Boxster S to Burstner 747

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custardkid

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

223 months

Saturday 13th February 2016
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thought I'd post abit about our Motorhome journey as it seams there are many people making a similar move!

After a fair amount of tenting in sports cars around Europe it was time for something more comfortable.
so the Porsche was put up for sale.

requirements were:
Secure garage for Bikes
kitchen separate to dinette
Future proof
German built
Ideally could tow the track car 3-5 times a year

As a teenager we travelled around Europe in a kontiki 640, bunk above cab, pullman with kitchen opposite and U rear lounge. the Kontiki is still going with 150,000 miles and various damp repairs. So i had a good idea what I wanted.

so the Porsche was sold




We looked at various Hymers, Neisamans, Rapidos and Burstners
the first almost purchase was a bug-eyed Rapido on a narrow sprinter chassis like this



the main issue was that the living area was too cramped two forward facing seats a narrow table and the cab chairs.

then looked at a B700 on a twin tyre Merc
this solved the space issue, but felt old inside, although solidly built
it also wallowed and rocked as you got into it or moved about, not like the rock solid like the Alko based motorhomes
but did have the towing capacity



it was also above budget could have got something like this Burstner also by the Hymer group:



so it was settled, and it was time to find a Alko tag axel Burstner or Dethleff in budget!



Edited by custardkid on Wednesday 17th February 20:40

custardkid

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

223 months

Saturday 13th February 2016
quotequote all
So in October 2014 we purchased a 2002 747 like this:



Plus points:
Heating - its air rather than water heating, but gets very warm an cosy inside quickly with separate truma boilers for the front and back. Even when its -2 outside in wet windy wales
Heat exchanger - meaning there is heat in the back whilst you are travelling
Handling - its very sure footed, not effected by HGVs or winds, and handles twisty roads with more capability than it deserves
Tanks - enough water for c 6 showers
Twin batteries - we've done 3 nights without running out (I don't have the patients to stay anywhere more than 3 nights)
Storage and weight - it has a full underfloor storage and >1ton capacity so you don't have to worry about stocking up on cheap french wine
Raised floor - meaning you are higher and people walking past cant look in
Cab - the cab can be closed off from the rest of the motorhome makes travelling more refined, as you can close it off
Heat - it keeps cool even in 35 deg spainish heat
Space - enough to survive a wet weekend with the parents in-law & 3 dogs!
other stuff - everything works as it should
Build - build quality feels solid, more so than some British motorhomes


Minus
130 bhp - its not fast, and slows on long motorway climbs, i'm sure the latest 180bhp 3.0s are much better
Bumper - it had a crack, which I fixed but it reappeared, i took a chunk out of it in september.. so it now has a new bumper.
Battery drain - the battery drains even on 240volt after a month or so, solved by hooking up a permanent Ctek charger
Auto frost protection - it drops all its water if the temperature drops below 2 degrees, good if its parked up, not so good if you are in it and want the heating to work! solved with a spring clip.
Height - at 3.2m it triggers the HGV sensors on french tolls, meaning you need to press the intercom button, and most of the time they charge you as class 2. the Aclass version comes in at 3.0m so should sneak under the sensors.
front view - not being an Aclass you don't get a picture window.
Seats - the standard captains chairs (from a special italian manufacturer) weren't comfortable on long journeys, they have been replace with some ford Puma (ebay and local) leather chairs, which are much better
Underfloor access - newer motorhomes have hatches in the floor to access compartments in the double floor, we can only access the double floor storage from the outside.
Satellite dish - i wouldn't have chosen it, and haven't used it ever! we don't even have a TV, some we looked at had 3 tvs! why do you need 3 tvs in a space smaller than some living rooms?

we have the blue interior - pictures are not ours but gives you the idea






this runs under the whole of the motorhome:



ours has a door both sides:



