Just bought a Hymer!
Discussion
Realising that I feel too old to mess about with tents any more, and fulfilling a long term ambition for my wife, we just bought this:
It's a lot more complex than the 1975 bay window Devon conversion I had 25 years ago. The generator steadfastly refuses to fire, and the solar panel doesn't seem to be connected. Everything else seems to work, but insanely over engineered.
We're picking it up on Monday, and trying it out the following weekend. Can't wait!
It's a lot more complex than the 1975 bay window Devon conversion I had 25 years ago. The generator steadfastly refuses to fire, and the solar panel doesn't seem to be connected. Everything else seems to work, but insanely over engineered.
We're picking it up on Monday, and trying it out the following weekend. Can't wait!
My wife just wanted a motorhome - I secretly wanted a Hymer. We looked at all sorts, and she realised that the use of space in the hymer is much better than in a coachbuilt. We think we've got a good deal. It's a 94, with a generator, A/C and a rear lounge. We paid £14k. I'd hope to see the majority of that back if we decided to sell in the next couple of years. They seem very fashionable at the moment, which is a bit of a worry.
SimesJH said:
You've got the 660 model. They're lovely old things!
And being a '94 model, you have the lighter coloured wood interior.
We hired a 670 (fixed rear bed) a few years ago from Pete at Hire a Hymer. It was far nicer than a new Swift we hired a few months before that and really sold us on buying an older German motorhome. I was after an S700 but another German make got to me first.
Is yours manual or auto? I find the auto Mercedes gearbox wonderfully smooth. The manual has a dogleg on 1st which, on the one we hired, made getting away smoothly rather fun as 1st was so low and 2nd just a tad too high from rest.
Just make sure you get yours regularly serviced and you shouldn't have any worries.
These old Hymers are becoming rather collectible as they appear to be gaining classic status. You've no worries on depreciation if you look after it.
I wish it was a 660! That's what I really wanted, but it's a 700. It's touch and go whether I can keep the motorbike rack on it or not for storage. And being a '94 model, you have the lighter coloured wood interior.
We hired a 670 (fixed rear bed) a few years ago from Pete at Hire a Hymer. It was far nicer than a new Swift we hired a few months before that and really sold us on buying an older German motorhome. I was after an S700 but another German make got to me first.
Is yours manual or auto? I find the auto Mercedes gearbox wonderfully smooth. The manual has a dogleg on 1st which, on the one we hired, made getting away smoothly rather fun as 1st was so low and 2nd just a tad too high from rest.
Just make sure you get yours regularly serviced and you shouldn't have any worries.
These old Hymers are becoming rather collectible as they appear to be gaining classic status. You've no worries on depreciation if you look after it.
You're right, it has the more modern interior, and looks great. All the blinds and the fly screens are intact and working, the cupboard doors all work like they should. For a 21 year old van, it's astonishing.
It's an auto, with a diff lock, although it was sold as u/s, because the dash light doesn't work. The gearbox is far better than I expected. I spend most of my working hours in 7.5 ton iveco autos, and they're a bit erratic.
It needs a bloody good clean, and a few things looking at - diff lock, generator, water tank level sender, and we'll be good to go. I'm far more excited than I should be.
Yes, got it. It's great! The first journey was to a pub local to the vendor to think about what I'd done. Following that, 55 miles down the M5. It drives beautifully, but revs it's nuts off at 60. Apparently 16" wheels rather than the 14" would sort that out, but they're difficult to find.
On closer inspection, it's pretty good. The only thing I'm pissed off we missed was some damage inside the bathroom cabinet. It needs s good clean inside and out, and I'd like to get the gas and electrics serviced.
I'm just about to finish work for the day, so I'll dig out the Hoover and get some pics this afternoon.
On closer inspection, it's pretty good. The only thing I'm pissed off we missed was some damage inside the bathroom cabinet. It needs s good clean inside and out, and I'd like to get the gas and electrics serviced.
I'm just about to finish work for the day, so I'll dig out the Hoover and get some pics this afternoon.
