Inside space vs outside dimensions

[DJIT]

I'm new here and we are are looking for a new M/H or PVC.
I hope I'm not opening a can of worms here - and fully appreciate that everyone has different priorities when looking at motorhomes.

We've had a VW camper before, which was only 5m long and so was used as a second / backup vehicle to our car if needed. It wasn't the most luxurious or spacious when using it for camping, but we had some fun trips. Now we're getting a bit older, we are looking for something with more inside space, standing room, toilet and shower, but trying to balance that with the outside dimensions. We want something that is small enough so that we can easily get to places we want to see and also so that we can still use it if necessary as an second / backup / emergency vehicle when we're at home.

My question: Given this usage, is there much difference between say a 6m and 6.5m vehicle?
I'm leaning towards trying to find something at 6m, but would appreciate peoples experience and views.
Thanks.

 

[ontheroadagain]

is there much difference between say a 6m and 6.5m vehicle?

No.
In my experience width makes the most difference.

 

[MisterB]

OMG, a size matters thread .....

seriously though, its not always just the length of the motorhome, its also the length of the overhang at the rear as when you turn, it creates a bigger turning arc that you realise. i have found that quite a few Bailey motorhomes seem to be just that little bit wider and as commented, that can make a big difference internally, but it can present other difficulties on narrower roads. My suggestion would be just take your time driving, whatever length and width, dont be in a hurry, dont play the 'i was there first' or 'its my right of way' etc game, it just isnt worth it, smile and wave at them as you let them pass .....

i would concentrate on layout, then layout and finally layout as your main priorities

good luck in your search

 

[Otter Spotter]

If you are thinking of a PVC the longer length of 6.36 or 6.5 tends to give you a bit more cupboard space or an separate dinette and a less ‘cramped’ feel, better for longer trips away. The big issue with many PVCs and it’s worse still if on a Merc Sprinter chassis is that the alley way between front and back is usually pinched between the kitchen cupboards and the toilet/shower so only one person can move along at a time. Not only are the ‘Professional’ designs tight but this issue also makes them feel cramped. But the beauty of a PVC is that you can generally get them into parking spaces with a bit of overhang on the grass. They are easy to get down narrow lanes.
If you buy a A class then you run the risk of parking across 3 pr 4 spaces which is just plain ignorant and because they tend to be wider than a PVC you may not want to try getting them down narrow country lanes. The benefit of an A class is the bed could be bigger and transverse or longitudinal and some of them feel more spacious.

Get to as many dealers as you can and get inside vans to get a feel for them And don’t forget, if you are buying new then don’t expect to get it for at least 12 months. There is an old saying that you will buy 3 vans until you find the one that suits you so buy a 2nd hand one run it for 12 months then buy a new one and this will be the layout that fits you best.

 

[Lenny HB]

The Carthago Compactline is a small A Class hardly any larger than a PVC but internal space relative to external size is amazing and you get a big garage.

compactline

Experience the A-class Carthago c-compactline motorhome with its special suitability for urban driving and pioneering lightweight construction technology.

www.carthago.com

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[Geistguy]

We downsized to a 7mtr coachbuilt van, the smallest we've ever had, but the internal layout plus a sizeable garage give us more internal room than in some of our previous larger Van's. In my opinion the layout is more important than size.

 

[Pausim]

As ontheroadagain says width matters more than length. You can get a 2.12m wide A Class which is heaps easier to drive than something over 2.4m wide. I also find driving an A Class through narrow gaps far easier than a Coachbuilt because the cab width is the same as the body width. More intuitive than having to constantly check the mirrors.

 

[DJIT]

Thanks for all the helpful comments.
We camped as a family and then had our campervan for a number of years as just a couple, so I'm hoping that counts as our "first" and gives us some insight about what we needed, what we used and what we missed - but we have noticed that as the vehicles get larger, there are many more layout options available.
We are off to the show in October, so will spend the day viewing as many as we can - hopefully this will help us and not confuse us .

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks for all the helpful comments.
We camped as a family and then had our campervan for a number of years as just a couple, so I'm hoping that counts as our "first" and gives us some insight about what we needed, what we used and what we missed - but we have noticed that as the vehicles get larger, there are many more layout options available.
We are off to the show in October, so will spend the day viewing as many as we can - hopefully this will help us and not confuse us .

Far more vans on show (except Brit built ones) at Caravan Salon, starting Friday 25th Aug.

 

[hja]

6.4m does give you a bit more room as said above, than 6m but also allows two fixed single beds which for us was a must. Lots of space underneath as well.

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[Guigsy]

I went from a 5.4m Ducato PVC to a 6m a-class. It feels 3 times bigger inside.

