Looking for a full-featured truck camper that can fit in a short bed? The Lance 650 might be what you need.
The team from Magellan and Greyhound give us a tour in the video below. These are not salespeople but rather RVers who have used this RV after upgrading from a truck cap camper.
Likewise, in addition to a tour of the Lance 650 truck camper itself, they give practical tips on how they are utilizing its space.
The Lance 650 is Lance’s current lightest production model camper designed for 150/1500 series short-bed trucks. It weighs in at 2,108 pounds with standard equipment. This camper is perfect for 5 1/2-foot truck beds.
There’s a lot to like about this small camper including some nice small touches like the pull-down shade on the back door or the built-in toilet paper cover in the wet bath.
The bathroom in this truck camper is impressive, especially when you consider that this camper fits in a short bed truck, giving you a shower, a sink, and a standard RV toilet. You will find access to the camper’s plumbing system conveniently housed under the bathroom sink.
The dinette area is well thought out with a big seating area and a fully moveable and rotating table that can be configured for whatever way you want to use it. The dinette converts to an additional sleeping area if needed, and there is storage behind the dinette cushions.
Overall there is a respectable amount of storage. I really like the netted storage areas opposite the dinette that could be used in a variety of ways depending on what you like to carry.
I do like the lightweight acrylic kick-out windows that let in a lot of airflow, especially because they come equipped with pull-down bug screens and pull-up privacy screens as well as fire escape hatches.
The kitchen area features a large cabinet, sink, Suburban two-burner stove, microwave oven, and small fridge.
It’s not a bad kitchen, but I would have liked to have seen a convection microwave. Also flush covers for the sink and stove, like I have seen in other campers, in order to utilize the areas as counter space when not otherwise in use would have made more sense. Yes, the sink has a cutting board cover, but as they discuss in the video, it is not the most convenient part of this camper.
One thing that is a little strange is where the refrigerator is located. And that is in the bedroom.
The couple admits it seemed weird to them, too, when they first looked at the camper. However, because this is such a small space, in practice it actually works quite well. Watch the video and you’ll agree. And hey, you’ll be just inches away from a midnight snack. The three-cubic-foot refrigerator also has a small freezer compartment.
You’ll drift off to sleep in a true queen-sized over-the-cab bed. There are lots of storage cabinets as well as a hanging closet in the sleeping area. There’s also a large cubbyhole in the bedroom area that can store larger items.
How large? Our full-grown host squeezed himself into it in the video.
Standard starting with the 2022 models are all electric jacks. No worries, there is a manual override in case anything goes wrong so you won’t be stuck.
I love that the LED-lit power awning can detect when winds are getting too heavy and will automatically retract itself in order to avoid damage. The manual back awning that provides shade over the door is another terrific feature.
More about the Lance 650 short-bed truck camper:
- Interior and exterior Bluetooth speakers
- Space for optional TV in bedroom
- 18,000 BTU furnace
- Dometic rooftop air conditioner
- Three fan vents—one by the entrance, one in the bedroom, and one in the bathroom
- Rooftop solar panels
- Truma tankless water heater
- Two carbon monoxide detectors
- Satellite TV connections
- Outdoor shower
- 22 gallons fresh water
- 15 gallons gray water
- 15 gallons black water
- 30 amp electrical
- 5-gallons propane
- Exterior storage area for electrical cords and hoses
- Two exterior 110 outlets
- Exterior cable TV connection
- Gutter system to keep water off the camper
- Backup camera
- MSRP: $34,947 for the base model and goes up with optional equipment
##RVDT2124
Thank you, Cheri! A friend is shopping for a truck camper. He’ll be thrilled with this one after he sees this review. 🙂 😎
First thing mentioned, weight. At 2100+ pounds what truck is going to handle it. My 2500 is just about at max. Id sure do a lot of figuring befors I bought.
Secondly, hot water heater? Why do you want to heat hot water
Thirdly the question about the king antenna.
Its an amplified antenna and you can use those blue lights to find stations before you scan the digital channels in.
I have one in my stick and brick home. Get over 40 channels
I agree with those saying the Lance 650 is NOT a 1/2-ton camper. My Ram 2500 CC-SB diesel truck would be close to its GVWR with this camper + the two of us + everything we take in the truck and camper + a full tank of fuel + a full tank of water + a full tank of propane. But at least we would have a chassis, turbo-diesel engine, and brakes, including a diesel exhaust brake, capable of handling that load on our Colorado mountain passes. No F-150 has those!
For those who have a 3/4-ton truck capable of hauling a Lance 650, Cruise America has been selling all of the 2017- and 2018-model Lance 650s that they formerly mounted on RWD F-150s, then rented. The sale prices have been around half the new camper price, but they come without jacks. So most buyers would need to add those at a cost of several thousand dollars. They do come with heavy-duty upholstery fabric and flooring to withstand wear-and-tear by inexperienced RVers. See the “Sales” menu on the CA website.
First off, I love pickup campers. I don’t currently own one but have in the past. This Lance 650 packs in about as many features as possible in a 5.5 foot floor length. Nicely done.
Here’s the issue, and to me it’s a big one. At 1897 lb (wet) for a base unit, it easily exceeds the cargo capacity of nearly all 1500/F150 trucks. My last Ram 1500 had an approximate 1500lb cargo capacity (Yes, Ram has some of lowest cargo capacities on the market.) Remember, you have to deduct the weight of your passengers and “stuff” carried in your truck from the rated cargo capacity. Only then can you determine what your truck can safely carry. I think the vast majority of 1500/F150 owners will find that their trucks are overloaded before they even start packing.
So, yes, modern 1500/F150 truck have plenty of power to handle the loads. But evasive handling maneuvers, emergency braking and axle, brake durability make it an unsafe combo.
Exactly there are a couple of 1/2T trucks that could “safely” handle this weight. They are single cab standard equipment base model trucks. That’s before you add passengers, supplies, or cargo. Yes you can probably get by with this, but…in an emergency situation you could be in a white knuckle move. Plus if you’re involved in an accident and an ambulance chasing lawyer finds you’re overloaded you could find yourself in deep do-do, as President Bush senior would say. Personally i wouldn’t take that chance, it’s not worth it.
I would use a 2500 truck for sure. But I always want more truck than I need. I never want to just “get by.”