Edited by custardkid on Saturday 13th February 12:35

custardkid

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

223 months

Saturday 13th February 2016
quotequote all
So a bit about our adventures so far:

we have had several winter trips to snowdonia and south wales walking and mountainbiking

mountain biking near Machynlleth with some friends



By the sea in Brittany



Awesome Aire in the Rioja region with a natural hot spa "Arnedillo"



A very wet Juno Beach
an official Aire but the 747 is a bit long for the car sized spaces



Amongst the vines in St Emillion - with Dads old Kontiki





custardkid

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

223 months

Saturday 13th February 2016
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fitting a LPG bottle for the continent






these are also highly recommended for use whilst camping:
Bose speaker thing




custardkid

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

223 months

Saturday 13th February 2016
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on the Euro Tunnel

Spuffington

1,203 posts

167 months

Monday 15th February 2016
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Thanks for taking the time to post! I made the move to motorhome coming up two years ago, but had to go through making the wrong choice before finally settling on our current Mercedes based 2001 Hymer B640 on a 4.6t chassis(from Travelworld, like some of those pics you posted! wink ). We're coming up 10months with "Harry" and wouldn't change him for the world.

I did consider the big Burstner 747 since I'm into my Mountainbiking and would've liked the internal garage but it was a bit too long for us - we used to have the van in storage before we managed to buy a house big enough to have him on the plot, so were curtailed by length, but now we have it I like the fact we've "only" got 6.7m since it's very manouverable and is probably all the van we realistically need for the three of us. I am jealous about the double floor since ours is perfectly warm (air-wise) during the winter, but the floor does get a bit cold under foot. We've had ours down to minus 5 and would prefer to have wet central heating to blown air due to the uneven temp spikes you get from blown air.

The Bose speaker is something we've just discovered - the sound system in the Hymer is really bad in the cab and I'd been steadily putting money aside for an all signing, all dancing ICE install in both cab & hab area, but with the Bose there's no need. Pop it on the mahoosive dash scuttling (benefit of an A-class) whilst driving and it knocks out decent sound and leave it there and it does the same whilst in Hab mode.

Whilst we haven't covered as much distance in ours since we bought it as we'd have liked; we had ongoing mechanical issues at the start which put a dampener on things, we've got high expectations of big holidays this year and just in the process of planning them out.

Buying a motorhome has been the best thing we've done and our 3yr old loves it. We're about to get a Labrador and looking forward to having the four of us touring together.

Thanks for sharing your story with us! smile

Edited by Spuffington on Monday 15th February 09:23


Edited by Spuffington on Monday 15th February 09:25

custardkid

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

223 months

Monday 15th February 2016
quotequote all
Hi
Hopefully some one gets something useful from it

Saw your post about Harry
Looks fun and they do get a good rep. And there is something about the big old merc hymers .

Some good friends swapped their T4 for a 1982 Talbot "classic layout" hymer
It is well made, but they have had mechanical and electrical issues like you would with a similar age car.

Good point about the length
We are a touch over 8m and are just about the max you'll get away with on the best European campsites and Aires, anything longer and you won't squeeze onto the best spots on the beach front etc
The newer tag burstners look lovely, but are too long at 9m

Hymer do a sprinter based 4x4 Aclass at c7.8m, ideal for those wet Welsh field excursions... The only problem is they are c£100k!


custardkid

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

223 months

Monday 15th February 2016
quotequote all
Hi
Hopefully some one gets something useful from it

Saw your post about Harry
Looks fun and they do get a good rep. And there is something about the big old merc hymers .

Some good friends swapped their T4 for a 1982 Talbot "classic layout" hymer
It is well made, but they have had mechanical and electrical issues like you would with a similar age car.

Good point about the length
We are a touch over 8m and are just about the max you'll get away with on the best European campsites and Aires, anything longer and you won't squeeze onto the best spots on the beach front etc
The newer tag burstners look lovely, but are too long at 9m

Hymer do a sprinter based 4x4 Aclass at c7.8m, ideal for those wet Welsh field excursions... The only problem is they are c£100k!


