/11/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
So, my wife did some fancy phone work this morning, and here's the bad news. Called Bill Penny first at East End Campers. He's the dealer I bought it from, and even though he's not a Lance dealer anymore, he knows what he's talking about and he's never steered me wrong.
He first jokingly told us to "get rid of it" and buy a new camper (a different brand) from him. We all had a good chuckle. When we explained to him that in the present economic crisis, that would not be wise (or even possible), we got down to business. He described the process, detail by detail, as has been described here. Slide has to come out, any damaged structure (wet, etc.) must be fixed, metal reinforced piece goes in under slide. He has the piece, and can do the job in a few weeks. Cost would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $800 to $1000. He then recommended that we call around, call Lance and see what we could find out and let him know. I really liked this last part.
So, next the wife calls Bill's Vacation Trailers, a Lance dealer that we have not yet dealt with. Wouldn't talk to us about it over the phone, they wanted to look at it - we had to bring the TC down there by appointment only.
Next - she calls Lance - gives 'em all the info. Sorry, can't help you. It's out of warranty, besides, it sounds like water damage. The guy then describes the repair exactly as Bill Penny described it. When she told me this, I say to her - "yeah, but that's the fault of their design." To which she replies - "Yeah, he kind of hinted at that."
So, we called back Bill Penny at East End Campers. Gonna bite the bullet and have it done this winter. The way I see it, it's either a thousand bucks to have it repaired, or $50K for a new Host Triple Slide that the wife just loves, and then I'll need a new F550 (at least!) to haul it, and also..... well, you get the idea.
Thanks for listening (er, reading?). Sorry for the long post.
Greg B., if you want to email me off list, I'd be happy to talk you through the PITA chore ahead of you. Yeah, the door has to come out. Mine was real bad - it was wet above the seam in the filon! I wish I had taken pics.
|
|
|
|
