MANUFACTURED IN GERMANY: Freedom on Wheels - The home of luxury motorhome | WELT Documentary
2022 ж. 22 Қаз.
1 490 080 Рет қаралды
Although motorhomes are not inexpensive, the camping market is booming. The flexibility and freedom of a vacation home on wheels appeals to many travel enthusiasts. Particularly high-quality models can cost more than 100,000 euros, depending on the equipment. What models are available and how are the mobile vacation homes manufactured? This report shows the production of a luxury mobile home.
#germany #rv #campervan
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European RVs may be small, but the built quality is superb! American RVs are big, but they build RVs like grandpa's or grandma's houses, especially the interiors.
The craftsmen of Germany have outdone themselves again! Thank you for sharing! Well done.
Let us hope the workforce at Bailey caravans have seen this presentation
In North America most of the motor homes are built with the worst quality. 1-2 years after you buy them, they are in the shop for 3-8 months for yearly repairs. Problem is you have 5 different systems, electrical, mechanical, plumbing etc. These motor homes are built by essentially 3rd parties not a real car company, ie like Mercedes. They source bits and pieces from all over to make a money pit on wheels.
You can say that again mate
Not if they're used to cook blue meth 🤣
Same in UK including motorhomes imported from abroad. Also caravans, held together with mastic and staples! Everything these days is fast and faster, quick as possible grab the money. Under warranty you have to return them from where it was bought, even if it was hundreds of miles away! Unlike cars there are no main agents. Annual services arent services, its no more than confirm things are working!
You pay what u get
@@alo1236546 unfortunately, North American RVs are not cheap.
I worked for a few months in the bus factory in Falkirk and it always amazed me seeing a new service bus being created from a rolling shell to a finished service bus so I find videos like this fascinating. 👍
Awesome I didn’t realise how much work went into making these rv’s 👍
The engineering behind building one of these is just absolutely fascinating !
Why do people use engineer as a verb for people who are not engineers? just say designing
@@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath I'm pretty sure a several engineers work on designing these in collaboration with architects
This video is about as great as it gets, thank you for making it. 🙏👍
strongly recommend a video on all terrain camper vehicles . . . for e.g. Bliss MOBIL, Unicat, Action Mobil, Krug Expedition & Global Expedition Vehicles etc . . .
Büyüleyici buldum. Bir defa daha gördüm ki Almanlar çok yaratıcı,çok sağlamcı ve işini asla tesadüfe bırakmaz!❤👌👌👌
amazing work welt
Beautiful great job
This is helpful for anybody designing their own DIY RV.
We did our holiday in a brand new RV in 2018 and it was very enjoyable and highly recommendable
What amazing quality and skill 👏👏
You should do one about Warwick basses and Framus guitars. I can arrange that. Those basses are played by all the famous bassists in the world and the company is based in Germany.
Massive respect to all the engineers working on boad to produce such an amazing vehicle for customers...
Can you imagen getting in an accident in that thing with wall's made of paper-thin aluminum and foam did you ever watch Chash test's on RV'S IF NOT DO SO.
@@philipstreechon4523 тоже об этом подумал ☺️👍
@@philipstreechon4523. Have you ever seen what a tornado does with houses , Big trucks and cows ?
Made of glue and foam. And they make fortunes selling these.
Unbelievable ! German manufacturing is really unbelievable in general !!
yikes i forgot RVs have sewage no thanks
you see this is the thing about society. Anyone, besides someone with a severe disability, im saying 99.5% of people can make their own RVs. However, they can't because they are Karens. So the Karens have to go work meaningless jobs like stock broker and US Department of Treasury in order to afford an RV to be happy, completed by savants who literally build the whole thing with a camera on the toilet release. You see what I am saying?? Smart, Hardworking people are so desperate for money, they are willing to do ALL THIS COMPLICATED STUFF for a Karen who only gets paid because there is literally no actual hardworking job they fit into. do you see my point ?
Knaus are really, really well made... I've built a few very special order semi truck trailers that have had Knaus top units fitted to them. For those wondering they were B-Double race car transporters, the A trailer was fitted out as a motor home, but we only built the chassis for that and Knaus sent us bolt on units. Considering they came all the way from Germany to Australia, they bolted up first time with zero need for mods. They were perfect. A very rare thing in multi factory manufacturing.
