Peter Gröndahl runs the company American Motorhomes which imports American motorhomes and caravans into Sweden. Through the company you can buy both new and used motorhomes and caravans, which differ in many ways from their European counterparts.
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ShareThe American cars/trailers are often large, often with slide-outs and are equipped with every imaginable comfort. Peter has over 15 years of experience in the industry, half of it in the US, so we're curious to hear what he has to say.
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How did you get the idea to start importing American motorhomes and caravans to Sweden?
It was a business acquaintance in the US who stopped by one day with an American motorhome in Ft Lauderdale. I walked in the door and there it all started at the same moment. I was instantly saved even though I was active in boat exports at the time.
What is the market for American motorhomes and caravans in Sweden?
I would say it is growing rapidly, especially motorhomes. More and more people are selling their house or condominium and taking the plunge, moving into a motorhome. Many people tell me that they spend or intend to spend the winter in the south in their motorhome.
Why buy an American motorhome/caravan instead of a European one?
Yes, it's mainly the large spaces that attract people. The trend right now is that it is the very largest ones that are most attractive. Here you can see a clear connection, they will live in the car. The motorhome becomes their primary residence.
Many people think that American motorhomes are luxurious and expensive to run. Is this true?
Yes and no. Generally speaking, they are luxurious although, as always, there are both cheap and expensive cars, so equipment levels vary a lot. They are more expensive to drive because of their size. Expect about 2.5-3 litres in mixed driving. Somewhat less when driving long distances, of course, about 2 litres.
Can you describe the most popular model of motorhome or caravan?
The most popular motorhome today is the model year range 2005-2008 approx, the bigger the better and preferably 4 slide outs although 3 is also fine. Caravans from the USA are so new that it is not yet possible to determine any trends at all.
If you order an American motorhome/caravan, how long is the delivery time?
Once the motorhome is found, expect about 2-3 months from the US and a month or so if you are lucky enough to find your dream route in Europe.
Do you drive an American motorhome/caravan yourself? Tell us about your vehicle and where you usually go!
I only go to different fairs, events and gatherings for marketing purposes. The whole summer is spent that way. But, a very own American motorhome will eventually be purchased and I know exactly what I want, an Entegra Anthem.
Finally, a question we ask everyone we interview: What is your dream destination?
Gotland, Öland, Kalmar area, Pataholm, Timmernabben and more, Sweden at all. I have lived abroad for so many years that Sweden has been neglected and needs to be explored. There are very many beautiful places here in our country and of course I don't know about all of them. Outside Sweden's borders, if I'm going to travel by motorhome, it will probably be Spain/Portugal in the first place.
Thank you Peter Gröndahl for sharing your experiences and thoughts!
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Lennart says:
Peter and I were workmates for many years in "Blacka"!
There you go!
13 February 2016 - 10:21
Mr Steve says:
American motorhomes are great to live in, of course. But, you must be pretty limited in your ability to get around with a big, bulky motorhome. Would you have been able to complete your European trip with a large American motorhome?
I had to google Pataholm. It seems to be an exciting place with well-preserved buildings from bygone times. Sweden really has a lot to offer, even for those of us who live here.
13 February 2016 - 9:43
Ama de casa says:
Yes, we have indeed seen GIGANTIC motorhomes in the USA. And the trailers they roll behind are usually huge as well.
When we saw such a trailer for the first time, I thought that it was very close to the car behind it... Before I realised that it belonged to the actual camper trailer 🙂 .
Great for driving around, although in the US there aren't that many narrow alleys... 😀.
13 February 2016 - 11:07
admin says:
Steve, of course you have a point. Whether you choose a large or small motorhome depends on how you want to use it and where you want to go. Some of the places we went during the European tour would not have worked with a larger motorhome. In Corsica, for example, we wouldn't have wanted a larger motorhome. Of course you can drive in Europe with a big motorhome (you see them every now and then and buses are almost everywhere...), but maybe not on the most winding and narrow mountain roads 😉.
Lennart, there you go! What fun 🙂
Ama de casa, I can imagine that you saw big motorhomes over there, everything is big there 😉 Haha, I understand that you were surprised when you saw that the caravan was stuck together...! 😉
BP, some campsites have small pitches, but far from all. Of course it can be difficult to drive on too small and winding roads with a too big car, but many people don't do it anyway. It is simply a matter of finding what suits you!
13 February 2016 - 12:06
Thor-Steinar Christensen says:
Hello all motorhome owners.
Driving a Monaco Dynasty 12 metre ourselves, we can confirm what Peter says. There is comfort, space and a level of equipment that far exceeds what European cars can offer. The price is also very favourable if you choose a car that is a few years old. These motorhomes also have load capacities that far exceed the minimum values offered by most European cars.
