Your Motorhome. How Big is Too big?

[eddie]

eddievanbitz have you thought about a career in comedy writing.

My wife calls me a Clown!

 

[simsy56]

Our RV is 9.4m long and I don't find it a problem. There is quite a long rear overhang, and tail swing that you have to be very aware of though.
The three slide outs makes it like a bungalow when sited. It's a dream to drive, and so comfortable. It isn't everyones cup of tea, but, what is?
We have just returned from touring Spain and Portugal, and, size wise, no problems whatsoever.
The height and width isn't different to many European motorhomes, the length is, but, is shorter than a car and caravan.
I am a confident driver, and have hauled artics all over the UK, Europe and the Middle East so probably 9.4m is no big deal to me. Our previous RV was a fifth wheel outfit, and the trailer was the same size as our current RV. So, in a sense, we have downsized.
What we do really like about our RV is the separate bedroom with king size walk around bed, and the tank capacities.

Craig

 

[Jev88]

9.7 Metre or 32 feet.
I just have to plan ahead a bit more but LOVE the interior space and onboard tanks.

 

[jongood]

9.7 Metre or 32 feet.
I just have to plan ahead a bit more but LOVE the interior space and onboard tanks.

And the space to just lounge on days when it rains!

 

[138go]

6.4 and under 3500kg is just perfect. It keeps us under the radar for the 70s health check for C1, it’s easy to park and it’s great for speed restrictions and good in France for charges and no need for Angles Morts.

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[Boldly]

My name is Dennis. Fortunately my wife is not (quite) that bad!!

 

[Boldly]

We only have a 6.4m pvc. Too big to drive not big enough to live.

 

[CazPaul]

We only have a 6.4m pvc. Too big to drive not big enough to live.

Not sure what you mean?

 

[Boldly]

Always could do with more living space. Won't fit in supermarkets parking spaces etc.

 

[tonyidle]

We had a 6M Hymer B584 that we thought was perfect. My young lady began to have age-related lower back problems and needed a bed she could customise to minimise discomfort. Our needs were a separate fixed bed for her with no compromise on lounge space (we have 3 medium sized dogs) so we have ended up with 8M and slightly more width. Bonuses were a very decent domestic-size shower and a 220L water tank. We also gained Alde heating inc. underfloor. We're lucky to have a frontage that would take 3 vans of that size. Has it worked for us? It has totally solved my wife's sleeping problems and at least for now is the best thing we could own.

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[busby]

5.2 mtr suits us fine,,,Don't spend much time inside it because we are usually in France/Spain/Portugal but it has a decent lounge,,good kitchen,small shower/toilet but with a proper size cassette,,We manage to carry two e bikes,have proper chairs,,etc but carry nothing inside the van so have use of all facilities when travelling..Downside for many we talk to is that my better half only travels with two pairs of shoes,,, because there isn't room for more..BUSBY.

 

[bilM]

Mine is a 7m however am away to look at 8 - 8.5m vans when I get home been parked up beside to many Morelos

 

[nev robinson]

This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Your Motorhome. How Big is Too big?.

You need to ask the wife. She chose it

 

[Bobby-gg]

6m pvc for us, rear lounge ih.

Perfect size for what we do in the UK, we're midway through a tour of Wales, the other day parked in a tiny carpark for a day on the Ffestiniog railway, and currently parked around the corner from Llandudno 'spoons for a wander around

 

[Puddleduck]

7.5 metres is about the maximum to manage the turn into our drive due to the narrow road outside the house.

Our current van is 6.99 metres and we would only swap for one with a lower bed - maybe a longitudinal bed in an "A" class. One of the magazines had a review of one a month or so back and perhaps if we are still on the road in 4 or 5 years we will look at that option.

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[funflair]

In my experience just a little bit bigger than you already have would be too big but anything less would involve 1 compromise too far

Yes of course it depends what you want to do with/in your van but you can always buy the van you want to live in and then use it accordingly.

Too big for the lanes in Cornwall so put a car, bike or scooter in the garage and park where there is space and explore with a more suitable mode of transport.

Too big for your drive? Use a storage site etc etc, there are always options,

 

[JockandRita]

Our Hymer was 8.5 x metres with the bikes on the back. Our Flair is 8.5 x metres with the bikes in the garage, so the change has made no difference to me as the driver.
The rear sleeping area now, is what we would have wished for in the Hymer, with the compromise of a smaller settee which we have adapted to.
As much as I would love a 6 x legger diesel pusher ARV, I just know that anything much bigger than what we have, would be so impractical for us here in the UK.

