It is a joy to design and build products when you know the result is going to get people outdoors.
That has been the No. 1 goal of Lance Camper since they opened their first 500-square-foot shop in 1965: to build premium recreational vehicles specifically for those who are going to go out and really use them.
Much like the creed of the overlanding community—the journey is the principal goal and can be more important than the destination—Lance knows that when you start by focusing on the owner experience and the journeys they are going on, it’s inevitable for quality, usability, and a great RV to follow.
That’s why it was a no-brainer for Lance to bring their Enduro adventure trailer to life. They recognized in the Overland community a kinship among outdoors people.
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The Enduro is Lance’s first product developed specifically for overlanders. They drew on their nearly six decades of manufacturing pedigree and injected the passion they found infectious while attending Overland Expo events.
The Enduro trailer centers around an interior wet bath with a full stand-up shower, a large U-shaped dinette, an exterior kitchen, and advanced solar and battery technology. It also offers the suspension capabilities overlanders want and the added comfort and durability Lance is known for. All with a dry weight of 3500 lbs.
“We approached Enduro with the goal of including the amenities of traditional RV travel in a package that is capable and rugged enough to go off the roads that limit our standard travel trailers,” said Randy Hunter, Head of Product Development and R&D at Lance. “From the ground up, Enduro delivers, starting with its independent suspension, ample ground clearance, and a new exoskeleton frame design with isolator bushings that limit vibration transfer to the living space. We then included traditional comforts like onboard fresh and gray holding tanks, a Truma Combi furnace and water heater, and even a TV for those inclement weather days.”
Enduro may be Lance’s first project with specific overland intentions, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been having fun outdoors. In fact, many might call a Lance Camper the original overlanding RV. Just go to any Expo parking lot or spend time on the road, and you are sure to see Lance slide-in bed campers atop trucks from Alaska to Chile and abroad.
It was building truck campers that really taught Lance not only about the fun of overland travel but also how to innovate, source the best materials, and implement the best manufacturing processes so owners can focus on getting the most out of their time on the road and not waste time on repairs and maintenance.
“It was my dad’s dream to own a Lance Camper, which he bought in 1978,” said Gary Conley, Director of Sales and Marketing and a 40-year company veteran. “You could say that dreaming about and making memories in RVs and camping is in my DNA.”
That DNA has been a driving force for Lance. They have been quick to adopt many industry firsts, including incorporating solar panels into their product in 1985, propane generators, extended cab campers, permanent bumpers mounted on campers, electric jacks, computerized cutting of materials, and composite paneling in walls.
Today, Lance manufactures from a state-of-the-art production campus totaling over 1/4 million square feet in the high desert of Southern California. They produce America’s favorite truck campers and the all-new Enduro adventure trailer, along with a lineup of premium traditional travel trailers.
From humble beginnings to being sold in RV dealerships throughout the country, Lance might not be the smallest, but it is far from the largest manufacturer out there. Their niche product experience, combined with the wisdom to design a user-forward product and the added benefit of a national dealer body for assistance while you’re out on the road, could make them the right fit for your next adventure.
