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outwestbound's avatar
outwestbound
Explorer
Mar 19, 2017

Advice on TC for 12 month trip to Europe

Hi. I'd appreciate some advice on which TC to buy for my trip.

I'm a full timer in a fifth wheel and F350. I'm planning a year long European trip. This post is only about the vehicle. I'm not willing to spend 20.000 euros to rent an RV over there and I'd rather own so I can save some money and do some customization. I'm thinking I'll buy in the US, customize whatever I buy, then ship it to Europe. Buying a vehicle in Europe is possible, but less desirable. Truck campers are making sense, because I'm not willing to spend for an expensive overlander vehicle plus I can utilize my existing truck. It's very difficult to negotiate the roads over there if over 22 feet.

My truck: 2011 Ford F350 Lariat; 4x4, Crew Cab, DRW, 6.7L Diesel, 8' Bed, with only one 34 gallon fuel tank. Length 246.8'. Wheel base 172.4, Bed floor 8.17'. The door pillar sticker allows 4608 for carrying capacity. I added a custom leaf to the rear springs + added Timbren suspension enhancements. The truck is in very good shape with under 50,000 miles.

Use
- on road 75%/ off road 25% (moderate off road only, no hard core, wheel base is too long anyway)
- boondock 75%/ park rat 25%
- travel mostly western Europe from Ireland to southern Spain
- I like shoulder seasons, and sometimes like snow, so I want a 4 season camper. I'm in Alaska now; so winter doesn't bother me.

Needs
- no more than like 14-16" overhanging rear. (like 9.5' max TC). Overall length with truck <= 22' due to shipping/ ferry costs, narrow roads in Europe, etc.
- solar; about 480 watts ( 3 x 160); 2 Lifeline AGM L16 batts (400AH bank)(may consider lithium batts, but big money!)
- want to take my Honda EU2000 generator
- want to have at least 10 gallons of LP (2 20# I guess)
- thinking hard sides, no slides, and with a basement
- probably forego AC so I can get a third solar panel
- good size water, black and grey. Will probably use a macerator.
- will need to convert LP fixtures/ electrical to function in Europe
- I'll be packing heavy, so the lightest TC makes sense
- I prefer to buy used, maybe 2-4 years old

I'm looking at the fiberglass TCs, like the Northern Lites and Bigfoot stuff. The weights seem practical, they are 4 season units and reasonably priced, I guess.

Any thoughts on whether I'm on the right track?

Thanks so much.
Truck Campers

38 Replies

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  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2017
    I will add to our German member comments, that lot of roads in Europe do have 2.5m wide traffic lanes.
    8ft =2.4m, meaning your side mirrors will stick out to next traffic lanes on both sides.
    TIRs (semis) on such roads cross the center lane, so this is not experience for just anybody. (notice European semis often have SRW)
    Than in Germany slow lanes on autobahn travel above 100 mph and anything slower is road hazard.
    Being Polish-born I was thinking about driving RV in Europe, but for 5 weeks vacations, renting diesel wagon in Paris and hotels turn out much easier. Fact is that in Poland we did not have to pay for hotels.
    Another tough if you really want to spend long time in Europe - buy one of those Sprinter motorhomes there and at the end ship it to US.
    You can get rich doing just that.
    Also beware that you can have very good time in former Eastern Block for about 1/4 cost what it cost in Western Europe
  • outwestbound's avatar
    outwestbound
    Explorer
    Mar 19, 2017
    RoyB wrote:
    Doesn't sound like much fun with big dually TC camper...

    The only way I would do this would be a much smaller ROADTREK campers...


    Google Image

    Roy Ken


    Thanks. I hear ya and am on the fence with this (use my own truck and buy a used TC option). The best rigs are German 20-21 foot semi-integrated (class C) motorhomes. It's so frustrating, but unless one is a resident, you can't buy the **** things and get them registered and insured. There is one option to buy a vehicle in Europe, which is a sale-buy back program that keeps the insurance in the seller's name. Essentially, one ends up paying about 8,000 after selling it back, which is the loss in value of the vehicle. But these are older motorhomes so that the depreciation is less and more predictable If you did a sale-buy back with a newer motorhomes, the spread between purchase and sale back would be too large. My preference is to buy 2-3 years old, not 10, but I may have to do the European buy back scheme, or worse, just rent.