My gas connection in my new mobile home was not screwed on correctly after a short time gas leaked out. Thank God I happened to be present. Bad Work from KNAUS🤮🤮🤮
@@m.2085 Germans gassing people? Say it isn’t so!
Nice , very interesting. Loved all the details,
@about 23:00, you mention GVW of the top-line model. I remember back in the 70’s, comparable US models were often right at the vehicle GWL when empty, without passengers and supplies. As you can imagine, when it was exposed, it properly caused an uproar. Where are these finished, but empty, RV’s relative to the manufacturer’s GVWR? It speaks to the braking systems and drive train in general.
Many US RV "manufacturers" are very dodgy. I am sorry to say. Plus no lemon law protections buyers end up with vehicles in the "shop" for month after month after month. You get what you pay for.
Fantastic job
The German perfection ,respect to this nation .
They are the best yet some see them to this day as evil and are doing everything on their power to make sure they disappear and change from what they are today to an amorphous masse of generalistic dumbified homo sapiens.
@@joaocosta3374 j Hopefully the German politicians wouldn't allow anyone to destroy the German industry because it will be a big loss for the entire world.
I like those old Vixen RVs, can fit in a garage!
We will travel with my family using your creation for the future thank you for sharing. Nick Rodis portrait artist from the Philippines
Realy I like this factory so much
I love Germany!
Awesome! Great job 🤗😊🤗
I need a RV for my horn of Africa under the stars camping. This company should made my RVing dream come true.
Great video Thank you
I love Automobile so much and i wish to work in a manufacturing company such as this one day. I currently own a a retail automobile parts shop here in Nigeria but am hoping to study and work in either Canada or Germany. ❤
You need a finished training before going to Canada or Europe. One cannot just come and work.
The way this manufacturer builds these RV's is way more professional and caring for their customers than most not all but most manufacturers in the United States, I've owned a few, Starting with a palomino pop up It was ok, to a starcraft toyhauler now this was built tough, then a used 96 mini winnebago that was kinda a half limon the structure was good but all the appliances gave out pretty fast like the generator, frig, microwave, water pump, & the A/C I replaced it after 2 years for a newer 98 jamboree class c also i still have it but now that it's old and I have to get under it to patch it up and after looking at this video my sub floor is made of all kind of patches aluminum triply sheet metal And plastic & Fiberglass and real cheap materials.
Thank u 4 this video
It's all about the fit and finish. 👍
Its jus mind blowing!!!
Amazing video
It’s noticeable that the employees aren’t running while banging staple guns like in a video tour of a popular brand made in Elkhart. That video made it obvious why our products turn out as they do Even sped up the employees in this video are moving at a more respectable pace than they do here in the good old USA
I did see video's of american RV manufacturers who use chipboard floors!!!! The horror! When a european company would do that, they will go bankrupt over night! Chipboard for crying out loud! The cheapest crap in wood panel land! Put a piece in the rain 1 day and watch it become 3 times as thick!🤣
American RV manufacturers need to take note as all of this automation significantly reduces manufacturing costs which lowers the costs to the users. In return it also helps the manufacturers get a better return on their investments also.
Soon I will order mine, by God's Grace. Thank you Welt.
great doc
Great stuff. Wish I could get one here. As a side note. They have cool ppe/work pants, which brand is that?
awesome!
Wonderful.
I need to buy one as my traveling home
no he visto ninguna instalación de aire acondicionado,en un pais como el nuestro spain es vital, por lo demás esto perfecto, toda su instalaciones felicitaciones.
RV crash safety is primary in Europe. Not so much in the USA. We are still in the dark ages.
Sorry to say that it is probably the same. Safety is not priority in Europe.
@@matsstrandberg284 In Europe they crash test RVs. They don’t in the USA.
@@matsstrandberg284 Motorized RVs.
Haha you don’t want to see what happens to these in a crash. Literally no point in a seat belt! Your dead at even low speed crashes that you’d walk away in in a car! Swedish transport agency tested them. Scary!
@@Bonezmi16 Hymer has done extensive crash testing and did very well including children in coach seats. Others no so much. European regulators have passed even stricter regulations for crash safety and all drivers of RV vehicles including trailers must pass rigorous written and driving tests. The USA only has a few states that require extra training for heavy motorized RVs.
I think they're pretty cool.
