Drawbacks/advantages of an American RV over a European motorhome

[gus-lopez]

I can get in some underground car parks

They'd be happy with you if the lpg leaked. Don't know about the UK or France but here in Spain it is totally illegal to enter any type of underground car park with any type of lpg carrying vehicle including cars adapted to run on it or even just carrying a cylinder, empty or full, in boot for changing at a garage.

 

[jongood]

One thing that is handy on a USRV is the tow ball receiver. A standard 2" receiver that accepts a vast array of tow brackets. All interchangeable.

Craig

Would it take a motorcycle bracket? I'm assuming there would be quite a lot of axle weight to go at.

 

[billym]

We had RVs for ten years.
Fantastic comfort and space.
The downside was breaking down once in Belgium and once in France and finding someplace to sort it out.

 

[tuscancouple]

Would it take a motorcycle bracket?

Some Dutch friends of our seem to carry their Harley on the rear, that's 270kgs. They do have a large A class. and I doubt it's actually on the towbar, more an extension out of the rear of the RV, with no wheels, so the weight is being taken by the RV.

The downside was breaking down once in Belgium and once in France and finding someplace to sort it out.

We travelled 1000s of miles and in eleven years never missed a beat, so as in all of these things it's luck of the draw. UK/Euro are just as reliable. though if needed parts are probably easier to find

Mick

 

[Camping Gaza]

They'd be happy with you if the lpg leaked. Don't know about the UK or France but here in Spain it is totally illegal to enter any type of underground car park with any type of lpg carrying vehicle including cars adapted to run on it or even just carrying a cylinder, empty or full, in boot for changing at a garage.

That makes total sense, but I have never seen a sign anywhere that says that, mind you I can count on one finger the times I have been in one. Not that I would probably ever park in one again, as there are none where I live now.

As for cars running on LPG my mate has had one for years and always parks in them. I must pass on your information to him so he can check.

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[jongood]

That makes total sense, but I have never seen a sign anywhere that says that, mind you I can count on one finger the times I have been in one. Not that I would probably ever park in one again, as there are none where I live now.

As for cars running on LPG my mate has had one for years and always parks in them. I must pass on your information to him so he can check.

The biggest problem I can see for a petrol/LPG MH is you can't go on the tunnel.

 

[SuperMike]

Would it take a motorcycle bracket? I'm assuming there would be quite a lot of axle weight to go at.

The maximum permissible vertical weight at the tow hitch on ours is 500lbs.

 

[Bobby dazzler]

What about the smaller type rv has anybody owned one of those what where your thoughts on these

 

[olley]

Using the ferries only is hardly a problem is it? So it takes a couple of extra hours as we usually go Dover Dunkirk, in any holiday getting over the qe2 bridge is a bigger problem for us.

 

[billym]

This guy was our saviour in Belgium.

American Truck – Service & Car import

americantruck.be

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[Terry]

the stig - Andrea and Jeff have a nice Winnebago for sale....

 

[the stig]

What about the smaller type rv has anybody owned one of those what where your thoughts on these

We had a Coachman Mirada 35' and when we decided to down size we still went for an RV, we bought the Winnebago Minnie Winnie. It was the perfect solution for us, still got the luxurys of xtra space large shower even has 2 leather sofas. Obviously there was a compromise, and that was that we lost our dining space. Turned out to not be a problem at all. In fact the 2 leather sofas more than made up for it. Plus we upgraded the TV added a sound bar put in a brand new satelite system. Not a dome as they dont always do the distance and not the 85cm dishes as they are no good in bad weather. We went for the cytrak system by Oyster shaped differently and frame work is very very hardy so will withstand gusting winds etc. Still got the large bedroom and plenty of wardrobe space. Full fridge with a seperate large freezer (inc ice maker) all in just 29' +another 3' for bike rack, under 7 tonne with LPG conv on it. In fact I cannot think of one reason as to why we are selling her, oh yes i remember The Husband said so...

