Lance
Trailer Build-Out and Road Trip
Adding
Luxury and Convenience to Proven Off-Road Capability
201812-20190718
Final Update:
20190721
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Lance 1685 Travel Trailer in Tucson, AZ.
Soon to be mounted on Thor (our 1017A 4x4).
Sony A7RM3:
1/250 sec, ISO 100, 24mm at f/6.3
All photos copyright, Bill Caid 2019. All rights reserved.
Background
Both Kathleen and I had been
whining about various
failures on the HiLo trailer
that we mounted on Thor
(our Mercedes 1017A 4x4
truck) back in
2010. That
build-out is documented
on my site.
And as can be seen
from our various
trips since 2010,
we have gotten
good use from
our
efforts.
That said, the
HiLo design was
less than fully
robust and we
had a number
of failures
over the years
including
shelves coming
loose from the
roof and other
mechanical
failures.
These failures
were getting
worse over
time and it
was clear that
sometime in the
near future, likely
in an inopportune
time, a major
failure
was
happen.
We had been
discussing a
replacement
strategy
for over
a year when a
conjunction of
events caused
us to be in
Tucson where
we spotted a
new Lance 1685
trailer for
sale at an RV
dealership.
The trailer
was last
year's model,
but
unused.
The dealer had
deeply
discounted the
unit so things
were in alignment
for a
replacement.
We inked the
deal and
returned a week
later to pull
the Lance
home to San
Diego.
Along
the way, we
had a large
issue to
address as my
BMW
M5 sedan was
stolen from my
driveway by my
next-door
neighbor's
"friends".
We know what
happened as we
saw it on
our security
video.
The
sections below
detail the
build-out
actions
necessary to
get the Lance
ready for
mounting on Thor;
the removal
of the HiLo
from Thor and
the mounting
of the new
living
quarters on
Thor.
Details
The link
table below contains links to the photos and dialog for each
of the days of the effort. This table will be updated as
the effort progresses. A variety of cameras were used to
document this effort including a Sony A7RM3 and a Fuji XH-1.
Links
to Daily Adventures
Part |
Dates |
Adventure Locations
|
1
|
20181226-20180113
|
Delivery of Lance and BMW Theft
Resolution
|
2
|
20190110-16
|
Water filter
installation and preliminary electrical fabrication
|
3
|
20190117-0202
|
Inverter and
Solar Installation
|
4
|
20190205-15
|
Entertainment
System and Shelving
|
5
|
20190411-16
|
San Diego to La
Junta and Train Derailment
|
6
|
20190418
|
Removal of HiLo
Camper
|
7
|
20190419
|
Lance Camper
Disassembly
|
8
|
20190420
|
Frame
Adjustments
|
9
|
20190422
|
Sub-frame
Fabrication
|
10
|
20190423
|
Continued
Sub-frame Fabrication and Propane Mounting
|
11
|
20190425
|
Propane and
Battery Box Fabrication
|
12
|
20190426-29
|
Battery Box
Completion and Tool Box Mounts
|
13
|
20190430-0502
|
Tool Box
Mounts and Trailer Attachment
|
14
|
20190503-09
|
Final Assembly
and Tire Handler
|
15
|
20190510-13
|
Tire Handler
Completion and Completion
|
16
|
20190512-18
|
La Junta, CO
to Laramie, WY
|
17
|
20190519
|
4014 Big Boy
Departure from Laramie, WY
|
18
|
20190520-25
|
Laramie to
Cody, WY
|
19
|
20190526-0603
|
Cody, WY to
Victor, MT
|
20
|
20190603-06
|
Victor, MT to
Hungry Horse Reservoir, MT
|
21
|
20190607-12
|
Hungry Horse
Reservoir and Glacier National Park
|
22
|
20190613-15
|
Tuchuck and
Yaak, MT
|
23
|
20190616-19
|
Yaak, MT to
Grand Coulee Dam, WA
|
24
|
20190620-23
|
Grand Coulee,
WA to Plain, WA and NWOR Rally
|
25
|
20190624-26
|
Hanford
Engineering Works Tour
|
26
|
20190627-0702
|
Richland, WA
to Bend, OR
|
27
|
20190703-09
|
Bend, OR to
Coos Bay, OR
|
28
|
20190710-18
|
Coos Bay, OR
to San Diego, CA
|
Conclusions and
Advice to Prospective "Build-Outs"
This is a large
undertaking requiring a broad range of skills. I would
not suggest attempting this sort of effort unless you had a
range of skills at your disposal, either personally or via
personal/professional relationships.
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Photos and Text Copyright Bill Caid 2019, all rights
reserved.
For your enjoyment only, not for commercial use.