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Im considering the Lane 825 or the Cirrus 820. I like the cirrus but it seems heavy. I want to do some boon docking lite off road camping.I have a f-350 crew cab diesel srw 4×4.
What are the pros and cons of each? I like the bigger fridg,2 propane tanks and 2 batteries of cirrus. Both come with solar.I like the light weight of the lance and its size.
What are your thoughts?
thanks JayI have the same truck as you, mine is a 2017. I have the Cirrus 820 that I like very much. The wet weight of mine is just under 3000lbs with two propane tanks, two batteries, solar panel, roof rack, rear and side awnings, and well, all the options. The only thing I did to my suspension is added the upper and lower Tork-Lift Intl spring helpers. The upper is just a rubber block that engages the upper factory overload sooner (as soon as you put the camper on.) The lower is a lever system that you can engage and disengage as needed.
I take my truck and camper boondocking all the time. Other than a little rocking going through ditches at an angle there is no issue. I can drive much faster down any dirt road than either of my sons pulling their trailers.
The Cirrus is very well made. The building materials are modern and first rate. I added some LED lights to the bottom of the microwave for the stove and in the upper cabinet and the wardrobe, both with door switches. They are both tied into the wall switch that operates the light over the sink.
One of the neatest features is the big window over the queen bed. You can lay there and look at the stars. If the weather is right you can open the window and it is fabulous. Sliding bug screen if needed and then accordion shades so you can sleep in the morning. Both are on all windows.
One thing I don’t like is the seating for the table. The dinnete is not raised so you can only sit two adults because the indent for the truck bed is right there. But by having the floor lower it makes for slightly lower overall height. The bathroom is tight, but shower and toilet work. And I’m a big guy.
With the electric remote jacks, it is easy to unload it if you are staying a few days.I know nothing about the Lance.
By myself I can last up to 5 days, only needing water and dump the tanks. One could go longer by not showering every day and conserving more water. The other thing I forgot to mention is the heating system of the Cirrus. It uses the Alde system to circulate hot water to four radiators; two on each side, in the cabover and midsection, to heat the camper. It works very well to keep the entire camper at the same temperature. And it’s very quiet. There is no fan running and you can’t hear the water pump. It draws very little battery power and uses very little propane. With the two tanks that came with the unit, I bet you could last weeks in the dead of winter. I leave the bathroom door open to keep it warmer. I think it has a small radiator but I don’t know if that is just for the hot water or to keep the room warm.
The beach picture is Puerto Penasco, Mexico. The other is at the old Navajo Bridge crossing the Colorado River south of Page, AZ. The picture below is near the AZ/NM border in the boot heel (far southwest) of New Mexico.We own the Cirrus 800 and believe that the components and construction quality are much better than the Lance. Agree that the dinette is not lounge comfortable but we don’t lounge much. Also agree that the Alde heat system is the best feature. Spent one weekend where the outside temp never went above 10 and the cozy temp inside never varied more that one degree plus or minus from what it was set. And it is silent.
We have crawled in 4WD low to a mountain top and parked on the ledge for sunset, stars, and sunrise. Amazing. Sorry picture too big to download.Jay, Congrats on the new truck. As I mentioned above, all you need to do is add the upper and lower Tork-Lift Intl spring helpers. My truck is the same as yours and it carries it fine. In fact, I can’t believe how well the truck corners on mountain roads with the camper on.
My wife is complaining about the camper being too small and wants a trailer. I don’t really want to make that change, but you know the old saying; Happy wife happy life.
Would you be interested in a used 2018 820 complete with tie downs and truck brackets?
What part of the country are you in? I’m in SW New Mexico.I would be interested. Im in New York so we would have to figure that out.heres my email address
jay@chinatowne.com
can you send me any specs on the camper.What tie downs and brakets do you have?Jay, what is the width of the Cirrus? It sounds like a good choice. We have a 1998 Lance Lite 165-s-xcab that we’re nursing along to get us through another year or two of hard core off roading. That’s the cue: we have nothing to loose here. We have beat on this thing and it always bounces back. It has been very good to us through thick and thin. It’s the same footprint as the Lance 825, except a little lighter with updated technology. Here are some stats: weight: 1842 pounds wet (18 gallons fresh water and full propane); 86 inches wide; 6’4″ ceiling height; queen N/S bed; 18 gal fresh water; 14 gal black; 12 gal grey water; wood frame; aluminum roof; new electronics and 200 watts solar; wet bath; 2 burner range top; no oven; no microwave; we leave the jacks at home. We travel lighter than some, counting every calorie, so my estimate of the loaded for bear TC weight is 2650 pounds. Have you looked at the Lance 650? It’s not for everyone, but if I was to replace the old 165-s, i would definitely check it out. The one overriding consideration is keeping the weight down if off-roading. Below, open my dropbox link for sandhill climbing with a truck camper:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bfj5y93wsd7vfkw/jefe%20does%20sand%20hill%20at%20dry%20wash%20of%20the%20devil%20Anza.m4v?dl=0
jefe2020 Ford F-350 XLT FX4 4WD SRW SB SC 7.3L Godzilla Gas TorqShift 10R140 397 amps dual Alt dual batts Frnt Dana 60; Rr Dana M275 E-locker 4.30's 4580/4320/4066# payload 7243# curb wt. 11,300# GVWR 5-er prepped. 2020 Northstar Laredo SC, 12v compressor fridge, cassette, 320w Solar sub zero insulation.
