10 Ways European Motorhomes Differ From US RVs
Over the last month or so we’ve been looking at European RVs, or rather we’ve been perusing “motorhomes” (as the Brits would call them) or “camping cars” (as they call them in France), or “autocaravanas” (if you happen to be looking in Spain). Either way, they’re what Europeans use when they caravan on this side of the pond, and it has been FASCINATING!
European rigs are VERY different from what we’re used to in the USA, even more so than we originally imagined. Not only are they vastly different in size, but they have a bunch of features and details that you just don’t find in the US. Plus they are built to handle the European roads and weather, and reflect the way Europeans like to RV.
These are not just different RV’s, they are a whole different mindset of travel!
It’s been super fun to browse the various RV shops & shows over here, and we’ve seen enough rigs that we now have a pretty good feel for the options. This means {{drumroll}} I can finally write about them! So how do European Motorhomes really differ? Are they just smaller? Or are there other things? Well, that’s what we’ll cover today!
First Some Definintions – What IS A Motorhome?
In this post I’m going to concentrate exclusively on what they call motorhomes over here, rather than trailers or truck campers. You can actually get all types in Europe, but our old rig was a Class A style, so we knew we wanted to go that same direction here in Europe. Having narrowed that down, there are 4 basic types of all-in-one camping cars that you can buy in Europe:
Integrated Motorhomes (“Camping Car Intégral” in France) – in these rigs the body is connected with the cab, and the whole makes up a solid structure. From the outside they look exactly like minature Class A’s.
Semi-Integrated or Low-Profile Motorhomes (“Camping Car Profilé” in France) – in these rigs, the living space is partially integrated with the cab. They actually look very much like American style Class B’s.
Alcove Motorhomes (“Camping Car Capucine” in France) – These have a fixed sleeping spot over the cab. From the outside they look pretty much exactly like American Class C’s
Campervans (“Fourgons” in France) – These are the exact European equivalent of what we’d call vans in the USA. They look the same on the outside, and just differ a smidgen on layout and the inside.
Out of these 4 styles, the first three are the ones that differ most from the US “equivalents”, and the types we will focus on in today’s post.
Note/ For more in-depth definitions & pics, check out this post on “types of motorhomes” from Camprest.
1/ European Motorhomes Are Smaller
My first observation is probably not really much of a surprise to anyone who’s done any kind of travel (road or otherwise) over here.
In Europe you’ll find towns that are centuries old, and the roads that go through them are often narrow and extremely tight. It’s not at all uncommon for example, for country roads to be exactly one vehicle wide, despite the fact that they’re actually two-way streets. And in older town centers you’ll find cobblestone streets that look like pedestrian walkways which are actually main traffic thoroughfares. Literally everything is smaller here, and the European rigs are made to handle that.
So whereas 30-foot might be considered a pretty compact-sized RV in the USA, it’s actually WAY too big for most things on this side of the pond.
Common European Motorhome Lengths:
- 6-7 m (~19-23 ft) are considered small to medium-sized rigs. These are common.
- 7.5 m (~25 ft) is considered a larger size rig. For those that want more “space”.
- 8-9 m (~26-29 ft) is considered HUGE. Some places even have restrictions above 8m.
As you can see the European size range is TIGHT! The vast majority of rigs here (the largest sellers) are between 6.5-7.5 m and although you can buy larger (I’ve even seen a few American Style Class A’s on the freeways here!), you will find yourself starting to become very limited in where you can go.
European Motorhomes Are Also Narrower: Hand-in-hand with the length thing is the fact that European motorhomes are generally narrower than their American counterparts. Again, this reflects the small roads & history of the place. The majority of European rigs measure between 2.1-2.3m (~83-90″) wide* (versus US RV’s that generally exceed 95″). That’s not much wider than a regular car and means they can handle the narrower roads with ease.
Note/ In EU many countries MAX road width limits are 2.55 m, so our old “beast” at ~102″ wide (~2.6 m) would definitely not be welcome.
2/ European Motorhomes are Lighter (often 3.5 tonnes max)
This follows on from #1 but there’s actually a bit more to it than that, and it has to do with driving license restrictions.
In most states in the USA, a “normal” driving license allows you to drive anything up to ~26,000 lbs. In other words you can drive an 11 tonne “beast” without any kind of special training or endorsement!! That’s honestly kinda crazy when you think about it, but that’s just how it is.
Here in Europe, things are way more regulated. The max weight (GVW) for a “normal” category B license is 3.5 tonnes, and anything over that requires a special endorsement. In addition, if you’re heavier than 3.5 tonnes you’ll pay extra on road taxes, and can be restricted from driving on certain rural or country roads too. Plus, of course, your gas mileage will be worse (and gas here is not cheap!).
European Motorhome manufacturers are not deaf to this critical point, so MANY motorhomes are sold to meet an exact 3.5 tonne rating. You can buy heavier (and some people do), but 3.5 tonnes is the standard for the vast majority of rigs, and it’s what most regular buyers are looking for.
The One Gotcha With Weight? The one problem with a 3.5 tonne weight limit is that it really not that much weight, so one of the big “gotchas” you have to look for when you’re buying a European motorhome is exactly what is included, and how much weight you can actually add (like cargo, you, the dog etc.) before you go over and thus nullify your insurance (yikes!). For example, some manufacturers try to get tricky with it (“oh yes, it’s 3.5 tonnes, but it has no TV, no spare tire, and that bed you want is a 45kg added option”), so you’ve got to really dig into the nitty gritty of the spec numbers to make sure you stay under the limits.
