Our Rig

It's time that we published a post featuring a very important member of Our Team, meet ...

LOAF

We purchased our Lance 855s truck camper in September 2013. We’ve camped with it, at some pretty spectacular locations with the intention of driving ' The Roads Less Travelled ' ... those places that most folks wouldn’t typically take other types of recreational vehicles to. You can read about all our road trips and overland travel (beginning in 1988) by clicking on LOAFin Around. As of June 2017, we’ve travelled over 66,000 kilometres with this current set-up. We purchased this truck camper because we were looking for a modest hard-side that we could take on rough roads that still had the features, capacities, and storage that we considered essential for an overland expedition rig.

The Lance 855s model matches our 2011 FORD F350 pickup truck quite well. The camper has an interior floor length of 8 feet, 11 inches and a width of 9 feet 8 inches with the slide out. Key features include a 60×80 full-size queen bed oriented north-south, a well-appointed kitchen, a full wet bath, a 30 gallon fresh water tank, and an adequate U-shaped dinette. The camper is solar powered with a 95 watt system, two 925 cca AGM deep cycle house batteries and is equipped with a 1500 BTU, 3-way (LP gas/120v/12v) absorption refrigerator. A four-season package is standard with this model; including dual pane windows, a dual stage 15000 / 22000 BTU propane fired furnace, heated water tanks, an insulated bed pad and insulated hatch covers. 

We’ve made several modifications and upgrades to both the truck and camper, to improve the rigs' capabilities for rough road driving, boon-docking and gear transport. These modifications and upgrades are further detailed below and on our Meet LOAF website/blog.

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The Details and Outfitting for Our Adventure Truck

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Explanations

* 4 Season All Weather Package

* Actual Weight @ Scales 09/2016: GAWR 4519 (fr) + 8113 (rr) = 12262; 2 passengers, black & gray tanks empty, 2/3 fresh tank, 1/2 fuel tank, 2 kayaks, full gear closet, standard provisions

* Maximums

* Safety

* Solar

* Upgrades from OEM

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TRUCK and CAMPER

Driving Range: Maximum - 135l @ 21l/100km, mostly loaded = * 640 kms

                                 Minimum - 135l @ 31l/100 km, mostly loaded = 435 kms

Total Height: Truck + Camper + Canoe = 12 ft 4 in (* 12' 8" / 3.86 metres)

Total Length: Truck front brush guard to camper bumper step = 23 ft 6 in (* 24' / 7.31 m)

Total Width: Truck mirrors and Camper slide extended = 10 ft 9 in (* 11' 3" / 3.43 m)

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2011 FORD F350 4x4 CC SB SRW 

Specifications & Packages

Engine: 6.2L gas: 385 horsepower, 405 pounds-foot torque

Battery: * DIEHARD 7000, 875 cca

Bed Length: 6.75 feet

Fuel Tank Capacity: 135 litres

Camper Package: higher front coil spring rate, additional rear helper spring, rear sway bar

Trailering Package: tow mirrors, REESE Class V receiver hitch

Trim Package: Lariat

Drivetrain

Gearing: Standard ring and pinion

Hubs: ESOF auto and lock

Rear Differential: 3.73 electronic locker

Transfer Case: NVG271

Transmission: TORKSHIFT 6R140, six speed automatic

Weights & Suspension

Anti-Sway Bar (rear): * HELLWIG Big Wig

GVWR: * 11000 pounds (weight with camper)

Registered Gross Weight: 7716 pounds (3500 kgs on drivers license)

Payload: * 3284 pounds

Shock Absorbers: * BILSTEIN Series 5100

Front Axle: DANA60, GAWR * 6500 pounds max

Front Suspension: Mono beam (narrow front track), coil springs, stabilizer bar

GAWR Front Axle: 5200 pounds (* load w. camper: 4519 pounds)

Rear Axle: STERLING 10.5 inch, GAWR * 9750 pounds max

Rear Suspension: Solid axle, 3-pack leaf springs, * SUPERSPRINGS SS13

GAWR Rear Axle: 7000 pounds (* load w. camper: 8113 pounds)

Tires & Wheels

Tires: * (5) BRIDGESTONE A/T 275/70R18, 10+2 ply, Load Range E, * 3594 pounds max 