    People buy "overland expedition vehicles" that are build on Mercedes or similar chassis, which mitigates the risk of breaking down in remote countries. Anyone can fix a Mercedies, compared to Ford, for example. But these vehicles are better suited for many years of traveling abroad, because they are way more than I'm willing to pay. They range in the $175,000 to $400,000 range new.

    I'm just looking for an option using what I already own. But you are correct, my truck is wide and as long as you'd ever want to be. A "campervan" as you suggest is better sized for the conditions over there. Hyper just bought Roadtrek, so maybe this German company will introduce some of their fine small class C (semi-integrated) motorhomes in North America. Our selection is very poor because fuel is so cheap here and roads/ campgrounds are so much bigger.
  • outwestbound's avatar
    outwestbound
    Explorer
    Mar 19, 2017
    work2much wrote:
    Read it 3 times and not sure what advice you are looking for.

    Are you looking to buy/use a truck in US, ship it overseas and fit it to a camper?


    Hi. Looking for advice on which TC to buy that might meet my needs. I'd buy it in the US, fit it out for the trip to Europe, then ship it to Europe in a container. Buying something and then reselling it later would be much cheaper than renting a small motor home (like 21 feet) in Europe, because that's about 20,000 for the year. If I buy a used TC for 18,000 and resell for 12,000, that's cheaper, even with shipping costs, plus I'd own it, so then I could customize it to my preferences.

    I would use the TC with the truck I already own. Per my signature, I'm a full timer in a fifth wheel rig.
  • GordonThree's avatar
    GordonThree
    Explorer
    Mar 19, 2017
    There's tons of video on Youtube of Germans (mostly) driving HUGE multimillion-euro Unimog and Mann expedition vehicles all over Europe and Africa. Are these trucks smaller than a powerstroke dualie?

    Sounds like a really cool adventure!
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Mar 19, 2017
    joerg68 really summed it up well. You would be better off purchasing a Class B or C in Europe and selling it when done.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2017
    Doesn't sound like much fun with big dually TC camper...

    The only way I would do this would be a much smaller ROADTREK campers...


    Google Image

    Roy Ken
  • joerg68's avatar
    joerg68
    Nomad III
    Mar 19, 2017
    Some comments from the european side of the pond:

    Ferrying a truck and camper is not a problem, people here do it all the time. Look for seabridge for some info.

    A US truck and camper do just fine on our roads, but a DRW has a very wide track in the rear and is not very backroad-friendly.

    Electricity is no problem, but you will need a transformer from 230v to 110 and the correct connectors.

    LPG can be had everywhere, but filling your own tanks is illegal in most places, and the tanks and connectors vary from country to country.

    All of this can be solved.

    Big Diesel (US) trucks are very rare here and there are very few competent shops should something go wrong. Normal spare parts and repair should not be an issue, but new injectors for the 6.7 might. Quality of Diesel fuel is good, but some people told me you should use the ultra-low-sulphur-therefore-more-expensive grade. I don't knowif that is true, but standards are different from the US.

    A gasser is easier to keep running.

    Boondocking is illegal in some countries (e.g. Netherlands, Luxembourg). Frowned upon in some places. But mostly OK if you do not pick the superduper scenic place where you park in everyone's view. Some touristy areas have local no overnight parking regulations, but off season or not tourism hotspots will be no issue.

    Be prepared for blocked roads, though. 3.5 metric tons is an important cutoff limit throughout europe. Also, many backroad underpasses can be too low for some american hardwall campers.
  • work2much's avatar
    work2much
    Explorer
    Mar 19, 2017
    Read it 3 times and not sure what advice you are looking for.

    Are you looking to buy/use a truck in US, ship it overseas and fit it to a camper?

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