BTW, if Dennis (the poor sod) lived local to me, I'd be taking him for a pint, and a much needed blokey type of break from Karen. I bet she has a pair of boots, very much like Nancy Sinatra's.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Landy Andy]

It’s not the size thats important it’s what you want to do with it.

For us, had to have, decent shower, twin singles beds, and fixed, not made up of old farty cushions, a garage as I don’t want anything strapped to it, a decent cooking area and a lounge big enough to spend cold/wet/windy winter evenings. We couldn’t find that lot in a van shorter than 7m, so ended up with a 7.2m Adria.

 

[HKF]

Ours is 7.3m and has all the space we need; double capucine bed, double fixed traverse bed above a huge garage, large living area with swivel front seats and two double fixed seats, separate kitchen area and a bathroom with separate shower cubicle. It means we've got a bed each, which can be left made up (although I put the capucine away every day to get the feeling of more space), a large area to work with our feet up and plenty of floor space and head height. We love it and I'm not sure we could get better, for us, if we went any longer in length.

When we lived in the US, we looked at some of the monsters with slide-outs but, for us, most of the extra space was just wasted space....even though they do feel superbly luxurious!!

 

[cyberyacht]

Size is always a matter of priorities and compromise. Each individual makes their own choice. Like 138go, I find the Carthago at 6.4 compact enough to wriggle into most places but with sufficient room to not feel claustrophobic. The Compactline 141 with fore & aft beds would be nice but would then overhang my drive by the additional 25cm length.

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[Northernraider]

My wife calls me a Clown!

Have you considered a career in politics

 

[eddie]

It is exactly the same with boats, This is Wicked Wench, manoeuvring in a Marina or navigating a tight lock she seemed enormous, out at Sea with a Force Eight on the bow and a forty mile passage to plow through she seemed mighty tiny!

Batten down the hatches and carry on!

 

[Northernraider]

It is exactly the same with boats, This is Wicked Wench, manoeuvring in a Marina or navigating a tight lock she seemed enormous, out at Sea with a Force Eight on the bow and a forty mile passage to plow through she seemed mighty tiny!

Batten down the hatches and carry on!

View attachment 638931

Someone has pinched the wheels

 

[jongood]

We only have a 6.4m pvc. Too big to drive not big enough to live.

That's why people by A classes, they have more space for the same length

 

[Northernraider]

That's why people by A classes, they have more space for the same length

I have a friend who lives fulltime with 3 small dogs in a 2005 vw caddy van

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[Carolyn and Kev]

Ours is 8m and a really comfortable 2 berth. Would not have it any other way

 

[nicholsong]

Interestingly nobody on this thread has so far differentiated between the driving characteristics of van-based- and truck-based chassis MHs.

Truck chassis have a wider track, but apart from putting the wheels in line with the bodywork, instead of inset, does not make much difference.

Truck chassis have a longer wheelbase, so for the same overall length have less overhang.

Truck chassis also tend to be higher.

The last two factors make grounding a lesser problem for vehicles of the same length.

As trucks tend to be rear-wheel drive the steering angle can be sharper which affects the turning radius, but watch the rear swing.

I would prefer to drive the truck-based MH, but then I drove trucks that size before.

 

[funflair]

Interestingly nobody on this thread has so far differentiated between the driving characteristics of van-based- and truck-based chassis MHs.

Truck chassis have a wider track, but apart from putting the wheels in line with the bodywork, instead of inset, does not make much difference.

Truck chassis have a longer wheelbase, so for the same overall length have less overhang.

Truck chassis also tend to be higher.

The last two factors make grounding a lesser problem for vehicles of the same length.

As trucks tend to be rear-wheel drive the steering angle can be sharper which affects the turning radius, but watch the rear swing.

I would prefer to drive the truck-based MH, but then I drove trucks that size before.

Hi Geoff

On the Daily there is the option of wide axle on the front, we already have the wheel spacers on the rear so the wheels are not tucked in that much, I opted not to have the wide axle as I thought it would slightly reduce the maneuverability when tight up to kerbs etc. Some truck chassis are quite short actually but again I think it helps that most have the front axle slightly further back and the extra height is good, I just put the air suspension into "off-road" mode if needs be.

 

[Landy Andy]

That's why people by A classes, they have more space for the same length

Is that ”real” space or perceived space?
They look/feel roomy when inside but if it’s the same size and layout. Isn’t the dash and seats in the same space, you just get massive dashtop, and a lot more glass???

 

[Northernraider]

This is ma pal Louise van ...she buily it herself, mobile pet groomer with 3 dogs of her own and lives in this. And shes well happy

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