Boot-How tight should it fit?

[John_Galt]

I have an '02 Dodge 3500 and an '03 1130. The boot between the two when installed isn't as tight as I think it should be. First of all, I can see daylight at the bottom edge of the boot between the truck and the camper.

The 1130 is as far forward in the bed as the bumpers will allow. There appears to be about 2.5" between the truck's tailights and the Lance galvanized metal. IMHO, the Lance could possibly sit further forward in the bed if the bumpers were thinner.

Just trying to get a feel for what I should expect out of the boot.

Thanks,

Tim

[John_Galt]

I have an '02 Dodge 3500 and an '03 1130. The boot between the two when installed isn't as tight as I think it should be. First of all, I can see daylight at the bottom edge of the boot between the truck and the camper.

The 1130 is as far forward in the bed as the bumpers will allow. There appears to be about 2.5" between the truck's tailights and the Lance galvanized metal. IMHO, the Lance could possibly sit further forward in the bed if the bumpers were thinner.

Just trying to get a feel for what I should expect out of the boot.

Thanks,

Tim

[R. O. Walton, Jr.]

John: We have a foam boot which fits tightly between the 1010 and the GMC. I don't think you should be able to see day light around the boot as this would cause a lot of wind noise.

.....seal that thing up asap....you can get a lot of fumes that way .....get more snaps and some foam tape to start.....geofkaye

[ralbert]

Do you have a foam boot from Lance? If so remove your blocks and rip a board to fit the camper allowing it to move farther forward. In doing so it should tighten the boot to both truck and camper. Rob

[Bill S]

I had almost the same setup (2000 Dodge 3500 & Lance 1140) as you and I used the Lance foam boot. I also had the black rubber bumpers on the front of the camper. I was very pleased with the results, but I had to learn how to install the boot when loading the camper. Be sure you have the bumpers tight against the front of the truck bed. The boot has to be compressed somewhat to seal properly. Also I have found that when loading the camper, I have to back under the camper and stop leaving just enough room to slide in the boot, lower the camper to within an inch of the truck bed, slide in the boot in place, back the rest of the way under the camper until the bed hits the rubber bumpers, set the park brake on the truck while holding pressure on the camper, lower the camper on the truck bed using the front jacks first then lower the rear jacks. The secret is to lower the camper to within an inch of the truck bed before compressing the boot and back under the camper the rest of the way. If you lower the camper from a very high position relative to the truck bed while the boot is compressed against the truck cab, the it pulls away from the bottom lip, leaving a gap, and the boot will be loose at the top which creates a lot of wind noise.

I use the same Lance window boot on my '03 Dodge and '03 Lance 1121. It has worked successfully on both trucks and campers for nearly five years and for thousands of miles and been well worth the $$. We use the boot to keep the camper cool in the summer and warm in the winter with the truck's HVAC system when traveling. We're too old and stiff to crawl through the opening!

Bill

[Lorne]

Where does everyone get their boots? I'd love one for my setup. Can someone provide a link? Thanks

[Carlyle]

I would be interested in finding a boot like that to, as the one I have has none of those qualities.

[Carlyle]

I finally went with a Northstar boot after much deliberation, I'll let everyone know how it works on the Hallmark.

[rbarton]

Looking to do the same thing with Northstar's boot. How did yours work out?