If you see such a motorhome on a campsite or caravan park, I strongly recommend asking the owner if you can have a look. You are guaranteed to be blown away.
Courtesy of the delighted owner of the TRR-487 campervan.
Thor-Steinar
13 February 2016 - 12:59
BP says:
What cars! Yes, in the USA everything is a bit bigger, so to speak. Thought just like Steve about the length of the cars. Many campsites have limited space, so you might not get a stand. Not to mention how they get around on small roads that even you had some problems with. And they're thirsty too.
But as a permanently installed RV, it can certainly be an option. After all, that's how many people live in the US.
13 February 2016 - 12:04
Ditte says:
Interesting reading and I can understand that if you get rid of your accommodation, a larger and more luxurious motorhome can be an alternative. I have seen these big ones in the US but they are usually stationary and do not drive directly up the mountains. Travelling on narrow mountain roads in Norway, Corsica and Sardinia is limited. But you may also have a smaller motorhome for these trips that require steep and narrow driving.
13 February 2016 - 13:42
Role o Carina says:
Yes, you can call it a motorhome, but a bit too big for our roads!
When you were in the USA and Florida then, you checked out a lot of nice cars ðŸ™'
The dream trip would be to go over and rent a mobile home and then...
drive Route 66 and live in the Motorhome 🙂 .
Enjoy the snowy day.... 🙂
13 February 2016 - 13:47
Goatfish says:
I have seen some giants at our Kronocamping here in Lidköping. Maybe not quite as big as the American ones, I don't know. And some have converted buses as well. No, it's so hard to drive these, but perfect accommodation when they are stationary. One does not like to go shopping with such a giant, well then you pick out your bike or motorbike.
Interesting post!
13 February 2016 - 15:40
Rantamor on the retina says:
That motorhome was a bit scary in its size, gosh.
I can imagine that it's not easy to drive in a big city, and it probably doesn't help just to fold the rear-view mirrors as you had to do sometimes on your trip.
But I understand that there is plenty of room in it.
Tjingelingen from Rantamor.
13 February 2016 - 16:01
admin says:
Thor-Steinar, how nice that you write about your own experience with an American motorhome! And what fun that you are so satisfied! We have looked into one ourselves on occasion and they are certainly nice!
Ditte, I think you should choose a motorhome based on what you want to do. If you like travelling on adventurous and narrow small roads, you might want to choose a smaller motorhome. A large motorhome might be better suited to those who want to spend a long time living in the car and are happy to drive on larger roads....
Rolle and Carina, in the USA you often have bigger roads and more space in general, so it is not so strange that these cars are more common there. Your dream trip sounds great! 🙂
Geddfish, yes, you can see these large motorhomes in Sweden from time to time, although they are not very common. I think many people do just as you say, you use a moped or something like that when you shop!
Rantamor on the retina, haha, maybe you have to choose where you drive... but where buses come from, you should be able to get there with one of these too 😉.
13 February 2016 - 16:34
Ninni, Henrik and the Knasen motorhome says:
Hi, yes there are many nice motorhomes, big and small, expensive and a little cheaper... Then maybe the need changes over the years for one too. Right now, we are very happy with our little splash - then if at some point in the future you want to go down and live a few months in the south, you may want a slightly larger one - whoever lives will see. Have a nice weekend.
13 February 2016 - 18:23
admin says:
Ninni, you have almost the opposite of an American motorhome 😉 But you're right, it depends on your needs, how you want to use your motorhome and maybe where you are in life. As long as you find what you are happy with! We also wish you a nice weekend!!!
13 February 2016 - 20:45
Solan says:
Motorhome was the word, said Bull. I immediately googled Peter Gröndahl's favourite car... Eye candy. I have always had a weakness for American motorhomes with extra everything. But we will probably continue with our standard car, 7.50 long and without slide-outs. Oops!
13 February 2016 - 23:50
Ruth in Virginia says:
I really hope that Swedish roads will not be exposed to American ones.
monster trucks. 🙂 Have driven across the USA in the south, in the centre and in the north.
I have not seen too many motorhomes, but I know that there are places in the
Florida and in Texas, where there are large trailer parks, where people live.
half the year and have an apartment in the north. Snow birds, as they are called.
Remember, when we lived in Alaska and drove to Kenai
peninsula sometimes, that we could end up behind a large Winnebago.
Impossible to drive past. Frustration PLUS.
Well, you already know how I feel about motorhomes. 🙂
14 February 2016 - 6:44
admin says:
Solan, we will probably continue with ours as well... but we think it's fun and fascinating to look at these big ones 🙂.
