Lance’s new 2465 travel trailer features a king-size bed, split bath and enough windows to bring the outdoors inside
Last year we tested the 1475, Lance’s smallest travel trailer, and managed to cram a dozen people in for a breakfast gathering. This time around, our party of only two headed out in the company’s longest travel trailer, the 29-foot, 5-inch 2465. Sporting two slideouts on the driver’s side, almost 25 feet of interior floor length, a rear bedroom with a king mattress, a split bathroom to keep couples from quibbling over elbow room, and sleeping accommodations for three more people, the ultralight 2465 made us wish we were on an extended trip.
We paired the 6,790-pound Lance 2465 (topped off with full propane and water) with the new diesel Ford F-150 Platinum Series 4×4 and headed out on a clear, chilly day in December for a series of adventures. Outings ranged from overnighting at a packed full-service RV park and an almost-empty campground with partial-hookups among pines, oak and cottonwood trees, to dry camping next to farm animals at a winery.
We enjoyed facing the entry door while preparing meals so we could see and greet friends. The kitchen’s overhead cabinet is a European-sourced Lite-Ply laminate. Below, the panel doors and drawer fronts are solid wood, like they are throughout the Lance. Interior lighting is superb. Photos by Trevor Tallman
Boondocking alongside farm animals seemed like a charming idea at the time, but when the roosters, which apparently had a lot to talk about, woke us at 4:32 a.m., we wondered why we’d chosen to park next to the critters when the friendly folks at Agua Dulce Winery had invited us to stay the night almost anywhere on the 400-acre vineyard. We discovered the Southern California winery through Harvest Hosts, a network of 600-plus unique places to dry camp. The Lance, with frameless dual-pane windows and its four-season package that includes covers for skylights and vents, kept the heat in when the temperature dipped to 43 degrees overnight, but the fiberglass walls with Azdel substrates and block-foam insulation didn’t cut the sound of the nearby roosters’ wake-up calls.
Let There Be Light
Sunlight spills into the living area and bedroom from every side of the trailer through multiple windows (presuming the shades are open), creating a friendly environment that brings the outdoors in. And there’s no shortage of lighting with overhead LED fixtures, pendant lamps on a dimmer over the dinette and lovely accent lighting. The focal point is the front curved window spanning more than 5 feet over the J-lounge. Partially visible from the galley and at the opposite end of the trailer is the bedroom’s 49-by-43-inch window.
The galley’s skylight — with accordion- style sliding cover — and three-speed electric fan contribute to interior light. The extensive use of windows is a perk for parents who want to keep an eye on the mischievous goings-on of kids and pets — or a spouse — who are outside while they are inside.
The most frequent comment from folks stepping into the 2465 was that livability and furniture placement were well thought out, starting with a three-seater J-lounge to the right of the entry and the way the floorplan flowed from the kitchen into the bathroom and rear bedroom. Four hooks incorporated into the lower cabinetry inside the entry are appreciated by those who set keys down and can’t remember where. Switches on panels for the lighting, galley slide and two Carefree awnings are placed high for easy viewing inside the entry door, while panels for battery, solar and holding-tank monitoring, and switches for the water heater and pump are on the wall next to the range. A large analog clock is viewable from anywhere in the living area.
As a side note, the test trailer had manual steel steps, but Torklift’s UltraGlowStep is available as a factory-installed option, as is a keyless entry. The entry door opens flush against the trailer, and padding over the radius-door frame is extra insurance for tall folks. We noted that the seams where the interior walls meet the ceiling are caulked for a nice finish.
With the flip of a lever on the underside, the dinette table can be pushed down to make into a cozy fireside bed with overhead lighting on a dimmer switch. Under-bench pull-out drawers lock for travel. The J-lounge (partially shown at right) offers front-row seating to the 40-inch TV.
Home Away from Home
A big plus of this floorplan is the ability to pack up the trailer with the slideouts closed, which can be instrumental for those who have restricted space in storage or in front of their homes. And bravo to the company for designing the 2465 to be completely livable with the slides retracted. With the bedroom slide in, only about 11 inches of the California king bed’s length is forfeited where the 72-by-84-inch mattress tucks in under the cabinetry.
The kitchen is fully functional with the galley slide closed, and there’s space to access drawer contents and the stainless-steel-clad 7-cubic-foot refrigerator, and cook and set up a feast at the dinette. Even with the condensed galley, there’s more than 2 feet of floor space between the sink side and dinette, leaving room to convert the dinette into a bed pronto, and bathroom access is not compromised.
What we liked
Windows galore including large ones front and rear, well-thought-out livability, king-size bed in spacious bedroom, abundant storage in bathroom and bedroom.What we’d like to see
Wiring neatly tucked under the front of the trailer by the A-frame, stronger tieback straps to keep the wood pocket doors closed during travel.
Extend the dinette slide, which opens up the kitchen to a width of more than 5 feet, and a 40-inch Jensen TV, Bluetooth HDMI DVD player (two speakers are in the ceiling) and 31-inch TruVision electric fireplace with two heat settings come into view. Above the fireplace, a tip-out cabinet houses a hookup for satellite TV, and there’s a King broadcast antenna on the roof.
