These guys are the best. Bought a shell for my new truck first. Another little dealer, who shall otherwise remain nameless, wanted to sell me a cheap shell that had been sitting outside in their yard on the rack in the elements for a couple of years, from a company that had gone bankrupt no less (they disclosed no warranty, but not that the manufacturer had gone bankrupt). To install it (install weather stripping, set on bed, 15 minutes to wire, attach four clamps), they wanted another $299! Tom's sold me a brand new shell that they ordered from the manufacturer with warranty (no sitting in the elements for years) for $100 more, and then didn't charge me a thing to install it save for the cost of the four clamps. I had even looked for the cheapest price for the clamps on-line from an etailer, and Tom's price was the same. How often does a brick and mortar business compete on price like that? So I got a brand new shell with full warranty installed for less than the other guys were going to charge. You want to go even one step better? Tom's had a used shell on the lot that fit my truck (although not perfectly as it was built for an extra-cab and had a slightly different slope on the front which did not line up 100% with my crew cab - just a small gap but still could have bought and used it). They offered to install the used shell and let me use it as a loaner while I waited the two weeks for my new shell to be manufactured and delivered! Are you kidding me! I didn't really need the shell that quickly and declined, but good lord, talk about customer service.\r
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Next was a small overhead truck camper. Tom's had several new and used models on the lot. The little guys don't sell these, so unless they happen to have one in on trade, you won't find any there. There is another outfit in town that does sell them new, and they had one used on the lot, but if you want a used overhead truck camper, Tom's is really the only place to go. Zack, one of the best salesmen/customer service reps I have ever worked with, spent all the time in the world showing me around their inventory and answering the hundreds of questions I had - both about the shell and the camper. Between the two purchases, I probably visited Tom's 6 or 8 times, and took up several hours of Zack's time. The only knock I could give him is that when I was first looking, before I bought my new truck, I was trying to stay with a quarter-ton truck, which Zack said you could do. Now that is technically true, but while looking at Tom's in Surprise, the salesman out there, when he heard I had not purchased the new truck yet, told me point blank that ""if you only have a quarter-ton truck, you are not really a truck camper guy."" Thanks to him I ended up buying a Chevy 2500 (Chevy/GMC have the most payload, period), and I am so glad I did. When the truck and camper are fully loaded with food, water, people, dog, and gear, I don't think a 1500 would really cut it. Again, you could do it, especially if you are just hauling the camper and not a lot of other stuff, but I'm not sure how long your drivetrain and suspension would last with that load.\r
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Anyway, got super lucky at Tom's on Apache, as they had a clean 2009 Lance 825 on the lot which was perfect! I snowboard in the winter and this baby came from Montana originally and had the winterization package. Even better, it was an older design that Lance does not make anymore - instead of the large overhead storage bin/child's bunk over the dinning table, it had a small storage shelf and a huge picture window - I'm talking twice the size of the windows in the new Lance 825's. I camp/hunt/fish on the North Rim of the GC, and on the Mogollon Rim, and that window is just perfect for the views.
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