At Voyager RV, we are used to customers driving from all over Western Canada to find their perfect rig. But it isn't every day that we get to be part of an adventure that spans continents, oceans, and international borders. When Giuseppe and his wife Annette traveled all the way from the Netherlands to our lot in Lake Country, we knew this was going to be a delivery for the books.
Their goal? To acquire a legendary Northern Lite 9-6 truck camper.
Why Cross an Ocean for a Camper?
You might ask: Why travel halfway across the world just to buy an RV?
The answer lies in the unique nature of the North American RV market. Simply put, you cannot get campers-or trucks-this big and this capable in Europe. The European market is full of compact, lightweight leisure vehicles, but they generally lack the sheer size and heavy-duty build quality found in Canadian manufacturing.
Giuseppe had previously explored in a smaller setup (a Northstar Liberty on a short-bed), but he wanted something with true, year-round livability. He knew that if he wanted to camp comfortably in any season, he needed "Canadian DNA." European buyers often prize Canadian campers specifically for our thermal engineering. A Northern Lite isn't just a camper; it's a fiberglass fortress designed to withstand -30C winters, heavy snow loads, and rugged terrain-conditions that would challenge many European-built models. To get that level of insulation and four-season reliability, Giuseppe had to come to the source.
The "Lorry" Factor
Of course, a camper of this caliber requires a beast of a truck to carry it-another rarity in the Netherlands.
In Europe, the standard pickup is a mid-size truck (like a Ford Ranger or Toyota Hilux). To carry a Northern Lite 9-6, Giuseppe needed a Ford F-350 Long Box. In the Netherlands, a truck that size is so large it is legally classified as a "Lorry" (a commercial heavy goods vehicle).
To make this dream rig legal back home, Giuseppe had to purchase the F-350 here in North America and ship it across the Atlantic ahead of time. It even required a mandatory speed restrictor modification to meet European commercial vehicle laws! While Giuseppe and his wife were here in BC finalizing the camper details with our team, their shiny new truck had already arrived in Europe, waiting at the dock to be united with its camper.
A Heavy-Duty Ballet: The Crane Load
Buying the camper was the easy part. Getting a Northern Lite from British Columbia to Rotterdam is a logistical odyssey.
This wasn't a standard "hitch and go" delivery. We watched in awe as a heavy-duty crane rolled onto the lot, equipped with custom lifting bunks designed specifically for this operation. It was a moment of high tension and excitement. With onlookers, the crane operator lifted the camper with surgical precision, hovering it through the air before gently lowering it onto a 40-foot flat deck secured to a semi-truck.
It was an incredible sight-a shiny, white Northern Lite floating against the Okanagan sky, starting a journey that is arguably more adventurous than most people's vacations.
From our lot, this camper is being trucked across Canada to Montreal. From there, it will be loaded onto a cargo ship to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to Antwerp, before finally navigating the channels to Rotterdam.
A Voyager Experience
Despite the complexities of international export-Giuseppe noted how seamless the experience was.
We are incredibly proud that when global travelers look for the best RVs in the world, they look to Canada. And when they look for a dealership to make the impossible happen, they look to Voyager RV.
We want to wish Giuseppe and Annette safe travels as they head back home. We can't wait to see photos of that beautiful Canadian camper sitting on top of that massive "Lorry," turning heads on the roads of Europe.
Ready for your own adventure? You don't have to cross the Atlantic Ocean to find the RV of your dreams (though we'll certainly help you if you do!). Whether you are planning a trip to the local lake or a journey across the continent, our team is here to help you find the perfect rig.
Click here to browse our inventory of Northern Lite Campers or visit us in Lake Country today.
