Newbie, 6m or 7m?

[Nick555]

We have been planning to get an RP Rebel 6m 4wd pvc. We've just seem today, a video of an RP Rebellion, 7m 4wd pvc with a garage & a little washing machine! Wifey loved this, but we're wondering plus & minus points for the size difference.

Our usage would be touring the Scottish Highlands through 4 seasons. Maybe also a trip to Norway. Off grid most of the time, u shape lounge. Budget £120k.

My thoughts are a 7m maybe less manouverable & a bit less discrete. Any advice please?

 

[nicholsong]

Very few places that the extra metre would make any difference so go for the bigger one.

 

[mikebeaches]

I think it's all down to personal choice and how comfortable you are handling a longer vehicle in the Highlands and country villages.

Finding suitable parking can be a challenge with a longer van, when you are out and about.

My preference is for a shorter van - ours is 6.4 metres, and that's more than enough.

 

[Andy MacD]

A 6m van will fit in a standard parking space, using a little overhang at the back. A 7m van may not.

That said the extra space may be worth it.

Only you can decide.

Can you hire a normal van of the size you’re thinking of for an afternoon, or even just a hour, and just drive around and try parking and manoeuvring it?

 

[Burgo]

how comfortable you are handling a longer vehicle in the Highlands and country villages.

True.... But, IMO, its more the width of the vehicle that causes more raised heart rates than the length, especially on country lanes and in old villages.

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[CazPaul]

5.93 metre MWB Mercedes more desirable and better resale value in my opinion.

 

[deleted79651]

We have a 5.99m m/home with a drop down bed, and was good on our tour of Aberdeenshire, especially at Burn O Vat National Nature Reserve where we would have struggled to get into what was the only space available at 11am. As ever, it's a question of whereyou want your compromise to be, but Brunhilde meets our need for on street parking in a tight space, and supermarket parking spaces.

Steve

 

[mikebeaches]

True.... But, IMO, its more the width of the vehicle that causes more raised heart rates than the length, especially on country lanes and in old villages.

Totally agree!

Previously, we had a 6-metre coachbuilt (body width 230 cm), in which we travelled all over for more than 5 years. But for the reason you've highlighted, we changed to a 6.4-metre van conversion (body width 205 cm). Hugely more comfortable to drive and park. More sure-footed at speed on the motorway too.

Ideally, I'd have liked to have stayed at 6 metres, but we particularly wanted longitudinal fixed single beds - and whilst there are one or two vans that offer the configuration in a shorter length, we thought the living space at the front just too tight.

As it's said many times, choosing the right van is always going to involve a degree of compromise on size, design, performance and price etc.

 

[Jamesh]

We have been planning to get an RP Rebel 6m 4wd pvc. We've just seem today, a video of an RP Rebellion, 7m 4wd pvc with a garage & a little washing machine! Wifey loved this, but we're wondering plus & minus points for the size difference.

Our usage would be touring the Scottish Highlands through 4 seasons. Maybe also a trip to Norway. Off grid most of the time, u shape lounge. Budget £120k.

My thoughts are a 7m maybe less manouverable & a bit less discrete. Any advice please?

What's the base vehicle if fiat then it's the overhang that makes the difference. A pain if a daily driver around town but touring I doubt it makes much difference.


Cheers James

 

[Nick555]

What's the base vehicle if fiat then it's the overhang that makes the difference. A pain if a daily driver around town but touring I doubt it makes much difference.


Cheers James

Thanks for your reply. The base in both cases is a Mercedes sprinter.

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[CazPaul]

What's the base vehicle if fiat then it's the overhang that makes the difference. A pain if a daily driver around town but touring I doubt it makes much difference.


Cheers James

All Mercedes models

 

[Phileas Fogg]

That looks like a super van, absolutely go for the bigger one unless you are using it as a day to day transport. We have an 8m van and parking is more difficult yes but never failed to find somewhere yet. Width is more important but 2.35m is very practical.
The Merc base is gorgeous!

 

[Nick555]

That looks like a super van, absolutely go for the bigger one unless you are using it as a day to day transport. We have an 8m van and parking is more difficult yes but never failed to find somewhere yet. Width is more important but 2.35m is very practical.
The Merc base is gorgeous!

Thanks. It's not for day to day transport, but we would intend to use it a lot.

 

[Nick555]

Thank you so much for all the useful & thoughtful replies.

The idea of hiring each size is a good one, 6m is easy, but 7m PVC hire seems to be more difficult. I will keep looking. I may just aim to hire a regular panel van - just to experience the sizes.

