The magic of the Liner: big, bigger, biggest

Liners represent the absolute top class of the camper world. A Liner is big, tall, heavy, requires a C driving license, and you can't go everywhere with it. So what is the magic of such an oversized super camper? CampersCaravans investigates for you.

'Liners' form a separate category among campers. They are almost without exception integrated motorhomes with a weight of up to 20 tons, but there are also oversized alcove campers, such as those from Concorde and Frankia. For integrated motorhomes, think of brands like Morelo, Concorde, Niesmann+Bischoff, Carthago, and Phoenix. But it can get even crazier, with Vario Mobil, Volkner, which are built only to order, with a price tag of one and a half million euros or more. Why would you choose such a behemoth?

On order

Luxury and comfort – that's what most camper manufacturers advertise. Yet most campers struggle with a maximum permissible mass of 3,500 kilos. For those who want to be on the road for a long time, 500-600 kilos of payload is on the tight side. Those who choose freedom without compromise end up in the über-class of campers: the Liner, exclusive motorhomes with a length of 8 to even 12 meters, such as the 26-ton Vario Mobil Signature 1200 which can be equipped with no less than three slide-outs upon request. The price tag? From 1.4 million euros, depending on the version.

And you determine that version entirely yourself, because such a Vario Mobil is built exclusively to order, exactly as the new owner wants it. More modest is Frankia's anniversary model, the '1960', with a length of 8.03 meters and a price tag of almost 200,000 euros. But Carthago, Hymer, and Knaus also play their part in the Liner segment. These types of motorhomes are of course equipped with spacious bathrooms with separate shower and toilet, a generous kitchen, and a king-size seating area: sometimes traditionally at the front of the camper, but increasingly we see a comfortable round lounge in the back and wide, extra-long drop-down beds above the cabin. As in the Carthago liner-for-two, the Dethleffs ALPA, and in Frankia's 'Plus' layouts.

Driving hotel suites

Back to the question of why you would want a Liner – such a motorhome naturally drives differently than a compact bus camper. It is bigger, taller, and especially heavier. Yet you quickly get used to it in practice: after a few hours of driving, you know no better. Especially if the vehicle is equipped with active air suspension, because then you hardly notice any difference from a smaller camper. Maneuvering is still a thing, but the 360-degree 'Bird View' camera system helps with that: four tiny cameras on both side walls, front and back are software-merged on one monitor, making it seem as if you are hovering above the camper in a helicopter. Every pole, wall, tree, or traffic sign is visible, and that makes reverse parking even with a twelve-meter-long camper a piece of cake.

The big advantage of the Liner is that you don't have to compromise on comfort anywhere: they are spacious hotel suites for people who are on the road a lot, often, and for a long time. Think of the drivers and crew in the Formula 1 racing circuit. You see plenty of Liners around the paddocks there. The Liner is also no stranger in the top segment of cycling and the equestrian world. Many Liners are also purchased by (former) entrepreneurs who have their ships dry-docked and want to be on the road for a long time. Many custom-built Liners are therefore equipped with office functionality. Such facilities are also available ex-factory in the so-called bar layouts, such as in the Niesmann+Bischoff Flair 880 BE, the Frankia Titan 890 GD-B, and the Carthago liner-for-two.

Months on the road

For people who want to be on the road a lot and for a long time, payload is an important argument. After all, you drag more stuff with you if you are on the road for 6 months instead of 6 weeks. Bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, or even a small car for groceries: it can all be taken along in a Liner, up to and including the Porsche that hydraulically slides out of the belly of such a super camper.

Independence is another such argument, which is why the large models can carry as much as 400 to even 960 liters of drinking water – more than enough for two people to shower for weeks without having to refuel water constantly. Liners are also almost without exception self-sufficient in terms of electricity. On the roof, there is plenty of room for a field of solar panels, and many Liners are equipped with impressive lithium battery banks that guarantee a long stay without a power pole.

You rarely encounter Liners at campsites, although there are recreation parks that specialize in this niche, with XXL pitches, such as Lanterna Premium Camping Resort in Croatia and Camping Sexten in Northern Italy. And there are also a huge number of camper spots for 'the big boys' – a useful website for this is www.landyachting.de – nice to dream away with

Pros and cons of a Liner

+/+ Space and comfort
+/+ Payload
-/- Price
-/- C1 or C driving license required

Examples of Liners

Frankia 1960

Engine: Fiat 4-cylinder 2.3 liter (117 kW – 160 hp)
Length: 786 cm
Ready to drive/maximum: 4,440 kg – 5,500 kg

Price from € 167,500

More information: www.frankia.com

Carthago liner-for-two I 53

Engine: Fiat 4-cylinder 2.3 liter (104 kW – 140 hp)
Length: 783 cm
Ready to drive/maximum: 3,700 kg – 4,500 (4,800) kg

Price from € 142,000

More information: www.carthago.com

Phoenix M.A.N. Top-X

Engine: M.A.N. 6-cylinder 6.9 liter (213 kW – 290 hp)
Length: 10,600 cm
Ready to drive/maximum: 9,360 kg – 11,990 kg

Price from € 344,300

More information: www.phoenix-reisemobile.de

Concorde Centurion 1160 GSI

Engine: Mercedes 6-cylinder 7.7 liter (300 kW – 476 hp)
Length: 11,730 cm
Ready to drive/maximum: 15,046 kg – 18,000 kg

Price approximately € 800,000

More information: www.concorde.eu

Morelo Grand Empire 110 GSO

Engine: Mercedes 6-cylinder 12.8 liter (390 kW – 531 hp)
Length: 11,990 cm
Ready to drive/maximum: 15,500 kg – 18,000 kg

Price from € 600,000

More information: morelo.nl

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