I thought it would be a nice idea to work out a list of size comparisons using the floor area of vans as a guide. These aren't totally exact as vans have curved bits but I've multiplied the internal length by the internal width. I haven't got Puck or Puck L dimensions handy so apologies for not listing them.

Eriba 3XX - 7m2

Swift Basecamp 2 - 7.2m2

Swift Sprite Compact - 7.8m2

Eriba 4XX - 7.9m2

Bailey Discovery D4-2 - 8.7m2

Eriba 5XX (pre 2010) - 8.9m2

Eriba 5XX (current) - 9.3m2

Bailey Phoenix 420 - 10m2

Swift Sprite Alpine 2 - 10.2m2

Eriba 6XX - 10.7m2

Swift Challenger 480 - 11.6m2

Hymer Nova GL 470 - 13.2m2


Apart from some of the Eribas, these are all 2 berth vans.

Colin will want you to add a Feeling or two...

Feeling 425 - interior length 4.3m, interior width 2.0m. Floor area given or take therefore 8.6m2. All Eriba figures from the Hymer website. And I was a sales rep, sales manager and HR Redeployment Consultant before retirement

Touring 4XX (Triton) 4.16m interior length and 1.9m interior width = 7.904m2 floor area.

My Puck 120gt approx 4.6 m2

Steve

You're right Colin, it's one of the things that has always put us off fixed bed Eribas, in that the resulting free floorspace is small and, to us, feels clautrophobic.

On the other hand, there are lots of units within an Eriba that are identical throughout the range as part of a drive for standardisation and to reduce the parts inventory. Washrooms are the most noticeable but wardrobes, kitchen units, seating units all are often shard with most, if not all layouts and van sizes.

But even in washrooms there's a difference - partly the gradual redesign over 20 years - our 2016 Troll feels so much bigger than our 2005 Triton, because it's amazing the difference a relatively small amount extra makes. I can sit on the toilet and there's space between my knees and the washroom wall - I can move around in it and remove clothing. What a difference (partly the sink redesign). And our previous 2005 Triton was better than our 2000 Triton before that.

The extra width from modern Triton to modern Troll is 10cm - we can now easily pass each other if one's working at the kitchen. The extra length is +48cm; we now have empty overhead lockers, plus you can get into the rear table seating so easily (in a 540). And then there's the dimension not mentioned - height. The difference that has made to me (at 6' tall) is immense - I haven't (yet) given myself an Eriba "kiss" on the doorway.

You're right the post 2014 washroom design is a stand out and has lasted 11 years so far when previous designs lasted 5 or 6 years before changing. And yes the 4ins extra width introduced in the Trolls in 2010 meant the washroom became a tad deeper but many of the panels remained the same.

The point of my list is to give the overall floorspace of each van range and makes no attempt at commenting on the different layouts or different interior design elements that have been available over the decades.

Looking at figures the post 2010 Troll has 4.5% more floorspace than the pre 2010.

The 6XX Series is 53% larger than the 3XX.

The current 5XX Series is 18% larger than the current 4XX Series, but the pre 2010 Trolls were only 12% larger than the Tritons.

Is that a version of don't give up the day job Pierre Mr Motteram? .

The overall space inside a van is relevant when comparing to get an idea of their relevany overall relationship.

Free floor space is very time consuming to try and calculate, indeed I wouldn't even attempt it. I mean is the space under a removable table free floor space? If a bed can be made over it is it free floorspace? Do you calculate day and night free floorspaces? Nah t'ain't wurth it.