6m van OR 6.4m van?

[TonyC123]

The question I'm curious about is this: is the extra space of a 6.4m campervan worth the extra hassle of parking it, when compared to a 6m van?
I'd really appreciate hearing the views of folks who've driven both types of van, and have compared their 'parkabilty' in person - but obviously any feedback is more than welcome.
The context is that I'm planning to buying a Wildax Constellation 3 in Spring next year, to live and travel in full time, both in Europe and the UK/Ireland (PS - the Moto Trek Leisure Treka EB also looks pretty good).
But vans with big front lounges dont seem to very good for storage, so I am planning to rent a cheap storage location for the bulk of my personal gear.
So in theory I won't need to carry too much stuff in the van. Just some basic tools, suitable seasonal clothes, and whatever else I need for the next few months - at least thats the theory!
My suspicion is that I ought to go for the 6.4m version, because even its modest increase in storage space will be invaluable.
But if it were feasible to live full time in a 6m campervan, I think that's what I'd prefer - as long as the sacrifices involved are not too hardcore.
To help me decide if its worth considering the 6m version, I'm curious to know what places a 6m van can easily park where a 6.4m van can't?
E.g. do you usually have to buy two parking tickets for a 6.4m van because of its length? (Assuming you cant find a spot on the outside where the rear can overhang a grass verge).
My understanding is that a 6m van can park almost anywhere that a car can be parked. But have you found places where a 6.4m van was just a bit too long, or difficult to park? Is it worth going for the shorter van and giving up storage space for the sake of being able to reach more places, and park more easily etc?

 

[treblid]

Yes, that was my thought tbh.
But I know a few people manage to live for long periods in 6m vans, so I was wondering whether they were happy with their choice of the smaller length, and what they gave up to fit into the smaller van etc.

You need to make sure the extra 40cm does actually give you more space. This will largely depend on the layout.

When choosing our 6.0m Burstner Eliseo PVC, we compared the 6.0m and 6.4m versions. The obvious difference is transverse Vs longitudinal bed layout. The rest of the van was exactly the same. However, the longitudinal beds in the 6.4m were lower resulting in 30% less storage space by volume under the bed and smaller gas bottles (2 x 6Kg rather than 2 x 11Kg).

This reinforced our decision to go for the 6m version. We were also concerned that a towbar mounted cycle carrier was going to add additional length anyway. As it turns out our 6m van with carrier (and Van Swing) is 6.8m total length. This would be 8.2m if a 6.4m van.

 

[fred_jb]

On my boat, when cruising, the bike folds down so as not to get in the way of the tiller steering, so a folder was essential.
But in a van I have the option of a rear bike rack, and can thus save some internal space. I can imagine that trying to keep a folding bike inside the van, I'm going to be stumbling around it the whole time and it will drive me mad.

You will be able to get a folder in the boot space if my experience is anything to go by. With a deep boot like ours, it takes some space but still leaves room for storing other stuff.

 

[L' Hobo]

I wanted to reply separately on the issue of extra transport, as it would have gotten lost in my earlier ramble.
I can already see that people take various approaches, as you've outlined.
And if I did go for a large van I think I would be looking at getting a moped/scooter.

In my case, with a 6.4m van (probably), I will take an ebike. But I've realised the type of ebike is yet another question.
On my boat, when cruising, the bike folds down so as not to get in the way of the tiller steering, so a folder was essential.
But in a van I have the option of a rear bike rack, and can thus save some internal space. I can imagine that trying to keep a folding bike inside the van, I'm going to be stumbling around it the whole time and it will drive me mad.

I currently have a second folder for train journeys, a brompton electric. But the problem is that its such a magnet for thieves that it cannot be left locked outdoors in any sizeable town for more than 10 minutes.
So both of those bikes will have to go, and I'll get a cheap ebike from Halfords instead.

I travel alone and for a couple of years my folding electric bike travelled on the passenger seat, never caused a problem.