Our favorite place to laze was on the J-lounge with its thick, ultrasoft faux-suede cushions, part of the Mystic Shores decor. The lounge makes into a 49-by-72-inch bed, leaving 16 inches of walk space so the entry door is not blocked. To convert into a bed, the armrest needs to be removed, which took some practice to put back into place. There’s storage underneath the lounge, but there is a height limitation for what goes inside there since the lounge converts scissor-style into sleeping accommodations, and access takes a little work, so it’s best to store things here that you don’t need frequently.
The J-lounge is in perfect alignment with the TV, though it was pointed out that the person moving between the range and dinette when preparing dinner and setting the table can obstruct the view of the television for the lazy one sprawled on the lounge.
Lying lengthwise on the lounge’s 8-inch-thick cushions when it was dark outside, I delighted in watching the night sky through what Lance dubs the “Star View window.” The 2465 is clearly designed for RVers who want to see outside while enjoying a cozy nest. And when privacy and dark are needed, two-layer, slow-rise MCD roller shades pull down smoothly. The entry-door window even has a pull-down shade. GFCI outlets, USB ports and 12-volt DC receptacles are at each end of the J-lounge — in fact, these are scattered throughout the trailer, so there was a place to plug something in everywhere we turned. Five-inch shelves, semi-hidden behind the cushions, work great for setting drinks and keeping remotes handy. LED fixtures swivel to spotlight reading material without bothering your neighboring couch potato.
We like that when working in the kitchen we were facing the entry door. The large single-basin sink with pull-down sprayer takes up much of the counter space, leaving limited prep room, but with the sink and range covers in place, the area is transformed into a large flush-surface area where you can spread out. Incorporated in the counter behind the sink is a hidden waste bin.
The roomy bedroom, with five windows, has plentiful storage and a king-size bed. An expansive countertop houses the TV that is on a motorized lift.
The High Pointe flatbed microwave eliminates the need for a glass turntable, and the three-burner Dometic range/oven has a cover that doubles as a backsplash. Three soft-touch self-closing drawers with solid-wood fronts and a cabinet with solid-wood doors are below the sink. The only overhead cabinet in the kitchen is the five-ply Lite-Ply-laminate Euro-style one above the sink. Lights come on automatically when the two-shelf cabinet door is opened, and two LED accent lights reside in the wood paneling that extends to the ceiling. Boxes of tea on the spice rack over the window stayed put during travel.
The dinette’s bench seating has smooth-gliding drawers with sturdy handles that lock for travel. The lock-button portion of the drawers are counterintuitive, but once we got used to them, the 7-inch-deep drawers were great for storing large items with easy access. We were impressed with the feel of the dinette’s 4-inch-thick cushions, which are made of a combination of three different materials, including the faux suede for your rump. Opposing windows crank open outward at the base, providing for good airflow, and are garnished with stitched-leatherette padded valances. Converting the dinette into a bed takes just minutes and, when it was set up, we had a 60-by-44-inch mattress with a cushioned headrest from the window valance that placed us front row to the fireplace, TV and a window.
Push the wall-mount button once to raise the 40-inch telly in the bedroom; when it’s lowered, there’s a full view out the window.
Our winter outing included nights that dropped into the low 40s. The combination of the electric fireplace and 25,000-Btu furnace with three heat registers in the galley warmed up the area within minutes. The bedroom, with just one heat register, was slower to warm up and stayed consistently cooler. Standard are two 13,500-Btu Coleman-Mach air conditioners.
Rest and Relaxation
The roomy bedroom seems even larger with the big back window (the lower portion opens). Pure relaxation was lying on the 5½-inch-thick mattress on a rainy morning with a view of trees, trees and more trees. Windows grace all three of the bedroom’s side walls. The king bed, with almost 2 feet of walking space at the foot and enough room at the sides to make the bed, faces a window that is partially blocked when the hidden 40-inch LED TV on a motorized lift is in the raised position.
Specifications
2019 Lance 2465
Exterior Length 29′ 5″
Exterior Width 8′ 3/8″
Exterior Height 10′ 4″ (with A/C)
Interior Width 7′ 10″
Interior Height 6′ 6″
Construction Aluminum-framed substructure, laminated fiberglass exterior walls with Azdel substrates and block-foam insulation, one-piece crowned PVC roof and
high-gloss TPO front lower section
Freshwater Cap. 45 gal.
Black-Water Cap. 45 gal.
Gray-Water Cap. 45 gal.
LP-Gas Cap. 15 gal.
Water-Heater Cap. 6 gal.
Refrigerator 7 cu. ft.
Furnace 25,000 Btu
Air Conditioner (2) 13,500 Btu
Converter 55 amp
Battery Dealer installed
Tires ST205/75R14
Suspension Rubber torsion-bar
Weight (freshwater, water heater,
LP-gas full; no cargo) 6,790 lbs.
Hitch Weight 840 lbs.
