MH length

[Jands]

I have hired a 7m van and found once used to it didn't feel too big.
When we started to look for vans wanted the smallest possible so could go anywhere.
Decided that we couldn't live in too small a van for too long and want a central bed.
Decided on a low profile as it is slightly larger than the panel conversions.
Liked one at 6.5m but after a few hours inside at shows and dealers decided too small and too many compromises.
Looked at the next up at 7m was good but the 7.5m was so much better, more room and no compromises.
So now deciding on the 7.5m van.
As I said only driven a 7m van so is the extra 50cm any different, harder or more restrictive?

Going to carry a small bike to get to places a MH won't get to.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Think the main difference in length can be the overhang at the back.
Local knowledge will stop you going down unsuitable roads but if somewhere new have to rely on a good sat nav.

The overhang isn't an issue for general driving and cornering. It will follow the back wheels.

You need to be aware of it when manoeuvring but unless you really can't drive it shouldn't cause and problems. In your OP you were talking about less than 2 feet. It really doesn't make any difference.

The only other thing you have to be careful of is grounding it out but as long as you pay attention that shouldn't happen.

 

[CazPaul]

Like I said I've yet to find anywhere I can't access other than due to height or width restrictions both of which make the length of the van irrelevant.

If you're talking about a difference between say 6m and 8.5m yes I do absolutely disagree. There's nowhere you can go in one that you couldn't go in the other.

I give in, you need to re-read @Wissel posts for a start, that's ridiculous if you don't mind me saying.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

I give in, you need to re-read @Wissel posts for a start, that's ridiculous if you don't mind me saying.

I don't mind what you say

I'll carry on going wherever I like in my 7.5m van.

I've read @Wissel 's posts. I've spent a lot of time in Cornwall both with my motorhome and without it. I spent the first 28 years of my life in Devon so I'm perfectly familiar with the roads in both counties. Guess what? I've never had any problems at all getting anywhere I wanted to go with the exception of one pub stop we were overnighting at and they was only because of the width of the entrance. I would have had the same issue if my van was 3 metres long or 13 metres.

 

[jdk62]

Now now.... play nicely...

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[two]

I've been on Aires that have restricted the length to 7m. You might get away with 7.5m but it'd be tight.

 

[Lenny HB]

I may not be that confident but developed to a fine art, breathing in and closing my eyes.
Only failed me once when a French woman came round a bend on the wrong side of the road on a little country lane.

 

[tonyidle]

A much bigger issue (if indeed there is an issue) than length is the wheelbase. A shorter wheelbase vehicle is easier to manoeuvre in confined spaces.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

A much bigger issue (if indeed there is an issue) than length is the wheelbase. A shorter wheelbase vehicle is easier to manoeuvre in confined spaces.

Exactly.

And most motorhomes, whether 6 metres or 9 metres are built on the same chassis so have the same wheelbase.

EDIT: Most two axle motorhomes. Let's leave tags out of this

 

[Jands]

All sounds good on the 7.5m van.
Compared with the 6.5 and 7m ones but the added room equalling more comfort and garage space means that I will be going for the longer one.

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[Northernraider]

Between a 7m and a 7.5m you won't notice a lot of difference in parking etc

Between a 6 metre and an 8.5 metre you will notice a big difference in absolutely everything, parking, access, manoeuvrability... Everything

I've had everything from swb vw camper vans to 8.5 metre vans and all in between, I've also towed 24ft caravans behind 23 foot vans... All require different considerations

There are places in Scotland I've accessed with panel van conversions that only a mad man would take a 8.5m van to and that's based on experience not bravado.

There's a difference between taking a lorry with plain panels or curtains up a track with overgrown trees etc and taking your pride and joy with acrylic windows awnings etc down it scratching the sweet bejesus out of them.

 

[magicsurfbus]

As a point of trivia, DFDS Ferries like your MH to be 7 metres or less, otherwise they charge you more.

Ours is 7.08 metres, so as far as I'm concerned it's 7.

Our last MH was 6.5 metres plus a bike rack, our current one is 7 metres without a bike rack (big garage instead) - there's no obvious difference in handling.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

As a point of trivia, DFDS Ferries like your MH to be 7 metres or less, otherwise they charge you more.

Ours is 7.08 metres, so as far as I'm concerned it's 7.

You just know you're going to get some jobsworth with a tape measure sooner or later don't you?

 

[magicsurfbus]

You just know you're going to get some jobsworth with a tape measure sooner or later don't you?

I'm led to believe from comments on MHF that this is the case with another ferry company.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

I'm led to believe from comments on MHF that this is the case with another ferry company.

No idea. We never use them.

The tunnel aren't interested in dimensions. The "campervan" category is a catch all.

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[Northernraider]

I've noticed that booking from Dover to calais ferry seems to make no difference on length either ive ran quotes for a 7m van and an 8.5 and both come back £60 for mh and driver and the Same for mh and 3 passengers it seems to make zero difference but does on all other routes

 

[Lenny HB]

A much bigger issue (if indeed there is an issue) than length is the wheelbase. A shorter wheelbase vehicle is easier to manoeuvre in confined spaces.

In theory I would agree but we have just changed to a van with a larger wheelbase 4.4m last van was 3.8m and I'm finding it easier.

