This is a bad idea right?
Discussion
A 30 year old tag axle Fiat based Hymer with the steering wheel on the wrong side that looks a little scruffy and has done plenty of miles...What sort of world of hurt is involved here?
https://www.gumtree.com/p/campervans-motorhomes/19...
Part of me says it has potential if its devoid of damp....
Go on, tell me I shouldn't even go view it. All replies and thoughts appreciated.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/campervans-motorhomes/19...
Part of me says it has potential if its devoid of damp....
Go on, tell me I shouldn't even go view it. All replies and thoughts appreciated.
I've got some friends have a similar vintage Hymer.
They have a lot of fun with it. Mechanicals are all strong, but they have had to deal with some age related suspension issues and it unexpectedly needed a new clutch and radiator. Steering was really heavy but they have retrofitted PAS to make things a lot easier.
Pace is glacial. You need to accept 60mph as a realistic top cruising speed. LHD can be a pain due to the size, always helps to have a co-driver.
I was in it the other weekend. All of the interior fittings are from a time where Hymer clearly spent a lot on quality. Even though old, everything still worked ands was serviceable. It was a nice place to be. We have a similar vintage Eriba caravan, so I am used to things not being particularly modern - all part of the charm.
My main concern is that the seller is a 'broker' in Northern Ireland. I'm guessing this has been sourced on the continent and imported to NI or Eire? Where are you based, mainland UK? What's your plan for dealing with any borkage if it turns out to be a heap and they are across the Irish Sea?
They have a lot of fun with it. Mechanicals are all strong, but they have had to deal with some age related suspension issues and it unexpectedly needed a new clutch and radiator. Steering was really heavy but they have retrofitted PAS to make things a lot easier.
Pace is glacial. You need to accept 60mph as a realistic top cruising speed. LHD can be a pain due to the size, always helps to have a co-driver.
I was in it the other weekend. All of the interior fittings are from a time where Hymer clearly spent a lot on quality. Even though old, everything still worked ands was serviceable. It was a nice place to be. We have a similar vintage Eriba caravan, so I am used to things not being particularly modern - all part of the charm.
My main concern is that the seller is a 'broker' in Northern Ireland. I'm guessing this has been sourced on the continent and imported to NI or Eire? Where are you based, mainland UK? What's your plan for dealing with any borkage if it turns out to be a heap and they are across the Irish Sea?
I'm in N.I so that's no particular issue, what may (is) be is the legislation surrounding seat belts - we're a family of 4 etc etc.
The vendor sent me some detailed pics and although I'm still going to satisfy my curiosity and have a look the possible things wanting attention or that have the potential for expense could have me walk away anyway. The fridge and heating system look original at the very least.
It caught my eye as it was big and looked reasonable value
The vendor sent me some detailed pics and although I'm still going to satisfy my curiosity and have a look the possible things wanting attention or that have the potential for expense could have me walk away anyway. The fridge and heating system look original at the very least.
It caught my eye as it was big and looked reasonable value
So, I went and viewed it with fairly low expectations. I didn't have loads of time to thoroughly go over it (my fault not the vendors) but may go review after a good think. I didn't have time for a test drive.
The good points:
Engine starts on the button
Power steering - rare on these I believe
Chassis clean and straight from what I can see
The body isn't terrible for an old timer but needs sprucing up
Inside condition is mostly decent, at least for a few seasons use
Fridge works, at least on mains hook up
I don't see any obvious damp but there is bound to be some
Insurance quote surprisingly cheap
Negotiable price, possibly 15ish % less than advertised
The bad:
Will need a timing belt, last one was 8 years ago.
Windscreen seal has shrunk, inch wide gap at the bottom
Side step is working but needs adjusted and serviced
The habitation door has been mildly butchered, the original handle and lock has failed so the owner has fitted bolt locks and bolted them through from outside.
Access to rear boot/storage area - locks need replaced
Was unable to test the water system or Gas, no Hab check documented.
Heating is most likely kaput or should be assumed as such.
The biggie - Cat D in 2010 but the current owner was completely unaware until the broker ran a HPI
Short MOT, 10 weeks left
So my thoughts are it'd need some money spending straight away, probably a grand at worst on mechanicals, a few hundred on new vents, exterior flaps, badges etc to get it looking semi presentable. Inside? the heating is a biggie, the gas and water are unknowns. Purchase price and maybe 3-4 grand and my time to leave it really nice at a guess.
On the way home I viewed a 15K van from a dealer, coachbuilt Nu Venture and it was a total s
tter in comparison.
If I go to view again I need to check and the window seals, awning and get it out on the road. Have I missed anything?
Thoughts? I'm partly interested and partly thinking I hold off til next year and buy something a lot fresher - there's little about that's nice and around 20K
The good points:
Engine starts on the button
Power steering - rare on these I believe
Chassis clean and straight from what I can see
The body isn't terrible for an old timer but needs sprucing up
Inside condition is mostly decent, at least for a few seasons use
Fridge works, at least on mains hook up
I don't see any obvious damp but there is bound to be some
Insurance quote surprisingly cheap
Negotiable price, possibly 15ish % less than advertised
The bad:
Will need a timing belt, last one was 8 years ago.
