Ok so I am in Munich for work this week and as I am traveling from the airport to the hotel I am AMAZED at how many vehicles are pulling RVs. The shocking thing is not the popularity of RVing here as it is simply beautiful country, but the tow vehicles pulling them! I saw nothing larger than a Mercedes SUV, actually looked smaller - like a crossover style, pulling very large trailers. Not pop ups, not hybrids, but full size TT's!
I cannot help but wonder if they use extremely lightweight construction materials here or if the Mercedes is some how capable of handling these TT's - oddly enough it was always a Mercedes doing the pulling and while that is of course a highly popular brand here there are other brands sold so it could have been coincidence or something to it?
2012 Roo 233S, Husky Centerline WDH
'04 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab, 4WD, 5.7L V8 Hemi, 3.92 axle ratio
DH - Steve
DD - Addison (AKA Addytude)
I want to capture the world - one photo at a time!
Nikon D7000
Nights camped in 2012 - TBD
Most campers in Europe appear to be lighter than US RV's in my estimation. The willingness of the Euros to pull with smaller vehicles is driven by fuel prices and the overall smaller size of vehicles available in those areas. Driving a SuperDuty in some of those places would be impossible.
I lived in Germany for 4 years. I had a Volkswagen Westfalia and traveled/camped in most all the neighboring countries. It was the way to "Caravan" as they referred to it. It was a lot of fun and adventures. Met a really lot of great folks and was always treated well, even when language was a barrier.
Have you ever tried to get the highly rated European trailer hitch for a German vehicle like a Mercedes or VW, in the good old USofA? Next to impossible. But their weight ratings are much higher than the ones you can get here. One of the members of RV.net had to go to Germany to get his for a VW Passat wagen!
Quote: Ok so I am in Munich for work this week and as I am traveling from the airport to the hotel I am AMAZED at how many vehicles are pulling RVs. The shocking thing is not the popularity of RVing here as it is simply beautiful country, but the tow vehicles pulling them! I saw nothing larger than a Mercedes SUV, actually looked smaller - like a crossover style, pulling very large trailers. Not pop ups, not hybrids, but full size TT's!
I cannot help but wonder if they use extremely lightweight construction materials here or if the Mercedes is some how capable of handling these TT's - oddly enough it was always a Mercedes doing the pulling and while that is of course a highly popular brand here there are other brands sold so it could have been coincidence or something to it?
They and us (From Australia) would be shocked to see you using Pickups to move things when a full size truck moves much more faster and cheaper.
The European RV's are lightly built and are perfectly suited for their needs. Each country in Europe has its own specific needs and they have RV's designed to meet those needs. A US 5ver and a dually would be a nightmare on European roads. Even US Travel Trailers would be a problem, they would not like the interiors to begin with and the width and lengths would not work on their narrow non- Freeway /Toll roads.
The European RV Industry is huge and the Caravan Salon held in Germany is the biggest RV Exhibition globally. What you saw in Munich is similar to Australia a lot of vehicles towing all year round though.
Offline
Online