3/ European Motorhomes Don’t Have Slides
Slides are most definitely a “thing” in modern USA RV’s. They add a ton of extra space once you get set-up, and they’ve become so popular that it’s a novelty when you see a new rig without them.
Here in Europe it’s exactly the opposite!
Over 98% of motorhomes have NO slides. Some of it is related to manufacturing quality (e.g. insulation is much easier to guarantee without slides), some of it related to size (e.g. that 3.5 tonne limit), but the rest of it is just habit and history. Slides are seeping into the European market slooowly, but you’ll only find them in a very select number of newer-brand motorhomes (e.g. Adria, Moto-Trek) Most European RVers have never heard of them and would not consider a rig that had them. Maybe that’ll change?
4/ Insulation Is An Important Selling Feature
An upside from the no-slide thing is that most European motorhomes have pretty darn good insulation.
European weather is notorious for being a bit of everything. This is not necessarily that different from the USA, but folks really care about their insulation here, especially when it comes to their camping cars. As a result, insulation is often a featured selling point in European motorhomes, and manufacturers go the extra mile to beef it up.
The majority of motorhomes, even the basic ones, are made with minimal seams and thicker floors. Higher-end motorhomes go a step further by incorporating full-length, heated double floors, insulated double-walls and heated/insulated waste tanks. Then, they’re tested in cold chambers and given ratings to show how well they hold their temps. A Class 3 rated motorhome is capable of maintaining a comfortable internal temperature, down to an external temperature of -15°C (sweeeeet!).
5/ Interiors Are Modern, Sleek & Super Space Efficient
One of the first differences you notice when you walk into a European motorhome is the style.
Europeans know & love good design and the interior of their motorhomes reflect that. You won’t find any drab brown carpet, marble-like floors or hotel-lobby-style lights here (yes, I’m looking at you, new Class A’s). Instead you’ll find warm wood tones, sleek, curved cabinets, beautifully crafted joints, high quality clasps, and drawers that all glide like the wings of an angel.
OK, I may be exaggerating about those angels, but seriously….WOW….
The interiors are just beautiful and feel modern and cozy, yet functional and warm. The styling is so good that I’m not clear I’ve ever seen anything like it in the USA (maybe a modern Airstream would come the closest?). Interiors in Europe are NICE, and when you step into one, you immediately feel at home.
Plus the use of space is, simply put...AMAZING!
European motorhomes are small no doubt, but they make SUCH good use of the space that you barely notice it.
Multi-Usage Items: Many things are designed so they have dual-usage, and can be either easily converted, moved or altered to improve the space. So, for example you might have a bathroom door that swings open to create a bedroom door, or a shower that converts with a hidden slide, or dining room tables that can move front/back and 360 degrees, depending on exactly how you want to configure your lounge area.
Storage Literally Everywhere: In addition there is “hidden” storage in every single accessible space, no matter how small. Literally NO piece of space goes to waste here, so you’ll find usable cabinets in corners, massive bins of storage in the floor, racks that slide out in the little slots of space between cabinets, and extra beds that drop down from the ceiling.
In short, every corner of a European motorhome is designed to be usable and functional. It’s a beautiful thing, especially in a small space.
6/ Separated Beds Are A Common Layout
One of the things that surprised us when we first looked at layouts, was that separated, twin beds are a very common thing.
Most European RV’s actually follow a pretty standard layout. They’ve typically got a combined lounge/dining area up front (usually some couches and drivers chairs that turn around, with a table in the middle), kitchen & bathroom areas in the middle and a bedroom area in the back. There are variations on this, but it’s a pretty common format. Everything is obviously small & compact, but otherwise not that different from US RV’s. One thing that IS different however, is the bed layout.
Separated, twin beds are a very popular thing, whereas single walk-around beds are less so!
This was initially a total mystery to us, but we did figure it out in the end. Twin beds are actually surprisingly versatile. For example they can be combined into a single, much bigger (HUGE) bed, the backs can be raised, and they can hold a ton of storage underneath. So although look really strange at first glance, they actually provide a larger sleeping area while taking up less space overall. Pretty nifty really.
That said single walk-around beds are becoming more common, and you will see them as a layout option in most modern motorhomes, so if you’re worried about being too far away from your honey, the option to snuggle is there.
7/ Garages Are A “Thing”
In USA Class A storage revolves very much around the number and size of bins underneath the motorhome. In European RV’s it’s similar except there’s really just ONE big bin known as the “garage”. It’s a large, square open space in the back of the motorhome that often runs the full width of the rig (especially in newer rigs) and can house anything you want from bicycles to sports gear, grills, extra fridges, outdoor stuff etc. and even (in some cases) mopeds.
There are other outside bins (e.g. for propane and smaller storage), but the “garage” is really the central storage feature, and the thing that most European caravaners obsess about. There’s a whole industry of “garage accessories” which has sprung up to support getting the most out of this space too, offering everything from sliding bicycle racks, to built-in shelving & ski equipment holders. Folks end up getting pretty creative with their use of it.
8/ Black Tanks Do NOT Exist (At Least Not The Way We Know Them)
Another peculiarity with European RV’s is that they don’t have regular black tanks! Now before you start wondering, this ISN’T because Europeans don’t go to the loo, but simply because they dispose of their….erm….eliminations differently.
Here in Europe they use something called a “casette toilet”. It’s a regular-looking toilet that empties into a small, removable waste tank (the “casette”). The casette is portable, accessed from the outside of the rig, and can be emptied manually into either a waste dumping area, or a regular toilet.