Wifey & I have been bouncing ideas, she loves the washing machine in the 7m, I love the garage, giving space for my professional drone gear, plus space for things like pump-up kayaks.
For the 6m, we'd have to strap things down between the lounge seats, but against a smaller. more convenient size.

Hiring a van/pvc it is!

For anyone interested, here's a couple YouTube videos of the 2 vans.

RP Rebel 6m:

RP Expedition 7m:

 

[Jamesh]

I'd go for 7m it's not likely to be a great premium, and is shorter than most MH even those that go the NC500.

Cheers James

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[Burgo]

, she loves the washing machine in the 7m

That could be difficult but, to be honest, you actually only use a washing mc a couple of times a week and you can always do a hand wash / use a site mc / use a launderette.
Downside is 24x7x365 you're lugging the weight of it around and its taking up space. Both of which in a smaller m/home or pvc are very, very, precious commodities...
(and it's something else to go wrong)

 

[cyberyacht]

Sod's Law decrees that your van is 25cm longer than the space available.

 

[Nick555]

That could be difficult but, to be honest, you actually only use a washing mc a couple of times a week and you can always do a hand wash / use a site mc / use a launderette.
Downside is 24x7x365 you're lugging the weight of it around and its taking up space. Both of which in a smaller m/home or pvc are very, very, precious commodities...
(and it's something else to go wrong)

Yes that's very true, it's a very small washing machine though. Wifey liked the freezer option in the bigger van, but we do keep bouncing between the 2 sizes constantly.

 

[RidersofRohan]

Simple. 6m when your driving and parking it.
7 m when your living in it.
As you are going for 4wd presumably you are looking to visit remote and less accessible places rather than towns cities and resorts. Parking won’t be much of a worry except for the odd trip to Sainsbury’s and that shouldn’t be a worry usually.

 

[Nick555]

Simple. 6m when your driving and parking it.
7 m when your living in it.
As you are going for 4wd presumably you are looking to visit remote and less accessible places rather than towns cities and resorts. Parking won’t be much of a worry except for the odd trip to Sainsbury’s and that shouldn’t be a worry usually.

Thanks, yes. Single track roads, no campsites, not many towns.

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[Puddleduck]

We upgraded from 6m to 7m and the extra space is worth it. The 7m van easier to drive than the 6m.

Only downside is that Scottish Ferries have a price break at 6m so you'll pay more for 7m.

 

[Speve]

Personally I would go long 7m it will make very little difference to drive, as for parking whatever van you drive inevitably the spaces available will be to short or difficult to inexperienced drivers but you will soon get used to it and that extra meter will pay dividends when living in it for long trips

 

[TerryL]

Just a note of warning - vehicles over 6m attract MUCH higher ferry and toll fees in Scandinavia, up to 3 times the price!

However personally I'd go for the extra roominess of the longer vehicle - you won't notice any difference in driving it, just a little more thought when parking in cities etc.

 

[Boris7]

If your touring with it then I'd take the 7m, but its 4x4 so are you going to use it "off road" or just on grass?

If your actually going off road and in tight uneven places then 6m, the longer wheel base and rear overhang on the bigger van will be a pain. your approach angle will be very poor and the longer wheel base will restrict how rougher ground you can manage (much higher risk of bottoming out)

Watch those videos again, and think about that 7m at this point.

The front wheels on the longer van will be further on and therefore higher and the long overhang will have hit the ground.

So if the 4x4 is to help on snowy roads etc I'd go 7m, but if your going into any proper off road places stick to 6m. IMO

 

[Nick555]

If your touring with it then I'd take the 7m, but its 4x4 so are you going to use it "off road" or just on grass?

If your actually going off road and in tight uneven places then 6m, the longer wheel base and rear overhang on the bigger van will be a pain. your approach angle will be very poor and the longer wheel base will restrict how rougher ground you can manage (much higher risk of bottoming out)

Watch those videos again, and think about that 7m at this point. View attachment 548963

The front wheels on the longer van will be further on and therefore higher and the long overhang will have hit the ground.

So if the 4x4 is to help on snowy roads etc I'd go 7m, but if your going into any proper off road places stick to 6m. IMO

Very good point, the usage would be slightly off-road - down a muddy track for instance, but the AWD is mainly for snowy roads & parking areas during winter. I have a Jeep Wrangler for off roading & completely agree with the long wheelbase issues.

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[Nick555]

Thanks everyone. I've decided on the 6m & willalso go for the bathroom slide out option & a roof rack, plus a host of other options! I just need to also decide between u shape or twin benches in the rear lounge.