Motorhome size

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.

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.

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 

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. 

Rod, all the previous posts have given good advice. Moving from a big caravan, into a smallish MH will require some deep research, and a mindset change, but, if it keeps you holidaying, and enjoying those holidays, then is well worth it. Touring in anything 6.5 metres and down can be surprisingly easy, even in this country, but you do have to choose your routes carefully, and do some research on parking, which to be honest, isn't onerous. We swopped from a caravan to a small 5.5 motorhome four years ago, and despite all sorts of things preventing us taking long breaks, we still get out and about much more. Life has more spontaneity, is a whole lot less hassle, but still comfortable, even with two big dogs. It is a choice, go big and you will regret it, tied to public transport, hassle to move about and park up. But compromise a little, still find a layout that suits, a size you can live with and you won't look back! No idea where you live, we are up North, and it's small motorhome heaven up here, only place we have compromised a little was down tiny lanes in Cornwall, but we still had a couple of glorious weeks travelling all over. You learn to plan small tours to get out and see things, rather than doing the "Hobbit" there and back to Site again each day, and as someone mentioned, your kitchen, your lounge, your bird hide, your sunhouse, your rain shelter goes with you! But do a lot of thinking, a lot of research. We had a must have/can do list, and a don't really need it list. Having said that, we only looked at one and bought it, but we had done camper vans previously, and knew what we wanted! Good luck!

Bolero Boy stated :

"parking isn't such an issue 'over there' ".

This isn't always true even in France. We found last May in Britanny that there were more car parks than previously with height barriers and that in a number of towns and villages camping cars (motorhomes) were banned from carparks where there were no height barriers.

We have a 5.75 metres long panel van and can often park easily here and on the other side of the Channel (as long as there aren't restrictions as mentioned above). We really enjoy having a campervan/motorhome but recognise that even with such a small one there are some places where parking can be difficult or impossible.

RodW  please don't believe that it is easy to park a 6 metres long van in a normal car parking space and only overhang by "about 0.5 m" as suggested by Tinwheeler.

There are some car parks (not at supermarkets) with restrictions meaning if you overhang into a 2nd bay you have to pay for both bays and some where even this is not allowed.

He is perfectly correct in stating that "7.5m is massive in terms of parking". I am surprised RodW that you had to ask whether it was "going to be too large to park  easily in a city". 

Tinwheeler, what I was querying was the idea that it was easy to overhang a bay by only  "about 0.5m" with a 6m van.  I don't think that standard bays are in the region of 5.5m long.

As you say, the possibility of being charged for a second bay in some car parks is something to consider. I am sure we both agree and would recommend to a new motorhomer  that it is always necessary to check any notices in car parks to be aware of any rules or restrictions.

TW,

That picture brings back memories , that's the  outfit you had when we first met you at Godrevy.

My car is 5.2 & over hangs parking bays.

I think its a myth that motorhomers need to put everything away before they leave site for the day.

We live fairly tidily in the van and it's only kettle and cups to put away, the fridge door to lock and the EHU cable to pick up.

If, on the other hand, you spread your belongings around and leave the sink full of dishes, then you make life unnecessarily difficult for yourself.

I stated the current standard for parking spaces in my earlier post. They are 2.4m wide and 4.8m long. The standards may change as it is recognised that an increasing number of cars cannot fit in these spaces.

I agree with Tinwheeler; there are car parks where you can overhang without causing a nuisance. It's common sense to use these where possible. 

Tinwheeler

you are obviously offended and upset by my comments and I am sorry about that.

What I could have put in my opening post was "Don't believe that it is possible to park a 6 metres long van in a normal  parking bay and only overhang by about 0.5m".

However I thought that would be too provocative as it would mean that  I was saying you were not telling the truth. That certainly could/would have offended you.

However, a number of  contributors have posted that they have found that  it is not possible to park some shorter  vehicles in  normal sized bays without overhanging. (I believe that it is important that correct information is given when responding to a question rather than something misleading.)

I am sorry if this offends you  - I do not wish to engage in a protracted series of posts so am happy to leave it here. 

Continue to enjoy your motorhoming - we both agree that panel vans suit our needs and we find them to be practical.