He had been riding on the asphalt of success for several decades. But the motorhome has gone up a gear in recent years. “A growth of 8 to 10% per year, confirms Gérard Couté, the president of the French Federation of campers, caravans and camper-caravans (FFCC). With as many motorhomes in France, over 500,000, as in the rest of Europe. And three French manufacturers who are at the top of the road: Rapido, Pilote and the European leader Trigano.
In 2019, it sold 22,752, according to figures from AAA Data, an expert in automotive data. This is ten times more than thirty years ago. But less than the 2007 record (23,614 copies sold). Meanwhile, the 2008 financial crisis halted the astonishing progression. For a time only. Because, from the following decade, sales resumed their ascent, quietly but surely, like a caravan on a mountain road. With a sector that now weighed 13,000 direct jobs, including 7,000 in industry. And a high concentration of production sites in the Pays de la Loire.
"The craze is there"
And then patatras! The Covid-19 pandemic occurs. Only 7,076 motorhomes have sold in the past six months. A fall of - 36% compared to the previous year. Everything must be redone? "Not so sure," says Gérard Couté. Okay, this is quite a blow. But all the signals show that, paradoxically, the two months of confinement that we have just undergone could give a big boost to this mode of tourism, which allows to change destinations at the last moment. In the event of a reversal of the pandemic in certain regions, for example. "
An intuition confirmed by Yescapa, a start-up specializing in the rental of motorhomes between individuals: “The craze is there, observes Benoît Panel, its president and co-founder. We have just registered 8,000 reservation requests for trips in camper vans, vans and campervans in less than two weeks, which is 20% more than in 2019 over the same period. "
The feeling of having been deprived of a certain freedom for two months, the desire for fresh air and the uncertainties hanging over the holidays, therefore seem to have decided more than one to take the plunge. Like this family from Var - Clémentine, Frantz and their two children -, who is about to cross the country on an itinerary worthy of a Tour de France.
Ultra-competitive budget
It must be said that the option has some sacred advantages, once exceeded perhaps some prejudices. First, most vehicles are accessible with a simple B license. And the budget, in most cases, is ultra-competitive. Unless you want to buy a Rolls like this. Overall, three large families of motorhomes compete for the market.
A fitted van is accessible from € 35,000. Ford has just revisited its classic Transit classic, in the Transit Custom Nugget version (€ 55,000). The “profiles” (the driver's cabin is kept but the rear is completely redone), which represent 30% of the market, are acquired from € 40,000. And the starting bet for an "integral" (the top of the range, where only the original chassis and kept, everything else is refitted) is fixed at € 55,000. But the price can go up to € 200,000. “Be careful, Gérard Couté warns, for the purchase of a new motorhome to be profitable, it must at least be used three to four months per year, which is not given to everyone. A market therefore rather reserved for retired customers.
For those who do not have all this free time, the very dynamic second-hand market offers an excellent alternative. Like the Argus for the automobile, used motorhomes have their rating, published by the National Federation of Recreational Vehicle Distributors (Dica). "With first prizes around € 15,000," says the president of the FFCC. But here, too, we must be careful. Maintenance is very important because a motorhome is more fragile than a car. Of course there is the mechanics, but also all the equipment, the cupboards, the locks, the shower, the toilets… ”
It is also possible to rent between individuals
There remains the rental, a great way to limit the risks. Several choices are available to adventure candidates. Two classic rental companies, Hertz and Avis, rent motorhomes. Be careful however: at the end of May, Hertz's parent company declared bankruptcy in the United States. And even if the European subsidiaries do not seem concerned for the moment, be careful. Containment, including the closure of airports, also rocked competitor Avis. Neither express themselves on the subject.
“It pays me” newsletter
The newsletter that improves your purchasing powerI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
Rental between individuals therefore has a serious card to play. Benoît Panel had a hollow nose when founding Yescapa in 2012. Owners of motorhomes, who do not necessarily use it all year round, can thus rent it to families. With associated services, such as a free application which makes it possible to locate all the dedicated reception areas. Associations also offer their own network. Like the French Federation of Green Resorts, which brings together more than 600 tourist municipalities, off the beaten track and major seaside resorts. To be preferred this summer, to avoid traffic jams along the beaches.