 

[MichaelT]

We saw one of these in Jaca yesterday, it looked more like a coachbuilt and is the only PVC I've seen i would be interested in if I needed to downsize.

 

[Lenny HB]

We saw one of these in Jaca yesterday, it looked more like a coachbuilt and is the only PVC I've seen i would be interested in if I needed to downsize.

Have a look at Font Verdome, they have some interesting layouts.

 

[Guigsy]

If you're thinking of using it as an occasional run around... a PVC might be a better idea than a 2.3m wide coachbuild.

As mentioned, I previously had a 5.4m Ducato PVC. It was my only vehicle and I could just about squeeze it into standard parking spaces. But unlike my brother's VW T5, I could stand up in it, I had a shower and a fixed bed across the back. The main issue was height barriers on some car parks. But I could largely treat it like a car.

 

[Alsatian]

We downsized from a 6mtr Bailey coachbuilt to a 6mtr autosleeper Sussex duo (PVC).

The smaller external width makes it so much easier for manouverability and the 'pinch point' isn't a biggie, we just adapt to it.

My only gripe is the washroom with combined shower & toilet, making it a tad on the small side, although my daughters 5.5mtr autosleeper Dorset el has a separate toilet/shower!

Having said that I wouldn't go back to a coach built but, as others have said, it's all down to personal preferences.

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[Andy MacD]

My view is firstly decide how you want to sleep so do you want to make up beds every night or have fixed beds? The do you want to sleep transverse so someone has to climb over the other or longitudinal. The sleeping arrangement significantly dictates the layout and narrows down choices. Where do you want to sit in the evening? My choice was proper bed and proper seat as converting sitting to seating will always compromise comfort of one or the other. Also do you want wet room or separate shower through swing wall etc.
If possible rent for a weekend to try out before you commit.

 

[Abgs]

The Carthago Compactline is a small A Class hardly any larger than a PVC but internal space relative to external size is amazing and you get a big garage.

compactline

Experience the A-class Carthago c-compactline motorhome with its special suitability for urban driving and pioneering lightweight construction technology.

www.carthago.com

My previous 6m PVC v my current 6.4m Compact A Class.

40cm longer, about 10cm wider but about the same height. Wheelbase is pretty much the same so the AClass is just as manoeuvrable.

Feels like twice the usable interior space and huge amounts of storage in the garage and under the floor.

But, of course with no garage on the PVC, bikes went on the external rack, so bikes on length was around 6.4m anyway!

 

[Nanniemate]

How tall are you? As height may need consideration not just length/width

 

[DJIT]

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply with your experience and input.
I'm just about 6 foot tall and Mrs DJIT is about 5'4" so neither of us need particularly tall ceilings or long beds, but yes height is a consideration.
Our VW didn't have a pop top, and we had had a rock'n'roll bed which needed to be made up every night - bed size was 186x112cm.
After those years of not being able to stand in the van, and a small(ish) bed, I suspect most options will be a big step forward for us.

 

[Guigsy]

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply with your experience and input.
I'm just about 6 foot tall and Mrs DJIT is about 5'4" so neither of us need particularly tall ceilings or long beds, but yes height is a consideration.
Our VW didn't have a pop top, and we had had a rock'n'roll bed which needed to be made up every night - bed size was 186x112cm.
After those years of not being able to stand in the van, and a small(ish) bed, I suspect most options will be a big step forward for us.

Some layouts of Ducato PVCs have a transverse bed. It's a great space saver that means the van can be about half a metre shorter. Other vans like the Merc Sprinter need a box on the side to achieve the same trick. But if you're taller, it can be too cramped.

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[berni109]

Size for parking was a major factor for us.
Firstly at home needed rear access doors.
Then when out and about to towns and cities.
Initial van was a pvc @6mts with traverse bed.
Could usually find somewhere to park in most places but not necessarily as close as we would have liked.
Upgraded to a 6.4 Mt pvc for the convenience of twin singles and better lounging space but parking is more of a problem.
I personally don't want to drive anything longer or wider and my C1 has expired so expect this one to see out our motorhoming.
Kitchen pinch point is just something you get used to and a small shower/toilet space has been/is worst thing on both.

 

[georgio]

A 6metre adria twin would be a big step for you or similar layouts compared to what you had. We go out for day trips in ours. 5.4 metre if you are OK with making beds up every night.

 

[Guigsy]

A 6metre adria twin would be a big step for you or similar layouts compared to what you had. We go out for day trips in ours. 5.4 metre if you are OK with making beds up every night.

There are 5.4m vans with fixed transverse beds. They have pretty small dinette tables. And the washroom isn't for those with claustrophobia, but they are perfectly functional. We lived in one when we toured for 6 months.