 

[chenderson1965]

Thanks All. Having looked at all your replies, and also done some more research, we’ve decided to go for the European A class option. There are two main reasons for this. The first is that we want to keep under 8 m which excludes most (although I know not all) of the American RVs. Secondly, we need to transport a couple of expensive bikes and it seems that very few of the American RVs come with a garage.

Thanks for your comments and contributions though. They have been very useful.

Chris

 

[eddie]

One thing that is handy on a USRV is the tow ball receiver. A standard 2" receiver that accepts a vast array of tow brackets. All interchangeable.

Craig

I have different attachments for ours which I leave on, so slide in a "A" frame, a bike rack or a carrier depending on what I want

It is impossible to determine if a European is better than a Yank or vica versa, we have tried for years, but have had more RV's than European vans. Lyn and I bought our first motorhome when we were 28 and have always had one:

New Autohomes "Highwayman"
12 month old "Swift Kontiki"
New Gulf Stream "Conquest"
12 month old Rexall "Airex"
New 32' Georgie Boy "Royale"
New 34' Georgie Boy "Royale"
New 36' Georgie Boy "Royale"
New Benimar "Europe Top" LHD
New Benimar "Europe Top" RHD
New Dethleffs Globetrotter XXL
New Condor "Spirit"
New Winnebago "Minnie Winnie"
New Gulf Stream Sun Voyager
New Thor "Windsport" (current but 12 months old so who knows lol)

So I have been lucky enough to buy 14 motorhomes since I was 28 (now 58) The reason that I put new or not, was so you realised that I got the option to "order" what I wanted and still didn't necessarily like what I got So nine RV's and five Europeans motorhomes

If pressed, I would say that the size is easier on the majority of European vans, especially if you can't drive or ar a nervous driver, and that European vans can used to be a lot more tastefully finished and subtle, although that has changed a lot and the Yanks are getting less ostentatious

Value for money and space it is hard to beat an American van. I hear a lot about build quality, and I agree with some of the smaller lighter RV's the build quality can be dire, but, If I look at the first three vans on my list, vans that I owned and used, and had to pick one of the three to live in for Six months, a 1988 Autohomes Highwayman on a Talbot Express, A 1989 Swift Kontiki on a Fiat or a 1990 Gulf Stream on a V8 Ford Diesel, knowing what spec they came with from the factory, I would choose the Gulf Stream in a flash despite knowing that build quality wasn't great, but I would guarantee that it will all work still!

Mind you I always say, at the end of the day they all do the same thing, and if you don't believe me try describing what we do to a Martian!

Looking at the number of motorhomes I've bought I am bloody glad that I don't do motorhome shows anymore

 

[Jim]

We've been around the block too. Plenty of experience of different makes and marks.

Auto-trail Pullman
Swift Royale
Bessacar E495
Winnebago Brave
Auto-Trail Scout
Auto-Trail Arapaho
Georgie Boy Landau
Hymer B544
Four Winds Dutchmen

Given that experience I'll say this

My current American van will be 10 next year, Let's say I was approached by one of the big prestigious makes. Morrello, Neisman, Carthago etc and they were desperate to loan me for ten years any van up to a value 155k for the publicity I could give it. (Cheap advertising if they are reading this ) .

But on the strict condition that all my motorhoming had to be done in that motorhome for the next ten years. That I could not camp in any other van.

Thinking about it, I would be able to sell my RV and release a chunk of cash, that would be welcome, but I'd turn them down. None of those companies make a van that suits my present requirement, that is two fixed beds with a floorspace large enough to lose a German Shepherd.

So right now, the only German thing that I want is the dog. It's not an American v German thing, its just layout. I've always bought vans with the layout I want, never really caring who the maker is. Our present layout means our van is wider than most, but thats a small price to pay for the layout. When we can make do with a smaller layout we'll switch back to German in an instant.

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