Axle Weight (2) 5,950 lbs.
GVWR 7,300 lbs.
GAWR (2) 3,500 lbs.
Cargo Carrying Cap. 510 lbs.
MSRP, Base $47,407
MSRP, As Tested $58,044
Basic Warranty 2 years
Four-across, self-closing drawers are incorporated into the expansive 2-foot-deep-by-7-foot-long curved counter that swallows up the TV. Three drawers next to the bedroom’s entrance, three large wardrobes with clothing rods, and overhead cabinets big enough to store comforters add up to a lot of storage capacity. There’s no storage under the bed since that area is designated for exterior access.
The padded headboard is about 17 inches high and stops short of the window, so you’ll likely want a pillow to buffer your head if you like to sit up fully in bed. An overhead shelf spans the width of the bed, and there are narrow “nightstands” and pocket-type storage, plus charging ports and LED reading fixtures on each side of the bed.
Split Bath
After spending time in the 2465, I’m a big fan of the split-bath setup, which is especially convenient when sharing with someone who is on the same getting-ready schedule. A fellow RVer remarked enthusiastically that it was the perfect setup because she could be showering while her husband was shaving. Wood pocket doors section off the bathroom from the living area and the bedroom. Tieback straps are in place to keep the doors from closing during travel, but much of the time they didn’t work very well. We passed that information along to Lance’s design team.
We used the large linen cabinet to stow most of our food since it offered plenty of room and is conveniently located around the corner from the fridge. Additionally, the curbside half of the bathroom has three self-closing drawers, a tilt-out laundry cabinet and a vanity with storage. A spacious countertop surrounds the sink, and a stylish and effective light is hung over a mirrored medicine cabinet that is exceptionally deep. A wall-mounted towel ring is next to the sink, and towel hooks are attached to the wall between the bathroom and galley. There’s plenty of room to move around freely, and keeping with the theme, there’s also a window in the bathroom.
The split bath is a welcome setup when sharing living quarters; one person can claim their turf curbside with the sink and oversize mirrored medicine cabinet, while the other gets the streetside portion of the bathroom for more private affairs.
Across from the vanity is a bathroom door, behind where the toilet and shower dwell, that has a large mirror and opens outward. Your RV mate will have to remember not to bust out of the bathroom just as you are scrutinizing yourself in the mirror. Heat registers live at floor level by the vanity and below the shower pan, so we had heat at our feet. A porcelain toilet is set 20 inches off the linoleum floor, and the TP-holder is handily located.
The shower’s heavy plastic curtain is set on a track that angles outward at the top, adding more room to the already spacious 19-inch-deep-by-33-inch-long shower pan. Shelves for setting shampoo bottles are truly functional, and with the skylight, there’s 6 feet, 3 inches of headroom. The chrome handheld showerhead with hose has multiple sprayer settings and a shutoff valve. The bathroom’s electric vent for pulling steam out has one setting, and there’s a long wall-mounted towel bar.
Outside Matters
The 2465 has two lateral-arm awnings with one over the entry door; between the two, they cover the length of the trailer. Speakers, a bracket attached to the side wall and hookups under lock-and-key allow for the TV to be moved outside. The Lance is set up with 50-amp service, an outside water sprayer, a Lippert SmartJack power A-frame jack with battery-level indicator and hitch-height memory, Dexter Nev-R-Adjust forward self-adjusting brakes, 14-inch Goodyear tires, electric stabilizer jacks, park satellite, a solar-on-the-side plug for portable solar-panel charging and propane hookups. At the lowest point, ground clearance is 10 inches.
Magnetic latches hold up the exterior doors that access several storage areas including a 22½-by-12½-by-12½-inch carpeted compartment and a 12-by-19-by-5-inch metal storage bin that was lifted from Lance’s toy-hauler product. The main exterior storage compartment is 5 feet long, 3 feet deep and 11 inches tall, and had more than enough room for our camp chairs, tables, hoses and electrical cords. Valves for black and gray tanks are in separate locations, so you’ll want a wye connector when hooked up, and there’s a black-tank flush.
See Related Tests:
Lance 1475
Lance 2375
The Lance’s heavy-duty ladder is one of the sturdiest we’ve seen and has wide supports for good grip. Checking out the rooftop, we noted that Lance uses EternaBond on the roof termination seams, skylights and vents — extra insurance to prevent leaks. Lance offers an optional Load Roof Rack system with a 300-pound capacity for RVers who want to bring along a kayak or other toys. The test trailer had the optional third 5-gallon LP-gas cylinder for those who like to camp away from the crowd.
With the new-for-2019 29-foot, 5-inch 2465 model, Lance has created an easy-living trailer that brings the sunshine inside with multiple windows and provided us with contentment and comfort in our happy place, the outdoors.
Trailer Life Managing Editor Donya Carlson grew up camping with her family in Southern California and loves spending time hiking, mountain biking, motorcycling, snowboarding and just about anything else outdoors. Before joining the Trailer Life and MotorHome team, she served as managing editor of Rider, a magazine for motorcycle enthusiasts.