Fortunately, as heavy duty truck mechanic I was able to avoid working on motorhomes most of the time. Some truck shops won't even entertain working on them. They're just a money loser for the shop. The motorhomes based on class 8 tractor chassis look like they might be a little better. Seems like a good idea to rent one if you want one occasionally. As it said with a lot of toys. The Best Day is when you buy it and when you sell it.
are these tested for North-east, North-west, South-east, South-west monsoons, respectively 👀 and what about during heavy summers, heavy turbulent winds, cyclones & floods ?
its very interesting to see a crash test for this RV. Its seems very fragile.
It’s all nice but how accessible will the systems be when they need to be repaired as they will break without a doubt.
Imagine how many workers work there. OMG, all those equipments
1500 workers
*equipment*
Do the interior fittings enhance the structure rigidity?
Yes.
Take a look at Liberty Coach USA 🇺🇸
How about the crash superstructure for the cabin? This looks like a floppy plastic cover with no reinforcements in it like the original cabin on a Fiat Ducato.
Anyone concern about a motor home manufacturer cutting out a structural c-piller without reinforcement? Also, i hope they are using a 2k rattle can paint. In the US, campers are built to not last. Built like house with 1x1 and just bounces down the road. I think the Motorhomes need to meet DOT as a vehicle, but aside from the cab and the frame, the rest is flimsy. I wonder if motor homes are crash tested.
In Europe 🇪🇺 motorhomes are crash tested. Quality of there factory build units is high. Wouldn't be scared to buy a 10 or 15 year old of these.
Nowhere was anything structurally important cut out here, that was only the subframe for the tank nozzle, not really to be described as a structural part.
It's interesting that no one has mentioned among the German quality comments that the vehicle is a Fiat Ducato. One of the best vans on the road. What does that say about the merc sprinters.
This line is good for building. Easy installation. But must be hell to work on for repairs in the later life. 47:13 It's good they blur the company name. Not give the company too much airtime here:p
A very good and informative video, pure class and quality build although the whole body seems to be very britle and only for the extremely smooth roads found in Europe. Driving such an RV over the roads of Africa will rattle it to little tiny pieces left all over the road. The narator should however avoid using the words "so called" as it gets to be very impersonal.
Nobody goes to Africa anyway.
Well yes, you will clearly select a truck-based expedition vehicle to tackle the wilds.
Not going to fare well in the UK either, Going to change GB to GP great potholes.
@@skatesneakerlover Are you serious Mr Ignoramus esq? Africa is the place to be and folks from all over the world are flooking there for holidays and investments. I can host you in my hut if you want to pay a visit.
@@tomlepski8306 Hmmmm, you've obviously never been there. If there was a 7th world country, Africa would be it.
These are way less expensive than in North America and way better built!
Ya I was thinking the same thing. Their prices are definitely less with better build quality. But I've noticed since I've purchased my first rv a class b. That rv market in USA has alot of dealer mark up the profit margins seem massive. I see 2023 class b at 203k pre delivery for the new year then like mine I purchased a last year 2022 still on the lot at 129,999... that's a hell of a profit margin not to mention they probably still make money at 130k.
I'm gonna go ahead and repeat Steve Lehto's advice. "Don't buy an RV" It's not worth the hassle
Obviously you are interested in motorhomes, otherwise you would not have looked at the report. If you do so with a preconceived opinion, you will only get in your own way and you will never experience the pleasant sides of a free and absolutely self-determined vacation. Of course, there are many bad models on the market but to follow a Steve Lehto, who demonstrably gives his opinion for money, or better demonstrably formulates in the desired direction of his clients is short-sighted. And never generalize everything you hear. Rent a good motorhome for a vacation and experience something very special.
@@gerhardma4687 Perhaps Mr Lehto (an attorney specializing in defective vehicles) should have said "don't buy an American-made RV".
I don't understand why there's not a single manufacturer in the USA who goes to germany and watch how we built caravans and campers, and take that to the USA because i'm sure alot of americans would love the superb quality, and they don't need a Ford f350 to tow the damn caravan because the larger ones weigh about 2 tons and that's it, and smaller ones start around 1 ton, so even a Volkwagen Beetle can pull one.
Super.oke.success.
I stayed for the dramatic Music!!
It looks like in the video that they use particle board and what do you do if it needs repaired or do you take it?
nonsense, watch again AND pay attention. They do not use chip / particle boards as it's way too heavy. This is all about light weight construction.
