Hello from Europe! And why is USA so (UNINFORMED/UNDER-EQUIPPED)

[Paddy]

So, I’m from USA. Born and lived in Oregon my whole life. And here I am again in the Swiss alps in a rented fiat globebus. Last week we had a ford transit chassis motorhome in Iceland and we got that thing into some compromising positions! Well, okay, they aren’t “overland” vehicles by any stretch, but for what they do they are AMAZING. as in, medium size, great fuel economy, manual trans, baby diesel and all the interior finishes and appointments are SPOT ON. This in comparison to the 100k$ sports mobile that we call state of the art at home which is a complete piece of crap and a waste of a Mercedes platform. We are two dudes traveling and these Ducato motorhomes are so great. They turn harder than the sprinters, heck they turn harder than my freaking Suzuki Vitara, they fly down the road and have all kinds of well thought out features like shades and screens and power steps and 3 way AUTOMATIC switching fridges and drop down beds etc.

So, can someone please tell me WHY this type of motorhome isn’t available in USA? I’ve used these since forever in Europe and theyre brilliant for touring.

Sport mobile is a joke. Hey sportmobile, look up “cassette toilet” and pull your head out of the dark water ages. ******. We put a composting toilet in ours which was a big improvement but still, for what they charge they don’t offer more than some press board cabinets and magnetic bug screens. Sheesh. This globe bus even locks the side man door with the chassis remote fob.

 

[RVflyfish]

...all the interior finishes and appointments are SPOT ON...and [they] have all kinds of well thought out features like shades and screens and power steps and 3 way AUTOMATIC switching fridges and drop down beds etc.

I'm in your camp: SMB could do it sooo much better. I've long since given up on them and decided to build my own.

Can you post pics of the stuff you really like (including brands/models where possible)? I see bits and pieces of European stuff in build threads and think, "Yes! Like that!" It would be great to see it all in one place. Thanks in advance if you can swing it.

 

[Victorian]

My words.... American made RV's are crap. Build for max profit and fast returning customers to buy another one. Don't get me started on the interior design on most RV's... Like they are stuck in the 70's....

 

[Bikersmurf]

Unless I’m mistaken, compressor based fridges are way more efficient than the three way fridges that have to be level. 12/24/120/220v... add a solar panel or two and have cold on a 30 deg slope.

 

[eporter]

As usual, the US is a bit behind Europe. We’re really just having our whole “van-life” renaissance right now. They figured out long ago that bigger isn’t always better. Heck, we’re still commuting in giant pickups! Give it another decade and there will be a lot more (cheaper) commercial options for smaller, well-designed, camper vehicles.

 

[CSG]

I don't have a lot of use for Europe on most levels (save for history and travels) but I have to agree, almost all North American RVs of all types, suck compared to what's available overseas. But if Americans wanted those types of RVs, some manufacturer would have to respond, right? RIGHT?

 

[rontaki]

I don't have a lot of use for Europe on most levels (save for history and travels) but I have to agree, almost all North American RVs of all types, suck compared to what's available overseas. But if Americans wanted those types of RVs, some manufacturer would have to respond, right? RIGHT?

Winnebago Revel for a start...

 

[CSG]

It's not much of a start from the looks of the interior and most of the design cues. Pleasureway and Roadtrek need to get on the 4x4 Sprinter bandwagon but would have to consider their own designs to handle off-road use. Otherwise, they are as close to what's right, especially the PW Ascent and longer versions in a small, efficient RV.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Your line of argument I think could be applied to global vs. domestic vehicles generally.

 

[vintageracer]

The RV industry as a whole shipped 450,000 units in 2016, 513,000 units shipped in 2017 and are on pace to ship over 550,000 units in the 2018 model year. Unemployment in Elkhart Indiana (Heart of the RV Industry) is 2% with 5% of the population being Un-employable due to drugs, alcohol, Opioid's or a criminal record.

Bottom line is "Business is GREAT, People are Wonderful and were selling all the RV's we can make"!

Leave the Overland stuff to the small niche manufacturer's who also happen to be sold out.

The RV Industry as a whole has a lot bigger fish to fry than meeting the niche needs of the Overland Community. Talk to us next year when the RV market starts to go back to Hell. Maybe just Maybe however I doubt it that we will be interested in the overland community then either!

 

[Bikersmurf]

For only a bit more than the price we are paying for crap, quality rigs could be built. Big companies can make Huge money building crap... and then selling us new crap a few years later. Why would they build something with smaller margins that won’t fall apart?

 

[Christian P.]

I think we are just not talking about build quality here. Some of these European campers are also build very cheaply.
But the innovation and design are way ahead for sure.

 

[rkj__]

Don't get me started on the interior design on most RV's... Like they are stuck in the 70's....

Last year, my wife and I (both in our twenties), went to a big RV show in Toronto. We concluded we must not be the intended demographic for most RVs. It seems like they are designed for 65 year olds, who want to feel at home, when they are on the road. Their "home" being a house built in the 70s, and not upgraded stylistically at all.

There are a few nice interior designs, but they seem few and far between.

 

[WVI]

DOT/EPA!

 

[Ovrlnd Rd]

First of all to the OP, the USA is not stupid just because the toys you want aren't made here. Stay in Europe and play with all the crap you want. I'm really sick of ************** in other countries knocking ours and thinking whatever socialist utopia country they're in is better. I, for one, am happy you're there and not here.