 

[Minxy]

Adding a bike rack to a PVC will increase its length so you might as well go for a coach-built with a garage. Have a look at a Carthago C-Compact-line A-class i-138. Virtually the same size as a xlwb PVC as only 5cm longer 6.41m and only 7cm wider at 2.12. double floor so lots of storage and winterised. Much more spacious than a PVC and very bright and airy.

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[TonyC123]

I can only comment on my experience of a 6m PVC van for the last 12 years.

A 6m van doesn't fit on a standard supermarket parking space. So you need to find a double end to end space. The same space will take a 6.4m van.

The difference isn't worth worrying about but the extra space internally you will gain with the longer van is.

Thanks, I didnt know this.
So unless there's a big grass verge/overhang at the edge of the car park, you still have to pay for two spaces anyway, even in a 6m van?
Of those two options, the 6.4m van is starting to look like a no-brainer for long term trips or full time living.

 

[TonyC123]

Take off the cab area which is the same and adding an extra 400mm on the remaining living space in a 6m van is quite a percentage increase especially if full timing

Looked at that way yes, its a significant proportion.
I think this has to be one of those decisions where there are a few snags with the longer van, but the space benefits hugely outweigh the odd parking snag.

 

[TonyC123]

It is 60+ years since I last drove a campervan. But much more recently I have driven both 6m and 7m coachbuilts (or A Class) and have found the difference in having a 6m or 7m to be not worth worrying about.

You just used to where it will park and where it won't. Often just meaning it is just on the far side of the car park. No problem.

To be honest, even in a car I was always one to park on the outer edges anyway, as it was just easier and quicker to get in and out of a parking space. So my default mode in a van of any size will always be to look for a spot as far as possible from the shops or facilities.
And I'm now realising that even in a 6m van, you sometimes have to take two spaces (if there's no opportunity to overhang), so in many ways 7m is no worse than 6.0m, or indeed my favoured 6.4m .

 

[TonyC123]

I bought a 6 metre Malibu van instead of the 6.4. Mainly because the 6 metre is enough and I don't see the point of lugging that extra weight about. One thing I didn't realise that you might want to consider. The 6 metre didn't come with a spare wheel when the 6.4 did. I bought a decent second hand wheel and tyre for £220 and put it under the storage area under the bed.



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Thanks, I hadnt considered a spare wheel. My last two lease cars didnt come with one, and to be fair I only got one or two flats during that six year period, so you could argue that it was a valid strategy to just wait for a breakdown company to come and fit a new tyre (the self inflating kits were utterly useless for my flats).
But it takes much, much longer to wait for a breakdown service than it does to just change your own wheel out, and I bet its the same even in a big van - you just need a stronger jack.

 

[Minxy]

Don't forget that the 6m and 6.4m vans have the same wheel base - the extra is entirely behind the rear axle. So if you can find a space where the rear overhangs some grass, the 6.4m will probably fit too.

Totally agree having had both 6m and 6.4m ones. What we like about going from our PVCs to our Carthago is the shorter wheelbase which means it is much more manoeuvrable for parking, turning at narrow road junctions, U-turns etc.

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[TonyC123]

Mine's a 6m (as was the last one) and more often than not I would park it in a single supermarket space with the nose sticking out a bit (as long as it wasn't an obstruction).

If a double end to end space presents itself then I will take it in preference and let the rear hang over into the second space but really only because it's easier to do.

I'm taking it as read that I always reverse any vehicle into a parking space.

I have some friends with a Hymer A class and it's got that extra half a meter or so length and a tiny bit more width and quite a bit more height but the amount of space they have in comparison is absolutely enormous.

So, if you want the extra space then I'd agree that the extra 0.4 of a metre shouldn't be the thing holding you back.

Thanks, yes this does seem to be the general view of the experienced folks here - the extra length (and thus space) is well worth any extra hassle, and indeed any extra parking costs, that might be required.

I did see an Autosleepers Symbol Plus (6m PVC) doing as you describe, and parking in a retail park spot, with a bit of overhang at the back.
In theory their overhang was partly blocking a raised pavement section for pedestrians, but in reality the pedestrians weren't using it anyway, they just strolled across the car park.
That was partly what got me thinking about how easy it looked to get into parking spaces with a 6m van, but in truth there were spaces at the edges where a 6.4m could have fitted.

