American RV vs European Motorhome Forums

Yorkscouple

Hi all,
We are Ian & Kay from West Yorkshire, last year we decided that we would go full timing after having become fed up of the rat race, after having spent last year "doing up" the house ready for sale we are nearly ready for the off, but have one pleasant dilema to resolve, should we buy an American RV and all the space that goes with it, or compromise with a smaller but more manouverable european model?
We would realy welcome any stories and advice, particularly from RV owners, We realy fancy one but guess we just want a bit or feassurance.
Also we believe that somewhere there are a few "full time" camp sites that offer seasonal rates, does anyone know of any of these?
We look forward to receiving your comments and suggestions.
All the best
Ian & Kay

smifee

hi ian & kay

i went the european MH route and one of the reasons i did so was the large number of RVs for sale and the few you see in use. Why Question

i think it's because people find they are too big for europe and then sell 'em.

coolcolly

My view - if you want to LIVE in your 'van' and won't be travelling all the time you should give an RV serious consideration. Not all RVs are 40ft+monsters, and sites do take them. If you look you do see them, and the reason you see them for sale I think is becuase people change their lifestyles, trade up/down etc.
I wouldn't get one for 'holidays' - I do have the use of a smaller European motorhome which is excellent for shorter trips and getting into towns/villages - but it is too small after a week or so and I certainly would not want to live on one.
You mention long stays (a good choice for full-timing) - so if you do some planning and want luxury - my vote would be for an RV. "Proper" bedroom with walk round bed, bathroom etc etc. Full size fridge freezer, TV, maybe a TV in the bedroom too. Maybe a minibar, icemaker, washer/dryer as well....
Park it, set it up with "city water", sewer connection etc and you're in an apartment! I wouldn't want to live somewhere I had to carry my waste to a dumpstation etc every few days...
I'm sure that many will try to steer you away from an RV.... ask them if they've ever used one....

Yorkscouple

Thanks for your replies so far, and thanks coolcolly (hope we have spelt it right), must admit we are edging towards the RV as the extra space and luxury we feel will outweigh the sometimes inconvenience of size

twodogs

Hello
theres a fantastic book out there called "RV UK" by Nick Berry it covers usage of a American RV in the UK totaly unbiased and a fantastic read I got mine from ebay.
Twodogs

mauramac

Hello newcomers and welcome to the site.
I'm not really in a position to give advice about actually living in a MH but I also would dearly love an RV. I am looking for one of the smaller B Class ones which are very well fitted out and have plenty of power under the bonnet. As previously said they have all the luxury that European models seem to stint on and if they do have them they are squeezed in and at extra cost. The automatic engines have been tried and tested over many many years and rarely have problems - unlike European models who are still struggling to get that right - read reports about them in MH mags.

Lastly, I'm not sure why Mike (Smifee) says there are so many for sale and not many on the road. If you look in the classifieds there are hundreds of European/British MH's for sale by comparison, and by virtue of the fact that there are less RV's available over here then obviously there are less on the road. If you went to the States how many European MH's do you see?

My advice is look at both and maybe try and hire for a while to see which you prefer - it would be money well spent in the long run. Obvious downside with RV's is the low mpg due to lovely big engine (but no pulling problems) and the length if you go for one of the really big boys. They do come in all sizes - we are looking for one under 20' long and they do exist, just rare to get hold of. If you want any websites for RV's then PM me and I will send them to you.

Good Luck

Maura

smifee

hi maura

the reason i say the number for sale is disproportionate is that it is.

in the march mmm single veh classifieds 1 in every 5 ads is for an american rv. 141 RVs to 549 MHs.

on the road, on sites & on aires i don't see 1 in 5 RVs do you Question

they are just too big and in the case of the day vans too expensive.

mauramac

I do take your point Mike and you have obviously done your sums.
Like I said I am really no authority on the subject it was just my impression of things.
Perhaps most of the RV's that are purchased do stay on sites because of their size. I know a lot are purchased for use by film crews and pop stars and motor racing companies just because they are so spacious and luxurious.

But what do I know Embarassed

I'm still driving around in my Honda CRV waiting to get my grubby little hands on a RV.

Maura

Detourer

On a recent tour I was running one of the group drove a HUGE RV, Damon I think. I was very worried when they turned up, but it was no problem at all. It went everywhere all the others went (touch tight once or twice). And, you should have seen the Arab's faces as we rolled up at Erg Chebbie Dunes!!!

One point. I had my wife along on this trip (silly I know). Anyway, she was taken ill and the RV "took her in"........nothing but the fittest would survive in my Unimog Overlander.......she spent two days on their double bed and in and out of the loo, while on the move (them, not her). Said she never felt a thing while in the back.........better stop there, I can see the whole getting bigger.

If/when I ever stop this desert roaming it's a BIG RV for me!

coolcolly

I wouldn't suggest aires are a good option for full timers unless travelling all the time or en route to the next 'stop' - if you are going to LIVE in a motorhome in comfort surley you want to stop for a while at a place with decent facilities... get to know a location for a while, etc.. and have some SPACE

and what does it mater what the ratio of ads is in MMM or how may RVs you've "eye spied" on your local roads??? (what ratio or RVs would make them OK... but hang on, they're "just too big"....)
So how big are you [i:f5233af083]meant[/i:f5233af083] to have?
..and if day vans are "too expensive", what's an acceptable amount to spend?
confused