FARK.com: (4970688) Brits baffled by American love of gaudy land yachts (with pic of what a European RV might look like)

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		Brits baffled by American love of gaudy land yachts (with pic of what a European RV might look like) (news.bbc.co.uk)		189
		More: Amusing, RVs, Americans, land yachting, high-definition video, operations manager, patron saints, no reason, refrigerators

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34015 clicks; posted to Main » on 26 Jan 2010 at 11:35 AM | Favorite | share:

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Snarfangel		2010-01-26 08:26:33 AM

A motorhome would probably plug a roundabout like a cork in a bottle.

/well, a cork slammed sideways and twisted, anyway.

labman		2010-01-26 08:28:46 AM

I loved my 36' Winnebago, but it just wasn't worth it. High gas prices and not enough time off to really go places made me sell it. (More the time than the money.)

Elvis_Bogart		2010-01-26 08:35:51 AM

Of course they show the most crazy, huge thing available.

The best thing is a camper on a 4X4 truck so you can go off paved roads and still camp in comfort.

No more sleeping in farging tents!

doublesecretprobation		2010-01-26 08:44:08 AM

really? american-style motorhomes don't appeal to people who live on an island that's 1/12th the size of the US where gas costs twice as much?

you don't say!

ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha		2010-01-26 08:55:34 AM

Talon		2010-01-26 08:56:39 AM

Elvis_Bogart: Of course they show the most crazy, huge thing available.

This.

It's pretty obvious this is the Brittish version of a sensationalist article. It's a "hey look at the foolish Americans spending ridiculous sums of money on ridiculous things!" I only made it a few paragraphs in (somewhere around the standard 6 LCD screen TVs), but I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere in there the author puts things in perspective and reminds us that while we gluttonous Americans are spending money on pointless monstrocities there are people starving in Haiti or some other way of making the moral outrage all the more pungent.

gopher321		2010-01-26 09:03:08 AM

This is what my family had while growing up...

The 1970s version of course. Fun in the Muskokas every summer, and all the sunburn, skeeter bites and bee stings you could handle.

rikdanger		2010-01-26 09:48:28 AM

Oh, yeah. Bring what you know, zombies.

Calmamity		2010-01-26 11:35:05 AM

I think maybe you guys (and the submitter) are misreading this article.

Yes, there are a few jabs, but for the most part, the author seems pretty reverential and more than a little jealous.

I dunno, maybe I'm just in a charitable mood today.

Nice rig, rikdanger. Is that actually yours? If so, does the back of your truck cab just come off and on or is that a special modification?

brap		2010-01-26 11:36:07 AM

You gotta love the Mae West house/hump car.

Come up and see me sometime. Honk honk! Like NOW bub, I'm parked in your driveway and my motor's running!

tricycleracer		2010-01-26 11:38:35 AM

I'd live down by the river in one of these:

www.travelizmo.com

Calmamity		2010-01-26 11:38:37 AM

Never mind.

I just noticed the watermark on the pictures and went and looked it up myself.

Those things are badass and hilarious at the same time.

Lt. Cheese Weasel		2010-01-26 11:39:32 AM

'Such a vehicle would be very good for picking up girls in Minsk.'

#2		2010-01-26 11:39:45 AM

Mickey. "I want the hector two roof lights, with the discover cushions and the matching side stripe caravan."

- 'Snatch' (2000)

AbbeySomeone		2010-01-26 11:41:59 AM

RV's are fun.

SpectroBoy		2010-01-26 11:42:26 AM

doublesecretprobation: really? american-style motorhomes don't appeal to people who live on an island that's 1/12th the size of the US where gas costs twice as much?

you don't say!

Good point.

However the Brits seem to feel morally superior for depriving themselves. It's a cultural thing.

I guess it takes the sting out of not living as comfortably or affluently.

GurneyHalleck		2010-01-26 11:42:41 AM

I'd be happy with a nice VW Westy Weekender, but they're so friggin' expensive and hard to find.

EthelPP		2010-01-26 11:43:37 AM

Now if they'd just require CDLs for the big-ass pusher buses over here. Grandpa's never driven anything bigger than a Smart Car and then just hops behind the wheel and takes off. Farking menaces to society.

Aridd		2010-01-26 11:43:38 AM

#2: Mickey. "I want the hector two roof lights, with the discover cushions and the matching side stripe caravan."

- 'Snatch' (2000)

Perri winkle blue

SpectroBoy		2010-01-26 11:44:23 AM

My type of camping. . . .

radioman_		2010-01-26 11:45:06 AM

Mickey. "I want the hector two roof lights, with the discover cushions and the matching side stripe caravan."