Tire Height: 33.2 inches

Wheels: 18x8 alloy

Tire Pressure Loaded w. Camper: 65 psi front, 80 psi rear

Tire Pressure Unloaded: 60 psi front, 45 psi rear

Fender Flares: BUSHWACKER (max coverage unpainted)

Brakes: 4-wheel ABS vented disk, 14.29 inch rotors front and rear

Support Equipment

Cabin & Gear Closet

* Backup Camera: VOYAGER WVOS511 digital wireless system, monitor & camera

* Battery Booster Pack: MOTOMASTER Eliminator 1400 / 700 amps, w. air compressor #1

* Dash Cam: SPYTEC G1W-C

* Electronics PELICAN Case: COBRA Micro-Talk walkie-talkies, DELORME in Reach 2-way satellite communicator, GPS#1 GARMIN Montana 600 series, RADIO SHACK Marine Radio, VERIZON Mobil Hotspot, ROGERS Mobile Hotspot 

* Fire Extinguisher (#1): ON GUARD

* GPS (#2 & #3): GARMIN RV 760 MLT w. mount FORD My Touch

Inverter (#1): XANTREX Xpower 300 watts (small electronics 12v to 120v)

Tablet: 

* Vehicle Recovery Pack: 

Exterior

* Auxiliary Lighting: PIAA 520 ATP extreme white

Cargo Carrier: CURT

Front Bumper: RANCH HAND gravel and brush guard 

Rear Receiver Hitch: REESE Class V

* Vehicle Recovery Duffel:

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2013 LANCE 855S 4-Season Slide-In Camper

Weights & Dimensions

Dry Weight: * 2984 pounds (OEM, standard equipment, water, propane, refrigerator)

Wet Weight: varies, depending on reason for and duration of trip, could be another 1000 lbs

Center of Gravity: 38 inches

Interior Cabover Length: 6 feet 8 inches

Interior Floor Length: 8 feet 11 inches

Interior Heights: Minimum 6 feet 5.5 inches, Maximum 6 feet 7.5 inches
Interior Widths: Minimum 7 feet 11 inches, Maximum, 9 feet 8 inches

Interior Footprint: 135 sq ft

Overall Exterior Length: 17 feet 8 inches

Construction

* Bed Pad: insulated

Garage Locks: entry door keyed, (2) single keyed, (2) * COMBI-CAM cylinder locks

* Hatch Covers: insulated

Pocket Door: JOHNSON Hardware, 2610F series open pocket single door

Roof: BRITETEK by DICOR, Thermal Plastic Olefin

* Roof Vent and Safety Egress: HEKI Skylight, sunscreen, privacy shade, escape vent

Slide-Out Dinette System: SCHWINTEK In-Wall, w. remote

Siding: LAMILUX

* Walls: AZDEL Thermoplastic Composite 

* Windows: dual pane, (1) *escape window

HVAC  

Air Conditioner: AIREXCEL 48000 series (runs on 15 amp 110 volt)

Fans: (2) Bedroom - 120v circulating, 12v circulating

* Furnace: ATWOOD 8500-IV series (hydro flame), dual stage 15000 / 22000 btu

Heater: LIKEWISE ceramic heater, 750 / 1500 watts, model 043-5877-2

Roof Vent: FAN-TASTIC VENT 12v ceiling fan

Appliances

Barbeque Hookup: exterior

Microwave: HIGHPOINTE model EM925RWW, 900 watts, 1 cuft

Power Range Hood: VENTLINE 120v

Range/Oven: ATWOOD LP gas

Refrigerator: NORCOLD model N145/N150, 3-way absorption refrigerator, 1500 BTU

Plumbing

Black Water Tank: 25 gallons

Black Tank Flush: exterior

Fresh Water Tank: 30 gallons

Gray Water Tank: 20 gallons
Toilet: THETFORD AQUA Majic V

Wash Station: exterior hand held

* Waste Water Tanks: All are insulated & heated

Water Filter: in-line

Water Heater: ATWOOD LP gas, 6 gallon tank, 8800 BTU

Water Pump: SHURFLO 4008 RV bypass pump

* Winterizing Bypass Valve:

Electrical

* Batteries: (2) * EXIDE XMC-31C, Model AGM Megacycle 200, 925 cca, 1100 Marine crank amps, 200 amps Reserve capacity, 100 amp hour each

