By Tony Barthel
A lot of folks are writing in with some great suggestions of RVs to look at. Roger wrote in and asked me to look at the Lance 2465 trailer. This isn’t a model that was on my radar at all, so I’m grateful for the suggestion.
Lance bills this as their ultra-light flagship. That says a lot from a company that builds high-end trailers and truck campers to start with. I’ve yet to meet a Lance I didn’t like – for a variety of reasons. I think the main thing I appreciate about them is that the features they incorporate seem to reflect a genuine understanding of what campers want as opposed to what just hits some specifications requirements.
Inside the Lance 2465
In our own trailer, my wife has modified our dinette to become a day bed but, if we had this Lance, she wouldn’t have had to go through the trouble. The first thing you’ll notice going in the front door of the Lance is the J-lounge. That lounge is right under the front windshield and has a window on either side, too. So there is a lot of light that comes in when the blinds are open.
I haven’t sat in the Lance 2465 yet (I have been trying to schedule a tour of Lance’s facilities but there’s some virus-thing going around). But, from the pictures, it doesn’t look like the “J” portion of the lounge has all that much space for your backside. I’d have to try it in person, perhaps for hours and hours – just to be sure of this, of course.
From there is the galley with a two-bowl under-mount sink and three-burner stove with 22” oven. Rounding out the meal prep area is a microwave and gas-electric RV refrigerator. Opposite that is a dinette that converts to a bed with two latching drawers, one under each bench seat.
I’m a huge fan of Lance’s interiors and how well they’re finished, along with the materials and colors chosen by the company. This is no exception – nor would you expect it to be in a rig they call their flagship.
The mid-bath is convenient
Something I’m seeing more and more of are mid-bath units – and this is one of those. I like this idea because it separates the bedroom and the main living space. If one camper is an early riser and gets up to write RV reviews at 5 a.m., it won’t disturb the other camper who isn’t an early riser… nor does she have to write RV reviews.
The mid-bath in this case is unusually done with the shower and toilet in a room on the road side of the rig and the sink, closet and drawers on the camp side. Sliding doors on both ends of this portion of the trailer keep the front from the back. This means someone can brush their teeth while another camper is using the toilet or shower.
The back of the Lance 2465 has an interesting configuration. In a road-side slide sits a king bed with windows on all three walls of the slide box. Opposite that is what I can only call a big desk with drawers – and then closets on either side. There’s certainly a lot of storage and I could see using this as a desk. Well, except for writing RV reviews at 5 in the morning because, well, you’d wake up someone else. At 5 in the morning.
If you want, there’s a 40” TV that can rise up like a phoenix out of this desk/makeup table arrangement. It’s directly opposite that big king-sized bed. This is definitely a trailer with lots of lounging opportunities!
Options galore in the Lance 2465
While some RV companies have just two options – take it or leave it – Lance gives you a lot of choices for tailoring your travel trailer the way you want it.
Among the things I really like are the availability of two lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries and enough solar infrastructure to keep these topped off. True, the 190-watt roof-mounted solar panel may not be sufficient in all cases, but you can also attach a portable solar panel to the side and finish the job. Our own 80-watt portable solar system certainly does a great job of keeping our batteries charged unless there’s just no sun whatsoever.
I also like that the battery compartment isn’t out on the tongue. Instead, it’s in a compartment in the body of the trailer itself and is lockable and also vented.
The television on a rising mount in the bedroom is another option, as is the television in the main living area. The fireplace below that, too, is an option. The list of things you can configure into this trailer is long and really allows for customization to an owner’s taste. There are even three interior colors available, and I think they’re all quite tasteful.
Two awnings are available: one over the main body of the trailer and a second one over the entry door. There are choices in steps, too.
It’s a Lance…
Lance has earned its solid reputation for building good quality trailers and truck campers. The build quality of these is high and the standard features include things like frameless dual-pane windows, heated underbelly with heated fresh water tank, day/night shades, a separate metal compartment for the power cable or other tools, and more. I also appreciate the use of Goodyear Endurance tires.
So, the downside?
The combination of build quality and California labor and property means that Lance products aren’t cheap, but good things rarely are. While I’m a huge fan of the idea of that J-lounge at the front of the trailer, I’m not sold on the implementation. But, as mentioned, I haven’t sat on one yet and that’s part of the challenge of writing these in COVID times. I can use my experience to figure out most things but sometimes, instead of my gut instincts, I have to use my butt’s instincts.
It also seems that the J-lounge is rather distant from the (optional) television, if that’s a concern for you. Also, the part of that lounge that seems less comfortable is the part that’s best suited for watching that TV.
I like the trend of mid-bath travel trailers and think Lance has done a good job with this here. If this is a trailer you might be interested in, see if you can find one in the real world and let me know what you think of this implementation of the J-lounge yourself.
These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. 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.
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I do wish that reviews for units with slides would include photos of how the unit looks with the slides in. Something not being usable without putting out the slides is a deal-breaker for me.
Tony. Thank you very much for choosing my suggestion for one of your RV reviews. Lance has always billed itself as different from all other manufacturers. It publicizes that its more modern, robotic automotive style assembly line is superior to anything coming out of Indiana. It would be great if a Lance owner would write in and attest to the build quality of his/her Lance Travel Trailer.
Feb. 2020, heading to our first RV show, a friend told us to look at a Lance. I had another very popular brand in mind, and we looked all through a few of their models. My wife, until that day, had never set foot in an RV. When we walked into the Lance, she exclaimed. “This is the one! I can FEEL and SEE the difference in quality!” She, (as usual) was right. Paid twice what I went there to spend, but every option, and more, was already there. And, with the Lance, I didn’t have a two-page list of mods I’d have to perform before it’s first outing. (All found on the other brands owners website) So it was worth it. We LOVE our lance and look forward to many years of enjoyment. And, they DO have other color interiors than the one in the article. Hard to find here on the East coast, but worth the look. You won’t be sorry. The quality IS that evident.
Finally, some decent steps on a trailer (Glow Steps) instead of those cheap things that dump all of their dirt inside of the trailer door.
Wouldn’t that be a great unit with theater seating in place of the lounge. When possible please add if the cabinet frames are wood or wrapped with vinyl on your reviews, in southern Arizona that can be a real issue with the heat. We just sold a Motor Home that had bubble and peeling issues on the cabinet frames and wall paneling. The major manufacture would not stand behind it.
This is an interesting take on the reasons why genuine hardwood cabinetry are important. In the past I had thought the biggest advantage was that they don’t come apart over time but it’s interesting to read that the “wallpapered composite wood” doesn’t handle the desert heat well. I appreciate the idea and will do so.
Typically the better brands do use hardwood cabinets but also use better build methodologies as well.
Thanks for the tip and sorry to read about the manufacturer not standing behind your issues.
The wood is European “Lite-Ply” solid wood. Lighter, formaldehyde free, no particle board. CNC cut-to-fit. No vinyl. Very high-end cabinetry.
Love this trailer! almost bought one but decided it was a bit too long. When this first came out, there were complaints about the slide scraping the vinyl flooring, but I think they have that all worked out. Lance is a top notch company for sure.
I would be all over a Lance if they would offer a different color interior.
There are three different choices in interior colors and Lance is one of the only manufacturers I know of that offers blue upholstery in many models, which would be my personal choice.