Windscreen seal has shrunk, inch wide gap at the bottom
Side step is working but needs adjusted and serviced
The habitation door has been mildly butchered, the original handle and lock has failed so the owner has fitted bolt locks and bolted them through from outside.
Access to rear boot/storage area - locks need replaced
Was unable to test the water system or Gas, no Hab check documented.
Heating is most likely kaput or should be assumed as such.
The biggie - Cat D in 2010 but the current owner was completely unaware until the broker ran a HPI
Short MOT, 10 weeks left
So my thoughts are it'd need some money spending straight away, probably a grand at worst on mechanicals, a few hundred on new vents, exterior flaps, badges etc to get it looking semi presentable. Inside? the heating is a biggie, the gas and water are unknowns. Purchase price and maybe 3-4 grand and my time to leave it really nice at a guess.
On the way home I viewed a 15K van from a dealer, coachbuilt Nu Venture and it was a total s
tter in comparison.If I go to view again I need to check and the window seals, awning and get it out on the road. Have I missed anything?
Thoughts? I'm partly interested and partly thinking I hold off til next year and buy something a lot fresher - there's little about that's nice and around 20K
It still looks good to me - I had an '84 Hymer, a B534 which was faultless. Well apart from the cambelt going when in Italy! No damp, and everything just worked - 3 way fridge, blown air heating, etc.
My recommendation would be to get it, sort out what needs doing and it will easily see you 5 seasons. Look after it and it wont cost you much when it comes time to sell
My recommendation would be to get it, sort out what needs doing and it will easily see you 5 seasons. Look after it and it wont cost you much when it comes time to sell
LemonParty said:
It still looks good to me - I had an '84 Hymer, a B534 which was faultless. Well apart from the cambelt going when in Italy! No damp, and everything just worked - 3 way fridge, blown air heating, etc.
My recommendation would be to get it, sort out what needs doing and it will easily see you 5 seasons. Look after it and it wont cost you much when it comes time to sell
Well after a 2nd viewing I've bowed out. On road performance etc was as I expected - glacial and noisy. I can accept that even though I'm doing most of my miles in very modern 519 Sprinters which are a joy to drive. It also had some float between the motorhome body and Fiat dash and probably not far off needing a clutch as I'm pretty certain I heard it slip a time or two.My recommendation would be to get it, sort out what needs doing and it will easily see you 5 seasons. Look after it and it wont cost you much when it comes time to sell
Overall it needs alot of sorting to get it where I'd be happy and my expectations are very realistic. Head over heart this time. Will be a great project for someone though.
Ah, that’s a shame. I’ve had a 1994 Hymercamp 55 and whilst they need a lot of fettling to get to a good overall condition, after then the maintenance is fairly straight forward. Straight mechanical stuff like clutches is cheap to do. The heating also is very sortable, mine had an original gas fire which was woefully unreliable but for £200 ish I found a 2007 Truma fire on eBay and now it’s perfect.
I’d have been tempted by this, love the tag axles.
I’d have been tempted by this, love the tag axles.
carreauchompeur said:
Ah, that’s a shame. I’ve had a 1994 Hymercamp 55 and whilst they need a lot of fettling to get to a good overall condition, after then the maintenance is fairly straight forward. Straight mechanical stuff like clutches is cheap to do. The heating also is very sortable, mine had an original gas fire which was woefully unreliable but for £200 ish I found a 2007 Truma fire on eBay and now it’s perfect.
I’d have been tempted by this, love the tag axles.
Indeed and although I've posted that i've bailed, I'll admit to thinking it could be the one that got away. I know it's being viewed again on Monday. Will have to sleep on it.I’d have been tempted by this, love the tag axles.
Fattyfat said:
Indeed and although I've posted that i've bailed, I'll admit to thinking it could be the one that got away. I know it's being viewed again on Monday. Will have to sleep on it.
Oh that’s good. The Hymer pages on FB are good for gaining brave pills and this van has been discussed. Main thing to watch forreally is damp, everything else is pretty easy. Engine etc is agricultural but simple tech. If the fridge doesn’t work on gas it’d be pricey but everything else is pretty easy. Tag axle is expensive if it needs a refurb, but no more than a grand or so.
Check the near side rear quarter… there’s a patch up the top and the locker looks non standard so that may be where the ‘Cat D’ repair was.
carreauchompeur said:
Oh that’s good. The Hymer pages on FB are good for gaining brave pills and this van has been discussed. Main thing to watch forreally is damp, everything else is pretty easy. Engine etc is agricultural but simple tech. If the fridge doesn’t work on gas it’d be pricey but everything else is pretty easy.
Tag axle is expensive if it needs a refurb, but no more than a grand or so.
Check the near side rear quarter… there’s a patch up the top and the locker looks non standard so that may be where the ‘Cat D’ repair was.
Already been on there. I have videos posted on the classic hymer page if you on FB. Current owner knew nothing of the Cat D, the broker picked up during the HPI, its from 2010 so hardly an issue now. I'd imagine it is that patch and maybe locker.Tag axle is expensive if it needs a refurb, but no more than a grand or so.
Check the near side rear quarter… there’s a patch up the top and the locker looks non standard so that may be where the ‘Cat D’ repair was.
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