Yeah, I'm sure that's what he said. Even the subtitles went dysfunctional when Mickey spoke.

mud_shark		2010-01-26 11:45:12 AM

These things do not hold their value at all. Incidentally it was a UK band that helped promote these things in the states. You youngsters can look it up - there was a band call The Who who had a hit called "goin' mobile", which back in the day did not refer to phone service.

poot_rootbeer		2010-01-26 11:45:25 AM

"Does it have a deep fryer?"
"Four. One for each part of the chicken."

thumbnails.hulu.com

ShadowkahnCRX		2010-01-26 11:45:49 AM

Talon:
It's pretty obvious this is the Brittish version of a sensationalist article.

Seconded. "Prices range from $200,000 to $500,000"

Actually, the author was both over and under sensationalist there. You can get one (new) for anywhere from around 80 grand to over a mil.

Good4u		2010-01-26 11:45:56 AM

There is an RV capital?

Next stop: Elkhart, Indiana!

elkhunter		2010-01-26 11:46:16 AM

They can have my oversize SUV when they pry it from my cold dead hands.

Biv		2010-01-26 11:46:31 AM

/Hot like a desert world

mantrum		2010-01-26 11:48:04 AM

Bleedin' luxury, mate. And practical, too!

Eddie Adams from Torrance		2010-01-26 11:48:05 AM

gweilo8888		2010-01-26 11:48:36 AM

FTFA: "The latest RVs are breathtaking vehicles that express in equal parts the American family's determination to ~~explore the wild outdoors~~ travel from Disney theme park to Disney theme park via the world's largest ball of string, and their taste for doing it ~~in comfort~~ without putting down the TV remote, let alone leaving the sofa."

Fixed.

Magorn		2010-01-26 11:48:53 AM

gopher321: This is what my family had while growing up...

The 1970s version of course. Fun in the Muskokas every summer, and all the sunburn, skeeter bites and bee stings you could handle.

My Family (8 in all) in 1978 (which for those of you playing at home was the "pre-electronic distractions " era) in what I can only ascribe as a fit of temporary insanity on my parent's parts, towed one of those behind a (converted by the family) Dodge Maxi-van on a four-week trip driving across the country (We kids at the time ranged from ages 4-16) The really scary thing is that my sad had rigged the van such that it was possible to sleep all 8 in it on nights when we didn't have time to pop the camper.

It's a level of family "togetherness" I don't recommend for rookies.

But these days if you really must have an RV and are under 80, the only way to retain any "cool factor" at all is to buy a used School bus (surprisingly they can be had for about $1000 in decent shape) and do the conversion yourself (extra cool points if you add the conversion kit to let the diesel run cooking oil)

AbbeySomeone		2010-01-26 11:48:55 AM

mud_shark: These things do not hold their value at all. Incidentally it was a UK band that helped promote these things in the states. You youngsters can look it up - there was a band call The Who who had a hit called "goin' mobile", which back in the day did not refer to phone service.

Who?

/The night is hot and black as ink.
//love them
///off my lawn and away from my record player

Good4u		2010-01-26 11:50:27 AM

And to add...

"...until Mrs Boatman was eventually called to her eternal reward in the great RV camp in the sky."

I tried to think of something witty, all I got was lolz.

Magorn		2010-01-26 11:51:26 AM

Eddie Adams from Torrance [TotalFark] Quote 2010-01-26 11:48:05 AM

I'm to take a flyer and guess that that vehicle is on its way to Burning Man

vernonFL		2010-01-26 11:51:34 AM

Eddie Adams from Torrance

: )

AtomicHoser		2010-01-26 11:51:39 AM

Really? I'm the Weeners this?

www.webwombat.com.au

Another Government Employee		2010-01-26 11:51:58 AM

Magorn: gopher321: This is what my family had while growing up...

The 1970s version of course. Fun in the Muskokas every summer, and all the sunburn, skeeter bites and bee stings you could handle.

My Family (8 in all) in 1978 (which for those of you playing at home was the "pre-electronic distractions " era) in what I can only ascribe as a fit of temporary insanity on my parent's parts, towed one of those behind a (converted by the family) Dodge Maxi-van on a four-week trip driving across the country (We kids at the time ranged from ages 4-16) The really scary thing is that my sad had rigged the van such that it was possible to sleep all 8 in it on nights when we didn't have time to pop the camper.

It's a level of family "togetherness" I don't recommend for rookies.

