Larger vans for tall couple?

Pitstop Penny · 2026-05-17T11:16:08+0100

Hey all! We've had our VW Cali Ocean for over six years, and we love it. Not used it as much as we'd have liked. Lots of hard times, health issues and unlucky incidents, but we're finally getting out there more, and we've booked a big long trip for end of June. Heading to south of France for three or four weeks. We both work for ourselves and can work from anywhere, so we can escape for longer.

It's going to be a bit of a test. We know we'll love it. But our van is rather small for longer trips and we're starting to think of upgrading to something bigger. BUT... everything we've looked at, they don't have beds long enough for us. I'm six foot tall, my husband is six foot three.

Any options? Would love to start thinking about vans for next year.

WelshGas · 2026-05-17T11:23:00+0100

Pitstop Penny said:
Hey all! We've had our VW Cali Ocean for over six years, and we love it. Not used it as much as we'd have liked. Lots of hard times, health issues and unlucky incidents, but we're finally getting out there more, and we've booked a big long trip for end of June. Heading to south of France for three or four weeks. We both work for ourselves and can work from anywhere, so we can escape for longer.

It's going to be a bit of a test. We know we'll love it. But our van is rather small for longer trips and we're starting to think of upgrading to something bigger. BUT... everything we've looked at, they don't have beds long enough for us. I'm six foot tall, my husband is six foot three.

Any options? Would love to start thinking about vans for next year.

Sorry but I don't get this " need something bigger for longer trips " argument.
There are shops and laundries available. You " don't " need to take more stuff and if heading into Europe then you'll probably be spending more time outside than in the van.
A bigger vehicle starts limiting where you can go compared with a California.

Pitstop Penny · 2026-05-17T11:48:52+0100

WelshGas said:
Sorry but I don't get this " need something bigger for longer trips " argument.
There are shops and laundries available. You " don't " need to take more stuff and if heading into Europe then you'll probably be spending more time outside than in the van.
A bigger vehicle starts limiting where you can go compared with a California.

I suppose more context helps. We need to work from our van and so that was a reason. Not having to make the bed up every day. Being able to stay away for longer. Being able to store expensive bikes hidden away.

But you know, the VW Cali is amazing for what it is. That’s why we got it. It’s ok to want something bigger you know

The other argument we keep coming back to… just keep the Cali and do hybrid trips where we sometimes stay in gites or villas for a week. Which might work out ok, given we’d need to pay to store a larger van elsewhere whilst at home.

I’d still love some nice ideas of larger vans so we might consider them. If anyone else wants to help?

Keith Smith · 2026-05-17T12:39:43+0100

We’ve just done a month in Scotland, a mix of camping and lets, and we’ve come back and had a look for something bigger. What we have found so far is that even in much bigger vans the bed situation is often worse than the Cali. If you need more space to work and you have an awning room you can set that up easily as an office and it doesn’t take a lot of room in the van when travelling.

Camperfamily · 2026-05-17T12:43:11+0100

Grand Cali 680? Bed goes lengthwise.
I read the bed is 6’3 at its shortest side and 6‘6 at longest

rod_vw · 2026-05-17T13:29:06+0100

@Pitstop Penny if your desire is to stay with the VAG range I fear your only choice is a LWB Crafter / MAN TGE so that you can have a lengthways bed. I had this built to replace our previous LWB T5s & T6

Pitstop Penny · 2026-05-17T13:32:30+0100

rod_vw said:
@Pitstop Penny if your desire is to stay with the VAG range I fear your only choice is a LWB Crafter / MAN TGE so that you can have a lengthways bed. I had this built to replace our previous LWB T5s & T6

Oh wow! That’s a nice conversion. Thanks for sharing that. A lot to think about.

Pitstop Penny · 2026-05-17T13:33:24+0100

Keith Smith said:
We’ve just done a month in Scotland, a mix of camping and lets, and we’ve come back and had a look for something bigger. What we have found so far is that even in much bigger vans the bed situation is often worse than the Cali. If you need more space to work and you have an awning room you can set that up easily as an office and it doesn’t take a lot of room in the van when travelling.

Yeah. This is what we keep coming back to. Thank you! Hope you had fun in Scotland!