8.2 metre van advice please!

[Impsfan]

Hi, we have just viewed a lovely motorhome which ticks all of our boxes BUT it is 8.2m long. Can anyone offer any advice please on the potential problems with this length of vehicle? We currently have a 7.3m van and have been fine with car parks etc but are concerned that the extra length might cause unforseen problems. Any advice appreciated - before money changes hands! Thank you in advance x

 

[DDJC]

Thank you. We're still reasonableynew to Motorhoming and haven't left the UK yet, but it is in our dreams. Parking for the day in various towns is something we do a lot of though, so it looks like it might not be such a great idea going longer. But we really liked the van though...

My best advice to you is that if you have no aspirations towards motorhoming on the continent, then buy a <7.5m motorhome. If you envisage yourself doing more european touring, you can go longer. I would urge you to go to Europe if you want to enjoy your new bus. The roads are wide and empty and there are thousands of aires and motorhome parks that are designed to accommodate motorhomes, often in the centre of towns.

We've encountered jobsworth and unhelpful camp wardens. So much so in fact, that we will be cancelling our membership of both clubs. The clubs really only want max 6.5m MHs and all with the hab door on the "correct" side.

 

[The Wino]

It's something only you can decide. We're only 6m and chose that length as we wanted to be able to easily stop close to places. Others would look at ours and say far too pokey for me!

 

[Marie-Claire]

One way to reduce the swing is to cut the corner if it's safe to do so

 

[ChrisL]

My best advice to you is that if you have no aspirations towards motorhoming on the continent, then buy a <7.5m motorhome. If you envisage yourself doing more european touring, you can go longer. I would urge you to go to Europe if you want to enjoy your new bus. The roads are wide and empty and there are thousands of aires and motorhome parks that are designed to accommodate motorhomes, often in the centre of towns.

We've encountered jobsworth and unhelpful camp wardens. So much so in fact, that we will be cancelling our membership of both clubs. The clubs really only want max 6.5m MHs and all with the hab door on the "correct" side.

I have lived full time in my motorhome for the last two years in an 8.3mtr long motorhome, much of that time on club sites or CL/CS and i'm a member of both clubs. I have yet to find a miserable unhelpful warden, l'm sure they exist as so many people complain about them but I just haven't met any yet. I book online, turn up usually between 1 and 2, I ask them which way they want me to face, usually they say anyway you like just line up with the peg or pegs and that's usually the full extent of my contact with the wardens, unless I need to ask them for a new gate code or any other information I might need. I'm sorry you've had bad experiences but they are not all like that. Europe is a lot easier and more motorhome friendly but there's no reason you can't enjoy yourself in the UK.

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[Nanniemate]

Hi, we have just viewed a lovely motorhome which ticks all of our boxes BUT it is 8.2m long. Can anyone offer any advice please on the potential problems with this length of vehicle? We currently have a 7.3m van and have been fine with car parks etc but are concerned that the extra length might cause unforseen problems. Any advice appreciated - before money changes hands! Thank you in advance x

Go with your instinct if your concerned maybe you know the answer to your question

 

[Nanniemate]

I have lived full time in my motorhome for the last two years in an 8.3mtr long motorhome, much of that time on club sites or CL/CS and i'm a member of both clubs. I have yet to find a miserable unhelpful warden, l'm sure they exist as so many people complain about them but I just haven't met any yet. I book online, turn up usually between 1 and 2, I ask them which way they want me to face, usually they say anyway you like just line up with the peg or pegs and that's usually the full extent of my contract with the wardens, unless I need to ask them for a new gate code or any other information I might need. I'm sorry you've had bad experiences but they are not all like that. Europe is a lot easier and more motorhome friendly but there's no reason you can't enjoy yourself in the UK.

Perhaps they have heard about your rep and are scared

 

[jdk62]

We went from a 7.2m van to an 8.1m van. The big difference is all about the overhang - just be mindful when turning/reversing.