85Carrera

3,503 posts

236 months

Monday 15th February 2016
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custardkid said:
I'm assuming from the illegal spacing on the number plate of the Z4 that it's supposed to be a personalised plate, but I can't work out what it's supposed to say ....

Spuffington

1,203 posts

167 months

Tuesday 16th February 2016
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You're right, they're certainly well made - have the feeling that some of the inside will outlast me! But I have indeed had my share of mechanical issues, which has been partly down to the age of the vehicle too. That said, I'm hoping that we're up and running now and what it's taught me is that there is a certain amount of cash you need to have stuffed away for both hab & chassis side of the vehicle given I've had a couple of rooflights fail and the turbo issues both in the same year. I reckon 2k stuffed to one side is a good proxy.

My Uncle has just bought a Hymer S820 (I think), dripping with Goldschmitt goodies (self-levelling & full air suspension) - a smidge over 120k. It's gorgeous, as you'd expect, but it's remarkable how much of the internal fittings are the same as ours, just with updated cabinetry and other toys. I'd obviously say yes to his in a heartbeat if someone was giving it to me, but I can't help thinking that 30k buys exactly the same experience.

custardkid

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

223 months

Wednesday 17th February 2016
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Spuffington

surprised you had engine issues on the 416, would have thought the Mercs were robust regardless of age?
roof lights arn't too bad. swapped out the Aircon unit (weights a ton and we rarely use the mains) and opaque roof light for two clear mini Hekis, or are they besopoke on the hymer?

how come the Superbrig didn't workout, Italian build quality?

share some interior pics of Harry.

As you say its easy to want the latest and greatest, but as long as everything works they haven't changed much in the last 30 years (or more), if anything they have got a bit too bling. its all about the adventures to new places and a simpler (but comfortable) out door life smile

Spuffington

1,203 posts

167 months

Thursday 18th February 2016
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I was under the same impression as you that the Sprinter was imperious in terms of reliability. Turns out that it has a bit of an issue with oversensitive electronics. I spent months trying to get to the bottom of an intermittent (aren't they always?!) problem where it flipped into Limp Home Mode for no apparent reason. After mulling over (and arguing with the dealer and Merc about solutions) the possibility of replacing the Turbo with a recon unit and associated pipework, the Problem eventually was solved by my local Merc Indy who found that the wiring to the boost pressure sensor was too tight and as the engine moved on its mounts under load, it was pulling on the plug into the sensor and tripping LHM. A quick rerouting of the cable and 60quid later, the problem is solved! And I'm back to 165bhp on tap whenever I need it! smile

The Superbrig got sold through a mixture of mechanical issues and the all the usual Rimor build quality issues. I think I bought a pup, if I'm honest, but at the same time, the difference in quality between the Rimor and Hymer is night & day and I only wish I'd listened to those who suggested sitting in and trying lots before buying. I didn't, I had a fixed idea that I wanted bunk beds / Garage for the MTB and wouldn't be swayed from it. Plus the 20k Price tag vs. 30k helped the argument, but thankfully got out with my shirt (just) and found the right one in the end.

Here's a few pics... smile





custardkid

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

223 months

Saturday 20th February 2016
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The leather interior looks nice.
Is it original or is it something you've had done?

Spuffington

1,203 posts

167 months

Monday 22nd February 2016
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Thanks. No, it was leather specced from new. If I'm honest, it needs a bit of a clean and feed, but like all good quality leather it Looks to have got more supple and comfy as it's aged. I love it and makes the van a much nicer place to be than some of the strange fabric interiors I saw when we were looking.

chopper602

2,172 posts

222 months

Tuesday 23rd February 2016
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Can't post any pics from work, but I'd agree with your choice of German over anything else. Sister-in-law bought a Swift motorhome (second hand, but 2012) just before we bought ours (we have a second hand 2012 German TEC RoTec) and the difference in build quality is staggering. Main access door out of alignment and other bits of badly made or assembled trim. I've not had to repair anything on ours (apart from some Fiat 'stuff') and we've done a lot more miles around Europe than she has.

