We took a European tour last summer. After looking at all the options, we used a rented 20 foot motorhome. In addition, we actually did a caravan tour with European Motorhome Tours. We decided it would facilitate seeing as much as we could in our 6 week time period.
Yes, you will want the smallest rig possible, especially if you plan to go to the U.K. Or on the ferry. Roads in Ireland are what we would call 'lanes' . In addition, going to any city will make parking a bit easier. One more thought, an American RV would not be compatible with electric in Europe - not sure about fuel options.
When we rented in Germany we left a $1300 deposit to cover damage. Check with your auto insurance to see if you would be covered overseas. BTW, Germany will rent RV's to drivers over 70, many countries will not so be sure to check that.
I applaud your ambitious trip! We started out thinking we would go it alone but in the end we're super happy we took the tour. We saw and did so much more than we would have done on our own. Best wishes to you!
