More European Designs becoming prevalent?

[RobertRyan]

Although the article (from RV Breaking News)refers to a range off European RV's, it does mention Class C's a lot. Class C's make up roughly 50% of European RV's sold.
The economic meltdown has reduced the number sold to 155, 000 units, but that is rapidly starting to rise again.

In spite of U.S. dominance in the international recreational vehicle industry, in recent years the balance of power has swung towards more innovative European RV manufacturers. This is evidenced by the success of Germany’s Mercedes-Benz Sprinter platform here in the USA which was subsequently joined by Ford’s European Transit Van and Italy’s Fiat’s Ducato chassis. Small is the key in Europe though there are some superlative Class A motorhome manufacturers like Volkner Mobil and Ketterer Spezialfahrzeug both of whom offer mohos with integral car garages and full-length lateral slides. The Germans have also built some stunning Toterhomes including Concorde Reisemobile’s stunning 420hp Centurion 1200 RV.
On a continent where the Flxible, Eagle, and Blue Bird Wanderlodge once ruled supreme, the leading luxury motorhome chassis in the United States is currently manufactured by Swedish-owned and Canadian-based Prevost Car, Inc. Even Oklahoma-based Newell Coach turned to European-based Porsche Design when they decided to refresh the front end of their luxury motorhome line-up.
With few exceptions, the most radical and innovative designs are heading across the pond from east to west, and Germany’s Dethleffs are a case in point. The latter debuted their latest 177hp Class A diesel motorhome on the Fiat Ducato platform at the 2012 CMT show in Stuttgart, Germany. Designed by Michael Studer the Dethleffs “Evan” measures a mere 18.5 feet in length but still manages to sleep four by way of a lift bed under the roof of the cab as well as a 2-berth sleeper in the pop-top roof tent. The unit is notable for its exceptional use of the available interior space. It even incorporates a variable space bathroom!
One good reason for Germany’s Volkswagen Group to reconsider a return to the North American market would be Danbury’s revolutionary “DoubleBack” conversion of the T5 Transporter. Developed by mechanical engineer, Craig McCormack, the DoubleBack camper incorporates a remarkable 130kg telescoping rear Pod which, once deployed, adds almost 2 metres (6 feet) to the length of the vehicle. The pod can be used to provide an additional 2-berth bedroom (in addition to the pop-top sleeping berth) or can be configured for use as a seating or storage area.
In the absence of a US-built VW Transporter, off-road enthusiasts should check out the US-built XPCamper. Designed by German immigrant, Marc Wassmann, the XPCamper utilizes a tough, lightweight camper shell which incorporates a remote controlled hydraulic popup system and sports an exceptionally equipped interior. The XPCamper – which has the distinction of being the world’s first composite RV pop-up camper – was subsequently joined by the “V2,” a smaller clamshell designed XPCamper model that’s custom designed for compact trucks like the Toyota Tacoma.

[RobertRyan]

pnichols wrote:

RobertRyan wrote:
More down market Class C

Robert .... thanks for the photo above. I can appreciate the beautiful interiors but as usual, my concerns extend past mere good looks to such things as:

- Are the FW, BW, fresh, propane tanks sizes large enough?
- How much interior and exterior storage is available?
- What is the travel range before refueling?
- What is the excess weight carrying capacity after being loaded for travel?
- Are the beds always available, or do you have to make them up each night before using them?
- Does the galley include both a conventional oven and a cooktop ... instead of a cooktop and a microwave/convection combination? (A m/c combination requires full power AC to run it in oven mode - a conventional oven only requires propane.)
- Does the cab overhead area extend far enough past the front windshield to help reduce glare in the cab area?
- Does it have a quiet built-in generator, powered from the large capaciy main fuel tank, for times when there is no sun and propane is low?
- Does it have a built-in battery storage area capable of at least two large batteries?
- If one must have a Class C with slides, is it fully functional when the slides cannot be extended at a campsite?

My concerns are based on ten of thousands of miles of travel within (only, however) the U.S.. For instance, we just completed a 10,000+ mile excursion from Canada to the far corner of Maine. We ran into all kinds of travel and campsite situations - hookups, no hookups, mostly non-level campsites, bright glaring sun from air full of forest fire smoke, tight parking spots, tight fuel pump access at stations, gas only at fuel pumps (no diesel), 12% grades to mountain campsites, gravel roads in the woods, curvy climbs to mountain peaks, etc., etc.. There is no substitute for as much practicality as possible in a Class C if one wants travel flexibility, regardless of it's beauty.

