Fell in love with USA RV's and what about the waste?Advice? Forums

teemyob

Hello USA Rig owners,

Just returned from Brownhills after a weekend of browsing. We have a Eura Mobil on a merc 4.6tonne chassis. I love we in fact we love it with the one main exception, of lack interior space without the awning up.

We have been searching for something European with more floorplane space, rear wheel drive & Diesel to no avail.

We have again staretd to lean towards USA RV's and would like some recomendations. We like the Winebago view but the ones in the UK sell for more than three times what the USA dealers sell them for. We do not really want something much longer than 23 foot mainly because unless it is rear wheel drive and around this it will not fit past my neighbours boundry wall. I would prefer a C class with overcab bed, slide out and Diesel or LPG converted.

Have any of you imported personally ?

My wifes biggest concerns are the waste and size (she epties the thetford and will not drive anything much bigger than what we have now) How do the sewage systems work on big RVs? I am under the assumption that black waste is held in a tank and flushed out with the grey waste? How many loo uses will the tank hold? where can you empty them? I saw a USA driver on the CC site Cromwell Newark emtying his down the motorhome service point! is this correct?

Also do you struggle with sites that will take RVS? in my research it seems whilst Scotland will take almost anything, Wales and St. Tropez as examples will get YOU TURNED AWAY.

Can someone give me some advice?

des

first, with regard to price. more like twice the price here, or as usual, same in pounds sterling as dollars. the main reason is 10% import duty, charged on shipping costs as well as purchase price, and then 17.5% vat on top. yes, you can save by buying in the US, but not 2/3.

Now the big issue. About waste. Most, if not all, RVs have a superb system. You use a 3" flexible pipe to connect, or at least lead in to, a disposal point. Most MDHPs are OK, but a few can only take grey water (Blackmore C & C C site is one). Then you pull one lever, and out goes the black (read brown) water. Then you pull the other, and out goes the grey (read soapy) water. Which cleans the whole lot out. A quick wash of the end (prob. with your external shower) and the whole lot goes away clean. No carrying, no hassle. We always use our own loo and shower, and the loo (black) never needs to be emptied more than once a week. The grey prob. twice.

If you can't get access to a manhole, sewer or MHDP, you can use a macerator with a long pipe (we have about 25 metre of this) to pump it all away. We have now bought a 10 gallon roll tank if this is not long enough. Twice the size of the usual, and can take black as well as grey, although I hope to keep it clean!

Finally 23 feet is very short for an RV. Ours is 34 feet, and has never been a problem in the 150 or so nights we have been away so far. However, the 8'6" width can be an interesting challenge at times. But this is off topic.

After 10 months of RVing, we can't see ourselves ever going back to European MHs. But fortunately, each to their own. Whatever you choose, good luck, and have FUN.

des.

theboadacea

Hi Teemyob,

I am looking at RV's too. I don't want a huge one - around 24-28 foot and the best one I have seen so far is the Safari Trek - they come in sizes from about 24ft ish upwards. They are a little square looking but they really open up inside.

They have a 'magic bed' which comes down from the ceiling in the lounge so it is aways out of the way. A full rear bathroom and acres of space. All the ones I have seen online (including the ones in the states) all pretty much have the same layout but the newer ones (last couple of years) also have a slide out in the dining area to increase the kitchen size. The lounge area is usually a sofa with a facing swivel chair but I have seen a couple with 2 sofas or 4 swivels instead. I think these may have been to order.

They are fab and I have seen them on US websites from about £12k upwards depending on age. Most appear to be around £17-£24k.

I am not entirely sure of all the internal workings but friends of ours have a 5th wheel and their grey water flushes their black tank, I would assume it is pretty much the same. They only have to empty their tanks once every 3-4 weeks. Bliss!

Let me know how you get on, I would be really interested on anything you come up with on importing.

EDIT: I think I have seen a 22ft Trek out there too - would that be short enough?!

exmusso

Hi Teemyob,

When we went to Alaska last year, we rented a Winnebago Chalet 23' from Great Alaskan Holidays. They also sell their motorhomes after one/2 seasons and the one we had, we could have bought for around £18000 UK, cost of shipping to UK around £3k. Equivalent UK cost £68k

Ford 6.8 V10 (10mpg) kinda put us off but camper was brill. In theory 6 berths, built in genny, proper flush toilet, real oak units, huge fridge/freezer, microwave etc.

I was about to post last night as I clocked their website were offering a Spring adventure. Pick up a brand new Winnebago from 22' to 30' some with one or two slideouts from Winnie factory in Forest City, Iowa and deliver it to Anchorage for max price of £35/night, 3900 miles free miles. 11 nights. Option to rent longer at reduced price.

When we were there, we met loads of people doing this and they were really impressed. When I checked last night, seems all the places were taken.

