Question about van sizes

zackio

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Hi forum. We are looking for campers at the moment and the biggest question we have is what size to get. We are interested in bigger onces as we will be spending a lot of time in the van but are concerned that a large one is going to be too hard to find parking.

How have you found parking large vans, is it too difficult to find places to park? Don't really want to get into paying for double bays and such.

Thanks for any advice!
 
Its not a problem for us as we have a motorbike on the back and I am also a Blue Badge holder. Otherwise it can be an issue in some UK towns. Less so in the likes of France where the motorhome is king and parking is easy. I wouldnt let it put you off getting a big van. Ours is a 6 berth 7.5 metre van and there is only two of us. We go on long trips up to 3 months and you need the space frankly. Go for as big as possible would be my advice.
 
We have a 7m van, and parking can be a problem some times, if you need to pop into the supermarket then aim to go early so you can find a couple of spaces end to end free (ie no footpath between them) but even if there are no spaces available then we park near the recycle point or similar.

I think the only time we visited somewhere and gave up was when we visited Goathland (heartbeat country) in August and there was so many people and cars we didn't bother stopping.
 
We were in exactly the same position last year. We did a lot of reading up and decided on a 6m van as everyone said anything over would be more trouble than it was worth. We were also worried about driving something so big having never driven anything larger than a landrover. 3000 miles later we are wishing we'd gone for something 7m or over as the extra space would be really useful. I've now learnt that height and width are much more of a concern than length anyway. Go bigger, you'll soon get used to it.
 
We have a 7.5m motorhome and wanted to park at Cleethorpes today.
There is pay and display on the sea front and we parked up with all four wheels in one bay, but our 2m overhang was obviously half way into the other bay behind!!
I paid for two bays, and as we were walking down the promenade I spoke to a parking warden who said that he would not have 'booked' us if we had only one parking ticket on the screen, because all four wheels were inside the one bay!!!
Now I just wonder how many places would have let us get away with only one ticket!

Going back to your original question about what size van, we are glad we got something so long, but wish sometimes it would have been more convenient with less length. We are lucky to have a long drive too (another consideration for you) as parking may be a problem at home.
Our thinking is that at the end of the day we have plenty of room for the three of us in our six berth motorhome.
 
Hi as previously stated parking at home is the main question you need to ask your self as the number of times that parking when away is an issue is not a real problem, my van is 7m long and I have not found it a big problem parking you just need to think of where you will be going and what time you will be there,
Only 2 of us in it most of the time but our daughter uses it and has a very large dog with her so the space is needed,
best of luck
Rob
 
Hi There folks,
Big is beautiful! I worried when I bought my first van, so ended up with a McLouis at just over 5 metres, couldn't wait to upsize. We now have a Mobilvetta 2 birth at 7.2 metres. It is the only vehicle we have and use it every day except when we go into the centre of Shrewsbury when we use the bus. Most larger towns where you might have problems usually have park&ride. Go Big you'll need the space.

BrianG
 
I have a 7m M/home and have ended up with a small car just so that I can visit other places.
I thought about pushbikes but reckon the roads are too dangerous now; other road users don't seem to think of bikes.
Motorbike? Again, having to get done up in protective gear was not very appealing. A Quad? not much weather protection :) and so I ended up with a little car
 
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I agree about the car. I wouldnt want to tow anything but I know many are happy with the idea. The scooter is the way to go for us. Its superb fun in the summer. Our little 100cc bike has taken us all over the Alps, right up to the snow slopes in the Pyrenees as well as down all the nooks and crannys in towns and resorts all over Europe. I have to admit that when its 30 degrees its shorts and T shirts, we dont wear all the protective gear (I know we should). The helmets fit under the seat and in the top box so when visiting a market or town centre you just park right outside where you want to be and wander off. It comes off and on the rack on a ramp and takes about a minute to get on or off. We will sometimes do up to 100 miles in a day and it becomes a biking holiday really.

Its not for everyone though. In the winter it can be a challange and we fell off on the ice in the Lake District over Christmas (our own fault, shouldnt have been out on it) but even in the Winter if you want to park a couple of miles from where you want to be it makes life easier.

The picture below was taken I Germany at Bodmen, Lake Constance

hank+bodman.jpg
 
Hi Zackio,
A lot depends on where and when you are going, how long for etc, We do three weeks at a time in the summer in a boxer van conversion. Easy to drive and parks no problem We used to take a push bike on the back but found we never needed it. However we are thinking of upgrading so that we can have heating, hot water and a shower that is big enough to use with ease. The idea being we will then be able to camp spring and autum in comfort and long trips to Europe wilding.
If we where into winter sports and all the extra kit that involves then we would have to get bigger for extra storage.
If we wanted to full time then look around your home at how much stuff you have. There's no loft in a van :)
Richard
 
Thank you so much for all your replies! Very helpful :)

It could be up to 9 months, depending on how we like it, so we do need to be comfortable but we want to be minimalist when it comes to stuff. Sound like 7m might be a good length to go for, now I'm wondering how wide is too wide :p
 
With a 6.5 m MH and boxes at the back, making 7m. I have no problem whizzing down narrow roads (sensibly ☺)
It is big enough for the two of us. The only thing I take extra precaution are the low bridges which lead onto some beaches. Being 3.1m high, it can make you due a 3 point turn to turn around. Worse still, is when you have half a dozen cars behind you. Happened a couple of times in Italy.
 
Hi I wanted a Van Conversion, as I drive it everyday - but soon realised that with 3 kids, Wife and Dog, a van was just not big enough.

We went for a Coachbuilt just over 6m long (havn't got the bike rack yet).

I almost bought an old Talbot Harmony, untill the Mrs pointed out that it only had four seats, and there were five of us!

Been around wales / Peak District with no problem - I find most people get out of your way.

I know some of the Vans are much better on Fuel, but the Coach Built 6 / 6.5 meter long ones will give you so much more space.

In the end it's horses for courses.
 
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