Chausson Twist

[GeorgeRad]

Just looked at this van Chausson Twist, nice. See on the video, I guess camping in France must be intimately linked with a sandwich with a saucisson. Camping car Chausson: fourgon aménagé, camper van et camping-cars

With the price of about €35K I could be for $50K in NA, but, don’t raise your hopes.
Motorhome for sale, used motorhome | Autoline United Kingdom

 

[rockymtnb]

Interesting factory video at that Chausson website showing their production process and testing procedures.

With an output of 20 vans per day (approx. 5000 per year) that's about the size of the entire US annual Class B market!

 

[Ron J. Moore]

They look like a nice rig. It would be interesting if more of the European Models were to come to America. Ron

 

[GeorgeRad]

I see a very different approach for building Vans in EU and NA, most of manufacturing companies in NA are sized as bigger or smaller mom and pop facilities, no economy of scale, generic lack of engineering, prevailing old technologies such as ubiquitous staple guns, single or low volume builds.

I had big hopes for Hymer coming in potentially shaking this market but as of now it is a disaster. It is difficult to change under the same top management. Prices in EU for Van Campers are lower than in NA with its bloated costs.
I wonder what would happen with NA market size if Camper Vans would be broadly available at $50K on Pro-“Ducatos” with rightly sized transmissions.

Every once a while I see a nice-looking, well-engineered camper van, and drool.

 

[mumkin]

It is difficult to change under the same top management.

This is certainly what I see as much of the problem. Too many of the problems with RT have morphed over to Hymer...

 

[booster]

This is certainly what I see as much of the problem. Too many of the problems with RT have morphed over to Hymer...

Exactly

We had hope Hymer would rub off on Roadtrek, but it appears it has gone the other way.

I just heard from someone that Hammil has been on the Facebook page busily arguing about how to attach solar panels, and how you have to have a total engineered design like Roadtrek does, etc. etc. Of course he is being his normal harsh and condescending self too, I was told.

I would guess he is that way in the business also, and would hate to be an engineer there for either design or manufacturing, as I am sure he interferes with everything, while mostly not understanding it all.