Hola tengo el problema de mala circulación en los pies a la altura del tobillo, no tomo, no fumo soy hipertenso y resistente a la insulina. Eh empezado hacer los ejercicios , que otra recomendación me puede hacer?
A fun fact is that Knaus', Adria's, Hobby's, or any other manufacturer's "superior models", are pretty similar to KABE's entry level models...
A lot of work. No wonder why they are so expensive.
Todo perfecto pero no ví ninguna instalación de aire acondicionado , indispensable en Argentina.
The American manufacturers are not even close in build quality!
American manufacturers compete on opulence and features, Europeans on engineering. It basically comes down to much more lenience toward weight and size in the USA. The top model of Knaus here has a gross vehicle weight of 11,000 lbs. A Winnebago of the same length has a GVWR of 14,5000 lbs.
@@Lonestar24 Opulence and features? Dude, you need to get yourself to a European RV show (the stuff there is freaking amazing) to see what real opulence and features look like instead of gaudy, inefficient and clunky, grandma-style shit we produce here for pretty much the same money.
@@choosumfat You may have misunderstood me. I'm speaking of things like slideouts, large fridges, generators, plushy couches, elaborate 110 volt nets and large solar arrays, air conditioning , all kinds of exterior hookups, powerful and 4x4 options. And they can do it because it's not a huge problem to live with a 30ft 15000lbs vehicle in large parts of the USA. That most of them are designed like Granny's underwear is a pity, but that wasn't really the point. Yes, you can have all that in some euro RVs, but it is uncommon, and in the US it is. The *common* euro RV is much more limited in size and weight, and hence has to be clever to make the most of these limits. It's a fundamental difference in the approach.
@@Lonestar24 I actually did not. You can have slide-outs (some much more interesting that what we have), larger fridges and elaborate everything. It's just a question of money. And as for them being common here, arguable. Most are just run of the mill class B/C with similar extent of basic equipment and capacity. The one pictured here is a 28' Class C equivalent. Sure it is pretty large for European setting (hence DL requirements) but you see them. Of course there will be differences in what people feel they like or need here vs there, and there will be some extremes, but that does not change the fact that our RVs are little more than slapped together livingrooms on wheels (most actually not more at all). The grandma aspect doesn't so much bother me because of style (whatever floats one's boat) but rather because it's so primitive in design/execution. And while true that across the pond size and weight limitations are far stricter and therefore RVs usually smaller/lighter, they are just as spacious, capacious and comfortable on the inside simply because of - from I have seen and experienced on few occasions of RVing thru France/Spain - so much better use of space and materials. They're way quieter than our typical Chevy or E-450 based RVs, too. Now it could be I'm talking out of my ass generalizing, I don't own an RV. I do like RVing though and occasionally rent them both in the US/Canada and in Europe and from my experiences, there's really no question which I would rather have (same money really).
May we import one of those to anerica?😅
It's such a pity the RV world has such a horrific reputation for reliability and durability. When lightweight, durable, and affordable compete on price, the easiest to sacrifice in the showroom is the length of time the parts will function.
you mean a horrific reputation in the USA, because that is sure not the case in Europe.
so they can biuld tanks too?
Odd. So many instances of using power tools and compressed air and the workers have no eye protection. Especially with the dude laying on his back with the bit driver right above his face? Germany doesn't have OSHA?
صناعة فاخرة
then when it gets to dealer, the sales people take time brakeholding redline in hopes of roasting the tires and drifting around the parking lot... they left out the part where they take the rv to taco bell and test out the toilets
I no longer drive and wonder if the roads are clogged with RVs, with huge busses occupying camp grounds on the mainland and Europe.
That is still infinite space for RVs on the roads and RV parks and campgrounds. In addition, the vast majority of motorhomes in Europe are nowhere near as large and oversized as in the USA. Optimum use of space is the first order of business
The only one I would even consider is the one on the M.A.N chassis Most of the red crosses could not be dealt with without serious work (go back and look how it was made) It has dowels that help (this or that) really ?, there were quite a few construction methods that were not premium for a German company (IMO)
Ask yourself why almost all European RV manufacturers are exclusively using Fiat chassis instead of MAN or Ford ones. Not for the price, they costs almost the same.
These are more difficult to assemble than cars. Even at €120,000 they are good value considering the cost of materials, labour and general production and design costs. Better value than many over expensive EVs.
lol . . . . @12:04, wonder if that includes the gray water too? . . . . that would suck.
