In 2017 or 2018 my FJ was totaled by Hail in Colorado Springs. It was 10+ years old and I was looking for an upgrade to a truck. At the time I wanted a Tubdra, but due to bad influences I purchased a Chevy Silverado. It helped move me to Phoenix but due to bad influences upgrades were not possible. Fortunately a refinance on the house required it to be sold, and I set my sights on a real truck, something I wanted for many years. A Dodge Ram. I like the Ford trucks but at the time that was not possible.
In 2020 I was on a solo trip in my perfectly outfitted FJ Cruiser and after setting up camp and going on a mountain bike ride, I got back to camp. It was starting to storm and I realized I had to get up into the tent to stay warm and dry. I thought, why not a truck camper? So I started to investigate.
I had built a teardrop trailer in 2014 and then sold for a company for several years, but did not like the trailering due to limited off road capability. I looked at the 4-wheel camper that Grizzly and Bear were using on their Defender but did not like the price. Plus pop-up campers were like tents when in windy locations, so I decided to look at hard sides.
Back to the truck. I built out and priced a Ram 2500 Power Wagon and a 3500 Limited Longhorn. I liked the Power wagon trim and bold but it did not have a diesel option and the rear was coil spring, not leaf, which limited the load. I purchased a diesel Limited Longhorn with the extra load and airbag options. I was not aware that the diesel reduced my payload by over a half ton, but have learned that since.
The truck has been awesome and pulls a 5th wheel trailer like nothing else. But I didn’t want to do the PanAmerican with a 5th wheel. So I started looking at Lance 865 and older Lance Squires. The problem with a truck camper is the initial cost. Knew they are $35-65k and used they are still mid-teens. So I looked older. I found a 1998 Lance squire 3100 extended cab that was built for short bed trucks and had a base weight of 2280 lbs, a weight I believe is a manufacturer lie. I paid $7k for it, but had to repair it. $5k is what I should have paid, but here we are.
My Ram 3500 is stock with the exception of the one size bigger Falken Wildpeak AT4 tires, and two power circuits; one for the camper and one for the cab fridge. The interior is beautiful, comfortable, and functional. I removed the back seats for the trip and built a cabinet for the fridge, a Lithium battery, an air compressor, and a dog kennel.
The total GAWR is 12,000 lbs and we are slightly over that. I am sure when we stop back home in October we will shave 500 lbs of stuff we never used off of the load. But so far it is performing well, despite the stupid emissions system that gives us a scare once in a while. That may come off too, which will shave additional weight. But for now it stays on until the repair costs more than the delete.
Here are some additional photos of the Lance Squire repairs and upgrades.