So instead of hooking up a sewer hose to dump your black tank (like you would in the USA), here in Europe you actually REMOVE the tank from the rig and carry it over to the dumping area.
In some ways it’s really neat since you can dump it into a regular toilet, but in some ways it’s a pain in the butt (they have to be carried and they’re typically SMALL). It’s one of the features we were NOT that keen on when we started looking at rigs here, but since it’s the custom here it’s just going to be something we’ll have to get used to (a composting toilet might be in our future….).
9/ A/Cs, Generators, & Inverters Are Uncommon (And Rarely Wanted)
A kind of interesting thing about European motorhomes is they almost never come with either air-conditioners, generators, or inverters.
A/C’s are not common in Europe, even in regular homes and when it comes to motorhomes, even less so. You’ll rarely (if ever) see a rig sold with A/C already installed. Not only does it take up precious weight, but since European motorhomes are pretty well-insulated, most caravaners just prefer to rely on fans and natural through-flow of air instead. That said, A/Cs DO exist after market and the ones they sell here are really nice (super quiet), so the upgrade option is there, should we want it in the future (we’ll see…)
Generators are heavy & noisy and rarely welcome anywhere in Europe. Not only do they take up precious weight (yet again), but Europeans are very noise-sensitive, so many campgrounds limit or ban their use altogether! Also, European RVs tend to be really LOW power (extremely low phantom draw) and rarely have any heavy-power-draw accessories (no A/Cs, remember), so they’re not really that useful either. You’ll never see a motorhome with a pre-installed generator and almost no-one carries one. When folks want to charge their batteries here they simply plug-in, or drive for a bit (and let the alternator do the work), or slap on some solar panels on their roof (see below).
Inverters are also uncommon in European motorhomes, mostly because the rigs are traditionally DC run. So, everything in the rig is made to run either off propane (e.g. stove, fridge etc.), or 12V DC (e.g. lights, TVs) straight from the batteries. This is changing slowly (I think) mostly because of modern technology like cellphones, PCs etc, plus people like to be able to use their kitchen gadgets & such while dry camping. So more and more folks are asking for inverters to be installed to run these things off their batteries. Still, it’s rarely (if ever) part of the original sale and is usually an after-market add-on.
10/ Solar Is A COMMON Upgrade
On the other hand, solar is a really, really common upgrade in Europe and super easy to find!
Europeans loooove to dry camp. There are literally thousands of aires, stops, farms, pubs etc. where you can park for either free or close to free, and if you don’t hookup to electricity it’s always cheaper. So, it’s really common for European RVers to slap a few solar panels on their roof to keep the batteries charged along the way.
Higher-end motorhomes come pre-wired for solar, and pretty much every salesman we’ve talked to here has been completely solar savvy, and able to offer quality panels as an upgrade right at sale. We’ve even talked lithium with several of them, and although it’s still not mainstream here, it’s available and easy to get.
Yeah for green energy!
BONUS ITEM -> Tanks, Wires, Plumbing etc. are all easily acessible
This is just kind of a bonus thing, but one thing we did notice as we were shopping, just in passing, is that European RV’s seem to be manufactured so that important items like wiring, tanks, plumbing are all easily accessible after-the-fact. Imagine that! Given we spent 5 hours contorting ourselves into a pretzel to swap out the water pump in our prior RV, I have to admit this is a sweet little bonus.
Coming Up Next -> So did we buy a motorhome? Did we? Hmmmm……we might have done…..
We saw a “European” Motorhome at Myrtle Beach State Park Campground. It really caught our eye. The owner was nearby so he told us a bit about the differences. No mention of the loo difference, however! Lol
Anyway our biggest fascination was how did he ship it over here?!?! I forgot the answer but I think he came through Canada and it was a bit pricey. But he did say he can pretty much go anywhere he wants! Now we understand.
Thanks! Interesting write up.
As Boondockers Welcome members we’ve had a few Europeans stay with us, with nifty smaller rigs. It seems it can cost only a few thousand dollars (4 or so?) to ship an RV from, say, Southampton UK or Belgium to east coast USA, which, given the alternative cost of renting an RV or other accommodation anyway, what better than to have your own rig?! (I admit I’m also doubtful about that cassette toilet though, but I guess you have to get used to it)
Yes! It costs around $4000-5000 to ship a small rig from Europe to US, so it really can make sense, especially if you throw the option of traveling to Mexico and Canada into the mix. Way cheaper than renting, or traveling by car and hotel.
Nina
It’s super easy to ship. Only costs around $4000-$5000 too. I wrote about it, going in the other direction (it’s basically the same idea), in my post about taking an RV to Europe here: https://www.wheelingit.us/2018/06/07/moving-to-europe-vii-shipping-your-rv-from-usa-to-europe/
Nina
A fun read. And now I know what that gent was lugging into the restroom while in Alberata last year, as he was traveling with a European Class A, with of course, European plates:)! I thought he was somehow filling a portable water tank, but looks form your pictures – he was disposing of last nights vino/beer consumption:)! We have a friend who bought the Winnebago Via, which has many of the same thoughtful layouts and cabinets you described – of course somewhat American RV’ized – so perhaps we’re seeing a trend of sharing back and forth across that little pond called the Atlantic. Looking forward to see which way you two went on an RV… Enjoy, and travel safe.
Yup he was definitely disposing of the #1s and 2s. I have to admit the whole concept of a cassette toilet is really strange to me, but maybe we’ll get used to it? We’ll see…
Nina
Late to the party but is there any security issue over there being in a very obvious American rig with American plates?