As promised:
Pretty basic cockpit. That's the battery cover on top of the pedals.
Some tidying to be done in here. And a leisure battery to buy.
This end's better.
Genny:
Back to front:
The photo of the back from the front was worse than these! There's an AC unit in the roof next to the shiitter. Once I've washed the outside I'll get some more.
The guy I bought it from has another one - an S5something. Kitchen and bathroom at the back. I think he might sell that too, for about £14k. If anyone's interested, let me know.
Pretty basic cockpit. That's the battery cover on top of the pedals.
Some tidying to be done in here. And a leisure battery to buy.
This end's better.
Genny:
Back to front:
The photo of the back from the front was worse than these! There's an AC unit in the roof next to the shiitter. Once I've washed the outside I'll get some more.
The guy I bought it from has another one - an S5something. Kitchen and bathroom at the back. I think he might sell that too, for about £14k. If anyone's interested, let me know.
I forgot to say that almost everything works. My wife had a bit of a panic and wanted a habitation check done. We couldn't get one arranged because I work odd hours at short notice and she works 9-5. However, I've got a couple of friends who own and know motorhomes, and the three of us gave it a good going over this afternoon. They work odd hours too, which is useful.
The front blown air heater is very effective, the rear is a bit slower to warm up. The water heater took 20 minutes to get hot enough for a brief shower. The generator eventually fired up, and supplies 240v throughout, but only charges the leisure battery, as does the solar panel. I'd like them both to charge both batteries, and guess that it would be relatively easy to sort. The only thing that doesn't seem to work is the fridge on gas. One of my friends says I should take it out and turn it upside down for a day or so, the other says that's b
ks. I reckon I've got nothing to lose by trying it.
I'm away all day tomorrow and I think much of Friday, but we could be having a night away on Saturday.
The front blown air heater is very effective, the rear is a bit slower to warm up. The water heater took 20 minutes to get hot enough for a brief shower. The generator eventually fired up, and supplies 240v throughout, but only charges the leisure battery, as does the solar panel. I'd like them both to charge both batteries, and guess that it would be relatively easy to sort. The only thing that doesn't seem to work is the fridge on gas. One of my friends says I should take it out and turn it upside down for a day or so, the other says that's b
ks. I reckon I've got nothing to lose by trying it. I'm away all day tomorrow and I think much of Friday, but we could be having a night away on Saturday.
Maiden voyage!
The Mrs insisted on hard standing and hookup for the first time out, so we had a night at Bracelands in the Forest of Dean. The boy took the drop down bed, leaving us in the back. I had nightmares about being in a coffin all night. It's very dark and woody in there. The pile of scruffy rope at the front is to stop the dog molesting strangers, not because it needed towing anywhere.
All worked well, the starter battery is shagged, but jumping it from the habitation battery got us going the odd time it refused to start. Great fun was had by all, and I hope to give it a proper wash this week.
The Mrs insisted on hard standing and hookup for the first time out, so we had a night at Bracelands in the Forest of Dean. The boy took the drop down bed, leaving us in the back. I had nightmares about being in a coffin all night. It's very dark and woody in there. The pile of scruffy rope at the front is to stop the dog molesting strangers, not because it needed towing anywhere.
All worked well, the starter battery is shagged, but jumping it from the habitation battery got us going the odd time it refused to start. Great fun was had by all, and I hope to give it a proper wash this week.
No aircon up front, and it needs it. There's a lot of glass, and the sliding side windows don't do a lot for the driver or front seat passenger. The LHD is no problem. It's an auto, which makes life easier. It's also got a relatively short wheelbase and a great turning circle, so it's not as daunting as you might think.
I've done that, and had some help already. It turned out I was being a bit impatient with the fridge on gas. We were away for the weekend and had it on 12v while we drove, then gas once we stopped. It was perfect all weekend.
I've big plans for it, but I'll have to do one thing at a time.
I've big plans for it, but I'll have to do one thing at a time.
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