Jefe,
Thats pretty cool, nice driving! I don’t know if were ready for that. Were new to the TC thing. I did purchase a 2016 Lance 825. i think I should have plenty of available weight with a full load. Our first trip will be from upstate NY to San Diego Ca along the old rt 66. I want to do some boon docking along the way. Any suggestions?
The return trip will be from LA thru the Sequoia national park ,the north rim of grand canyon and any suggestions along the way.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks,
JayJ,
Good catch on the ’16-Lance 825. You won’t be sorry you lost over 1K pounds of weight compared to the Cirrus when you get off in the boonies. A lot of this weight in in the tank capacity. Your plans sound exciting. All your travel questions are time-of-year related. Plenty of boondocking in the more westerly states. You develop an eye for finding just the right place and exposure for overnighting. I wouldn’t be afraid of trying some layovering. It’s stealth camping without the negative social stigma. We’ve found a traveling formula that works for us mating pair of septuagenarian love birds. We mix it up with campgrounds in N.F.’s N.P.’s, state parks, county parks, city parks, COE’s, Wildlife and bird sanctuaries, upscale for profit campgrounds with hookups, and finally, at least once a week check into a high bucks hotel for the night. It is never dull.
Sequoia is a steep and curvy in and out proposition with no through road, and weather sensitive, as is the N. Rim G.C. Although hard to get to, the North Rim is a jewel for truck campers.
Your job now is to make sure the suspension, shocks, tires, and wheels are up to the job of carrying your new TC over bad roads. We still use the LANCE centering brackets that keep your camper centered in the bed. It keeps the wallow of tension in the tie downs to a minimum. There is a weak link in there, usually the tire capacity. My 35 inch Cooper AT3’s can carry 3860 pounds each, on Stockton steel super single wheels with a stupid high load rating, plenty enough for the 825.
So, when are you doing this trip? Be sure to make a couple, 2-3 day camping trips with your new rig to sift through the details of a long term living in the motating tiny home on wheels. You will take way too much stuff at the beginning but eventually start leaving much of it at home. This takes time and experience.
jefe2020 Ford F-350 XLT FX4 4WD SRW SB SC 7.3L Godzilla Gas TorqShift 10R140 397 amps dual Alt dual batts Frnt Dana 60; Rr Dana M275 E-locker 4.30's 4580/4320/4066# payload 7243# curb wt. 11,300# GVWR 5-er prepped. 2020 Northstar Laredo SC, 12v compressor fridge, cassette, 320w Solar sub zero insulation.
Jefe,
Thank you for all the info.. Im pretty sure the truck tires rimms can handle the load.
2019 f-350 4×4 srw crew cab diesel short bed , 35×12.5×20 Nitto Terra Grappler G2 .
Were going from Syracuse to San Diego about April 25- may 10. We want to go the old rt.66 and boon dock off that route. I want to go back from LA to Sequoia NP, death valley NP Las Vegas, rt.s 15-70 etc. I need some help if your willing… how do i find the routes to places to camp? Ive done some research but its still hard to figure out. National forests, south rim GC and any other recommendations. not finding too much in Ohio or Oklahoma . Ive seen some amazing places just not sure how to get there.
Any help is appreciated.
JayJay, this sounds like a bucket list type of vacation. Route 66 offers loads of information via the internet. With 4 months of prep time you should be a able to plot out the perfect itinerary. When I have time during the next couple of days I will provide you with some suggestions starting around Flagstaff AZ. The time you have picked is very good, the weather will be mild and the camp grounds will not yet be full. My only concern is the amount of time you have allocated for such a long trip, you might be able to complete the loop but I doubt you will have any time to stop and smell the roses.
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