I have a Dodge RAM 2500 with big American truck camper I’m thinking of shipping over to tour for a year or 2.
I’m dual US/Ireland citizenship.
Honestly none at all that I can think of. You see rigs from all kinds of countries over here, and US plates would not be an issue at all (in fact, folks will probably be interested and chat w/ you about your travels). If you’re planning to ship over here the only real thing you want to look into before doing so is insurance. There’s only a few companies that will insure US-plated rigs in EU, and it can be very costly if you want comprehensive insurance (liability only is much, much cheaper, but will only cover injuries or damages to third parties not yourself or your rig). Just something to be aware of. If you’re OK with the insurance costs, it’s actually very reasonable to ship over a rig and drive it around here. You’ll love it!
Nina
This was really fascinating and now I’m hoping you get your next post up SOON about what you guys have bought!
I’m off to Paris this week (some paperwork stuff) so it might take a week or so for me to write it, but it’s cooooooming!!
Nina
Great info, Nina! We’ve done quite a bit of research as well, and one thing I cannot see myself doing is living fulltime in a motorhome sitting ramrod straight at a gigantic table, even if it moves around! I am lazy! I want to stretch out after a long day out and about. So we’ve got our eye on a Classic Hymer B544. It has a sofa on one side (for me) and a dinette table on the other (for Steven, which may become a more comfy Euro chair set up) and a bed that drops from the ceiling. It’s so similar to the living space in our little popup trailer, Alfred Hitchpop, that we think we have a good feel for how it will work for us.
As always, thanks for the great info. We’ll be excited to see what you decide when you’re ready to buy your new rig.
Totally with you on the lounging thing! Lounge space is critical and something we thought a lot about before we decided to buy. We found an option that we think will work for us, but of course only time will tell.
By the way, the classic Hymers are great. Good layout, good quality. I think you’ll love it.
Nina
There are a lot of European and particularly British built motorhomes that have real comfortable rear lounges.
However, if you are planning to tour Europe for a year or two including winter I would prioritise the double floor motorhomes which the British built don’t tend to have.
One thing I can never understand with American RV’s these huge vehicles don’t have a built in double floor making them truly winterised
I agree. One thing I truly love about our European motorhome is the built-in double-floor. It really does keep it much more insulated.
Nina
Nice post as always Nina. I think you’ll get used to the cassette toilet. We have. It’s no big deal honestly and there are disposal points everywhere we’ve camped, even regular parking lots. The only downside is the small capacity. BUT the facilities in European campsites are way way better than the US, so you can use their toilets more often. Plus we move more frequently so emptying the toilet each time is just part of the routine. Actually in some ways it’s so much better that having the grey/black water dump. And dumping grey water here is delightfully easy. You can drive over any drain and pull the lever inside. It’s awesome.
Glad to hear that. It’s probably the weirdest difference for me, coming from US-style RVs, so I’m happy to know that other, previous US RVers have adapted to it. Looking forward to meeting you guys again on the road!
Nina
OOOOOH each of these posts makes me want to go back to Europe to RV. I love the design! Oh, and since we have a composting toilet that prefer to the other kind, I’d say go for it. SOOOOO convenient.
Have fun I can’t wait to see what you got/get! And then we get to follow you around. WhooHoo!
We’re pretty warm to the idea of a composting toilet. It’s not something we ever really considered in our old rig, but in the new mini-rig it could make a lot of sense. We’re going to travel with it as-is for a while just to see how things work out, but I could definitely see us going in that direction.
Nina
Anyone wanting a lot of those features in a USA built van might want to look at Sportsmobile conversion vans.
Nina, I take it these are more for travel and less for full timers.
How are the campgrounds and hook up?
Well to be honest they’re for both! Our friends Iain and Kate (see their comment above, http://www.talesfromthescenicroute.com) are full timers in Europe traveling around in an integrated motorhome. And there’s a community of others who do the same. I do think most Europeans like to do shorter trips, with more movement in-between, but the fulltime community does exist here, and they’re driving the same rigs as everyone else.
Nina
This is a really good informative article. Thank you! Not only for this article but for all of the information you’ve put out there for folks interested in RV’g. We have been thinking about full time rv’g when we retire, for some time. We’ve talked about doing it in the US or Europe; however, we are wondering if it is more expensive to do in Europe as compared to the US. Do many folks full-time in Europe? And do they have any ‘boondocking’ sites in Europe? Thanks again.
There are definitely folks that fulltime RV here, and I would say (without having too much actual experience about it yet), that it’s no more expensive than the US. A few points:
1/ LOTs of Free Camping: There are TONs of boondocking spots here. Many of them are different from what we were used to in US (more parking areas, rather than wilderness), but there are lots. We follow many caravaners over here (on YouTube and such) that pay zero or very little for camping.
2/ Expensive Gas, But WAY Better Gas Mileage: I think this will be about a wash. Our old rig was a gas guzzler, whereas our new rig is pretty darn efficient. So yeah, gas is much more expensive here, but with our improved gas mileage it’ll probably be a wash. We’ll see…
3/ Groceries Depend on The Country: For day to day stuff like groceries and such, it depends on the country. Nordic countries are notoriously expensive, southern countries can be super affordable. So, again, a wash overall?
We’ll obviously know more once we got “out there”, but our expectation is that our costs will end up similar to what we spent in the USA, maybe even a little less. I’ll let you know.
Nina
Thanks, I think we really might prefer to full-time rv in Europe. We have another big worry and ‘what if,’ and that is, exchange rates. We worry that right after we start collecting our US retirement, sell everything we have, make the jump to Europe and get in our European rv, the exchange rates will take a turn for the worse. What are your thoughts or advice on this issue?