 

[Minxy]

The most important thing to think of is how much benefit will you get from a longer vehicle which you will spend a lot of time in compared to the occasional hassle of parking a bit further away and walking for a few more minutes. Hours versus minutes ...

 

[hja]

Our comparison is between a 6.4 coachbuilt, standard width, and our current 6.4 pvc. We much, much prefer the pvc. Find it easier to manoeuvre, easier down narrow roads, more stable, easier to park. Width wise we fit a parking space and sliding door makes it easier to get out. We do need to overhang or double bay. It can be really difficult to find double length bays in car parks. As others have said 6 m would be similar. We wanted longitudinal beds so 6.4 was essential. I get the impression you are travelling by yourself so that probably wouldn’t be an issue. We also wanted a decent amount of kitchen workspace. No oven was fine but we found even in larger vans there was little prep space.
In comparison to the coachbuilt which had two longitudinal settees we have loads more storage space in the pvc. Obviously the garage takes a lot. We don’t have a folding bike but we do have small folding mobility scooters. We had one when we had the coach built and it was a menace inside the van, but now out of the way in the garage.
We can still park on the side of the road in a 6.4 m van especially where there are no specific bays. Our van is dark grey, so we don’t stand out.

 

[Minxy]

Out of interest what width was your coach-built? Ours being only a smidgen wider than a PVC still makes it easy and more relaxing to drive than a chubby one.

 

[TonyC123]

I think the 40cm may not be the main thing you need to be focusing on. If you are going to be parking in free spots for 5 or 6 nights a week in the UK over winter you need a well insulated van and a secure one. We are on our 4th PVC and although the last 3 have been top end the cab area can be source of cold air.

I’d go for the 6.4m anyway. Extra cassette as well for full timing eats into storage.

Don’t know if you’re right about a PVC being less likely to cause offence. I often think it’s more about the condition of the van and the behaviour of the people in it, particularly if there’s more than one van.

Thanks, and yes I do have lots more questions about insulation and the other issues that a full timer needs to consider.
I have no idea how good the insulation is on a Wildax, I'll have to do some more homework on that.
I wonder if a thick curtain might slow down heat loss through the cab area in winter? I hadnt even thought about that. It would be yet more gear to carry around - at least in winter anyway.

And I think you make a good point about local people being more hostile to vans and MHs that appear to be in poor shape, or with unusual paint jobs etc.
As an example, I love having a solid fuel stove on the boat, and I would love one in a van to provide a gentle and dry warmth through the night, but I'm aware that having chimney flues/smoke coming out of a van roof is probably one of the things that would make locals think its the 'wrong' sort of person inside.

I dont want to express any judgements about people who live in these sorts of vehicles, I must add that.
For example, I find that often, a person in a scruffy looking boat is actually far nicer to talk to (and far more helpful if needed) than a person who is driving an immaculately clean and beautifully painted boat with gleaming brasswork.

In the case of vans, I think where antipathy from locals does exist, I would bet you are right that it is likely to be directed at the more unusual and untidy looking vans. Someone rocking up in a brand new £150,000 Carthago might well be viewed differently by locals.

The problem some folks have is that all vehicles age, and often that age shows - and for some its just not a financial option to buy a newer van. We can argue all day about the wisdom of committing major finances to a depreciating asset, but with councils effectively taking property away from older people anyway to finance their care home accommodation, there is a certain logic in saying 'why not enjoy myself and travel whilst I'm able to right now?'

And for the younger folks, one can imagine even a very old MH looks a good option, and gives the benefit of travel, especially with bricks and mortar living becoming increasingly unaffordable for hundreds of thousands of young people.

To be fair to these people, I think that it is us a society who have created the situation over the last two decades where over half a million people now live in vehicles - numbers that are totally unprecedented in our modern history.
The majority of people prefer to live in bricks and mortar if they can, but increasing numbers cannot.

Collectively, we have created the conditions that make them feel like they have no decent and affordable alternative to living in an old van or MH. And they see people glamourising the lifestyle on youtube and get a falsely positive impression about it.