Would your rig survive in Australia, Africa? These have. I know your Ford would not.

[pnichols]

RobertRyan wrote:
More down market Class C

Robert .... thanks for the photo above. I can appreciate the beautiful interiors but as usual, my concerns extend past mere good looks to such things as:

- Are the FW, BW, fresh, propane tanks sizes large enough?
- How much interior and exterior storage is available?
- What is the travel range before refueling?
- What is the excess weight carrying capacity after being loaded for travel?
- Are the beds always available, or do you have to make them up each night before using them?
- Does the galley include both a conventional oven and a cooktop ... instead of a cooktop and a microwave/convection combination? (A m/c combination requires full power AC to run it in oven mode - a conventional oven only requires propane.)
- Does the cab overhead area extend far enough past the front windshield to help reduce glare in the cab area?
- Does it have a quiet built-in generator, powered from the large capaciy main fuel tank, for times when there is no sun and propane is low?
- Does it have a built-in battery storage area capable of at least two large batteries?
- If one must have a Class C with slides, is it fully functional when the slides cannot be extended at a campsite?

My concerns are based on ten of thousands of miles of travel within (only, however) the U.S.. For instance, we just completed a 10,000+ mile excursion from Canada to the far corner of Maine. We ran into all kinds of travel and campsite situations - hookups, no hookups, mostly non-level campsites, bright glaring sun from air full of forest fire smoke, tight parking spots, tight fuel pump access at stations, gas only at fuel pumps (no diesel), 12% grades to mountain campsites, gravel roads in the woods, curvy climbs to mountain peaks, etc., etc.. There is no substitute for as much practicality as possible in a Class C if one wants travel flexibility, regardless of it's beauty.

[PSW]

RobertRyan, that is one beautiful Class C coach in the picture. Gorgeous.

If Big Red RV bus is just 45 feet long, I wonder how tall it is? I am thinking about underpasses and heights. If they are going east to west across the US, I assume they are using the Interstate system pretty exclusively. OR, perhaps the picture just gives a false perspective as to true measurements.

Do you know of a link for the Big Red cross country trip? It would be interesting to read.

Paul

[RobertRyan]

pnichols wrote:
PSW,

I agree 110% with your "all this is just getting nuts!" observation.

The DW and myself started out with a new Dodge B250 van we converted into a very modest camper that we used intermittently between tent camping and backpacking trips.

Now all we have - and really need - is only about one step up from our good old B250 conversion, but with some luxury as you say ... A/C for the desert to prevent heatstroke, small furnace for cold nights everywhere, a galley, and a real john ... all in a 24 foot RV that's still based on a van chassis. However, we could at times use a 4X4 version of what we have. 😉

Since Mother Earth cannot possibly supply the raw materials for "all of us" to have what's in the photos above ... we wouldn't feel right having it.

Well Mother Nature is doing well outside the US.Maybe pretty grim in the US, but not elsewhere.
More down market Class C

[RobertRyan]

bukhrn wrote:
Where did they park that Red monster, certainly not in any NP, National Forest, COE, or any State Park we've ever been in.

It is 45ft long. Where they park tour buses

[PSW]

burhrn, they park it only on tarmacs at major airports. They have to have at least twelve inches of reinforced, high psi concrete under it when it is sitting still 🙂 🙂

Paul

[bukhrn]

Where did they park that Red monster, certainly not in any NP, National Forest, COE, or any State Park we've ever been in.

[pnichols]

PSW,

I agree 110% with your "all this is just getting nuts!" observation.

The DW and myself started out with a new Dodge B250 van we converted into a very modest camper that we used intermittently between tent camping and backpacking trips.

Now all we have - and really need - is only about one step up from our good old B250 conversion, but with some luxury as you say ... A/C for the desert to prevent heatstroke, small furnace for cold nights everywhere, a galley, and a real john ... all in a 24 foot RV that's still based on a van chassis. However, we could at times use a 4X4 version of what we have. 😉

Since Mother Earth cannot possibly supply the raw materials for "all of us" to have what's in the photos above ... we wouldn't feel right having it.