 

[Nanniemate]

One strange point my shower room much like my clothes seems to have got smaller since I bought the van

 

[starquake]

My question: Given this usage, is there much difference between say a 6m and 6.5m vehicle?
I'm leaning towards trying to find something at 6m, but would appreciate peoples experience and views.
Thanks.

If it helps we are new Bailey 66-2 owners since July. We went with 6.6 over 6m for one reason only -> we couldn't get the seperate shower we wanted (only wetrooms in the 6m spec) combined with 2 singles or a king convertable bed. The 6m vans had a huge difference when we sat in them and would have needed making up to a king every night as my height (6'2) didn't fit in the single bed config mode in them - making them also more compromised in the bed department.

Honestly go sit and try them at a show, or at a big dealer, you quickly eliminate brands you don't like and layouts -> sitting in them and seeing if you fit in a bed is the eye opener you need ideally if you are at all a tall person. We wanted a 6m van but then realised it came with too many compromises for us at least. As others have said the key is 2 single beds .. you can't do that in a 6m.

Have we regretted it? Nope. Does it fit in a normal space, Nope, but then a 6m van is tight anyhow, so we need to park in an overhanging over grass space or over 2! It manuvers like a normal car to me at least.

As far as driving the thing, they are near as identical when we tried both, both have loads of power. There is a difference which some prefer, as a PVC will be less wide, 2.05m versus 2.5m for the Bailey. We however have found the extra width is what gives the van the "wow factor" and feeling of space, so we again personally prefer this, and once we saw the wider vans we decided that was our preferred, and ruled PVC's out (again this is partly due to my height meaning I don't fit tranverse, so can't use a transverse bed in a PVC given I'm over 2.05m tall).. Driving I've found not an issue adapting yet over the 1500 miles driven since we puchased.

One thing to watch thouigh is payload, the 6m vans, some have quite limited payload compared to others when we checked and ended up ruling out some of the 6m layouts. Ours has a 700 ish kilo from factory "spare" load for pax + stuff. At normal load we have 200kg free to play with when us, our stuff and dog and food for a weekend in. We'd use the full payload if offgridding for a week with food.

Remember layouts are personal, and we initially thought we'd fall in love with PVC's ... we didn't, but did find a Bailey of a wrong layout we liked at a dealer (which we liked the space in more than a rival brand), then went to see other Bailey and Swift layouts at a show ... and decided the layout we purchased was the one "for us".

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[PaulOH]

I have spoken to quite a few travellers with rather small PVCs and they swear by them- primarily the manoeuvrability of a car with equal parkability.
Halfway through her recommendation for an epic wildcamp parking place, one lady stopped and said 'this'll be no good to you', looking at my 6m long, 2.8m height and 2.5m wide coachbuilt.
On the other hand, I've looked inside a number of these camperettes and been shocked at how v.small they are - no room for much except the bed, and the v.tiny portapotty loos they have just sitting there...
Driving on a French D route to avoid the A7 recently, it was tough as they planted those beautiful treelined village entrance roads without any concept of wide motorhomes! Similarly, Santa Claus is bringing me a reversing camera this year for fear I bend the bike rack again!!
What's your poison?! Want the freedom, or the accommodation. I went with the latter.

 

[herald_400rl]

Ours is a coachbuilt, 6.1m long and 2.2m wide and we had 4 adults plus a dalmatian without any drama. We have a double bed made up from the U shaped lounge and a double bed in the over head coffin. Shower is in the toilet area and I'm 6ft 1" and have a couple inches of headroom.
The width means we take up 2 spaces wide, or make the 2 either side of us difficult for others to use, a PVC wins here!

 

[Lenny HB]

Our daughter joined us last weekend at the Retro with the 3 & 5 year old grandkids in our 7.5 m A Class, it was hell.
7.5m is really only big enough for two.

 

[Nanniemate]

Our daughter joined us last weekend at the Retro with the 3 & 5 year old grandkids in our 7.5 m A Class, it was hell.
7.5m is really only big enough for two.

I agree my pvc is only big enough for 1

 

[Pausim]

Want the freedom, or the accommodation. I went with the latter.

Only the smallest of camper vans will fit in a standard parking space, so up to that point I can agree with your statement. However I think there are plenty of options to combine freedom and decent accommodation. We seek out the quieter small CLs and CSs for our UK touring. These are often reached by narrow lanes and even our A and B roads are sometimes too narrow for 2 wide vehicles to pass easily. For this reason I would not now even look at a 2.5m wide motorhome but I have not had to compromise on accommodation. There are plenty of good layouts that are less than 2.3m and 2.2m wide. I don’t feel cramped in my current 2.12m wide motorhome.