 

[CazPaul]

Between a 7m and a 7.5m you won't notice a lot of difference in parking etc

Between a 6 metre and an 8.5 metre you will notice a big difference in absolutely everything, parking, access, manoeuvrability... Everything

I've had everything from swb vw camper vans to 8.5 metre vans and all in between, I've also towed 24ft caravans behind 23 foot vans... All require different considerations

There are places in Scotland I've accessed with panel van conversions that only a mad man would take a 8.5m van to and that's based on experience not bravado.

There's a difference between taking a lorry with plain panels or curtains up a track with overgrown trees etc and taking your pride and joy with acrylic windows awnings etc down it scratching the sweet bejesus out of them.

Spot on with every word.

 

[SpeedyDux]

A much bigger issue (if indeed there is an issue) than length is the wheelbase. A shorter wheelbase vehicle is easier to manoeuvre in confined spaces.

A very good point. The Fiat 5.41m PVC has a significantly smaller turning circle thanks to the shorter wheelbase. If like me you live in a narrow street and want to back it onto my drive in one sweep it makes total sense.

The other important factor for longer coachbuilts is the payload. There seems to be a sweet spot at about 6.5m for 3,500 kg MTPLM and adequate payload.

 

[Langtoftlad]

The OP asked about length - and [I think] the consensus is that he shouldn't experience any differences between 7 & 7.5*

Also, shouldn't the OP be able to test drive various vehicles of different lengths [even if they don't have the layout he is looking for] just to get an idea how it feels for him personally?

But that of more significance is 1) width and 2) available payload.


*purely on a debate issue - would a short wheelbase 7.5m van be less/more manoeuvrable than a long wheelbase 7m one ? I've no idea if such variations exist or whether or not it makes a difference. I'm not a techie kinda of guy - I get in a new vehicle, adjust the mirrors, familiarise myself with the dash & controls before setting off.

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[tacr2man]

talking 18 inches will hardly make a difference either way , as rear swing out is unlikely to change by that much . With RVs the big factor is wheel cut angle , but with most smaller motorhomes being fwd they are all about the same angle

 

[two]

I’m unsure what the definition of turning circle is but would expect it to be the distance you could safely turn in between two opposing vertical walls, without having to shuffle. The turning circle is bound to increase with length and, if all front wheels have the same turning angle, longer vehicles will have a greater circle.

There will be compromises whatever size of vehicle is chosen but there’ll be fewer in a larger one. Payload will restrict how much you can take and should be a more important dimension to consider than length. You obviously need to be as small as possible to be able to “go anywhere” but it’s surprising where you can get to in something much bigger, with care.

 

[androidGB]

I may not be that confident but developed to a fine art, breathing in and closing my eyes.
Only failed me once when a French woman came round a bend on the wrong side of the road on a little country lane.

Same thing happened to me, then I realised that it was me on the wrong side of the road

Andrew

 

[Lenny HB]

Same thing happened to me, then I realised that it was me on the wrong side of the road

Andrew

I did the automatic car reaction of diving for the side of the road and of course with the overhang back end stuck out more than if I'd held my ground and she caught the back end.
Now trained myself to hold position and close eyes.

 

[hadders]

I've had a variety of sizes including a 11.6mtr RV and you have to plan more with a larger vehicle. The width is also a key factor and as one funster mentioned about scrapping the sides of your MH, it's the worst sound and expensive! We used to plan our trips using the 'big pitch guide' but eventually down sized as it was becoming difficult to reach camp sites near the sea!!
Dropped down to a 7.5mtr but you can still get stuck in some roads, then an 6.99mtr felt no difference and now back up to a 7.5mtr A class which is actually easier and less chance of clashing wing mirrors!!

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[WillH]

We live in Scotland and travel on a lot of single track roads with no problems in a 7m coachbuilt, a wide one at that.. The school buses manage as do the council vehicles, including the bin wagon, anywhere they can go we can go.

 

[Northernraider]

We live in Scotland and travel on a lot of single track roads with no problems in a 7m coachbuilt, a wide one at that.. The school buses manage as do the council vehicles, including the bin wagon, anywhere they can go we can go.

Always be careful with that train of thought, council vehicles and bin lorries will almost certainly have more ground clearance, the rear overhang bottoming out is always something to be watching for

 

[WillH]

Always be careful with that train of thought, council vehicles and bin lorries will almost certainly have more ground clearance, the rear overhang bottoming out is always something to be watching for

Very true but in all the years we've been touring in Scotland we only touched bottom once, that was in a rough car park entrance somewhere.

 

[two]

...and council vehicles may well have scratches down the sides.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

I’m unsure what the definition of turning circle is but would expect it to be the distance you could safely turn in between two opposing vertical walls, without having to shuffle. The turning circle is bound to increase with length and, if all front wheels have the same turning angle, longer vehicles will have a greater circle.

Exactly that - the space the vehicle needs to turn in a complete circle on full lock in one go.

You aren't quite right that it's bound to increase with the length of the vehicle though. There are all sorts of other things that affect it.

The London Taxi has a famously tiny turning circle at 25 feet or 8 metres in new money. There are many much smaller cars that need more room than that. Just one example or we'll be here all night - the Peugeot 208 has a turning circle of 36 feet (just over 11 metres)