Butch50 wrote: I've never toured Lance but I have Arctic Fox, Eagle Cap (when it was built in La Grande, OR) and the Okanagan factory in BC. All of them were line built campers. They build the bottom upside down then turn it over onto a wheeled dolly that can be moved down the line.
That is basically how Lance builds their campers. We tourned their old factory in North Hollywood; they had two assembly lines running.
Brad
Internet forums only exist to serve their members; never the other way around.
1996 Lance 500 and 2006 F-350 PSD 4X4 DRW Our Truck Camper Photos
Butch50 wrote: I've never toured Lance but I have Arctic Fox, Eagle Cap (when it was built in La Grande, OR) and the Okanagan factory in BC. All of them were line built campers. They build the bottom upside down then turn it over onto a wheeled dolly that can be moved down the line.
That is basically how Lance builds their campers. We tourned their old factory in North Hollywood; they had two assembly lines running.
Brad
Same for Northstar. They had two lines. One building their popups, the other hardsides. They run a batch of a particular model then change over to a different model and build a batch of those.
IMHO, the price difference is primarily labor. With most other RV's you have a frame you build walls on then just install cabinets and appliances. With a TC, at least with Northstars, the wood forming the cabinets is also part of the structural integrity. Just more labor intensive to build. Besides, I agree with gerrym51, I thought my Northstar was reasonably priced especially considering the customizations Rex just said 'No problem' to when I asked for them.
Host pretty much builds their campers one at a time. The frame is made is a seperate part of the building, then moved to the final assembly area.
The slides are put together by their cabinet maker, who installs the most of the componets such as the cabinets, range, oven, sink, counter tops, couch, etc.
Each worker has his area of responsibility, such as electrical, plumbing, slide installation, roof, etc.
Here are a few pictures I took of an Everest being built.
The dinete slide.
The floor is in, as well as most of the plumbing and the electrical in the basement.
Slide opening.
This has been a very interesting thread. Great responses.
2011 Wolf Creek 850N/Polar Cub/240w Solar/2-6v Lifeline AGMs/Morningstar Sunsaver w/RM-1 & SureSine-300 Inverter 2011 Ford F-250/6.2L/3.73/Bilsteins/Air Bags/Torklift TD w/Fastguns 2004 Jeep Wrangler/4.0L/5-spd US Navy Ret.
One thing i know is you will pay $20k more than the nicest TC for a new Cadillac and in 3 years it's worth way way less than 1/2 what you paid plus if you take a poop in it it's a stinky ride for the rest of the trip.
Darwin
1993 Dodge cummins crankin out some torque,
2003 Lance 1071 loaded to the hilt
1stgenfarmboy wrote: One thing i know is you will pay $20k more than the nicest TC for a new Cadillac and in 3 years it's worth way way less than 1/2 what you paid plus if you take a poop in it it's a stinky ride for the rest of the trip.
Bigfoot has been at the center of many great experiences. Highly recommended and yes, the posts are true: "quality-quality-quality". Construction and functionality, no detail neglected.
I bought my first TC in the '60's. It cost less than $1500 new OTD. That same camper today would cost $15,000. But you couldn't find that camper today...it would be considered too primative, too inadequate. Thus, that same camper, in proper trim and tech, costs $30,000. Same story with the truck that carries it. Simply the dynamics of inlation at work at every level. Much easier to revist a '60's trailer and be happy, than revisit a '60's truck camper. Or, a '90's truck camper, for that matter.
"Why do truck campers cost so much? because they aren't your grandfather's Oldsmobile."
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