Lance’s side-entry 1191 camper is back, and bolder than ever. The 2026 Lance 1191, in both slide and non-slide versions, features up to 800Ah of lithium power, 1,100 watts of solar, and a full Victron electrical system. The 1191 isn’t just back. It’s been reinvented—times two!
In mid-July, Angela, Cosmo, and I parked our rig under an overhang at Lance Camper HQ in 105-degree Lancaster, California. Immediately next to our set-up was a full-size mock-up of a long bed truck camper basement and the beginnings of a floor plan—a new Lance! It wasn’t pretty. Heck, it wasn’t even presentable. But it was exactly what the Lance design and management team needed to physically test ideas for a reinvented 1191.
Two months later, we arrived at the Elkhart RV Open House in 83-degree Indiana. As we drove toward the RV Hall of Fame, we caught a glimpse of a large Lance Camper adorned with the original “Lance” logo. Did we wait until the Lance management team arrived before checking it out? Nope. Did the prep team unlock the door for us? Yup.
Above: The 2026 Lance 1191 non-slide prototype at the Elkhart RV Open House
Click here for a 2026 Lance 1191 brochure
Some might dismiss the 2026 Lance 1191 as merely an old model the Lance team dusted off and put back on the production line. While it’s true that the new 1191 has a floor plan lineage that traces back to the 1161, 1131, and the original 1191, there’s a whole lot of new going on.
Above: The 1191 non-slide prototype floor plan. The slide-out version has not yet been built.
So what’s new? Not much—unless you count the new dry bath, the new cabover, the new cabinetry, and the state-of-the-art battery, solar, and electrical components.
Oh, and the 2026 Lance 1191 benefits from a decade of Lance model year updates not seen on the original. For example, solid surface kitchen countertops, Keyed-Alike exterior doors, remote electric Happijac jacks, and premium Truma and Furrion components. Together, these features add a layer of refinement that the original 1191 never saw.
For many, the fact that Lance is announcing both a non-slide and a slide-out version of the new 1191 will be the big headline. Where the slide-out version offers the most living space, the non-slide variant focuses on the trend toward flagship-level campers in simpler, slide-free packages.
Do you want more living space in a heavier camper, or less living space in a lighter camper? With the 2026 Lance 1191 slide-out and non-slide versions, Lance will be offering both.
Before we go much further, we need to point out that the pictured Lance 1191 is a prototype. This camper was brought to the Elkhart RV Open House to present to dealers and certain pesky members of the press for feedback. They received a ton of pros, cons, and comments galore and will now be making changes for the production model. Don’t expect anything too radical, but there are some important refinements in the works.
Also note that there are items in the prototype that do not represent what you’ll see on the final 1191. For example, the prototype 1191 has glass windows. The production version will have thermal-pane acrylic windows. Don’t assume that what you see in the photos is exactly what we’ll get in the production version.
Beyond the news of the 1191’s return, and the non-slide and slide-out versions, what got our attention was the EZ Off-Grid Camping package showcased in the prototype unit.
Behind an exterior door on the front wall, we found an EG4 48-volt 100Ah / 5.1 kWh LifePO4 server rack battery (expandable to 800Ah). A 48-volt 100Ah battery holds the same amount of energy as a 12-volt 400Ah battery. By choosing a 48-volt battery and electrical system, Lance can use thinner and lighter cabling, lower current draw, and provide straightforward scalability.
This is not the first 48-volt battery we’ve seen in a truck camper, but it’s certainly the first we’ve seen in a Lance. Is 48-volt the future of Lance Campers? Signs point to yes!
During the development of the 1191, Lance worked with a battery and solar expert who specializes in off-grid trailers for Hollywood movie stars. His advice? For safety, you need a PV Array D.C. Isolator that offers a manual and physical switch to break the circuit between the panels and the rest of the electrical system. The result? Behind a compartment door on the driver’s side, we found a PV Array D.C. Isolator (aka a DC disconnect switch) right next to the battery disconnect.
Above: 1,100 watts of Merlin solar panels on the 1191. And yes, it had just rained.
We bravely climbed a ladder on a nearby Lance 850 to capture this image showing the Merlin solar panels. These flexible solar panels are reported to be 80 percent lighter than glass panels, 20 percent more efficient, and 50 percent higher in power density than thin film technology.
Lance must really like these panels as the roof of the 1191 prototype had five of them for a whopping 1,100 watts! That’s some serious optional solar capacity and by far the most we’ve ever seen on a Lance Camper. Six hundred watts comes standard.
Above: The Victron MultiPlus-II contained in the rear compartment
The lower exterior rear wall—remember, this is a side entry camper—opens up to reveal a Victron MultiPlus-II 48 volt, 5000 VA, 70 Amp inverter/charger.
Have we ever seen a Victron component in a factory Lance Camper? Nope. Nada. Hasn’t happened—until this very moment. We typically see Victron components in state-of-the-art overland set-ups. It seems Lance wants a piece of that action.
Anyone who has explored a Lance 1172 knows the side-entry step houses the battery compartment.
