Motorhome size

We had a 6.4m coachbuilt MH and it was just about manageable in towns lengthways but its width could be a problem.

We now have a 6m panel van conversion which is much easier. It only needs one bay widthways in a supermarket car park and overhangs by about 0.5m.

7.5m is massive in terms of parking and I'm sure you will come to curse it as you will most surely need alternative transport.

There's a similar thread in the MH section about Autotrail v Autosleeper PVCs.

See, it fits nicely.

Rod

We have a 7.5 mts motorhome and we always leave it on site and use alternative transport. Mind you we tended to do that when we had a caravan as well. There are lots of campsites in the UK that are near to towns or to public transport. I do accept that a smaller motorhome, like a PVC, would be easier to find somewhere to park but sometimes with height barriers even that is not so easy.

David

We moved to  a swift escape 664 with fixed bed 6.5 m wife loves its to bits I like it because inside just like our last van and so much  easer to set up on  site . I know p/van was just to  small for me  after nearly two years of looking  . We decide on this van not perfect but 85 pc right for us and really loving the move over .when she indoors is happy bliss what more can I say where both happy good luck in your search  for right van for you

You can have space or you can have "relatively" easy parking. You can't have both. Slimline MH or PVCs at 6m or under are comparable with any other "white van man" for parking although you are still going to struggle parallel parking in a narrow street.

assuming we are talking UK.....parking isn't such an issue 'over there'........So....IMHO....

Ease of driving....width is the main constraint...wide vans in towns, hard work to squeeze through gaps...

ease of parking in town...length will be the killer....6m-6.36m panel vans are about the max, unless the town is very quiet or you are well away from the centre, where on road parking will be ok but you'll have to walk a bit...

'facilities of larger rigs....' most modern vans (even small ones) will have ovens, hobs, TV, fridge freezer, whatever you want....the big decider is the type of bed you want or need...

they mainly come in three designs....

fixed (singles, transverse, island).....which provide storage under and a 'day bed' for relaxing, but will add length.

make up beds....a conversion of the lounge (front or rear) and may give twin singles, a transverse double or a choice of either...saves space, some storage but not as much as the fixed beds, requires storage for bedding, won't be as comfortable as a proper bed...

drop down beds....which come out of the ceiling giving a fixed bed comfort without occupying the floor space.....nor requiring the making up of the bed nor the storage of bedding as it can stay on the bed....

id say the main choices of a small van that's relatively easy to park but is also not too cramped will be a panel van (6-6.36m) or a 'slim' coachbuilt from 6m upwards....as mentioned earlier

both the above shed width to make manoevrability and parking easier.....

against a normal width MH of 2.35m, PVCs are only 2.06m wide and slim coachbuilts are almost as slim, my own being just 2.12...

as it happens, it also has a fixed double bed in the rear (1.5m wide) AND a drop down double bed in the cab that's even larger...

theres a domestic sized fridge/freezer, oven, hob, lounge for five, full sized shower, enormous garage for bikes, scooters and 'stuff' and it's only 6.4m long and has a great payload at the 3.5t break point....we tour the UK and Europe extensively (about half our lives is spent 'away' in the van) 

so, small(er) vans can be easy to drive, relatively easy to park, comfortable with every conceivable gadget you require, but picking the right one which meets your sleeping and storage requirements will be the decider.

PVCs have been around for quite a while so plenty of used choice.....UK vans will generally have pull together beds (like a caravan lounge) while those from the continent will generally have smaller front lounges and give over more space to rear bed(s) and storage under...

slim coachbuiilts are a slightly more recent innovation although a coule of continental brands have been doing them for a while...

one main difference with these (accommodation wise) is that coachbuilts have more vertical sides (not tapering like a PVC) giving a little more space and possibly headroom....

also, check wheelbase lengths, some PVCs have a long wheelbase which can negate some of the benefit of reduced length when it comes to town driving and parking....

best bet, get out there and try a few of each type on the road in real life situations.....once you've decided on size you can get plenty more help with model types to help you squeeze the most out of your pint pot...

good luck .......

I can get my 2.34m wide motorhome within the lines of standard parking bays which are 2.4m wide. I cannot get its 6m of length in a standard parking space which is 4.8m long. In tight areas, turning circles become important.

More and more park & rides have dedicated 'large vehicle' parking areas. With a larger motorhome, an ipad or tablet can be useful when on tour to check out destinations.

Having caravanned, I know the perception is that it's a hassle to pack up and go but this hassle has not disappeared now that I am a motorhomer. Yes it's quicker to pack up and go in a motorhome but does ten minutes or so make much difference? You can spend that amount of time driving around a car park to find a parking space for your motorhome.

If Rod wants to tour a specific area, then a centrally located site for the caravan is better than a motorhome. If Rod wants to tour in a linear fashion, say from the Cotswolds to East Anglia, then a motorhome is better. If Rod wants to have the facilities such as toilet, cooker, on a day trip then a motorhome wins. If Rod is going to use site facilities, like we do, then a smaller motorhome can work well - especially if they spend more time in the outdoors rather than sitting in the vehicle watching it rain for hours.

Motorhoming demands more compromises than caravanning. I suggest that if Rod cannot reconcile the motorhome size with the type of touring to be undertaken, then sticking with a caravan is best. Too big a financial risk otherwise.

Rod, this was our first MH. It’s a similar size to your described 7.5m. You can see that secondary transport was needed and you can guess at the faff and hassle that involved. 

It was a huge mistake -pun intended. We kept it 5 months and were glad to see the back of it. 

It’s ultimately your decision but I’m trying to point out possible pitfalls  

When moving from a caravan to a motorhome, It is best to remember that the Motorhome allows much more flexibility and a completely different holidaying style.  No more driving to site pitching up on a touring base and using the towcar to tour all around that base. 

Motorhomes can allow you to do your touring En-Route and not have a permanent base. Just using camping places to overnight. 

On that basis, choose a M/Home whose size allows you to enjoy the facilities of your van wherever you go without being a complete bind to park in villages, towns and cities and places of interest. Check all the layouts and choose the minimum size which would suit your lifestyle. 

Happy Vanning

K 

TW......

What trailer is that in your picture please......??

I am just buying one.......

It was made by a local company, TT, and it started falling apart. It wasn’t fit for purpose and, eventually, the company settled before court proceedings started. 

We should have gone for something like a Brian James.