Half a metre (1 Viewer)

[Russtobin]

So I'm a newbie trying to select my first mh.

Question I have is, apart from the obvious is there much difference between a 7m and 7.5m mh in terms of drivability/practicality.

I'd appreciate any feedback from anyone with any experience of either.

Regards

Russ

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[Bobby22]

Welcome

Ferry costs could be a factor, also overhang for drivability. Whatever size you choose you will soon get used to it.

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[pyro]

Welcome

No expert here, but I would have thought longer overhang, greater risk of grounding (e.g steep elevations), cost on ferries, parking

 

[funflair]

Hi

I don't think it will make much difference as 7.5 is not too big, 7 or 7.5 will drive the same and as you have worked out already you will need half a metre more space to park the larger one, that said you will have another half metre to live in and to me that will be more of a positive than any negatives connected with the extra bit of length.

Martin

 

[Speve]

Hello and welcome to Fun if you have experience of driving larger vans half a meter doesn't make much difference to drive but will give you many more options inside.

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[MikeD]

If they are on the same chassis/wheel base so there may be a fair bit of over hang behind the rear wheels on the longer motorhome, so a fair bit of swing/slew at the rear end.

I personally found this a bit stressful in tight/village situations.

It depends if u like mountain/village locations or big site/town sites.

I love the mountains/little villages so it became a issue for me

Hence we down sized to a PVC of 6.35mtrs

If u need the bigger storage/space of a larger motorhome or the moveability of a smaller one depends on what want to do in it.

 

[pyro]

If you need the extra space and 50cms makes all the difference, then go for it

If you want to visit small villages using winding roads, or go the scenic route, then don't

Whatever size you get, you'll quickly get used to it

 

[DavidG58]

I was going to say there is no difference, but as suggested above the rear overhang can catch you out, I am paranoid at fuel stops, convinced I am going to wipe out the pumps if needing a tight turn to leave

Key is to take it steady whatever length you get its a decent bit bigger than any car

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[wigster]

Half a meter extra is nothing really .The main issue i reckon is width of van.
You soon get used to it though as @pyro says

 

[The Old Man]

Welcome Russ. I found it scarey at first but by sticking to motorways and A roads as much as possible, BUT you soon start to get used to it!

Then it got really scarey as I gained confidence/over confidence but with that within check I started to enjoy driving the van.

When I first purchased the van there was no reversing camera, that made for some difficulties but even when fitted I had to learn what the screen was telling me. So I got my hands on a lot of cones, laid them out behind the van in various patterns, then with a lot of exercise I would reverse the van with screen and mirrors, stop, get out and compare the actual position of the cones to my estimates.

Another small downside. Being a solo traveller, with a longer vehicle it takes longer to get to the fridge for cold beers and ice!!!!!

 

[Baycott]

Hi and welcome to Fun.
I think the answer to your question lies in your own confidence in driving a bigger van. I had a 5.8mtr then moved to a 7mtr but not sure I would want to go any bigger. It's not so much the driving but the parking in supermarkets, town car parks and even some tourist attraction car parks.
As others have said, whatever you settle on, you will soon get used to it.

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[Richard Birkett]

Welcome to fun. I've had motorhomes from 7 to 8.6 m and I've never found length to be an issue. We spent last weekend driving round snowdonia & the only issue on even those very narrow twisty roads is width but mostly because we're 2.6 m wide. If 7.5 m gives you the space you want, then go for it. You won't notice the extra .5 m on the road but you might when pitched up. Whatever you end up with, you will enjoy it

 

[MC 55 FUN]

&

 

[peterc10]

Our first motorhome was 7.2m long, and our new one is 7.5m. Little real difference to be honest. We have never grounded in either and still get to hill villages as well as everywhere else we want to go.

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[Russtobin]

Thanks for the really warm welcome - much appreciated.

One of the challenges I have is that being 1.93 tall (6'4") Semi Integrated models are no good due to the windscreen being too low for good visibility.

The other issue is finding a bed big enough!

Ideally I'd like an A class 7m or just under with a big enough bed.

 

[irnbru]

The overhang caught me out in the beginning. Also grounded once or twice but now that I've learned from my early mistakes I try to take more care. You will soon get used to the length and having extra room means you can fill it with more useless junk like my mum does.

 

[Anthea M]

Transverse beds are the width of the van so usually long enough!!

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[Russtobin]

Transverse beds are an option but necessitate climbing over one another - twin beds that convert into double are another option I've looked at.

It's just that 7.5 x 2.35 gives us all the room we need also we won't be going anywhere were we haven't already travelled on a local bus e.g. Keswick to Buttermere, Snowdon Sherpa, and if the bus can make it I'm confident that given time so can I.

 

[Anthea M]

Transverse beds are an option but necessitate climbing over one another - twin beds that convert into double are another option I've looked at.

It's just that 7.5 x 2.35 gives us all the room we need also we won't be going anywhere were we haven't already travelled on a local bus e.g. Keswick to Buttermere, Snowdon Sherpa, and if the bus can make it I'm confident that given time so can I.

Yes it does necessitate climbing over! All part of the MH fun !!

 

[Russtobin]

Hehe

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[irnbru]

@Russtobin you have only one more post left before you need to subscribe. It will be the best £15 you will have spent thus year. Well worth the money.

 

[Cilfan]

It's just that 7.5 x 2.35 gives us all the room we need also we won't be going anywhere were we haven't already travelled on a local bus e.g. Keswick to Buttermere, Snowdon Sherpa, and if the bus can make it I'm confident that given time so can I.

I think it fair to say that you've answered your own question. Go for it!

 

[SwissBob]

Not quite the same league but we hired a 6m van and subsequently bought a 6.5m van. The difference in space and comfort seems way more that half a meter .

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[Spidey]

We went from a 6m to a 7m and it has made a huge difference. We have a french bed style and really don't mind the climbing over

We have to be careful on dips or bumps with an overhang. But its worth it for the fixed bed and extra room.

 

[runrig]

Have just returned from a tour of Scotland using single track roads in our 8.3 metre long RV not a problem on them or on campsites as you put your overhang over grass at the rear of pitch, problem solved.

 

[Russtobin]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone.

Carthago or Rapido ?

What do people think?

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[Speve]

Hymer Exsis are narrower and have really good sized beds and good layouts only 2700 high.