Record number of motorhomes in Switzerland: 110,368 vehicles reshape used market

Tolls, low-emission zones and wild camping bans in Southern Europe carry high fine risks. France, Italy and Spain require a Crit'Air sticker in France, a compatible toll box, and a mandatory Swiss sticker. Unauthorized overnight parking outside campsites can result in fines of several hundred euros. Overloaded vehicles and faulty brakes also lead to severe penalties.

The Winterthur city police are auctioning an abandoned Fiat Ducato 290/14 motorhome on Ricardo, which stood on a parking lot for about a year. The starting price was 1 franc; by early Thursday afternoon the highest bid exceeded 700 francs. The 1990 vehicle has 213,657 km on the odometer and is sold without keys, documents, or any warranty on its technical condition. The buyer must pick it up within two weeks or face a penalty of 1000 francs. The auction runs until July 31, 12:00.

The Swiss Touring Club (TCS) has equipped barrier-free bungalows at six of its campsites, including Bönigen and Flaach. The bungalows feature ramps, wide doors, adapted kitchen and bathroom, and hospital beds. At Flaach, a lift provides pool access. The project is a collaboration with the Cerebral foundation.

The Lazy Rancho campground in Unterseen near Interlaken has been child-free this season and is fully booked. Owners Virginia and Cheyenne Blatter received death threats and massive opposition but do not regret their decision. A market study confirmed the concept's success: the adults-only site attracts guests seeking peace and recovery after active days.

Rumors that burglars use soporific gas to drug motorhome occupants before stealing have persisted for years, but forensic evidence does not support them. European police have never arrested anyone for using such gas or found traces of it in burgled motorhomes or victims' blood. Medical experts deem the method highly improbable, as effective anesthetics would require bulky equipment and pose a lethal risk. The vast majority of motorhome thefts occur without chemical sedation.

The «Lazy Rancho» campsite in Unterseen, near Interlaken (BE), is fully booked after being converted into an adults-only (16+) zone last year. The move initially sparked a backlash, including death threats and fake bookings, but owners Cheyenne and Virginia Blatter report a calmer atmosphere and fewer conflicts. According to Schweiz am Wochenende, the site now attracts guests seeking relaxation, such as Scandinavian couples cycling or paragliding by day and wanting quiet nights.