I'd be reluctant to have anything longer or wider than my 5.99 meter panel van (Globecar Globescout.)
It can still be tight negotiating car parks designed for cars. Even if you can squeeze in, if people then park both sides of you getting out again can either be impossible, or require lots of forward and backward shuffling, anxious mirror checks etc. Using two spaces fore and aft doesn't alter that. Seen plenty of big vans (often of a certain nationality) selfishly taking four spaces, straddling the dividing line to try to avoid this.
Seen it happen on aires too, first big van parks, no problem. Then another arrives and parks tight up alongside, even making opening doors and squeezing out difficult. sometimes a third the other side, even if there are plenty of other spaces (why do they do that and cluster together instead of spreading out ?) Next morning piggy-in the-middle cannot get out, tapping on doors requesting neighbour to move temporarily sometimes unfavourably received or just ignored.
Huge advantage is that it's allowed into all French Villages and medieval towns, and through width restrictions, sometimes mirrors need folding, many of which don't allow anything longer or wider to enter. Fits into most roadside parking bays and at 2.25m wide, 2.05 m mirrors folded it doesn't stick out into the road. Rear wheels right at the corners, minimal overhang, drives very nicely.
Have looked at similar size low profiles, but they are mostly all wider, on a shorter wheelbase chassis so a large rear overhang to wag out, garage behind the rear axle so weight in the wrong place and loads up the rear axle by more than the actual mass in the garage (lever effect), whilst unloading the front axle so compromising braking and steering. (Custom) towbar load limit compromised, add on air suspension sometimes needed for adequate handling and to trim out rear suspension sag. Also adding extra mass and complication.
I have a light 250cc trail bike that could fit on the standard Fiat towbar on a rack without exceeding the towbar specification. I don't think that would be possible with a large rear over-hang.
Forward facing seats for four, full size double bed (loads of storage underneath), Passenger seats and table convert into nice single bed, fourth person can sleep in aisle on a camping mat, or on sites or suitable wild places we put up a 2-person tent for them. Wouldn't want to take the guests on a long tour, but it's nice to have them visit for a few days, sometimes using budget airlines to meet up. They enjoy the cosy experience and have returned, so it can't have been that bad.
Next van may well be a shorter PVC, there are some nice ones now with ingenious layouts. Meanwhile it suits me and my partner very well, obviously not for all.
Further, you may find that driving such a large van might be quite intimidating if stepping up from 5.8m. Try to have a go in one first.
Met a couple is Southern France who had done that on retirement, upsized to an apartment on wheels for just two people (though it would take six), planning long tours. The wife drove it just twice, then refused to ever do so again. Leaving the husband to do all the driving, which he didn't enjoy either, their confidence was gone. Already had a couple of incidents with tree branches on country roads, dents, one ripped off the TV aerial, and being unable to pass other large vehicles on narrow country roads sometimes requiring backing up, which they found a nightmare.
They had also realised that they were way over their weight limit,(something like 4.5 tonnes) even just for the two of them, loads of clutter in the garage including a small washing machine (???), twin rooftop air conditioners, big heavy generator to power the aircon,, electric bikes, big
solar install, full length awning with sides and front, extra batteries, extra water tank, they'd really gone to town on the fit without thinking it through.
A lumbering cumbersome underpowered beast that couldn't cope with mountainous regions, impossible to do hill starts, front wheel drive, wheels just span in the dry on modest gradients, nevermind in the wet, marginal brakes, bogged down as soon as the soil was damp after overnight rain requiring towing out by local farmer. That was on a site, good luck finding a helpful one if wilding it. Rreversing uphill, well you know the Ducato problems with that. Poor clutch, weak at the best of times, nevermind on a heavy big van with unsuitable gearing.
Their dealer should never have done it, just happy to take the money I suppose. Definitely not fit for purpose.
Were also approaching 70 so becoming concerned about retaining rights for over 3.5 tonnes, health beginning to falter. This was their first long trip in the big van, they bitterly regretted their decision, and were resigned to selling it and downsizing once got home. A huge financial hit, leaving little left of the retirement lump-sum. They were very taken with my Globecar and completely re-thinking their ideas.
The damage that they had sustained to their soft aluminium skinned panels was going to take specialist repairs, maybe lengthy and costly. My PVC would probably have shrugged it off, and even if damaged any competent bodyshop could probably have repaired it in a few days. I've come across a similarly constructed van in Italy that had been caught out in a hailstorm, hail the size of golfballs or bigger. Actually it looked like a golfball. Total write-off, the new owners bought it at auction for a pittance, they weren't bothered by the cosmetics, though it did attract comments.
Sorry if this sounds like doom and gloom, just trying to give you some things to consider before going big. Do enjoy whatever you decide on.