Don't get me wrong - I really dont like seeing long lines of decrepit vans lining roads next to parks, as we saw in Arundel and other places. Especially not with bags of rubbish and broken gear littering the pavements. That is never, ever going to be tolerated by society.
And neither should it be. The locals have a right to walk on clean and uncluttered roads.

But on the other hand, it feels especially cruel to force half a million people to live in vehicles by making housing too expensive, and then to come down hard on those vehicle dwellers, to marginalise and denigrate them, when what they really need are spaces to park, waste disposal, and maybe two hundred litres of water each week.

Most of the younger people will end up back in bricks and mortar accommodation at some later point in their lives, but what will be left behind is a lasting negative impression among local people and councils about people who live in vehicles.
Anyway, to be fair it is a huge can of worms, and that is only my two penn'orth...

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[ChrisL]

Just as an alternative experience to a PVC, I have been living full time in my motorhome since 2021, my motorhome is 8.3 mtrs long and 3.3 mtrs high so stealth camping is pretty much out of the question, so I am mostly on sites but I have a motorcycle that fits in the garage for visiting places and small shops, parking in supermarkets is usually no trouble it will fit in two end to end parking spaces or in a corner out of the way of other customers, when travelling if I need an overnight stop I use a pub stop. The positive aspects of a large motorhome are obviously the extra space and storage, mine also has around 1200kgs of payload, it has a kingsize bed over the garage and enough space in the lounge area to easily seat 6 adults and possibly a couple of smaller children as well so through the winter when you can't really be outside that much I don't get cabin fever. The negatives are fuel consumption is poor and obviously you have to pay site fees, and whilst these can be exorbitant at some sites, there are usually cheaper alternatives not very far away, and these are usually much cheaper in Europe should you wish to travel over the water. Whatever you choose I hope you enjoy full timing.

 

[TonyC123]

You can just about fit a 5.4m PVC in a parking space.

A 6m, you need an edge space so you can hang the tail out and you'll still be out at the front a bit. And you can't parallel park them in marked spaces.

A 6.4m, you're always going to take two spaces. But I don't think there's many times a 6m is better.

The downside to a 6.4m is the additional weight. It's only 100kg or so, but if you're trying to stay within 3.5t, it makes it a bit harder.

I've got a 6m a-class... But that's because I've only got a single driveway space and this is all I could fit. I might go back to a 6m PVC or even a cheeky 5.4m at some point.

Thanks, and yes I did notice the payloads in the 6.4m PVCs tend to be less than stellar.
I'm resigned to having to get a PVC uprated to at least 3850kg, and so part of my purchasing criteria is to look at how much it will cost in each case.
The Autosleepers Kemerton XL was a favoured option a while back, but I think it needs suspension changes to uprate to carry more payload, so I'm less keen on that.
I think the Wildax PVC can be uprated to 3850kg as a paper-only exercise, but I'll have to call them and confirm.
Its one of a hundred questions that I'll have to resolve before making a final decision.

 

[TonyC123]

If your parking a van in a carpark surely you will find a space away from the crowd because if you park in a bay close to other cars the width is as big an issue as the length as the bays are probably only just wide enough to park the van but then you cant open doors even getting out a sliding door will be a squeeze, as for the locals not liking van dwellers if you park up on a residential street you will soon p**s someone off either parked near their drive or near their window or any other reason they find to moan at you but park sensibly away from the housing and no one will now your there

Thanks, yes this makes a lot of sense.
I dont want to spend much time in car parks but the need does arise occasionally, so its great to have a heads up about the width issue, and it doesnt get mentioned much.
So if I can find a space on the end of a row I can edge over that a little bit, and that means I wont cause a problem with opening car doors for people parked next to me.

In terms of on-street overnight parking in more residential and/or urban areas, I really hope I dont have to do that very often. But you never know.
If I have to park on a residential street, I'll be sure to park well away from the front of houses, and not cause any kind of obstruction to the locals.

