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.

 

[nicholsong]

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 can imagine with 5 incl. 2 kids.

I agree 7m(ours) or 7.5m(yours) is fine for 2, although when Basia's Mother used to come with us in her nineties we managed OK - she had the fixed rear bed and we the drop-down front one. I think 4 could be OK for w/ends.

We are just 2 now and B's son, DiL and kids have never asked, nor hinted at any of them coming, - or worse, borrowing the MH.

 

[DJIT]

That certainly gives us further food for thought, thanks everyone.
I know that whatever we get will inevitably involve some compromise, we just need to make sure we get the important bits right.

 

[tinkerbell]

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.

Look at the IH FL (Front Lounge) 6.3. Made in the UK

 

[berni109]

inevitably involve some compromise, we just need to make sure we get the important bits right

Quite!
After all how long do you spend in the bathroom.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

Quite!
After all how long do you spend in the bathroom.

That's the important bit, chose our present van for the decent shower as it's used every day.

The one on order we liked the Compactline i143 a bit bigger more space but didn't like the toilet & shower so went for the slightly smaller i141.

 

[Guigsy]

Quite!
After all how long do you spend in the bathroom.

Our 6m has a bathroom across the back, which contains a separate shower cubicle. I thought it'd be a waste of space. But the wardrobe is also in there. So it effectively becomes a dressing room. So it isn't using much more floor area than a wet room, but it's much more user friendly.

 

[tinkerbell]

lovely lounge space, good bathroom with lots of storage space also, inside looking out.

 

[cyberyacht]

Quite!
After all how long do you spend in the bathroom.

Depends if you are a woman.

 

[nicholsong]

Depends if you are a woman.

No difference in our MH - both of us in and out quite quickly.

Change the woman?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Flightlevel55]

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.

Hi we weighed up everything that you are considering although we didn’t previously have a camper or MH. We bought a 2016 Elddis Majestic 125 in 2022 which is 5.99m long and doesn’t have the wide flare behind the Peugeot Boxer cab that the bigger vans do. Our idea was to be able to go to the areas we fancied, find a site but be able to use the MH for daily touring while away so just unplug and go. We toured North Devon and parts of Cornwall this year and had no issues with the narrow roads or the parking due to the footprint of the 125 being not much different to a PVC so it’s real easy to manoeuvre and park wherever we go. We like the fixed rear bed and garage below plus the kitchen and bathroom facilities are great for two people.

Some folk have quite negative views on Elddis but being honest we haven’t had a days trouble in the year we have owned and used it either with the living section, damp or the Boxer cab / engine etc.

We will be selling soon as we are looking to move house and need the funds to get what we want but once settled I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another of same model. Hope the above is helpful.

 

[DJIT]

Very useful thanks.

 

[Oldrat]

I suspect that you might benefit from a Crafter. Narrow enough to get through 6’6” widths restrictions and large enough to cater for all your needs.

 

[Russell's Dad]

I went from 6m Globecar Globescout, which was a big step up from my previous VW T5 (LWB high-top). Then having been stuck inside for week in a torrential Portuguese spring, decided I needed something a bit more airey inside. I'm 6"3.
Did a bit of research and found Carthago i138 Compactline. As luck would have it my local dealer got in a nearly new one with a few extras fitted. I saw it and bought it. It is so much more spacious inside. Still has the transverse bed like the Globescout, but a bit bigger. The main things for me are the decent bathroom and shower, but more importantly, the ability to stand up, move about and relax in the front.
Mine has a drop-down bed, but, in all honesty I would hate to have more than two people on board for any length of time, especially in bad weather. The drop-down will be used when we get fed up of the climb-over to get to the loo at night in the back bed.
Externally not a big difference between the Globie and Carthago. I had a bike rack on the Globie.

 

[DJIT]

Thanks Oldrat, a rear lounge layout does make the most of the available space.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DJIT]

Thanks Russell's Dad, our VW was a regular wheelbase and top, so probably a fair bit smaller than yours

 

[Guigsy]

What a 6m a-class looks like (after I've been working from the van for a few days!). The extra foot of width adds a lot to the living space (there's another sofa to the right of the table).

 

[Nanniemate]

View attachment 796890
What a 6m a-class looks like (after I've been working from the van for a few days!). The extra foot of width adds a lot to the living space (there's another sofa to the right of the table).

looks a lot neater than mine under similar circumstances

 

[DJIT]

I went from 6m Globecar Globescout, which was a big step up from my previous VW T5 (LWB high-top). Then having been stuck inside for week in a torrential Portuguese spring, decided I needed something a bit more airey inside. I'm 6"3.
Did a bit of research and found Carthago i138 Compactline. As luck would have it my local dealer got in a nearly new one with a few extras fitted. I saw it and bought it. It is so much more spacious inside. Still has the transverse bed like the Globescout, but a bit bigger. The main things for me are the decent bathroom and shower, but more importantly, the ability to stand up, move about and relax in the front.
Mine has a drop-down bed, but, in all honesty I would hate to have more than two people on board for any length of time, especially in bad weather. The drop-down will be used when we get fed up of the climb-over to get to the loo at night in the back bed.
Externally not a big difference between the Globie and Carthago. I had a bike rack on the Globie.

I think you highlight one of the key factors - which is that we need to try to decide how we will use it.
If we plan to drive somewhere and stay onsite for a week and use it as a base to explore, then we will require something different than if we plan to move every day or two.

 

[nicholsong]

View attachment 796890
What a 6m a-class looks like (after I've been working from the van for a few days!). The extra foot of width adds a lot to the living space (there's another sofa to the right of the table).

You have obviously been ignoring the cat for those few days.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Guigsy]

You have obviously been ignoring the cat for those few days.

He's just a needy fusspot... that likes to stand on my keyboard and show the camera his "third eye" to my webcam when I'm on conference calls.