Battery Disconnect Switch: *

Battery Separator: replaces battery isolator

Docking Lights:

Fuse Panel: 

* GFCI Receptacle: PASS & SEYMOUR

Inverter (#2): MOTOMASTER Eliminator 500 watts (small electronics, 12v to 120v)

Power Distribution Center: PROGESSIVE DYNAMICS PD400

* Power Protection: SURGE GUARD model 44260 by TRC, 30 amp 120 volt

* Solar Motion Detector Light: SUNFORCE model 82081, 80 led

* Solar Power System: (1) 95 watt JIAWEI Solar Panel, GOPOWER Solar Regulator model GP-PWM-30, BLUE SEA SYSTEMS SI series Automatic Relay model PN7610, Battery Separator, Power Converter 120v to 12v

Systems Monitor Panel: water pump, batteries level, water heater, fresh, gray, black tanks

Electronics

Noise Filter: Q POWER, NF 15 amp

TV: JENSEN 1912LED, 19 inch

Radio/DVD/CD/MP3 Player: JENSEN AWM975, interior & exterior speakers

Weather Station: ACURITE model 00606 wireless thermometer

Support Equipment

Awning: CAREFREE manual

Barbeque: COLEMAN

Boat Racks: (2) YAKIMA - bars, towers, rollers and saddles for (two) kayak transport (1) Custom - single aluminium canoe bar at cab-over roof section

Bug Tent: 

Cabover Struts: LANCE

Camper Jacks: ATWOOD ACME and ball electronic screw jacks w. remote

* Carbon Monoxide & Propane Leak Detector: SAFE-T-ALERT permanent installation

* Fire Extinguisher (#2): FIRST ALERT Model KFE2S5A-6B

* Gas Detector: STARKO acetylene, butane, methane (natural gas), propane

Propane: (2) 18.3 pound tanks, w. inline gas gauge

Rooftop Cargo Box: Boat accessories

Rooftop Cargo Tube: fishing poles, awning rod, handles

* Smoke Alarm: FAMILY GARD model FG250A

Tiedowns & Turnbuckles: HAPPI JAC and QWIK LOADS w. locks and w. stabilizer bar

Tools

Camper Door Softcase: small tolls, gauges, sensors, cord

Rear Wall Garage: * COMBI-CAM cylinder lock, SUPERFLO model hv-40a2 120 psi air compressor #2, tool box, fasteners, liquids, adhesives, MASTERCRAFT 18v drill

Slideout Garage: * COMBI-CAM cylinder lock, axe, saw, COLEMAN bbq, propane supply, firegrate, hose, mat

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OUTFITTING

Under construction. This section will get thoroughly detailed ...

Biking : (2) MONTAGUE fold-down bicycles, day packs & panniers, helmets, clothing, tools & accessories

Camping/Overland Crossover: tent & bug enclosure, tarps, sleeping bags, camp sink, water filter/pump, bear spray

Canoe Tripping: Click here.

Computers: (2) PC & Mac, printer, accessories & supplies, website/blog support

Fishing: fly and spinning, rods & reels, tackle 

Hiking: boots, poles, day packs, clothing

Paddling: (2) DELTA Kayaks, paddle bag, gear bag, packs & barrels

Photography: cameras, bags, accessories

SCUBA & Snorkelling: certs, suits, regulator, computer, gear duffel

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Photos 

Trans Labrador Highway NL, Glacier Highway BC, Arctic Circle Crossing NT, Dempster Highway YT, Dalton Highway AK

   

More Photos
And, if you really have nothing better to do with your time, there are even more photos at LOAF's very own gallery ... A Chronology of Poses and Parts

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Building a bullet-proof Adventure Truck Camper is an on-going process ...

There will be additional mods and upgrades, there will be on-going improvements and enhancements. We are currently preparing to drive the Dempster Highway extension between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk in 2018 ... we've identified a boon-docking requirement for increased solar, a Rotopax fuel cell would be more convenient as an auxiliary fuel container, Load Range-F 4000 lb + tires would be safer and a front Hellwig anti-sway bar and steering stabilizer would tweak and improve drive-ability and lessen driver fatigue... STAY TUNED!

LOAF ... wishing & hoping!