Honestly, what exchange rates will do in the future is anyone’s guess, so I can’t give you any real guidance. My best advice is just wait and see, and make your decision when the time comes.
Nina
Great informative post ( as usual)
Wow! Great information. Now I want to move to Europe and RV. Can’t wait to see what you bought and where you go. I followed a couple from the US to their New Zealand trip for month of August on Youtube. The “Class B” they rented had one of those shower/bathroom conversion things. They totally loved it. I think I could easily get used to a composting toilet. It just makes sense to me. The cassette would be just a little more awkward, but the couple that I mentioned had no problem getting used to it.
Hi Nina and Paul (and paws),
Don’t worry about the cassette toilet — just try it and see what you think. I have one in my truck camper and couldn’t be happier. After using it for a while, it’s the sewer hose that now gives me pause. Lots of US RV-ers use them, particularly in smaller rigs. Some even have wheels so they can be wheeled like a suitcase.
Cheers,
Anne
That’s a good point. I know a bunch of van dwellers that use them too, so it’s not like they don’t exist in the US. It’s just an adjustment from our “big rig” days. Of course there will be many other adjustments we’ll have to make, so the cassette toilet may end up being the least of it. Don’t knock it ‘till you try it, right?
Thanks for the comment (and continued good travels to you!)
Nina
Nina,
We have the green colored Thedford cassette toilet thats in your pic. The upside to a small luggagable “black tank” for us has been not needing to move to dump. (We have an A-frame TT that has the casette but are living in a Class C right now with big black tank).
Those Europeans are smart about insulation and space saving! Can’t wait to see your travels in one of their rigs!
Great information, Nina! And we know how you feel about the cassette toilet… we though it was a bit gross at first, too, when we rented in Australia. But, honestly, it was never that big a deal. It was surprisingly self-contained, surprisingly odorless, and surprisingly easy to deal with (our had wheels and a handle… so you could take your waste for a little walk, LOL… and the dump stations were designed for the cassette to easily dump into). It certainly wasn’t a problem for our (relatively) short stay (3 weeks)… but it would probably get old if you were on a really extended trip. Speaking of which… we’re curious about how prevalent full-timing is in Europe. It would seem that the smaller RVs are great for long holidays or occasional seasonal travel, but maybe less so for truly extended living? (or perhaps we’re just too spoiled by North America’s behemoth motorhomes?!?!).
Love this post and super excited to virtually get to know the new LMB soon.. and follow along on this new chapter. Gotta say, all these amazing designs have us drooling.. if you happen to take delivery of two by accident, we’ll send you our shipping address 🙂
Excellent post! It’s amazing how different the RV’s are in Europe. Seems they have more quality control with their products than the North American manufacturers.
We were in France November 2016 and were amazed at how many RV’s were on the road in the cool rainy weather. The campgrounds we saw left a lot to be desired though. Good luck on your quest and safe travels!
Interesting to learn about the options. Thanks for sharing this. I did wonder, as I was reading, what the quality is like in Europe. (Thinking of how people seem to accept that quality is very lacking in many of the RVs in the States.)
Our first impression is definitely that the build quality of the rigs is much higher here. Everything feels more “solid” from the rigs themselves to the cupboards, beds etc. I’d say they’re equivalent to some of the high end RVs in US, or some of the nicer brands (e.g Foreteavel, Country Coach).
That said there ARE definite classes of build here too. So you’ll feel the difference if you step into a lower-end brand versus a higher-end one, for example. But as a base, overall, the quality seems better IMO.
Nina
My wife and I recently spent 5 weeks in Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) in a small (6 meter) rented motorhome (rented in Hamburg through IdeaMerge and DRM). Below are some of the things we found interesting about motorhome travel in Scandinavia compared to the USA:
We saw no motorhomes towing a vehicle.
We saw no motorhomes or trailers with slide outs.
We saw only 1 fifth wheel trailer and very few pickup campers. The percentage of pickup trucks on the road is much lower than in the USA. More people appeared to have trailer hitches on their cars than in the USA. They use a small utility trailer in lieu of a pickup truck for hauling loads.
We never heard a generator running in a campground.
Many of the motorhomes have built in bicycle racks often with mounted bicycles.
Very few of the motorhomes have trailer hitches or rear ladders for reaching the roof.
Most campgrounds have power pedestals with multiple outlets scattered around. Campers could generally pick their campsite and then run a cord (our rented motorhome came with a 50 meter extension cord) to a power pedestal. We never saw an external surge protector.
We never saw a motorhome hooked up to a city water connection. Most campgrounds have a water refill hose at a central location.
Most campgrounds have a drain for gray water disposal. You park over the drain and open the valve. No hose needed.
Most motorhomes are diesel with manual transmissions.
Our rentedl motorhome had five skylights which could be opened to let in fresh air. All but the bathroom skylight had built in shades which could be closed at night.
The longest motorhome we saw was probably about 10 meters. The longer motorhomes are tag axle.
Some campgrounds are for motorhomes only. Trailers not allowed
As you note, most of the motorhomes do not have roof AC units.
Also as you note, the roads are narrower. We especially noticed this in Norway. Close attention when driving is needed.
Cheers for that. We noticed the surge protector thing too. When we asked our salesman about surge protection, it wasn’t something he typically sold. I found that interesting, since it was always something I considered a “must have” in the old rig.
And regarding skylights. Yup our teeny new rig had 4 of them, including a fantastic fan. It’s got built-in air flow!