This is one scenario where a PVC would be more subtle than a MH. I would think that MHs are more noticeable when parked on a street, whereas a PVC has a chance of just blending in with the other vehicles and not even being noticed by locals.

 

[WoldsSunlight]

Thanks, I hadnt considered a spare wheel. My last two lease cars didnt come with one, and to be fair I only got one or two flats during that six year period, so you could argue that it was a valid strategy to just wait for a breakdown company to come and fit a new tyre (the self inflating kits were utterly useless for my flats).
But it takes much, much longer to wait for a breakdown service than it does to just change your own wheel out, and I bet its the same even in a big van - you just need a stronger jack.

If European travel is on your agenda, be aware that in some Countries, some breakdown services won't touch you unless you are carrying a spare wheel. In fact, I think that in some Countries it is a legal requirement to carry one, and not just the 'gunk and inflation' gear, which - other than for a 'simple' puncture, it will prove useless anyway.

 

[Northernraider]

5 metre fits in a space anything more you need 2 spaces so you're aswell buying something comfortable. Especially if fulltiming.

I doubt I'd ever go below 7 metres for living in . Width also makes a difference

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[TonyC123]

We have a 7.5m Burstner and couldn’t use any less space and we don’t live in it. All defined areas. Driving, eating, kitchen / washroom, lounge with electric drop down bed. We made a deliberate decision to keep areas seperate.
Pilot seats stay facing forward unless we are staying several nights.
Driving and parking is not an issue the +2m overhang can generally be lost over a kerb or grass verge so it’s now a huge 5.5m van
My wife is not a confident driver but we take it in turns one day each for driving.
Not had any bad experiences so far but I know France is a bit more MH proactive.
In Spain again no worries despite press reports. Parked on roadsides, promenades, car parks and shopping centres as well as beautiful spots.
Mirrors in - no steps - no camping tackle - no problems
We save the camping gear for the occasional paid site or aire if there’s room per pitch.

Thanks Pete - can I ask, how do you find it when parking the Burstner in the UK?
I do agree about the 'camping' gear though.
Whether I'm in a MH or a PVC, the only time I will get a chair out (in the UK) is when I'm on a site, or in the middle of nowhere with plenty of space around.
In most cases all that I want local people to see is a vehicle.
No chairs, no tables, no awnings - nothing. Just a van that will be leaving in a couple of days at most.

 

[TonyC123]

We were thinking of going for a 6m A class as it can be cheaper on ferries. In fact we got a 6.4m A class ( 6.7m with bikes on) because everything else was right. It technically fits in a standard parking space with all 4 wheels in the box but we aim for edges of car parks to take the overhang and a bay with at least an adjacent empty space, preferrably where driving out doesn't involve a v sharp turn. Generally then cars choose not to park alongside us but if they do they like to be able to open their doors too so give a bit of space. The other day I chose Tesco rather than Lidl as there was more space in the carpark...

Thanks Paddy, yes I did notice ferry prices go up after 6m length. I think its one of the downsides that you just have to accept, given the big benefits of the longer vehicle.
I can see that on occasion you feel obliged to use the supermarket with a bigger car park if the smaller one is quite busy.
Again, its a bit of a hassle, but a price worth paying for the extra space of longer and wider vehicle.
I still havent totally ruled out a full width coachbuilt tbh. I think the extra width of those in car parks (and on tight country lanes) does add extra issues compared to a PVC, but I'll only know how I feel about those issues when I try a weeks hire.
Hiring a PVC and also a coachbuilt is going to start getting expensive, but its probably cheaper than making the wrong choice.

 

[TonyC123]

The 6m is in a bit of a 'no man's land'. A bit too long for a single space. 90% of the hassle of a 6.4m.

Don't forget that the 6m and 6.4m vans have the same wheel base - the extra is entirely behind the rear axle. So if you can find a space where the rear overhangs some grass, the 6.4m will probably fit too.

In terms of finding parking, I usually park on the edge of a town and walk in.

Whether you drive 6m or 6.4m you will often fall foul of height barriers going into car parks. When I finally sell my 6.4m, I plan to go to a 5.4m - but will probably use it more as a day van. And might go to something VW or Ford with a lifting roof.