I drove down a dead end by accident and managed to reverse the van left down a fairly narrow side road... to then turn right, there were cars parked on the other side of the road so I paid plenty of attention when pulling forward but forget to pay enough attention to my rear end.... it started to scape against a large bush... no problem I thought until I realised their was a 6' stone wall behind the bush... y

The only other problem we have was when I parked in a large Tesco Extra car park well away from anybody in the last row at the rear of the car park - we went in to do a large shop, came out and found people had parked their cars either side of us....because of the row of cars opposite the front of the van, I had to wait 45mins for one of the car owners to turn up and drive away so I could pull out and not have the rear hit anything .... daft really because there were hundreds of other empty spaces for the cars to have parked..so why right next to us??

In my experience the extra 900mm of our second van caused more challenges with access & parking.

 

[Nanniemate]

We went from a 7.2m van to an 8.1m van. The big difference is all about the overhang - just be mindful when turning/reversing.

I drove down a dead end by accident and managed to reverse the van left down a fairly narrow side road... to then turn right, there were cars parked on the other side of the road so I paid plenty of attention when pulling forward but forget to pay enough attention to my rear end.... it started to scape against a large bush... no problem I thought until I realised their was a 6' stone wall behind the bush... y

The only other problem we have was when I parked in a large Tesco Extra car park well away from anybody in the last row at the rear of the car park - we went in to do a large shop, came out and found people had parked their cars either side of us....because of the row of cars opposite the front of the van, I had to wait 45mins for one of the car owners to turn up and drive away so I could pull out and not have the rear hit anything .... daft really because there were hundreds of other empty spaces for the cars to have parked..so why right next to us??

In my experience the extra 900mm of our second van caused more challenges with access & parking.

I did it last week in a car park park looked a the MH parked and thought lovely shade I'll borrow that . But then had second thoughts as I like the shape of the car as its meant to be so moved

 

[Impsfan]

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[Northernraider]

I'm currently fulltime in an 8.1metre motorhome, tag axle .

I've had 8.5 before and various 7 meter vans.

I find the tag axle a cumbersome beast and I don't like it.
I'm in the process of selling and going back to a 7 metre

The length of my current van hasn't really caused any issues, I've taken it most places I wanted to go without problems.

The width and ground clearance can often be more of an issue than the length but again I've managed fine.

I just prefer the flexibility and middle ground of a 7 metre van. Once I sell this one I doubt I'll ever go over 7 metres again , and I'd not entertain another tag axle.

 

[Conal]

My Autotrail Delaware is 7.9m, and the new one is over 8m. My last job before retiring was driving a long wheel based merc which was just less than 1 metre shorter. The only issue I have found is that all the added length is behind the rear wheels so the 2 metre overhand can cause me to be cautious. We go everywhere we are allowed - a few Brit Stops and Campsites state that we are too long.
You do not mention how high the motorhome is. Ours is 3.03m tall and the new ones are taller. This is a problem on European motorways where, whilst other motorhomes over 3.5t argue successfully that they are only 3.5t, the automatic sensors on the motorways measure the heigh, and that will double the cost of travelling on “peage” routes.

 

[CazPaul]

I'm currently fulltime in an 8.1metre motorhome, tag axle .

I've had 8.5 before and various 7 meter vans.

I find the tag axle a cumbersome beast and I don't like it.
I'm in the process of selling and going back to a 7 metre

The length of my current van hasn't really caused any issues, I've taken it most places I wanted to go without problems.

The width and ground clearance can often be more of an issue than the length but again I've managed fine.

I just prefer the flexibility and middle ground of a 7 metre van. Once I sell this one I doubt I'll ever go over 7 metres again , and I'd not entertain another tag axle.

Yes exactly my thoughts, we had an enormous 8.33m, 6.4 tonne van, I wouldn’t touch one again, prefer this 6.48 metre one, still Iveco twin rear wheel 3 litre.

