Choosing Your Campervan
Short Wheelbase or Long Wheelbase CampervanWhich should you choose?
The extra 40cm or so doesn't sound much — but it can change how your campervan works in everyday life.
Same adventures. Different possibilities.
SWB or LWB: the quick answer
Choose SWB if…
the campervan will regularly double as an everyday vehicle and parking/manoeuvrability matter more than maximum interior space.
Consider LWB if…
you expect to spend longer periods inside the campervan, carry more equipment or want more flexibility in the conversion.
But…
don't decide on length alone. The layout and quality of the conversion can matter just as much as the extra 40cm.
It's about your life, not just the van
Before you get into specifications, it's worth thinking about how you'll actually use your campervan. Will it be your second car? Will you regularly use supermarket or public car parks? How much room do you have on your drive? What happens when you're stuck inside on a wet day? How much living and storage space do you really need?
These everyday questions matter more than the numbers on a spec sheet.
Where am I prepared to compromise — inside the campervan or outside it?
VW Transporter T6.1 dimensions
Here are the key external dimensions for a Volkswagen Transporter T6.1:
| Dimension | SWB | LWB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 4,904 mm | 5,304 mm | 400 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,000 mm | 3,400 mm | 400 mm |
| Load length (floor) | 2,572 mm | 2,975 mm | 403 mm |
| Overall width | 1,904 mm | 1,904 mm | — |
Source: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles — T6.1 dimension drawings. Measurements are for the standard panel van; conversions and optional extras may vary slightly.
Put that into perspective
A standard UK parking bay can be around 4.8m long (2.4m wide). Many councils, including Wokingham, use a mixture of 4.8 × 2.4m and 5 × 2.5m, with 5 × 2.5m recommended for new spaces.
A VW T6.1 SWB is about 4.90m long, while the LWB is about 5.30m. That extra 40cm may not sound significant on paper. You notice it rather more when you're trying to park at Tesco.
Real life isn't always this tidy!
What does the extra length actually give you?
The LWB isn't just a longer van — it gives you noticeably more usable space inside. That can mean a bigger kitchen, more storage, a larger bed or simply more room to live comfortably, especially on longer trips.
In our SWB T6.1 Camper King Monte Carlo, being able to reach the fridge and storage with the bed down was one of the layout details we checked carefully. It's a small thing, but it makes a big difference in everyday use — whichever wheelbase you choose.
Which wheelbase fits your lifestyle?
There aren't any hard rules, but this table can help you think about what matters most to you.
| If this sounds like you… | Think about… |
|---|---|
| Campervan is also your everyday car | SWB |
| Regular supermarket or town parking | SWB |
| Small driveway | SWB |
| Mostly weekend trips | SWB may be enough |
| Longer touring | LWB |
| Family / more occupants | LWB |
| Lots of outdoor equipment | LWB |
| More time living inside (e.g. bad weather) | LWB |
| Maximum layout flexibility | LWB |
These aren't rules — they're prompts for deciding which compromise matters most to you.
So, would I choose SWB again?
For the way we use our campervan, yes. We've got enough space inside for the way we travel, but we've retained a vehicle that I feel comfortable taking into supermarkets, towns and unfamiliar car parks.
That doesn't mean I think SWB is better. If we were spending months touring, carrying significantly more equipment or treating the van primarily as accommodation rather than transport, I'd be looking very seriously at LWB.
Before buying, I'd ask myself five questions:
Will this also be my everyday car?
If yes, think carefully about the places you regularly park.
Where will I keep it at home?
Measure the space — don't guess.
How many people will regularly be inside?
Two people occasionally camping have very different requirements from a family of four.
How will I actually travel?
Weekend trips and moving regularly between locations are different from spending two weeks on one campsite.
What matters more to me: space inside or convenience outside?
That might ultimately be the question that decides it.
For us, SWB was the right compromise — but don't choose SWB because we did. Choose the campervan that fits the way you're actually going to use it.
Watch or listen
See the full discussion on YouTube or listen to the podcast episode.
Next guide
You've chosen the size. Now think about the space. SWB or LWB determines how much room you've got — your layout determines what you can actually do with it.
Choosing your campervan layout