I'm very tall & need help finding a van to fit!

[geeza67]

Hello there. This is my first post. Been looking for a vintage van for some time now, mostly online, and struggling to find one that I can stand in without stooping. I'm 6'5" (195cm) tall. Can anyone suggest particular models that could accommodate me? Thank you in advance. Cheers, Chris.

[greedy53]

you will be hard to fit but the poptops may be your best bet some are a bit taller than a hard top or you may be able to increas the pop up higth
steve

[geeza67]

Hi Steve. It's what I was afraid of. At the end of the day, if I can find a good looking old pop top I'll be satisfied. Keen to get started on van holidays and introduce the kids to the joys of it.

Someone had suggested the lantern type vans. Bit hard to find though.

[seeshell]

Hi Chris

Great to meet you today, and welcome aboard! Glad to see you posting to the forum.

Regarding your request, it might be a bit quiet on the responses this week as many of the regulars are away kicking up their heels - but I'm sure the resident experts will have some advice on their return.

If you wanted to see our van, you can find it in the Members Photo Album section, under "The Blue Flyer".

Best of luck on the hunt, and keep in touch!
Carley

[takeiteasy]

I went out and measured my Olympic. 1940mm at the solid roof and approx 1950mm at the roof hatch. Not quite... bummer.

[trub73]

Hi Chris,
there was a great article by Susan and Keith Hall in Issue #6 of Vintage Caravan Magazine about Greg and Jo Potts' Baravan (gorgeous rig with a colour co-ordinated EK Holden) apparently Greg lowered the floor in the Baravan as he too is very tall and struggled to find a vintage van he could stand in, maybe someone on the forum might have contact details for Greg and Jo, so you could have a chat and assess whether modifying a van in that way would work for you.
its just a thought
good luck
Nicole.

[geeza67]

Thanks for the posts everyone and it was lovely meeting you too Carley. One day I may put up a photo of my little gypsy wagon you saw!

I've been inside an Olympic and found it to be just too short.

Thanks for the great tip too Nicole. I'll see if I can get my hands on that mag.

[Deleted]

Hi geeza,
Maybe a late 60s or early 70s camper trailer might be better.My Dad was 6ft6 and we had a Globetrotter and Franklins and he could never stand up straight in them(he spent a lot of time lazing around!)Later in life he used camper trailers which were about 7ft inside height.
Maybe you might have to change your tack!
Cheers
hughdeani

[atouchofglass]

Olympics too short?
A bit of lateral thinking and it would be easily tall enough
Just measured my Olympic Riviera floor to roof hatch 2040mm
That's 3" clearance over your head in the old scale.

Why different to most?
I removed the flyscreens and put them around the edges of the hatch.
Also lifted the hatch with slightly longer hinges.

See reply 53
vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=1473&page=3

Now tell me you won't fit.


Atog

[geeza67]

I'll fit, no problem there Atog! Great idea. This has given me hope as I really like the Olympic vans of that era. Anyway, give it a few years and age will eventually wear my vertebrae and I'll be a couple of inches shorter anyway.

Cheers

Chris

[bigkel]

Hi , I am a bit over 6'6'' and find our sunliner does the job well . you are always doing some thing , like , making a drink etc , you will find that you are never just standing straight upright in your van saying this van is to short . ( except when you are looking in one to buy it )

[geeza67]

That's true bigkel. I thought about the times I've been camping in a tent, where I've had to really stoop. Most of the time we're outside anyway and you're right, the few times I'll be standing in the van shouldn't deter me too much. It's just that I have cracked vertebrae and have had ruptured discs in the past so I'm very conscious of my posture and back. It looks like I'll find a solution judging from the responses already. Thank you all.

Cheers

Chris

[sunshine]

Hi Greeza67,
I'm 6ft 7ins and I don't have any trouble in my 10 ft long Sunshine Bondy. I made the roof vent a little higher so I could stand up and when you are working over the stove or sink you are bending over so whatever height you are, you will adapt to what you have got. As someone said previous, they don't make vans to suit tall people. Whatever van you buy you will have to duck your head to get in and out of the door any way. Good luck in your search, Jim.

[geeza67]

Thanks Sunshine. It appears I may be thinking about it too much and should go with my heart and get one that I love the look of.

Cheers

Chris

[seeshell]

Hi Chris

I think that's wise - find one that really catches your eye and heart. It's amazing what faults you can forgive when you're in love.

Cheers
Seeshell

[Roehm3108]

Hi Geeza

You were talking about a lantern roof van. You really can't go past earlee van, which I think is still for sale

vintagecaravans.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=forsale2&thread=9960&page=1#80162

Ray

[geeza67]

Great looking van earlee has! Beautiful. Might follow that up. Thanks Roehm3108.

[silverbullet]

Hi Chris. Another thought is looking for companies that made to order. Our '63 Orford (a Brisbane firm) is 6' 9'' inside - built to order for a family of tall men! Maybe some of the home made vans might also have looked after height...

[geeza67]

Thanks Silverbullet. Just found yours on another post. Looks great and that height would be awesome for me!! Care to sell it? We're coming to Brisbane in June.