Campervans are big business in Europe. Wherever you go across, you will always encounter campervans – they are actually more popular than caravans or RV’s. Virtually every European manufacturer of caravans and RV’s includes at least one or more campervan within its range.
Although there are no overall figures available, some industry estimates have indicated that campervans may account for up to one in three of all new vehicles being sold each year. On top of that is a the massive second hand market and the conversion market in which campervans are transformed into all kinds of uses from travelling offices to street food traders. Some dealers even have waiting lists of up to seven months for prospective buyers.
Eco-Campers Gary Hayes comments “Campervans are a growing market. There has been a phenomenal rise in campervan sales since 2008 and the industry has also seen big changes.
So just why are they so popular in Europe?
Gary doesn’t hesitate pointing out, “Campers provide the space people need. It is easy to drive and very versatile. You can use to visit friends, use it every day to go to work or do the shopping, take it on holiday or go for a weekend break. In fact, you can use it like a car especially if you have a large family. Instead of having an RV costing thousands of pounds sitting outside the house most of the time, you can just have one vehicle which you can use everywhere.
About six to eight years ago, there was a definite move away from RV’s with people downsizing to campervans. RV’s spend 95% of their time in storage. A campervan can be in permanent use making it much more cost effective. It is more sustainable, more inexpensive to use, environmentally friendly and has much lower petrol costs. We are constantly being told that by our customers.”
This multi use facility is a key reason for the popularity of campervans. A survey by the UK Campervan magazine in 2018, undertaken in conjunction with the Caravan & Motorhome club set out to identify why people were so attracted to campervans. Almost invariably, the key reason was versatility. Almost half of all respondents commented that having a campervan meant that there was little planning necessary, and you didn’t need to take much with you. You could just jump in the campervan and head off, to ‘see where the mood takes me.”
Man enjoying the open outdoors with his van.
A distinct campervan lifestyle is emerging. Campervan owners appreciate how easy it is to drive and park a campervan, as they take up only a little more space than a conventional car. Respondents to the Campervan survey felt that by owning a campervan, they had a sense of being part of an exclusive community saying, “It’s a lifestyle thing – I love being part of the campervan scene.”
Wherever you go in Europe, campervan owners have a sense of individuality, appreciating the way in which campers can be adapted to suit lots of different functions especially when it comes to combining business use and leisure use. Street food vendors are a growing feature in almost every city in Europe, selling high quality ready to eat food from a campervan. At the close of trading, there is very little needed to be done to transform the vehicle to use for other uses. People can adapt the vans to suit personal tastes and interests.
Cost is another key factor in explaining the rise of the European campervan phenomenon. A new campervan can cost up to $125,000 (or roughly £100,000) but second hand versions can be purchased for as little as $12,000 (or about £10,000). In general, most people expect to pay around $43,000 (£35,000) to $68,000 (£55,000). Buying a caravan or RV can be at least double that depending on requirements.
Hymer’s Sunshine campervans are one of the most popular models throughout Europe. Talking to Sunshine campers they commented that demand for campervans is particularly strong in Germany, The Netherlands, Scandinavia and the UK. There is an increasing demand in Italy, while demand is slower in France.
The transport infrastructure across Europe is inevitably one of the key reasons why campervans are popular as a touring method. This is a continent where there are far fewer motorways & autostrada with wide lanes and long stretches of mile after mile of straight driving than is common in America. Many of the roads have developed over thousands of years from trackways connecting centers of habitation, which are not necessarily the quickest routes. Roads can twist and turn, and in rural areas are frequently narrow single track roads with just occasional passing places. Driving a full size RV along such roads is impracticable, and for those who have tried – a nightmare they prefer to forget especially if they have encountered a tractor coming the other way and been forced to reverse a long way!
A similar situation exists within towns and cities across Europe. No one would take an RV or even a caravan touring along routes, which include cities like London, Paris, Rome or even smaller places such as Rheims, Seville or Bergen. Narrow, congested streets are too small for wide vehicles and parking is impossible.
As Hymer’s spokesperson pointed out “campsites in Europe are almost always full. There is no off road parking for big vehicles. In America, you go to Walmart and you can see big spaces available for RV’s. In Europe, these spaces do not exist. Parking lots tend to be around 9 to 13 feet maximum. There is also the cost of fuel, which tends to be much higher in Europe than in America. Fuel can be very expensive in some countries such as Italy where 1 litre costs around 2 Euros. Europeans are very environmentally conscious and do not want polluting vehicles, so are keen to keep costs and fuel usage low.”
Social factors are another key reason when it comes to explaining the popularity of campervans compared to the States. It is unusual for retirees in Europe to buy RV’s and spend their time travelling. Europeans prefer to stay at home and use a vehicle for short holidays. In Europe too, there is a long established tradition of camping taking just what is needed for a short period. Small vehicles like campervans that provide both overnight accommodation and a method of transport offer the versatility admired by Europeans.
It is also a question of styling. Campervans are seen as sporty, elegant, chic whereas caravans and RV’s are chunkier and less adventurous. Campervans look good when attending music festivals, yet don’t look out of place at Henley Royal Regatta or Ascot! They appeal to everyone, from every type of background.
There is even an annual Campervan festival dedicated to anyone interested in the subject, from dedicated owners to self-builders and converters. Known as Camp Quirky, it offered participants the opportunity to meet other owners, take part in creative & sustainability workshops covering everything from felting to solar power; electrics for campervans, interior design, campervan cooking demos and even installing a woodburner – plus music and dance throughout the weekend.