Nina
Just a quick thanks for all your fabulous, informative, well written posts. I enjoy every one of them for their content as well as their excellent prose as well as sublime photography!
Why thank you {{blush}}
Nina
I am thrilled to have stumbled across your blog! As an American Military member I lived in Germany during the late 1980s and in England in the early 2000s. In 2008, while we were living in England, one of my kids married a British citizen and has since become a resident/dual citizen of Great Britain so my husband and I visit annually. We now have grandbabies (twin 2yr olds) there and want to spend longer visits but weren’t sure what to do about lodging as our daughter and son-in-law live in a typically small home with no spare room/guest room. My husband and I own a fifth wheel here in the US and my son in-law’s parents (in England) have a small caravan that they tow with their car. We have recently been discussing the possibility of buying a caravan in England to become our home away from home when we are visiting there but wanted more info on the RV life in Europe. How serendipitous it was to stumble across your blog! If I may ask a personal question: How does one find information on VISA requirements (if any) for non European citizens traveling in Europe and the UK?
Kathy, Nina will answer you with more detail I am sure but if you explore this blog she has TONS of information, all well presented.
Wonderful to “meet” you on here! As for visa info, I wrote a detailed post about this recently which I think will answer your questions. Here you go: https://www.wheelingit.us/2018/01/28/moving-to-europe-ii-visa-requirements-stay-limits-for-us-citizens/
Nina
I would love to take my wife there! She has to pack EVERYTHING!!! I mean, ready to go and she is caring out more extension cords, I have 3 and 4 lengths of sewage hose NEVER USED. (we might need them don’t want to be stuck with out) ugh….. always running the “GEN” for coffee and god knows what.. Half time I never know its on. What a plus in my book, Campgrounds with out generators! OMG sign me up im moving in.. Oh that garage.. My wife would have it packed in no time along with that (stuff) you never ever see again? Weight is not a factor with my wife, Buy some of those thingy’s that you hook by the tires honey??? huh what? omg Over loads and airbags.. got um! I could only imagine, or not just how much I would be paying over there. Hmm maybe a good thing if I make her pay the cost? Im moving over the pond!!! Give me a bed, small fridge or something to keep my food and drink (beer) hate warm beer.. a chair and fishing pole and im happy….
I just love the electrical system you talked about with NO gen or lack of!
Cheers and thanks for your post!
Ha! We are pretty jazzed about the no generator thing here too. If there’s one thing that used to bug me in the US, especially in remote areas, was the RVers who thought it was ok to run their industrial generators day and night. Of course it was just a small percentage of folks who did this (most US RVers are considerate!), but it only ever took one to ruin the peace for everyone else. I’m not going to miss having one, or hearing one 🙂
Nina
Paul, how are you doing living in Europe? Any angst from leaving this crazy place?
“I’m doing great. Loving the new adventure, and the food, and the wine”…..just asked him and this is what he answered 🙂
Nina
Nina:
FYI: Hymer has opened a manufacturing facility in South Carolina and Mercedes Chassis moved in next door. Right now they are imported from Canada (they bought RoadTrek). Things may be changing to the Euro way here in the next few years. Yaaaa!
I recall reading about that last year. Think we saw some Hymer brochures when we were shopping Leisure Travel vans in Florida back in 2017 (we never bought in the end). It’s going to be interesting to see how they do in the US market.
Nina
Unfortunately, Hymer never got the chance to change the downward quality trend. Thor just made a bid to buy Hymer for $2.4 BILLION. If approved, this buyout makes Thor the largest RV manufacturer in the USA (maybe the world). On the bright side, if Hymer management is left alone here, it could quickly change the cycle upward.
Oh noooo….not Thor. I have to admit we are not big fans. Thor has made RVing hugely cheaper, but IMO with such a sacrifice in quality. The few Thor models we walked into in the US felt like cheap plastic, and gave me the impression they would quickly fall apart over time. But I may just be jaded and old-fashioned. I love the older builds, with real cabinets, good floors, solid construction etc.
Nina
I just read yesterday that they DID acquire Hymer Let’s hope that this means they’ll keep the quality and produce beautiful smaller motorhomes? I would so love to have a Euro RV….
Unfortunately, Thor seems to lower the quality of any brand it consumes…I can’t stand to even go into a Thor on the sales lot. Cheap materials, usually awful decor. The only good thing seems to be some nice living layouts and ideas (pet accomodations, etc.).
It’s up to Thor to prove us wrong.
Ugh! So not fans of Thor, for exactly the same reasons as you Karen. Really hope they don’t devalue what has traditionally been a very high quality brand.
Nina
Very interesting post but no mention of the actual bath arrangement. Is it a wet bath with a grey tank?
Depends on the Motorhome size. At 6m it’s a wet bath. Starting at 7m you’ll find separated bath and shower options. And yes with grey tank.
Nina
Thanks for a great intro to European RVing. After seven years full timing with a class C we now have a cozy apt and a Promaster van. I noted that our design and layout is similar to the Class Bs there. I converted it myself and chose to have twin beds with aisle.
We have a Porta potti and manual water faucet, sink and 5 gallon water container. Plus a wonderful upright Dometic frig. All powered by solar with no inverter needed. The simplicity is a real joy! We have two kayaks on top and two bikes on back. Length is 17 feet but goes to 20 feet with bikes and rack.
Sounds perfect! We’re excited (and a bit nervous) to see how we manage in a small rig. I think we’ll love the flexibility of it, but will just have to see how the 12 paws adapt. It’s going to be interesting.