Ruth in Virginia, haha, I know how you feel about motorhomes 😉 Glad you wrote that about snowbirds. I have heard it before, but had forgotten the name.
14 February 2016 - 9:12
Deciree says:
If you had a motorhome like that...you wouldn't need an apartment :)) They are delicious. Hugs
14 February 2016 - 9:38
Jan A. Pressfeldr says:
Hello!!! I have a TIFFIN Allegro Breeze 2014 bought in the USA on the internet (Peter Gröndahl did the registration!). It is 10 metres, a perfect length in my opinion. And with only 2.35 in width and with a short wheelbase, it is great to drive in all traffic environments! Have driven around France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, never had a problem. Our last motorhome was also an American (of course!) but it was 2.60 wide and we had some problems driving around Scotland where the country roads were narrower than the car in places! But it worked, everyone drove accordingly - I can never think of a European one: nice to look at but often practical problems in damp and cold and in usability and comfort. The Americans have been building motorhomes for 70 years, in Europe they started in earnest 25 years ago, clearly this is reflected in American comfort! Here, no one can build motorhomes with a slide out, which is the icing on the cake of American motorhomes! And why do the Europeans insist on a cassette toilet and gas bottles when you can install a fixed toilet tank and a fixed gas tank? No, we have our 4th American since 1987 and we will never buy anything else! Jan A. Pressfeldt, Älvängen. PS: The magazine Husbil Test has a detailed article in the next issue about our motorhome!
14 February 2016 - 11:46
admin says:
Deciree, some people probably do just that... trade the flat for one of these motorhomes! 😉
Jan A Pressfeldt, thank you for your comment! It's great to hear that you are enjoying your American motorhome and interesting to hear about your experience of driving it in Europe! It's also interesting to hear about some of the differences that I hadn't thought of... Although the LPG tank is convenient if you can fill it with LPG? As for fixed toilet tanks... where do you empty them?
15 February 2016 - 9:38
Anonymous says:
Hello again! Filling a LPG tank costs less than half as much as filling P11s and the tank holds 4-5 times more and normally lasts 2-4 months! Emptying the toilet tank is no problem whatsoever in the rest of Europe, except in Sweden, which is unfortunately far behind. In Europe as a whole and for example in Denmark and Norway there are toilet emptying facilities everywhere, for example at many rest areas along the E roads. But in the southern part of Sweden (Östersund and southwards) there are many campsites with toilet emptying we free campers can / may use for a small fee. On Gotland, for example, there is a modern and newly renovated toilet discharge at Visby's treatment plant for free! Great initiative! We need to empty after 10-14 days and have never had a problem finding a tank emptying station. But our organisations must put pressure on the Swedish Transport Administration and municipalities etc. to organise toilet emptying at sewage treatment plants etc. Sneaking emptying in ditches is not a good alternative. Take care! Jan A. Pressfeldt, Älvängen.
15 February 2016 - 23:01
admin says:
Jan A Pressfeldt, thank you for your detailed answer! More people are buying fixed LPG tanks in European cars now too, and we would have liked to have them when we travelled around Europe... Thanks for the detailed answer about fixed toilet tanks too!
16 February 2016 - 9:51
Thor-Steinar Christensen says:
Hello again.
I see in many comments that there is excessive concern about the accessibility of large cars. Yes, there are of course restrictions in some places, and if you absolutely must drive on the narrowest roads and visit the smallest places, you have to buy a small car. We have driven all over Europe and visited most of the small towns in e.g. Portugal without any major problems. We have also holidayed in the Norwegian mountains in winter without any problems of any kind. In fact, we have several times arrived without problems on slippery roads and deep snow where European cars with small wheels and front tyres have been stuck.
When it comes to emptying the toilet tank, it is easy to solve by installing a mascerator pump. Then you can easily pump both grey and black water through a thin hose to the normal toilet or casket emptying space.
Seeing that some readers think it's workspace to drive such a car. A little getting used to, yes. But after that, driving comfort is completely incomparable to the European cars that are mostly built on van chassis.
But, of course, everyone's needs are different, so everyone has to choose the car they want.
See you in the Salen Mountains at Easter?
Enjoy your motorhome holiday.
20 February 2016 - 10:43
admin says:
Thor-Steinar, thanks for the detailed and informative comment! You can drive buses in most parts of Europe, so of course you can drive a large motorhome too! Then there are some places where it is probably difficult with such a large car, but not everyone drives in such places, so it depends on what you are looking for! Wishing you a nice Easter holiday in Sälen!
21 February 2016 - 12:15
Håkan says:
Hi Jan
I have imported mine just last week and need some tips .
If you can get in touch with me, I will be grateful.
Regards
Håkan
0705215590
20 March 2021 - 21:43