SkipJ
Michigan
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Joined: 11/01/2005
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Thanks for the great pix. It would be great if someone could do a tear down/inspection of a new unit . Looks like the QA folks took a day off:-)
SkipJ
1992 Airstream B-190 van
1989 Airstream 25' Excella Trailer
Outfitter Apex 9.5 Truck Camper Ford F-350 Diesel 4x4
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crazyfritz
Columbia, SC
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Joined: 04/05/2008
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Any conscious human being that is or has fabricated would know that the life span of that tack weld was going to be short. There really is no excuse, anyone who has ever had to break apart something that they made a mistake on while building would know how little force it would take to pop that tack. Lance should be ashamed to know that is their product. Frustrating to see.... sorry for your misfortune. I came across poor design and workmanship in the tie downs inside my AF1150 and was furious the more I thought about the disconcern that takes place in some manufacturing.
FRITZ
1999 F-350 CREW CAB 4X4 SRW SUPER SINGLES
7.3 Powerstroke 6 spd
Michelin XZL, Rancho 9000 w/remote
2004 Arctic Fox 1150 w/ solar
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DonCurley
La Sal, Utah
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Joined: 12/27/2006
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kcabpilot wrote:It seems our camper was built by a crew of seasoned craftsmen who knew what they were doing and enjoyed doing it. I guess they're all retired now.
Unfortunately, that same likely development (and the predictable results from same), could easily describe a huge number of other products and industries across the country. Pretty sad actually.
-'07 Dodge 3500/QC/SB/SRW/4x4/6.7L CTD/6-spd auto/35" Toyo MT's/Ride-Rite air bags/RS9000XL shocks
-'07 Apex 8 fully optioned w/220W solar/2 T-145's/2KW Prosine/Honda EU2000i/Tundra fridge/AC/etc
-'00 Jeep Wrangler TJ 4x4, highly modified w/5.9L Magnum V8
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Capt. Caper
Northern N.H>
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Joined: 05/31/2003
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I just traded in a 04 Lance 820 for this 2012 Lance 855S and after reading this I have to tear down my bottom and check.. My 820 was put together much better I'm sorry to say now that I've bought this S. They cut way back on fixtures,etc.
I often wonder if AF or any other Truck Camper is made any better inside..Out side the Lance looks good. Inside you notice things that have been eliminated or of lesser quality. My PTO roof has blister in it. Big ones. My one piece Alumimun was great until I traded.
I better get under it and drop the basement access sheets and give a look..
2011 F350 Super Duty,SRW, 6.7 PowerStroke,Crew Cab,Lariet,4x4, 3.55 Locking Diff ,Short Box.Timbrens,Happy Jack's, Gator Guard bed liner, Penda bed mat.
2012 Lance 855S 9K Coleman A/C,Duel Batteries
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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crazyfritz wrote:Any conscious human being that is or has fabricated would know that the life span of that tack weld was going to be short. There really is no excuse, anyone who has ever had to break apart something that they made a mistake on while building would know how little force it would take to pop that tack. Lance should be ashamed to know that is their product. Frustrating to see.... sorry for your misfortune. I came across poor design and workmanship in the tie downs inside my AF1150 and was furious the more I thought about the disconcern that takes place in some manufacturing.
FRITZ Agree completely with that.
Good to see you on the forum, Fritz! 
05E350 6.0PSD
97F350DRW 7.3PSD 4x4 4.10 11' flatbed
98Ranger
69Bronco ATC250R CR500
20' BigTex flatbed carhauler
Callen Camper
92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6
B&W TurnoverBall, Curt Magnum V
HD Springs Bilsteins,
285/75-16E BFG AT on 16x8 Stocktons
4.56's & LockRite rear
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SkipJ
Michigan
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I agree with someone who wrote most RV's are made to be used 2 weeks a year. With many of the TC's being used off road, that puts even more of a strain on them.
SkipJ
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kcabpilot
CA
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Joined: 04/07/2008
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As I said earlier, it's just a darn shame. Our '94 Lance was, and is, a superb product. It's so good that after 18 years of owning it we have no intention of ever buying another camper. We have no reason to.
Perhaps someone in marketing saw that as a "problem"
1994 Lance 990 on 1997 F350 PSD Dually "Rhino Haunches"
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LanceCamper845
Pocono Mountains, PA
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Joined: 12/24/2006
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Lance quality has gone downhill. Big difference between my 2006 Lance and my 2011 Lance. The list of things wrong (so far little) is still growing. I’m going to drop the bottom of mine later this spring and have a look.
2008 Ford F-250 Crew-Cab w/ Camper Package
6.8L V-10 / 5 Speed TorqShift / 4.10 Rear
Ride- Rites / Stable- Loads / TorkLift Tie Downs / Fast Guns
2011 Lance 830
.JPG)
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nstate
usa
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That's terrible, inexcusable craftsmanship. Regardless of when they started building Aluminum structures. They should have had the structure engineered, then hired qualified, experienced welders. Whoever welded those joints didn't know what they were doing. Alum is tricky and picky. Proper and ample cleaning(I repeat,more cleaning) with Acetone and a stainless steel brush, then more cleaning will allow penetration and fusion. When have you ever seen a proper weld break? They are much stronger than the parent material. Really aweful to see this work(or lack thereof). Tig is slow and would create a expensive cost deferential so I understand mig welding. Quality experienced welders and these joints would have never failed.
To the OP, nice job repairing this as you have common sense and pride. But you should send an email with the photos and the link to this post to Lance. I would be Sooooooooooo interested in hearing their response. There isn't ANY excuse for this PERIOD. If not for yourself, I encourage you to call them on the carpet for every other Lance owner so one of these don't fail and shift going down the road and kill someone. Each weld that breaks shifts that load to another weld and so on. Sooner or later, something has to give.
Lastly, I agree with the gentleman who mentioned the dissimilar metals. If electricity passes though that area, electrolysis will disintegrate the aluminum to powder. Sucks, but he is correct. I would replace them with aluminum T's and L's and stainless or alum rivets. On the back side were you can't reach do to the water tank, you can use alum angle pieces(so you can virtually box in three sides to each joint).
Please keep us informed.
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Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli
Seattle
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Joined: 04/04/2008
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Pretty amazing. Perhaps the TC was being built during lunch and the crew simply went to the next unit rather than finish this unit after lunch or break or returning next day. I have a feeling a cascade of failures to notice and resolve the issues happened on this unit. I don't get welding only one side of a square metal joint. Should not at least two sides be welded? I'd use stainless or aluminum to do your repairs but I think the dissimilar metal problems mostly arise when you have wet conditions so maybe you're ok as is.
Sorry this happened to you, I know how it can stay on your mind a while.
Nice job on the repairs and mods.
Camper Jeff and Kelli's Blog!
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