But these days if you really must have an RV and are under 80, the only way to retain any "cool factor" at all is to buy a used School bus (surprisingly they can be had for about $1000 in decent shape) and do the conversion yourself (extra cool points if you add the conversion kit to let the diesel run cooking oil)

I want to do that when I retire. I have a plan in an old Whole Earth Catalog.

There is one advantage to the factory RV's, though. Much better weather resistance.

Snarfangel		2010-01-26 11:54:00 AM

AtomicHoser: Really? I'm the Weeners this?

You are the Weenerest.

Iknhaton		2010-01-26 11:54:05 AM

Came for the pics of that Brad Pitt movie Farkers are so fond of... the one with the caravans.

Leaving dissapointed.

karmaceutical		2010-01-26 11:54:18 AM

I don't understand it either, this version of "camping." You take a half million dollar condo on wheels and drive across the country and pay someone money to park in a well groomed grassy parking lot with sewer service and cable tv (of course, you've got own dish if they don't have it). Of course, it is handy to park there while you drive the other car you towed into town to eat at Cracker Barrel or Applebees.

imfallen_angel		2010-01-26 11:54:30 AM

If I could get one that's nuclear powered (no gas costs), that's able to go in water (submersible would be best), and big enough for the family, I so would love one.

(counting on the fact that I could afford it)

Blueintheballs		2010-01-26 11:56:10 AM

Talon: Elvis_Bogart: Of course they show the most crazy, huge thing available.

This.

It's pretty obvious this is the Brittish version of a sensationalist article. It's a "hey look at the foolish Americans spending ridiculous sums of money on ridiculous things!" I only made it a few paragraphs in (somewhere around the standard 6 LCD screen TVs), but I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere in there the author puts things in perspective and reminds us that while we gluttonous Americans are spending money on pointless monstrocities there are people starving in Haiti or some other way of making the moral outrage all the more pungent.

You're a sensitive soul aren't you. Read the article, it's almost gushing with praise for America.

tricycleracer		2010-01-26 11:56:44 AM

imfallen_angel: If I could get one that's nuclear powered (no gas costs), that's able to go in water (submersible would be best), and big enough for the family, I so would love one.

(counting on the fact that I could afford it)

Would you settle for just amphibious?

Terra Wind^ (new window)

BleedPinstripes		2010-01-26 11:57:37 AM

doublesecretprobation: really? american-style motorhomes don't appeal to people who live on an island that's ~~1/12th~~ 1/38th the size of the US where gas costs twice as much?

you don't say!

FTFY.

wiregeek		2010-01-26 11:57:41 AM

Magorn: gopher321: This is what my family had while growing up...

The 1970s version of course. Fun in the Muskokas every summer, and all the sunburn, skeeter bites and bee stings you could handle.

My Family (8 in all) in 1978 (which for those of you playing at home was the "pre-electronic distractions " era) in what I can only ascribe as a fit of temporary insanity on my parent's parts, towed one of those behind a (converted by the family) Dodge Maxi-van on a four-week trip driving across the country (We kids at the time ranged from ages 4-16) The really scary thing is that my sad had rigged the van such that it was possible to sleep all 8 in it on nights when we didn't have time to pop the camper.

It's a level of family "togetherness" I don't recommend for rookies.

But these days if you really must have an RV and are under 80, the only way to retain any "cool factor" at all is to buy a used School bus (surprisingly they can be had for about $1000 in decent shape) and do the conversion yourself (extra cool points if you add the conversion kit to let the diesel run cooking oil)

Anchorage.craigslist.org says I can't have one for under $2000, sometimes I hate living in Alaska.

I'll be farked if I don't want one, though.

enforcerpsu		2010-01-26 11:58:19 AM

Because here in America, we do things way more ridiculous and way more over the top than is ever necessary. When you are the world's only super power, you get own portable house with high def TV not because you need, but because you CAN.

And we like it gawddamnit! Now where did I put my hummer keys??

/doesn't own an RV.
//If you do...cool.

wiregeek		2010-01-26 11:58:22 AM

BleedPinstripes: doublesecretprobation: really? american-style motorhomes don't appeal to people who live on an island that's 1/12th 1/38th the size of the US where gas costs twice as much?

you don't say!

FTFY.

'e forgot Alaska again, dinnt 'e?

bungle_jr		2010-01-26 11:58:44 AM

i'm not much of a camper. once every few years i'll spend then night in a tent at a lake in a designated camping spot.

when stationed in germany about once a year friends and i would camp in tents for 4 or 5 nights for rock festivals

aside from that, rather than paying ginormous payments for a drivable house, i'll just stay in a hotel. doesn't have to be any kind of fancy hotel, a place with a bed, a shower, and a tv is all i need, and FAR cheaper than payments and gas on an rv