Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2024 Lance Squire SQ19 travel trailer. If you’re familiar with the Lance brand of travel trailers, the name “Squire” is likely new to you. It’s a new line from the company that has been building pickup campers since the 1960s.
The Lance Squire
I have written a lot about “decontenting” of RVs lately. Essentially what is happening is that RV manufacturers have added more and more features and functions when RV sales were seemingly unstoppable. As such, the price of RVs went up significantly. Now that many shoppers are looking at their budgets more carefully, RV companies are also looking at core features.
Lance isn’t immune to this. If you look at the Lance 1995 travel trailer, it’s basically the same floor plan as the Squire SQ19: same length, dimensions and layout. But very different pricing and features.
I took a look at the Squire SQ19 to see what was different and what had been cut. And, is the quality the same?
Lance has absolutely established itself as the builder of one of the the highest-quality travel trailers in the industry. In so many ways, Lance does things differently than most RV makers.
The company uses CNC machines to route cabinets and walls. They do wiring harnesses like a car company. Over and over, when there’s a way to do things, Lance chooses the best way. Lance has a very enviable and well-deserved reputation for building a very high-quality camper.
What you don’t get
When I set out to find out what was missing on the Squire, I was very pleasantly surprised to find that the core build quality and heart of these trailers isn’t changed. The walls and cabinets are all still built the same, including the double Azdel substrates on the wall build. The wiring harnesses are still done the same way—which really does make a difference.
But what’s missing are some of the features you might find in other Lance trailers.
For example, Lance has partnered with Truma for their climate control. I feel the Truma systems are some of the best in the RV industry, but they’re also expensive. So, here you get a traditional Coleman-Mach air conditioner and gas-electric water heater instead of the Truma systems.
This saves thousands and thousands of dollars. And these aren’t bad systems. They’re just not as fancy as what Truma does. They’re also more like what you’d find in most travel trailers.
More cost-savers in the Lance Squire SQ19
You also don’t get the dual-pane European windows. Those, too, are pricey. And there’s no windshield in this.
The suspension, too, is different. The Squire uses a torsion axle suspension, which is one of my favorites. The other Lance trailers use a leaf spring suspension with a Road Armor equalizer and have shock absorbers built into the suspension. So even the “lesser” variant of the Lance trailer is still better than that of a lot of other brands.
While the cabinets in this are the CNC routed doors and such, they aren’t the curved doors that Lance has been using—which are also quite costly.
So, quite honestly, based on Lance’s build quality and methodology, what you’re getting is a really well-constructed travel trailer that has more mainstream features and components.
You also will find that the underbelly of these is still enclosed and heated, and the tanks also have heat pads.
What is the Lance Squire SQ19
Essentially this is a travel trailer that’s under 20 feet long with a fixed queen-sized mattress. There’s a big U-shaped dinette in a rather deep slide room, but one that’s built over the wheel openings so you’ll have to step up to get into the slide.
That’s true of many Lance models which tend to have a lower profile. That could mean a wee bit easier towing.
The kitchen consists of a three-burner stove with a real 22” oven. There is a microwave overhead, but you can opt in a convection microwave if you’d like.
I like that there’s a shower curtain in the bathroom for the radius shower stall rather than glass. I used to have these glass shower enclosures just randomly shatter when I was managing warranties. You want to talk about a big mess. Those teeny shards of glass are like the gift that keeps on giving. This is why I took them out of our own trailer as a preventive measure.
Boondocking and travel access in the Lance Squire SQ19
I know you can get to the bathroom in this trailer with the slide room in, but I couldn’t tell if the slide blocked access to the bedroom or kitchen. It’s a relatively deep slide.
There are two solar options: a single 200-watt panel and a second one. There are also optional inverters. There’s even a cabinet that’s meant to house a generator, if you want to go that way.
Conclusions
It’s still a Lance. In fact, if you go back a few years, it’s a new version of an older Lance 1995, quite frankly. Some of the upgrades and improvements made to that trailer are really what has pushed the price up.
In no way does this feel like a cheaper or more poorly built version of a Lance—and that’s a good thing. In fact, some of the key Lance features are very much in place. Those include the metal back- and side-splashes in the kitchen around the stove, the high-performance vent fan and just the overall build feel and quality.
