An 8ft wide caravan measures around 2.44m across, against roughly 2.3m for many standard-width tourers. Those extra inches go into the lounge, the beds and the washroom, and they are what make layouts such as island beds and L-shaped lounges work properly. An 8ft caravan suits you if interior space is the priority, but the extra width has to work with your tow car, your storage and the sites you use.
What counts as an 8ft wide caravan?
An 8ft wide caravan is a touring caravan with an overall width of around 2.44m.
That does not sound like a dramatic increase, but even a small gain in width changes what a designer can do with the floorplan.
For comparison, Coachman’s 2027 VIP models have an overall width of 2,310mm, or 7ft 7in. The 8ft models measure 2,440mm. That is an extra 130mm, or just over five inches, across the caravan. Some narrower models from other manufacturers sit closer to 7ft 3in, which widens the gap further.
You will also see terms such as wide-body caravan, or model names using words like Xtra. Coachman applies the Xtra designation to its wide-bodied Acadia and Laser models, but naming conventions differ between manufacturers and not every 8ft caravan carries it.
When you compare models, work from the manufacturer’s quoted overall width rather than the name or the way the caravan looks on a forecourt. That figure is also different from the awning size, which tells you the length of awning you need rather than the width of the caravan.
You can see how different body widths work across different layouts in the Coachman caravan collection.
Why do 8ft caravans exist at all?
There is a useful bit of history behind the rise of the wide-body tourer in the UK.
Before 2010, trailers towed by cars and light vehicles in the UK were restricted to a maximum width of 2.3m. That ruled out an 8ft touring caravan behind a car.
The rules changed in April 2010, when the maximum permitted width rose from 2.3m to 2.55m to bring the UK into line with European regulations. The limit remains 2.55m, so a caravan measuring 2.44m sits comfortably inside it.
Wide-body tourers have become an established part of the market since. The appeal is straightforward. Those extra centimetres let manufacturers rethink the interior rather than simply scale up an existing layout.
The benefits of an 8ft wide caravan
The main reason to choose an 8ft caravan is space, but it is not just about total floor area. The extra width changes the proportions and usability of individual areas.
More usable lounge space
Parallel settees can sit further apart, opening up the floor between them. That makes the lounge feel like a living area rather than a passageway between the door, the kitchen and the bedroom.
The extra width also gives designers room to use L-shaped seating without restricting the central walkway, which is why L-shaped front lounges tend to appear on wider models. The difference shows most when several people use the caravan at once, or when you tour through spring and autumn and spend more time indoors.
Better bed options
Bedroom design is where the extra width does the most work.
A transverse island bed runs across the caravan rather than lengthways, and it needs enough room around it to reach storage, wardrobes and the washroom. A wider body makes that achievable, so you get a full-size fixed double without a walkway you have to edge along. Depending on the layout, both people can also get in and out of their own side rather than one climbing across the other.
Fixed single-bed layouts benefit too, particularly where storage or a walkway sits between the beds.
When you compare layouts, look past the mattress dimensions. Think about how easily you can get into bed, make it in the morning and move around it.
A more spacious washroom
In a narrower caravan the shower, toilet and basin compete for the same limited space. A wider body gives manufacturers room for a separate shower cubicle, a larger vanity area and more usable space around the toilet. It shows most in rear washroom layouts, where the full width of the caravan is available.
If you tend to use the caravan’s own facilities rather than the site shower block, this may matter more to you than extra lounge space.
More storage without losing floor space
Extra width also allows larger wardrobes, deeper units and more generous kitchen cabinetry, while keeping the walkways usable. Over longer trips that makes it easier to keep clothing, food and equipment organised without the living area feeling cluttered.
Storage space and permitted payload are not the same thing, though. Check the caravan’s payload before you fill every cupboard.
It feels less like a caravan
There is a less measurable benefit too. Step from a standard-width caravan into a well-designed 8ft model and the interior simply feels more open. That matters more on a fortnight away than on an occasional weekend.
The trade-offs to think about
More space does not automatically make an 8ft caravan the right choice.
Manoeuvring comes first. Five inches is nothing on a motorway, but it is noticeable on a narrow lane, at a tight site entrance or when positioning the caravan on a restricted pitch.
Storage is the next question, and often the deciding one. Measure your driveway, gates or storage facility rather than assuming. Allow enough clearance to walk and manoeuvre around the caravan, not just enough to fit it between two boundaries.
Visibility matters as well. You must have an adequate view of the road behind you when towing, and if the caravan is wider than the rear of your car you need suitable towing mirrors fitted. Towing without them can bring a fine of up to £1,000 and three penalty points. Most car and caravan combinations need extension mirrors anyway, but moving up to an 8ft caravan is a good moment to check that yours extend far enough.