In their re-imagining of the 1191, Lance moved the battery to the exterior front wall leaving the step area wide open for tools, dog leashes, flash lights, bug spray, sun tan lotion, or whatever you want immediately inside the door.
In the entryway, Lance has developed some unique storage opportunities. The double doors against the rear wall open up to a narrow space for camping chairs (shown above).
Above the doorway they have three compartments with doors held open by gas struts.
Directly across from the entry door is where we found a KISAE inverter-charger control panel (solar controller), Victron GX Touch display panel (battery and electrical system), Furrion air conditioner control, tank sensor and water pump switch, and Truma CP Plus control panel (water heater and furnace).
Stepping inside the new 1191 felt both familiar and exciting as we discovered the changes Lance had made. The prototype is definitely the old 1191 floor plan, but as a non-slide with all the modern Lance enhancements and materials.
Back in the day, people would say that the 1191 felt like a mini-apartment inside. That vibe has certainly carried through to the new version.
Lance’s CNC-cut solid surface countertops and tall sink faucet instantly remind us that we’re in the new 1191. Look closely and you’ll see a round pull-up power port (in black).
On the far side of the countertop is a flush-mount glass-top propane cooktop and oven. The Lance team said the production 1191 kitchen will be configurable with either a three-burner cooktop or an induction cooktop. Since getting an advanced lithium battery and inverter system in our camper, we exclusively use an induction cooktop for speed and efficiency.
For the new Lance 1191, Lance has leaned into Furrion components, including a convection microwave and air fryer. We have long been curious about having an air fryer in our truck camper and can’t wait to try this feature out.
Perhaps the star of the Furrion show here is the huge 10-cubic foot 12-volt DC refrigerator with a dual-swing door and a pull-out drawer-style freezer.
What is a dual-swing door? It’s a door that opens from either direction. You can open it on the right when you’re in the kitchen, and on the left when you’re in the cabover. That’s right…
When you want a cold one from the cabover—no judgement—you can reach a brew without leaving the bedroom.
Below the countertop, the kitchen features four drawers in all the right places. Three stacked for silverware, utensils, and other kitchen essentials—just like home—and another under the oven for pots and pans. Again, just like home.
Right next to the 10 cubic foot refrigerator is a huge closet. The production version will feature shelving and a closet rod, allowing for multi-use.
One feature Lance has long been known for is large dry baths. Across from the kitchen on the rear driver’s side, Lance has made their largest dry bath yet.
The new dry bath maximizes the space around the toilet, adds more storage and counter space, and brings the aesthetics up to modern Lance standards. It includes a flush toilet, power fan, dual-pane skylight, and mirrored storage cabinets.
At the Elkhart event, Lance management told us that they’re planning to add a window to the dry bath for natural light. A dry bath with a window in a Lance truck camper? It’s been done, but not in a long time!
The prototype 1191 featured a traditional face-to-face dinette with a bit of a twist. Due to the fact that this same model will be offered in a slide-out version, the non-slide dinette was 6’5” in length! That’s 37 inches wide and 78 inches long. That’s full-grown adult length unless your guests are NBA Centers.
In addition to the face-to-face dinette, the production 1191 will also be available with a sofa or theater seating. Lance says they’ll offer all three dinette options in the slide-out 1191 version as well.
Camper manufacturers tend to get complacent when it comes to their cabover bedroom layouts. They come to something that works, and stick with it for a decade or two.
Thankfully, Lance has challenged themselves with the 1191 and pushed the cabover design forward. The new layout showcases many ideas we’ve seen in Lance’s past, but the new 1191 cabover is refined, enhanced, and features more storage than before.
Here’s a fun detail. Behind the forward-facing dinette is a storage nook accessible from the cabover area. This is the kind of bonus storage that everyone will use differently, and will be very thankful to have. If we had this feature, it would instantly become a Cosmo cave.
Lance states that the new 1191 tanks will offer 45 gallons of fresh, 38 gallons of grey, and 35 gallons of black. And those tanks will be enclosed, insulated, and heated.
The Lance team said the 1191 (non-slide version) will have an MSRP just north of $57,000 USD. No word on the slide-out version, but it’s safe to say it will cost more.
Above: Lance provided this image showing the optioned weight of the 1191 prototype at 3,802 pounds
As for the weight, Lance is reporting the dry weight (no options) of the non-slide version at 3,400 pounds with a center of gravity of 52 inches. That weight number is too round for our liking, so we’ll take that more as a prototype suggestion. Wait for the production version for a specific dry weight.
Above: The 2026 Lance 1191 non-slide—from the cabover back
“What about the slide-out version?” you ask. Well, the Lance team was less certain about the timing for what will likely be the Lance 1191S, but they hoped to have it out before the end of the year.
They were certain about where both the production 2026 Lance 1191 and 1191S will debut—right here in Truck Camper Magazine. Stay tuned!
For more information about Lance Campers, visit lancecamper.com. Click here to request a free 2026 Lance Camper brochure, or request information on the 2026 Lance 1191.