[PSW]

For me, all this is just getting nuts! It is a long way from our 82 Chevy 2500 van we bought stripped from the factory for work vans and we converted it to a camping, traveling, site-seeing lovely. We had a couch across the back that gaucho converted into a bed, a porta potty, ten gallons of fresh water and a little sink built into a counter, along with some nice van seats and a couple of nice conversion windows. I was still living in the 70s in my mind, so we carpeted the walls and floor with shag carpeting and I installed a full sheet of 1/4 inch birch plywood to finish the ceiling. Young, stupid and full of adventure twosome with a dog going all over the country in this rig. What great memories of simplicity.

Now, I have to have at least some luxury....like a hot shower, a full galley and a real john! I got soft in my old age, I guess.

Paul

[RobertRyan]

tjfogelberg wrote:
Europeans have a different sense of size and space than we Americans. Look how many of us travel in 35-40' class As with 2 or 3 TVs, washer and dryer etc. I'm keeping an eye on Hymer - hoping they release something soon here in the U.S.
They have the Grand Canyon in production in Michigan I believe. Nothing yet on dealers or availability.

It is not what you think. Cars can be smaller i e Fiat 500. RV's generally are smaller, but then you have leviathan expedition Motorhomes and extremely lavish Class A/" Horse Boxes"
Expedition Vehicle

Horse box Interior



Van based 31ft Class A's that are also the basis for many Class C's

[tjfogelberg]

Europeans have a different sense of size and space than we Americans. Look how many of us travel in 35-40' class As with 2 or 3 TVs, washer and dryer etc. I'm keeping an eye on Hymer - hoping they release something soon here in the U.S.
They have the Grand Canyon in production in Michigan I believe. Nothing yet on dealers or availability.

[rockhillmanor]

PSW wrote:
Rockhillmanor, did they sleep and eat and live in that three story mansion? I assume they shower at the campground facilities...

I talked with them the best I could. :W

They were eager to show me their RV. It was fully contained. Bathroom showers, living quarters for each.

And the one 1/4 of the other side not shown in the picture that opened up with a full kitchen AND dining area for all of them to eat at! That was just over the top.

That was the part I liked the best. They had their own chef on board that cooked all their meals. Food looked REAL good too!

The front with all the windows is the touring car section where all of them have room to sit and watch while traveling.

Some of them on board have done the east coast to west coast trip 'several' times. They said they fly in, get in the waiting RV and are catered to while they travel to see the whole USA. They were all just smiling from ear to ear just happy to be!

I on the other hand had just pulled in from sitting in traffic and one lane (not wide enough for my MH)changing back and forth road repair driving a MH towing and was dead plum exhausted.

Sometimes there WERE days during my RV'ing that I wished I had been on a bus like that being taken care of. :C

[RobertRyan]

PSW wrote:
Rockhillmanor, did they sleep and eat and live in that three story mansion? I assume they shower at the campground facilities.

Thirty years ago, we saw a double decker from Europe at Moab, Utah and it had pull out drawers they slept in that were almost crypt like. I still remember it.

Anyone got a link for this thing?

Paul

The red one is like a Bus Trip, except you can sleep in Aircraft type beds,rather than in. a Motel. Too each his own on that one.
The MDT Volvo based one has a body that expands upwards. Volvo 4x4 would probably climb Mt Kilmanjaro.

[PSW]

Rockhillmanor, did they sleep and eat and live in that three story mansion? I assume they shower at the campground facilities.

Thirty years ago, we saw a double decker from Europe at Moab, Utah and it had pull out drawers they slept in that were almost crypt like. I still remember it.

Anyone got a link for this thing?

Paul

[rockhillmanor]

I was parked next to this at a CG on the Mississippi!



The people actually 'shipped' their MH to the United States to go RV'ing! I asked why? And they said they love the sites in America!

And then two weeks later this European MH came into the CG I was at!

These people meet up with this MH stateside and travel from the East Coast to the West Coast. They were all from Germany and Sweden.
The other side opens up completely and they have a cook on board that cooks all their meals. It was just amazing!


IMHO I don't think our RV's can hold a candle to the European ones. :W