My advice would be to hire one for a few days and try it out.

Thanks Tim, I will definitely be hiring before I commit to buying anything. I think that will be in October, but not sure yet.
I think the earlier I try the hire, the sooner I'll have certainty on the biggest question, which is to confirm my choice of a PVC, as against a MH.
I did speak to a guy the other day who said he'd had the suspension on his VW camper altered, and he was now able to go under most height barriers.
Access under height barriers is certainly a big bonus, but I just cant see how I could live full time comfortably in a VW camper.

 

[blackpete]

We bought a place in France 2005 and left the UK in 2011 and although I did make occasional flying visits, since 2016 I would not dream of driving anything in the UK, it’s one if the reasons we left.
Now at a stage where I avoid the UK altogether. It’s far too congested and personally I found the political atmosphere growing more and more toxic with no middle ground anymore.
So I have no ferries to worry about just now, maybe in a few years time??
Apologies if this offends anyone it’s just my thoughts.

 

[Mixyblob]

Something else to consider that no one has mentioned (I think) and that's the weight of the vehicle and more importantly the payload.
No good getting a van thats just the right size with loads of storage if its payload isn't enough to cope with said storage.

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[TonyC123]

We have a 5.4m Ducato baed PVC which can almost always fit into normal parking spaces. The two of us go away for around four weeks at a time, and have no problems with the interior space or storage, but we wouldn't want to live in it full time. Having said that, if you are single then it might be feasible. We have looked at longer vans but due to the modular design used by most manufacturers, they don't seem to make best use of the extra space, so may have a wider transverse bed, or longitudinal beds, but not the larger bathroom we would like.

Thanks Fred - I think I would struggle in a 5.4m van to be honest, and especially with the bathroom size.
I dont generally enjoy small living spaces, but I have to accept some compromises.
But for long winter evenings I need a big lounging space, which is why I'm looking for a PVC with a big front lounge layout. Whatever PC or MH I end up with, it will have to have a big lounge - and I like the front lounge because the cab and windscreen add a sense of light and space to the lounge area, whereas rear lounges feel a bit less spacious.
I've been inside quite a few, and I do feel that a big front lounge in a PVC can feel as spacious as the rear lounge in a MH.
Its the one PVC layout that I think I could live with.

 

[hja]

Out of interest what width was your coach-built? Ours being only a smidgen wider than a PVC still makes it easy and more relaxing to drive than a chubby one.

To be honest I don’t remember. It was an Autosleeper Broadway, 2019. The hab part certainly stuck out each side from the cab.

 

[PlacidoD]

A bit of lateral thinking - Some PVCs are taller than others. That means more storage space without extra length.

Regarding ferry costs those I use (Newhaven-Dieppe & Hull-Rotterdam) have a cut off for smaller vans at 7:00 metres not 6.00 metres.

I do agree that with many PVCs the difference is longitudinal beds versus lateral. The rest is the same giving little extra benefit to a single occupant.

I have not the slightest concern entering any supermarket car park in my 6.00 metre van. There is always somewhere to park. The same goes for pub car parks with the caveat that the smaller the establishment the greater the likelihood of difficult.

If you want something to use as a daily driver a 6:00 metre is definitely a better proposition.

 

[TonyC123]

Size does matter (stop sniggering ) but not as straightforward as “bigger is better”.

We downsized from a 7.2m coach built motorhome to a 6m PVC. We were worried about storage and living space, but having looked at loads of different vans, we realised that it is the internal layout and cupboards that make the difference, rather than just length.

We have a Rapido Dreamer D55 Select, and it has a huge amount of storage - equivalent to our 7.2m motor home, as we use the massive under bed storage area which is so much easier to access with big rear doors.

Compared to the internal layout of many 6.4m PVC’s, we found the Dreamer D55 had far more cupboards and usable storage. When we went away for 6 weeks this year, fully loaded with everything we wanted and enough food for a week, we still had spare empty storage space! We call our van the “Tardis”.