(It's in getting a persistent airbag light sorted and a new lambda sensor fitted at the moment)

Rhodie

107 posts

251 months

Tuesday 23rd February 2016
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May I ask a quick question, what do you do for transportation once you have arrived at a site. We've a California which we hitch up to a driveway tent at a site then are able to drive around, bikes on the bike rack to any place we like. Of course the California is much smaller and much less convenient that a motorhome hence my question. We also noticed that some places have limited headroom, whereas the California is a normal height, motorhomes are left outside and sometimes a long way from a tourist attraction. We've seriously considered a motorhome and perhaps towing a Carerham would be the solution. You thoughts would be appreciated.

Cheers

custardkid

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

223 months

Tuesday 23rd February 2016
quotequote all
The UK is different to Europe...
In the UK many camp sites are on farms or on the outskirts of towns, so you have to drive.
so in some sense a caravan makes much more sense in the UK

In Europe they tend to be better set up with campsites or Motorhome Aires at the attraction, so there is minimal travel.

We tend to shop enroute (we have a freezer) once there its ether walk/bike or bus
we also tend not to stay 1-3 nights before moving off
Pitching up is nothing more than switching off the engine, turning gas on and in the summer getting the deck chairs out.

you are right a T5 is more "handy" but..
our thought process started with a T5 or Vito LWB conversion, but to do it well its £16k+, and with a dog, Mountain bikes and wet Welsh weather they suddenly feel cramped.... and are less family friendly
so you then start thinking Sprinter / Iveco daily conversion, but once you get that big you may as well get a proper motorhome with shower, central heating etc then cost and driveability don't vary that much with the length of the motorhome.

Even with the 8m long beast we are not confined to the country side.

On the Beach in Gijon... 15min walk into the town centre.



In the centre of Leon (next to the posh Parador hotel) 5-10 walk to the cathedral


On Lake Garda (not my pic, but have been a similar camp site)



chopper602

2,172 posts

222 months

Wednesday 24th February 2016
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Rhodie said:
May I ask a quick question, what do you do for transportation once you have arrived at a site.
Cheers
We carry two bikes on the back and two in the garage, so use them once set-up. Public transport is useful to and in most places in Europe, much cheaper than here. If you can catch a tram in Poland, then you can do it anywhere (Poland is veru much recommended BTW, it's cheap, people are friendly and quite a few speak English)!

Like someone else has mentioned, when abroad, we only stay somewhere for 2-3 days, so can often walk or cycle close by.

Antony Moxey

8,014 posts

218 months

Wednesday 24th February 2016
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Most sites will list the proximity of public transport on their web pages. Admittedly it sort of takes away the stop where you like bits of motorhoming but you can use it as another parameter when choosing a site. Last summer, although we took bikes, we specifically looked for a site (and found a cracker) on the outskirts of Nantes that was close to a tram stop to make visiting the city centre an easier and more pleasant affair.

Spuffington

1,203 posts

167 months

Wednesday 24th February 2016
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Thanks for the photos and further info custardkid - makes me a little more comfortable with our upcoming trip to France (our first in the motorhome).

We're heading down to the Pyrennes to stay with Family for a week, but will be taking 4 days on the way down and then 2-3 days on the way back; depending on how my 3yr old daughter copes with very long days in the van. We frequently do Essex-Oban with an overnight or in one shot and last year we did Essex-Pau with one overnight, but those journeys are in the car where progress is a little swifter.

But we'll play it all by ear and use this holiday as much as a bit of fact finding Mission as much as a Holiday, in order to find out what is tolerable and how much time we need to build into trips in future; particularly in light of the sabbatical I'm planning for next year.