 

[Impsfan]

My Autotrail Delaware is 7.9m, and the new one is over 8m. My last job before retiring was driving a long wheel based merc which was just less than 1 metre shorter. The only issue I have found is that all the added length is behind the rear wheels so the 2 metre overhand can cause me to be cautious. We go everywhere we are allowed - a few Brit Stops and Campsites state that we are too long.
You do not mention how high the motorhome is. Ours is 3.03m tall and the new ones are taller. This is a problem on European motorways where, whilst other motorhomes over 3.5t argue successfully that they are only 3.5t, the automatic sensors on the motorways measure the heigh, and that will double the cost of travelling on “peage” routes.

My Autotrail Delaware is 7.9m, and the new one is over 8m. My last job before retiring was driving a long wheel based merc which was just less than 1 metre shorter. The only issue I have found is that all the added length is behind the rear wheels so the 2 metre overhand can cause me to be cautious. We go everywhere we are allowed - a few Brit Stops and Campsites state that we are too long.
You do not mention how high the motorhome is. Ours is 3.03m tall and the new ones are taller. This is a problem on European motorways where, whilst other motorhomes over 3.5t argue successfully that they are only 3.5t, the automatic sensors on the motorways measure the heigh, and that will double the cost of travelling on “peage” routes.

It's 2.89m tall

 

[zac]

Our current motorhome of 6 years is 8.5m tag axle and i would not go smaller, never had any issues with it touring across the UK and France/Spain/Portugal etc. If i had an option to purchase another one i would go bigger but that's never going to happen given what they cost now. Space is key and the more the merrier for us.

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[TheAleMan]

About 3.6 I think, Jen is charge of panicking about bridges and things, it doesn’t need both of us getting stressed. I think the fact that it’s A class and a pretty front help in the intimidation stakes.

Your taller than us then Martin, we are 3.490m

 

[tonyidle]

And there is some on here ( Funsters) say they are only doing their job..
I am really really sorry .. but they are no more than bully's trying to intimidate us..
Yes I expect they are not all like that but let's just say I no longer accommodate club sites because I do not know what sort of arrogant and outspoken warden I am going to encounter..
Sorry.

Almost none in my experience. I've used two or three Club sites every year since the mid '80s and can still count the unpleasant wardens I've encountered on the fingers of one hand.

 

[Jofang]

Hi, we have just viewed a lovely motorhome which ticks all of our boxes BUT it is 8.2m long. Can anyone offer any advice please on the potential problems with this length of vehicle? We currently have a 7.3m van and have been fine with car parks etc but are concerned that the extra length might cause unforseen problems. Any advice appreciated - before money changes hands! Thank you in advance x

Here in France the vast majority of vans are 3.5 tons max., although fair to say many run overweight. Many of the scenic towns you may want to visit in France restrict vehicles above 3.5 tons both for parking and access to the streets but to my knowledge that's the only drawback. We run an 8.7m x 5 ton Hymer and where we find a restriction we make another plan. We have never been refused access to any site. We do find that the third axle adds a lot more stability on twisty roads.

 

[funflair]

Your taller than us then Martin, we are 3.490m

Plus a little something for air conditioning and then another little something for Jen to feel a bit more comfortable saying "yes we will fit under there"

 

[Conal]

Impsfan That‘s a lucky break for you if you do what many on here do. Their motorhomes are over 3.5t but, if they are charged at the higher rate, they press the button and insist on paying the lower toll…… what’s good for the French…..

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[emjaiuk]

We had an 8m+ RV for 20 years, and only twice found a site with pitches we couldn’t fit on. As others have said, there is no substitute for interior space, but having said that I’ll never forget the feeling of joy and freedom when we finally sold it and bought a 7m European. I personally wouldn’t go back to 8m+. I consider that size to be luxurious travel to a specific destination rather than a touring vehicle.