Traveling in Germany, Switzerland and Austria - seeing configurations like this a lot:This is a horrible picture, partly because we're traveling 80+ mph while passing this rig, and I didn't want to be too obvious in taking the photo.Nevertheless, it appears that this single axle TT is maybe 23'-24' in living space. And we are traveling in the Swiss Alps, and the tow vehicle is a Volvo sedan. Didn't get a look at the hitch, because everything was happening so fast. I've seen multiple configurations like this and many more with smaller SUV's towing similar rigs.Wonder what the "yellow sticker" specs are on these vehicles?! ??

It's Europe, their physics are different than ours here in the Western Hemisphere.

Europeans use helium in all their tires.

GordonThree wrote:It's Europe, their physics are different than ours here in the Western Hemisphere.Exactly!downtheroad wrote:Europeans use helium in all their tires.While that would increase the payload, it makes the car lighter and therefore unsafe (tail wagging the dog, right?). The RV.net weight police will be here any second to explain why this person is a menace and likely an international terrorist who specializes in unsafe driving...

It's a single axle RV with 14" tires and It doesn't have WD...in many travels in Europe I have never seen a rig with WD as they build rigs that weigh a lot less than here. They also do not build roads with 6 percent grades. They also do not have web sites with nosey weight police.

Yep, it's from Europe. Can't be any good. They don't have any technology, education, experts, and they most of all they don't have any of those good ole rules that seem to protect companies from liability. Millions of Europeans can't have the same knowledge about rving as in the U.S.

Tow Vehicles . . . in the Alps | Good Sam Community

RobertRyan
Explorer
Jul 19, 2017
Bedlam wrote:
I see those you pictured as the exception and not the rule. The European infrastructure still cannot handle units that size even when I visited five years ago. Just pull up some Euro campground pictures to see what is common or look at what is available on the used market.

They are the esception, bit like showing top end Diesel Pusher Class A'but shows the progress of their RV's Europeans use rail a lot so RV' s are not as prominent. They do not go too wilderness areas like you do in the US, but river banks historical places mainly. Large RV's would be a pain there
Bedlam
Moderator
Jul 19, 2017
I see those you pictured as the exception and not the rule. The European infrastructure still cannot handle units that size even when I visited five years ago. Just pull up some Euro campground pictures to see what is common or look at what is available on the used market.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jul 18, 2017
Bedlam wrote:
I never saw anything that big in the 80's when I lived in western Europe and traveled the area covering Paris, Oslo and Dubrovnik.

They are getting larger in Europe. European Caravans have become a lot more sophisticated since the 1980's like a lot of RV's elsewhere.
Bedlam
Moderator
Jul 18, 2017
I never saw anything that big in the 80's when I lived in western Europe and traveled the area covering Paris, Oslo and Dubrovnik.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jul 18, 2017
Bedlam wrote:
My Scamp was heavier than most of the Euro caravans that were being pulled in the late 80's.

No these would be heavier than the Scamps and Casita's by a considerable margin. Scamp and Casita are very lightweight and can be towed by a smallish SUV. European Caravans do get 30-40ft models from the Scandinavian producers.
Bedlam
Moderator
Jul 18, 2017
My Scamp was heavier than most of the Euro caravans that were being pulled in the late 80's.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jul 18, 2017
Lessmore wrote:
travelnutz wrote:

Foreign made travel trailers fit for where they are made for and sold as everything is smaller in most overseas countries but not a chance they have happy owners over here. So different!

I agree . I have some cousins who live in the UK. My wife and I live in Western Canada and were having a discussion with said British family, about our plans to visit our daughter who lives on the east coast of Canada. It's 2800 miles there and 2800 miles back from where we are situated.

Our UK extended family members who have visited both Canada and the USA remarked how they had forgotten how vast the distances are in North America and in their case all their adult children (in the UK) are just within an hour or two driving distance from them.

They do understand why we drive a large sedan (Chevrolet Impala- new version) with the 305 hp V6, during our extensive travels in and about Canada and the states. They in contrast, drive a small 4cylinder, diesel hatchback.

Many of us make our decision...in this world... on our needs which are often determined by geography, distance, temperature range etc.

Les

Pretty well sums up the differences. US Travel Trailers would not work for them,as the European versions would struggle in NA and Australia. On the other hand they would be more than competitive with Casita's and Scamps etc
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jul 18, 2017
SouthpawHD wrote:
It's ok, the Volvo has a Cummins in it, and we all know the Cummins can tow anything :E

Not in Europe, they are Volvo engines. Cummins is a option only in NA. It is not an option for Volvo trucks in Australia
SouthpawHD
Explorer
Jul 18, 2017
It's ok, the Volvo has a Cummins in it, and we all know the Cummins can tow anything :E
Adam_R
Explorer
Jul 18, 2017
I currently live in Belgium and you see some interesting vehicles when it comes to campers, or caravans, as they call them here. I've seen one American spec 5th wheel over here and it belonged to a traveling circus and was being pulled by an older F350. Many of the caravans are pretty wide, far wider than the tow mirrors on the tow vehicle and sometimes they don't even bother putting extended mirrors on the tow vehicle. These smallish lightweight campers apparently work for them, but I don't think I'll be adopting the European mindset any time soon.

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