His&Hers took the opportunity for a week touring visiting friends last week. We stopped off for lunch one day and encountered this. Rigs of this size are not uncommom in the States (and are known as a 5th wheel) and, as we are coming to the end of the season out here, there are plenty on the road making their way back to their winter quarters. I had hoped that an opportunity would present itself to show a photo and was sure that Randa would be thrilled...

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I thought it might also be fun to show Hers Hymer Touring GT (as they are known out here - a layout similar to a 540) in comparison....

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Yes, I can understand that and, indeed, have seen it. One of Mrs B's work colleagues, who travels the States working on fixed term (maybe 6 month duration or longer) projects, does not own a conventional home, but lives with her husband and leads an itinerant life style, going from one location to another as contracts demand it.

The one I photographed is not the smallest I have seen on this trip. That one only has 2 axles, 3 axle versions are not uncommon. And they all have 'slide outs', portions of the body that extend out to the side othe frame, expanding living quarters to (it must be said) extremely comfortable accommodation. My Brother-in-Law has a smal version of the type and, even that, has a full size bathroom...

Somehow, in America, they're fine. There's the space for them. I understand that people want and need them. But in Europe, it's getting really silly. There are more and more, the roads can't cope and were never designed to manage such enormous vehicles. Towns get completely seized up. There are towns in France that ban them now. The little streets just can't cope. We're told that vans (small ones) are becoming more popular but I'm not seeing proof of that. What we are seeing are a LOT more caravans. People are digging their grandparents vans out of barns, doing them up and using them. It's lovely to see.
Having said all that, I bet that 5th wheel is really comfy inside LOL Roger, we've been watching that programme too. Some of them make your eyes boggle.

The panel van conversions (PVC) are selling like hot cakes in the UK. Last week the site we were on had a row of seven of them and overall there were more than a dozen in a site with a total of 25 pitches occupied. Having owned two PVCs over the years I suspect many new owners will be disillusioned as they're really not big enough for comfort. It's interesting that whilst the original PVCs were all under 6m long, there are more and more models available on 6.4m long bodies. That suggests that the 6m owners do feel rather constrained.