I do love all the Truma bits in the newer Lance products. But if I were the guy writing the check, I’d probably have a very tough time deciding if they were worth the notable uptick in the price.
As always, I am looking forward to and really appreciate your input on this.
More about these RV reviews
These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. They are based on information from a single unit and may not reflect your actual experience. Shop your RV and dealership carefully before making a buying decision. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.
Tony comes to RVtravel.com having worked at an RV dealership and been a life long RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. He also works closely with a number of RV manufacturers to get an inside look at how things are done and is a brand ambassador for Rockwood Mini Lite with his wife, Peggy.
You can also check out his RV podcast with his wife, Peggy.
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Maybe by going back to basics, the RV trailer dealerships won’t be so full.
How’s the plumbing? This is one area that I think should be mentioned in all camper reviews. Poor plumbing connections are a continual problem and maybe highlighting it more may make the industry pay attention. Just a thought.
I agree but I don’t always get to see these rigs in person. I am working on something where that will change and plumbing connections will absolutely be a factor at that point.
It may be just me, but I would’ve appreciated seeing the tour with all the windows open. Yes, it seems to be well laid out, but to me it’s a cave with not enough light
I’ve liked the Lance 1995 floor plan for a while. I can’t tell for sure, but it looks like access to the refrigerator would be tight or a no when the slide is in. Good move on eliminating the front window from my perspective. That 19’ length is the body measurement; total length is 23’ 8”.
Almost perfect! No front windshield, real queen bed, night stands on both sides of the bed, no glass shower enclosure, 22″ gas oven, torsion axle suspension, and optional solar and inverters. Only one more option to be perfect–a sofa/theater seat in place of the dinette.
As an engineer, I want simple over complex–the KISS Principle! So adding shock absorbers and equalizers to a “horse-and-buggy-era” leaf-spring suspension is just adding band-aids to an obsolete design. After two trailers with torsion axles, I refuse to pay extra for band-aids. The only better suspensions are independent trailing arms with shock absorbers. But those are needed only on very expensive off-road RVs.
I’ve always liked the Lance campers, But their prices have gotten ridiculous. Even this one is expensive for a small stripped down camper.
My wife and I used to watch all those “Buying RV” shows several years ago. Virtually every couple looking at RVs wanted a shower they could both get into together. Perhaps THOSE were the units coming back with shattered shower enclosures!!! 😉😁
Seriously though, have had glass shower enclosures in every rig we’ve owned since 1999. Never had one even crack, much less explode. Much better than curtains pushing out of shallow shower basins dripping water all over the floor.
Thank you, Tony! 🙂 This certainly seems to be a great RV! The price is a bit steep, but, again, part of what you’re buying is the ability to substitute actual use for time in the shop. Something made as well as this seems highly unlikely to have warranty claims and end up languishing in a lot until the service department can get to it, preventing the owner from going camping. Thanks again, Tony, safe travels, and happy Easter! 🙂
Remember the price I’m sharing is the MSRP or list price. I’m seeing RV discounts at about 25% off MSRP once again now that things have become more like whatever normal is.
Thank you and I hope your Easter was terrific.
Yes, I do sometimes forget that, thanks, Tony! Yes, it was very nice. We spent time both with my mother and DW’s parents. Thank you! 🙂
We have a 2020.5 Lance 1685, bought Feb. 2020 – same trailer than the 1995, except 3 feet shorter so the queen bed is east-west and not north-south. Slide-out in, the bathroom is fully accessible, same for the freezer, and the fridge door can be opened about 3/4 of the way. The only problems were the cheap plastic skylights (not specific to Lance at all) Replaced them last year. Tows really well, and as with any RV, stay up on normal maintenance, it should give us great service for years and years. Paid twice the price for the Lance than the other RV I was looking at, but with the Lance, I didn’t need that three-page sheet of modifications/additions I had for the other one.
I actually really like this one Tony ! Basic, simple, usable layout with a bit of elbow room. Only thing missing was information on the cleanout system, and undercarriage photos. Maybe in an update at a later time.