Nina
Nina
Thanks for the excellent info.
We’re looking at purchasing our first rv, something in the 19-22’ range. So…we’re quite familiar with US manufacturers quality & floorplans.
Accidentally came across a review of the 2018 Düsseldorf RV show…to say I was stunned by the quality of European RV interiors would be an understatement. The cabinetry, use of space, lighting…heated towel racks!!!
May I ask a couple questions?
– How are the 22’ + travel trailers towed? Not many “Super Duty” Fords in the EU. Lol
– Why are their trailers so low to the ground? Seems towing would be a bit sketchy.
– I’ve not heard any mention of composting toilets. It seems that option would be popular.
– Last…but not least…why hasn’t the build quality and innovation of EU trailers migrated more quickly to the US market? The only US manufacturers we’ve come across that even approach EU trailer fit & finish are NuWay, Lance, Airstream and Oliver.
Thank you for all the great information.
Safe travels.
Mike
Warrenton, Oregon
So just like Motorhomes, trailers in Europe are built to be super light so that you can tow them with an regular license and car. A “normal” Class B license here allows you to tow 750kg, so you see many trailers in that weight range. Anything above that requires a special endorsement. People do tow heavier, but nothing like the 5th wheels you see in the US.
As for the build quality thing, honestly I just don’t know. US RV quality used to be pretty high, just 15 years ago (e.g thinking back to some of the Country Coaches or Monaco’s of that era), but then it just seemed to decline. I think part of it is just that folks (the market) kept wanting more…bigger RVs…more new “stuff”…but they wanted it for less. And apparently, they were willing to sacrifice quality for it. I do think it’s a shame, but maybe the trend will reverse at some point?
Nina
Oh forgot to answer your question about why trailers are so low to the ground. I’m not sure of the answer, but it does seem to be a general trend here. EU roads are generally pretty good, and folks do less off-road driving here. So I guess clearance is less of an issue?
Nina
Hi Paul and Nina! Have been following your transition to Europe for a while now, and always appreciate the amazing detail you provide in your posts. This post is no exception. Thank you for your research, insight and abundant information on European RV’s. I have often wondered about them, especially as I watch the Tour De France each year and see many, many small RV’s parked along the route, especially at the summits of long climbs.
Great post. We travel around Europe in a 6 metre van and we’ve rented in the past in the US. I agree with everything you’ve said about the differences.
I can see how some might find the idea of a European toilet cassette odd (in terms of capacity, you can always carry a second tank, suitably stored, for emergencies…). We found the idea of the US black tank really odd at first, used as we are to a removable tank we can rinse out really well.
Oh, and there was the incident when the “poo pipe”, as we called it, fell out of Cruise America’s makeshift housing underneath our rental van in the middle of California Highway 1. Great memories!! Jo
https://dossersdiary.com/2017/01/05/california-coast-part-1/
I can totally see how a US style black tank would seem really weird to someone using it for the first time. The whole poo pipe thing….yes, I get it LOL. I’m sure we’ll adapt quickly to the European style.
Nina
Great post! Regarding the smaller size of campers in the EU: I think this is only partly due to the narrower roads. I think there is another factor that drives the size, something that I notice every time I visit the USA: People in the USA seem to like large living spaces. Houses are really, really large, with far more rooms than the average house here in the EU. Also, cars are much, much bigger in the USA. So it is not just a practical limit.
That is so true. I remember when I first moved to the US at a young adult, I was shocked at how BIG everything was….literally everything! From food portions, to cars, roads, houses, you-name-it. It all seemed so huge to me, coming from an Asian & European upbringing. I got used to it of course (and came to love it too), but I’ll never forget that initial impression.
Nina
I am very excited to follow you during your exploration of Europe. I love the love of the rigs there and am anxious to hear more about what type of rig you settled on.
Pretty neat looking stuff Nina! We look forward to seeing how you all fit in and live in this new baby!
Dave wants to know about voltage. When you plug in at a campground what is the voltage . And if someone bought a European rig and shipped it here, would it have to be rewired for our electrical appliances and systems or would our things require converters?
The mains here is 230V nominal, and campground plugins are either 16A, 10A, sometimes as low as 5A (all 230V of course). So if you’re shipping over a rig you’d need to modify it with a step-down transformer to convert that 230V to 110V (American level). Plus you’d need to monitor your power usage (can’t run everything at once), but that’s a minor point.
Then there’s also a little frequency wrinkle. Europe mains is 50Hz, whereas American 110V mains is 60Hz. Most electronic devices these days are designed to run on either 50Hz or 60Hz, so they won’t care either way. But certain appliances with frequency-sensitive parts like motors and solenoids are designed and wound for a specific mains frequency (e.g. things like A/Cs, microwaves and washing machines) so they may suffer a bit with the incorrect frequency. You can buy transformers that convert both voltage AND frequency, but they are pricier than simple step-down version. Most folks don’t bother with this little wrinkle and just live with it.
So bottom line, a good transformer will do the job so that you don’t have to re-wire the rig. Probably more than you wanted to know, but there you go 🙂
Big kisses to Lewis (and for those reading this comment who may not know the famous Lew, he’s a rather handsome dog)
Nina
Thanks Nina, we’d expect no less from you! Lew sends his love…..
Wonderful information as always and it makes me even more keen than ever to buy a European RV and travel for a couple of years or more.
But the sticking point remains that individuals ahi are not resident in the EU or the UK cannot register and insure vehicles in those countries, correct?