We have found the 6m van to be so much easier to park - we always fit into a standard parking space (useful for supermarkets!). Our van is also a plain dark grey, with only a very subtle black logo. So doesn’t look at first glance like a “motor home” and is therefore a lot more discrete for quiet park ups.

So my tip would be, start by looking inside 6m vans to find the models with the best storage for your needs. Consider every space that you could use. Also think about how discrete the van looks from the outside. Hope you find what you’re looking for

Thanks for that very helpful reply, and I can confirm I'm too old to get involved with sniggering - whether as the sniggerer, or the sniggeree.

I couldn't agree more about the layout being important - but the thing is that in my case, because I dont like small spaces, the absolute top priority is a big lounge space.
From the PVCs I looked at, the only layout with a lounge that felt big enough to me was the Autosleeper Symbol Plus, with a front lounge layout. Likewise with the MHs I've looked at - the only ones that I liked being in were some Autotrails with the front lounge, and the Burstner Delfin (there was a Swift too, but I have some concerns about those).
There are a few others with similar layouts that I think would suit me (like the Wildax Constellation 3, or the Dethleffs Just 90), but I haven't seen those in person yet.
So at the moment, the one thing I know for certain is that it has to have a front lounge, and it has to feel big.
I think I'm going to go for a PVC, not so much for the parking or even driving down narrow lanes, but because I think a PVC will blend in better and attract less attention when I'm parking overnight in some areas.
I might be miles off about negative attention in a MH being an issue - I was certainly miles off about a few of the things I wanted on my boat. So that's still an open question in my mind, and I think the folks here will let me know if its even a thing for full time MHers.

Of my two front runners at the moment, the Wildax is more practical - it has plenty of storage. But the Moto Trek Leisure Treka EB has a more pleasant lounge space, but very little storage.
So my heart says the MotoTrek with that lovely, lovely lounge. It really does look like a little apartment, and I bet it makes a lovely living space.
But my head says the Wildax, because in the MotoTrek I'll be constantly falling over random objects that I dont have any space to put away.

 

[Abgs]

Adding a bike rack to a PVC will increase its length so you might as well go for a coach-built with a garage. Have a look at a Carthago C-Compact-line A-class i-138. Virtually the same size as a xlwb PVC as only 5cm longer 6.41m and only 7cm wider at 2.12. double floor so lots of storage and winterised. Much more spacious than a PVC and very bright and airy.

I’d second this. Way more usable space than a 6.4m PVC and loads of storage in the double floor and the garage. If you could find one without the drop down bed option in the front you’d also get a really decent living space.

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[TonyC123]

Layout can be just as important as length. It seems that end lounge designs are popular with UK buyers, and provide much more daytime living space. On the other hand you lose a lot of rear boot space, and have the hassle of making up a bed every night.

There are other other options such as raising roofs with upstairs beds, or beds that lower from the ceiling, but the former restricts what you can put on the roof in terms of solar panels, skylights, aircon, etc, and the latter tends be a feature of bigger, heavier and more expensive designs.

We went for a design with permanent rear transverse bed with large boot, and make do with the swivelling front seats and dinette area which is fine for our use as we are mostly out and about. It all depends on how much time you plan on sitting around inside the van.

Another thing to consider is whether you plan on taking a bicycle as whatever rack type you use on a PVC will increase the length and give rise to security concerns. This might swing the balance towards a compact 6m-ish coachbuilt with internal garage space for a bike.

Thanks Fred, those are really helpful thoughts.
I've detailed in a reply just above this one why I want a front lounge layout, even though I know that is going to limit my storage space.
So even though I'll be keeping a lot of stuff in a lockup (e.g. tools, winter coats, thicker bedding etc), I'll still struggle to find space for the 'seasonal' gear that I need to carry around, emergency tools, etc.

My electric brompton is a bit too harsh even on some city streets with its tiny wheels, so I'll be replacing that with a normal ebike, in a rear rack. Just something cheap, that wont hurt too much if its stolen.

A compact coachbuilt is still an outside bet, but I want to learn whether the folks here think that MHs attract more attention, or get more hassle from locals, compared to a more discreet PVC.