Their website still showing motorhomes for sale. Don't know if the moderators will allow their website so have removed it. Just google greatalaskanholidays for their website.

Cheers,
Alan

foggyparrot

You have never come across anybody as apprehensive as we (Jill) were (was) about buying an RV. The whole concept and experience was completely alien to us. We were caravanners (tuggers) for twenty years and really couldn't get our (Jills) heads around driving this monster let alone finding and then getting onto sites. Black waste, grey waste and to be honest, everything, was daunting.

We picked up the RV on the Thursday and, by the Friday, we were hob knobbing it with all our new friends from MHF.

Not only did they make us welcome. but they were all on hand to give us advice and support. In the seven or eight weeks we have had it, we have been away almost every weekend and for a whole week. That's as long as it has taken us, to not only feel comfortable with it, but feel that we now couldn't do without it. As far as getting into, or being allowed onto, sites, we have not encountered a single problem yet.

I suppose the thing to remember is, the wheelbase of most RV's up to 32 feet is so short that they are incredibly maneuverable with only the outswing to worry about in confined spaces or tight slow turns. They will fit easily onto most caravan/motorhome pitches providing there is enough overhang at the back of the pitch. Hard standing is obviously a pre-requisites your RV is weightier than the average European but, in the summer months, I do know of several sites that I would be happy to patronize on 'grass'.

With regard to the size, there is so little difference driving or manoeuvering a 30 footer (most of your driving time is spent going in a straight line anyway!) to a 25 footer, that I wouldn't compromise space in favour of perceived problems of access or drivability.

Like any other 'new' or different vehicle, 50 miles down the road and you become comfortable, 100 miles and you start to love it after 200 miles it becomes as welcoming as putting on a comfortable pair of boots. You begin to 'feel' the vehicle in exactly the same way as any other, positioning on the road becomes second nature, judging distance and space, whilst always carefully considered, becomes automatic. After a while you just 'know' whether or not you can fit through it, get around it or even get into it.

All of the things you have mentioned are justifiable fears but they are only fears of the unknown. The one thing that almost stopped us from getting our Winnie, was that we had nowhere to park it at the house. The solution was 10 cubic metres of concrete and the loss of the front garden (oh well!). Had that not have been possible, then I suppose we would have found SOMEWHERE to park it.

In my humble opinion, go for an RV but don't compromise. 30 foot will go MOST places a 25- 28 foot will go. Black waste always ends up in a sewer wether you carry it there in a cassette, gravity dump it with a 3" pipe or pump it with a macerator. It's as easy as pulling a lever and less messy or smelly than a portable tank.

Incidentally, our caravan and car combo was over 40 foot in length and nowhere near as maneuverable as our beloved Winnie is (we still can't get out of the habit of towing though, we tow a trailer and car!).

Mike and Jill (the eternal pessimists!)

Snelly · Eastern Rally Co-ordinator

artona · Moderator

Hi Mike and Jill

When Shona and I visited you we were both surprised you had only just bought it. You looked so "at home" in her.

stew

Lampie

I think you are thinking on the right lines. We hired a motorhome a few years ago when our baby was born she was no more than six months old. My wife had never been to Scotland so thats where we went, over night straight up to Oban, my wife woke to see the sun up over the bay, had a great week the MH was good ( benninmar ?? sorry if spelt wrong ) that was it. Next two years we both said we must buy one !!!. Mind made up started looking, buget set, looked and looked. Settled on a european thing with all the bells and wistles, " in the morning ( Sunday ) lets see what they will take for cash ". That Saturday went to visit in laws miles away from anywhere, passed a car show room saw this big C class out the corner of my eye being washed. On way back it had a for sale sign on, well after looking at it I said to my wife why make an offer tommorow on the european bus when we can have this. ...... It was bought there and then.

Nearly two years later, what can I say. Best thing I have ever bought !!. We go away in it whenevere we can, here or aboard. An RV is just that, home from home. Going back to your questions of concern, ours is 30 ft long C class, not been turned away yet from anywhere, yes it is great not to wheel last nights few beers / wine away the next morning while going for another drum of fresh water, thats what an RV does. Two years running on tight spaced sites on the beach in south of france for three weeks it is empty half way though and on leaving, Thats the loo and showers where required. And also remember these are designed to be used full time. That means when it is snowing and very cold, how great is that !!. You will find us this year straight after christmas to the 3rd of Jan enjoyinying Yorkshire.

Good on you for thinking RV. When you have had one you won't go back. 28 - 30 ft I am sure your will find ok. If you are not used to that kind of vechile especially the overhang at the back why not either hire or go for lessons in a 7.5t 20ft box truck, money well spent.

It is not hard, if storage is a problem ask on here someone will tell you where to go with it.

Happy RV ing .........

Lampie