The Dutch companies that “lease” vans etc to foreigners have rather old models. I have not yet found a company that will front the paperwork for a newer (say 5 years old) RV. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Yes, you are correct about needing to be resident to buy, even if just on a long-term visa.
I’m not personally familiar with the Dutch companies that do leasing, but when I was researching options to buy for foreigners, I did find several as well as the name of a registration agent that deals with this exact situation. Have a read at the bottom of this post for the 3 options I found for foreigners wanting to buy a camping car in the EU:
https://www.wheelingit.us/2018/06/13/moving-to-europe-viii-renting-or-buying-an-rv-campervan-motorhome-in-europe/
Nina
I have just come across your post and it is really informative!!! I had to smile while reading it….. your description of the European motorhomes is spot on!!!
We are based in Germany and we have a very unusual vehicle…. a MAN-KAT1 which we are converting into a motorhome. You should see the looks we get when we travel around!!!!! Anything that is not “conventional” and does not fit your description is really stared at in most European countries. I was amazed to see so much variety (and creativity 🙂 in the US!
That is such an astute observation! You’re absolutely correct. In the US there are so many different varieties of motorhomes from old (vintage) to new, home-made (e.g. bus conversions) to manufactured. You really don’t see that here.
What a cool motorhome you have!!
Nina
Great Article , very detailed an interesting. My partner and I have been living Full time in Peggy, our 12 year old European motorhome ( a capucine) for over 2 years and and absolutely love it! We have also started to write about our adventures too. (https://travelsinpeggy.com)A far as the toilet cassette thing goes, you get used to it. We actually carry a spare cassette in the garage so that we can wild camp for longer periods. Also found it interested to find out that Rv’s in Europe are better insulated. We spend our winters in ski resorts every year so I can tell you first hand that they can handle cold weather!
Lovely to “meet” you on the blog, and thanks for the comment. Yes, I can confirm that we’ve gotten used to our Cassette Toilet now too. It was really strange at first, but now it’s second nature (so to speak LOL). I’ll be following your blog!
Nina
I truly enjoyed your blog and the information with in. I only found you by accident but so glad I did. I have one question that I did not see addressed, sorry if I missed it but. In doing your research how did you find the quality control of the finished units,. Do the warranties compare to the US manufactures? Also is there avg. price range for each of the four type of motor-homes?
Thank you again,Safe travels
This is interesting. Why are European RVs not sold in the US?
I think everyone in the US prefers larger RVs, with slides. At least that’s been the trend in the past. There is renewed interest in smaller RV’s these days, and Hymer (German brand -> acquired by Thor in 2019) is opening up a US arm this year (2020), so perhaps all this will change. I do think some of the European features like multi-use items, higher quality manufacturing & insulation, and some of the innovative smaller layout designs would all be welcome in the US market.
Nina
I think (hope) the US motorhome industry is ready for disruption: First, the dual DC/AC and generator needs to be replaced with an AC-only solar with lithium batteries. Ditch the propane. Supplemental power can be added with a larger alternator. The engine would turn on automatically when the batteries are depleted, charge them, and then turn off automatically. All of this technology is readily available, safer, more simple, and more cost-effective when cost of ownership is considered. Sorry Onan, it makes absolutely no sense to have two internal combustion engines on a motorhome. Second, the roof needs to be reserved exclusively for solar. The black and gray tanks should vent out of the the sides and the 1, 2, or 3 zone ductless AC condenser should be attached to the back (or front) of the rig. Ditching all of the expensive, poorly made, specially engineered 12 volt or dual-powerd appliances and air conditioners would increase efficiency, quality, and reduce cost. Third, the space needs to be better utilized with better design and quality. The older, Southern RV designers need to ask their kids and wives for a little help or hire some of the incredibly talented tiny home designers out there. They think of an RV as a 2 dimensional space while a good designer will approach it as a 4 dimensional space. Fourth, the “house” section needs to be removable from the chassis with a standardized locking design. That way the house can continually be updated instead of being designed to be discarded with the chassis or even used without it. Last, slides are a gimmick that are the American RV industry’s answer to good design. Americans would not want them if they were offered a better quality option with more usable space, better insulation, unlimited power, better taste, less depreciation, more reliability, less complexity, less redundant crap taking up space, and far less service and repairs. In summary, if we ditch all the redundancy including the propane system and furnace (or catalytic propane heaters or even small, removable pellet stoves in cold climates for 4 season configurations), the generator system, the slides, the “RV” AC, 12 volt appliances, the power centers, transfer switches etc. we would have a far more fun, cost-effective, flexible, roomy, and safe RV experience.
We have been looking for an RV for a while, not easy for first timers who want to travel the US -slowly- from west to east and then bring it to Europe, where it should meet local standards. We do not plan on cooking in the van, other than water or microwave. Grilling we like to do outside in somethin like a fore tent .We do need some sort of toilet, and definitely an outdoor shower.( got a big dog). we love good insulation….
We need Internet connectivity for our phone/ tablet.
Your comment seems soooo common sense, any suggestions who might be equipped to assist us?
Just stumbled on your site. Love it and wondering if youre still traveling in your van? We have a 2010 Sprinter van and based in Santa Fe NM. Wanting to ship it to Europe but husband is leary about the idea.
YES we’re still traveling around in our motorhome in Europe. I think it’s a WONDERFUL idea. You just need to be aware of stay-limits (visa limits) in the countries where you travel. If you do not have an EU passport, your stay limits are 90 days every 180 (within Schengen Area), then you need to get out and stay in a non-Schengen country. It’s all do-able, but you do need to plan for it.
Nina