Weight is a separate consideration from width. Wider caravans are often larger and heavier, but not always, so never judge towing suitability from width alone. Check the model’s MTPLM against your tow car’s limits. If those terms are unfamiliar, our guide explains what MRO, MTPLM and user payload mean.
Finally, some of the largest wide-body layouts use twin axles. Twin-axle caravans bring extra space and stability on the road, but moving them by hand feels different from a single axle, which is where a motor mover earns its keep.
Are 8ft caravans harder to tow?
An 8ft caravan is not inherently difficult to tow, but you will notice the width in certain situations.
The most important factor is a properly matched car and caravan. Your tow vehicle has its own maximum towing weight, and the fully loaded combination has to stay within it.
On main roads and motorways the extra width asks little of you once you are used to it. The difference shows on narrow roads, around parked cars, through restricted entrances and when judging where the offside of the caravan is sitting. Good towing mirrors help here, both for seeing down the sides and as a reference for your position in the lane.
Route planning is worth the effort too. Avoiding unnecessarily narrow lanes makes a long tow considerably easier.
Owners generally find the extra width becomes second nature quickly, but it still deserves awareness. Your tow car, the loaded weight, your experience and the roads you use all count for more than the width figure on its own.
Which Coachman ranges are 8ft wide?
For 2027, Coachman offers both 8ft-wide and narrower touring options.
Every model in the Coachman Acadia range is now 2,440mm, or 8ft, wide. That is a significant change for 2027, since the whole line-up now uses the wider body.
All six models in the Coachman Laser range are also 2,440mm wide, built around larger layouts and a higher level of standard equipment.
At the top of the collection, the four Coachman Lusso models combine the wide body with the brand’s highest specification.
The Coachman VIP range is the narrower alternative, with all five 2027 models at 2,310mm, or 7ft 7in, on a single axle.
That means width does not have to be decided in isolation. You can weigh a narrower VIP against an 8ft Acadia, Laser or Lusso and judge which combination of size, layout and specification fits the way you tour. For the full picture on this season’s changes, read what’s new in the Coachman 2027 caravan collection.
Is an 8ft wide caravan right for you?
Four practical questions will get you most of the way to an answer.
Where will you store it?
Measure your driveway, gates or storage space, and allow room to position the caravan safely rather than just to park it.
Where do you tour?
If most trips are to larger sites off main roads, the width is easy to live with. If you favour small rural sites down narrow lanes, it deserves more thought. Site access varies, so check with individual sites if you are touring with a larger outfit.
What can your tow car handle?
Work from the weight figures of the specific model you are considering, not from its width.
How much time will you spend inside?
A couple touring regularly through spring and autumn will value indoor space differently from someone taking a few short summer trips.
An 8ft caravan makes sense when you will genuinely use the extra room. A narrower one makes sense when storage, manoeuvrability and access come first. Our guide to choosing a touring caravan covers width alongside layout, weight and berths, and when you have a shortlist you can find your nearest Coachman dealer to compare widths in person.
FAQs
How wide is an 8ft caravan?
An 8ft wide caravan is around 2.44m, or 2,440mm, across. Coachman’s 8ft-wide Acadia, Laser and Lusso models are all listed at an overall width of 2,440mm.
What is the maximum legal width for a caravan in the UK?
The maximum permitted trailer width in the UK is 2.55m. An 8ft caravan at around 2.44m sits within that limit.
Do I need towing mirrors for an 8ft wide caravan?
You must have an adequate view of the road behind you when towing, so if the caravan is wider than the rear of your car you need suitable towing mirrors. Most conventional car and caravan combinations require extension mirrors. Towing without adequate mirrors can bring a fine of up to £1,000 and three penalty points.
Are 8ft caravans harder to tow?
Not inherently, provided the caravan is correctly matched to the tow car. The extra width is most noticeable on narrow roads, around obstacles and at restricted site entrances. Good towing mirrors, sensible route planning and awareness of where the caravan sits in the lane make the difference.
Are all Coachman caravans 8ft wide?
No. For 2027, the Acadia, Laser and Lusso models are 2,440mm, or 8ft, wide. The five VIP models are narrower at 2,310mm, or 7ft 7in.
Do 8ft caravans fit on standard pitches?
Yes, most caravan sites can take an 8ft-wide caravan. Access roads, entrances and pitch sizes vary, though, so if your outfit is at the larger end it is worth checking with the site before you book and giving them your caravan’s dimensions.