Yes, it does. And while it would suck a bit, it's not supposed to happen on the regular. Black water tank you'd typically protect with a special liquid.
If you store it at freezing temperatures with full tanks and without plugging it in, yeah, sorry, that mess is on you. ;)
The problem with this type of construction is the vehicles interior can easily disintegrate in an accident, Plastic clips holding furniture board together might be a cheap and quick way to assemble them but can allow everything to fly apart and head towards the occupants especially in a head on collision. If you want to see how a bespoke vehicle should be assembled for true occupant safety watch how modular Ambulances are put together, most cabinets are bolted and glued into place.
Exactly. Seems there is a zero safety. That why I didnt see any offical crash test of RVs.
😍👍
I want to order one how much is it ?🤣👌👍✌️💋
Very soon this factory shall be producing horse drawn carriages (because of increased energy prices and de-industralisation) but state of the art (old habits die hard)
People that buy 100k+ leisure vehicles don't have to care about gas prices.
Wo gibt's das auf deutsch?
i cant see a roll bar installed as it looks like it will fall to bits if rolled
If it rolled it would definitely be back to a bare chassis.
great all this german engineering on italian fiat ducato successful platform!
Sad here in the US it looks like it is build it as fast as we can, ship it and have any problems found after being sold by the new owner fixed on their time waiting on parts from the factory , which may take months A lots of water leaks are fixed by the new owners just because of the wait time at the dealers..
Nice to see another FWD motor home. The GM one was one of the only previous ones and that was decades ago. But 180HP and a manual transmission aren't going to put Winnebago (or any one else in the U.S.) out of business. At least they're using plywood instead of the (weak, heavy, cheap) particle board mostly used here. Foam core aluminum faced walls help explain the only 8 Ton weight mentioned. In fact the largest, heaviest model is listed at 12,000lbs gross or 6 tons on the web site specs. Very light for a 29 ft. class A. Now if they could manage to get a current Ford power train into the FIAT chassis with the 400HP 10 speed they'd have something they could export to the U.S. FIAT/Stellantis doesn't have a suitable power train for that chassis.
That weight is important as the weight limit for the "small" driver's licence is 7.5 tons (loaded). Which, BTW, is included in all German car driver's licences from before 1999 but not the newer ones (only 3.5 tons).
So they can’t be used?
@@stupidhead9117 Upgraded license required.
The most heavy caravan in europe is about 2 tons and that's it. And they are superb quality and that's why you will find alot of caravans here that are 30-40 years old.
@@HenryLoenwind do you mean the total weight of the trailer/caravan or the entire weight with the towing vehicle all together?
Gdzie są testy europejskie stref zgniotu?
Where can I buy one travel home on wheels
2:40 Has anyone here realized that the door can open left and right?
What's the name of this motor home company please?
Hymer i think
"Knaus Tabbert" is their Name...
Watching this, you can tell why there aren’t any Formula 1 cars built in Burgerland. They’re made in Europe.
it was called fun on the job 5days a week.
Cutting away bits of body metal and slapping a bit of rust proofer on with a brush & then rattle-canning it 😂
The prices seem very cheap compared to American RV's. Granted there are no slides.
How do they hold up in crash tests?
They don't.. Safety is not a priority. It's only a thin wall of plastic and aluminium, no crash guards or metal beams.
@@matsstrandberg284 Just like all of them the only bus that safe is a school bus.
@@philipstreechon4523 exactly!
If it's German built quality will be the best they know there stuff
All too expensive… sad to have sold my old 1982 knaus camper… wish I still have it..😢😢😢😢Furthermore the accessibility of water and electrical systems is difficult for future additions and or fault finding and correcting. Would cost a lot of man hours…. 😂😂😅😅😅 but anyway thanks for the video even translated the German…
Why aren't the frames custom ordered? Why cut structural parts off in factory? What kind of high class German engineering is that? Spray painting your radiator is always smart too.
build your own 😂
@@davidnjoroge8495 That has to be one of the dumbest and laziest responses I've read on here in awhile, bud. At what point did I say I could or would? You are defending a company with sketchy and overpriced builds looking at other competitors in the market. Sorry if it hurts your brain to think a little now and then.
mr unknown , you are not worth awnsering. If you do not understand, keep a little distance from the kitchen
I thought the same thing too but since the chassis is built by Fiat it may be more costly by slowing down the production process.
Why masked???