How Big Is Too Big???

[Dean Anderson]

Having had a smallish single axle van and now a dual axle Expanda, my question is......how big is too big for general vaning off road.

My expanda outback poptop (17.58?) has just fitted into several camp spots due to trees and narrow roads. Being a guy I realize the need for an extra inch but is an extra foot or two just too much? Especially if you put on a long drawbar. Extra length drawbar means larger turning circle.

No matter how much room a van has it's still not going to be quiet enough until its 25 foot long (with a full annex), and full height.

Shite.....we still cook outside on a $14 camp stove, and use the Waeco to chill the drinks............we don't van to sit inside it....we van to keep the beds off the ground, and setup in 10 minutes if need be...........and allow the kids to poop without making me walk a mile.......Personally I've only pooped in my van twice........I prefer to dig a hole............

How much of it is keeping up with the Jones's????

 

[DRW]

the 17:56 is only a foot longer than the 16:49 single axel, the height is the same, I guess you take this off roading thing literally, but being a man you can't go back now. You could always pack the swag and venture further into the bush and keep it as a base, (I haven't pooped in either of mine YET!)

 

[Tricky]

Probably the answer is what ever you feel comfortable with and doesn't feel like a chore when you want to use it...

 

[Dean Anderson]

I feel comfortable with whatever I have my hand on........ And it always feels the right size to me....but the better half may like it bigger if it doesn't cost too much...I think the smaller it is the more places it can fit into....I do love the nightly twinkles in the van though, would never go back to no internal toilet...

 

[Pac1977]

We started looking at the 22 foot Starcraft, but after many visits and walking around the thing I just figured it was too big. We settled on the 17 and have not had any problems but it's been pretty tight in a few spots (caravan parks)

On a side note yesterday at the park I am at now I sat and watched this massive 5th wheeler roll in towed by an F250. I thought now that would be great, but after watching him spend an hour trying to work out where to put it, then another hour setting up the satalite dish, I just smiled....

 

[Crusty181]

Personally I've only pooped in my van twice........I prefer to dig a hole............

Most caravan parks Ive stayed in frown at that :nono:

No matter how much room a van has it's still not going to be quiet enough until its 25 foot long (with a full annex), and full height.

Yeah .... and my 20.63 is getting pretty damn close. Hell, with the bed open it probably is

 

[ShaneT]

I think 16ft single axle is as big as I would go for 2 people.

 

[bigcol]

I have the 16.49.1 - with 3 people
plenty of room - but no internal toilet / shower

oh well

 

[twscoot]

I think our 20.62-3 Starcraft is great for four people. Single beds up front and bunks sideways at the back gave us almost the full length of the van in floor space which we were used to with our 16.49 Expanda. At 8m long it is yet to not fit on a site.

 

[crackacoldie]

16.49-3 has been a perfect balance for 5 of us with the ensuite. We have been as big as a 25 footer and this layout has been a great compromise on size for living and off road travel. We will never go back to anything over 20'foot.

 

[Crusty181]

20.63.1 ... errr, 3 of us, almost big enough. Ha. I thought the saying was once you've experienced something over 20, you can never go back.

 

[Drover]

Not forgetting your tow vehicle. Just with our 14ftTardis the change from Grand Cherokee to Colorado I have found the house yard is a bit smaller when I turn around.

 

[Smirke]

There are 6 of us, and we discovered our swan got a bit too tiny on a couple of the last trips. Hence the upgrade to the 21-64. We carry the same amount of stuff in it, but in this van it looks a whole lot more. (We wonder how we fitted it into the swan). It is long, and I would not want to try and get it into a tight spot, or crowded park.

 

[Red1]

We went down through the NSW coast over Xmas and were asked many times how big our van was. Most said 21 foot was their maximum
Cheers
Dave

 

[bigcol]

20.63.1 ... errr, 3 of us, almost big enough. Ha. I thought the saying was once you've experienced something over 20, you can never go back.

errrrr
were talking about caravans here @Crusty181

 

[Crusty181]

errrrr
were talking about caravans here @Crusty181

Sorry, that reply was meant for another 'forum' im a member off :nevreness: