We did it - got a Hymer!
Discussion
Following on from my other post we got a Hymer. It’s an ‘03 B584 2.8 Fiat engined one. It popped up locally, we’re it’s 3rd owners the people we bought it off had it since 2005. It’s gone 45k, and is in really good shape. The history folder is thorough, habitation certificate is from February this year and all good.
We viewed it masked up and with gloves on, which is also how I drove it back - it’s since been thoroughly steam cleaned and I’m taking my time getting to know it on the driveway and sorting a few faffy bits out such as replacing all the halogen bulbs with LEDS, some stone chipping underneath, repainting the mirrors etc.
Looking forward to having a sleepover in it on the drive tomorrow night, and hoping to get away in it in the summer!
We viewed it masked up and with gloves on, which is also how I drove it back - it’s since been thoroughly steam cleaned and I’m taking my time getting to know it on the driveway and sorting a few faffy bits out such as replacing all the halogen bulbs with LEDS, some stone chipping underneath, repainting the mirrors etc.
Looking forward to having a sleepover in it on the drive tomorrow night, and hoping to get away in it in the summer!
Thank you all - we’re having a sleepover in it tonight, haha!
Nope not really done it before - we had a T5 campervan that we rented out for a bit but it was too small to be useful for us - 2 adults a child and 3 dogs. We’re one dog down now and this is massive in comparison so should be good!
I think we’re going to keep it relatively local for this year and build up confidence/knowledge to head further afield!
Nope not really done it before - we had a T5 campervan that we rented out for a bit but it was too small to be useful for us - 2 adults a child and 3 dogs. We’re one dog down now and this is massive in comparison so should be good!
I think we’re going to keep it relatively local for this year and build up confidence/knowledge to head further afield!
GSalt said:
Well done! A good choice. One of the less common layouts.
Quite a bit newer than our old '564. Like the '564 I think the '584 has the larger washroom layout, which makes it so much more comfortable to use.
Make sure you join the Hymer groups on Facebook, there's a really strong community. Several of us have been doing LED upgrades to internal lighting (amongst other mods) and sharing details over the lockdown.
Quite a bit newer than our old '564. Like the '564 I think the '584 has the larger washroom layout, which makes it so much more comfortable to use.
Make sure you join the Hymer groups on Facebook, there's a really strong community. Several of us have been doing LED upgrades to internal lighting (amongst other mods) and sharing details over the lockdown.
CDB1983 said:
Oh Wow, Totally missed this thread. Congratulations mate. Thats a stunning van!
Thank you!I've changed the "easy" LED bulbs over which I'm happy with, but need to get looking at how to do the strip lights.
I've spent 3 weekends underneath it hacking back some mild surface corrosion with a wired brush attachment on my drill, jenoliting, priming, top coat, stone chip and/or Waxoyl - I'm annoyed I didn't take any "before" pictures, and it looks fantastic if I do say so myself.
I've got a solar panel to go on whenever it's dry, which I'm doing the more expensive but easier LRM1218 Schaudt controller straight to the Electrobloc.
So far have spent 2 nights camping on the drive, and now really looking forward to our 2 week road trip in August on friends and families drive ways with a few campsites in between if possible!
Playing about with some daft stickers I bought for my MX5 before it rusted away, I’m tempted but probably won’t.
Edited by ADogg on Friday 3rd July 11:39
A little update - the solar panel is in and working a treat, we did a local test stay and enjoyed it and are currently on a driveway tour of the UK - we moved 250 miles away from “home” 4.5 years ago so are doing some catching nip! Next week we’re planning on taking the long way home and trying a few stop offs. So far so good!
Just got back! We did 1000 miles or thereabouts with no real plan - from Scarborough to between Reading and Oxford, to Silchester for the Amphitheater then onto a few friends driveways in Surrey, my Uncles in Wiltshire via Stonehenge and Avebury Ring (my 6 year old loves all things ancient!), back to my brothers in South Oxfordshire, then home via Kendal where we stayed in the Station Inn car park (which was ace) , Carlisle where we stayed at a “proper” campsite, Hadrians wall, my sister in laws in Tynemouth then back home!
If we I know the Hymer a little better now, the trip wasn’t seamless - it had 2 new front wheel bearings which were 45k old and never changed so took an age to sort, and the rear tyres were changed as they were on it from new! Also I had the temperature gauge giving me no end of hassle saying it was hot, which coupled with the hot weather and a vehicle I don’t know made me a tad anxious. After it getting almost in the red and no sign of the fans kicking in near lake Windermere I called the AA. After 4 hours they plugged in their dongle and ran it up to red, which according to the ecu was 72oC. The fans kicked in at 92oC - the temp gauge it’s off it’s head.
All in a good journey was had, and looking forward to our next journey!
Held off doing the stickers, we’re still tempted but will hold off for a while as we’re going to make sure it’s a keeper first - we have talked about different layouts maybe, and may have a look about “out of interest”... It’d be nice to have a fixed bed at the back and the drop down bed for my nipper, we’ll see!
If we I know the Hymer a little better now, the trip wasn’t seamless - it had 2 new front wheel bearings which were 45k old and never changed so took an age to sort, and the rear tyres were changed as they were on it from new! Also I had the temperature gauge giving me no end of hassle saying it was hot, which coupled with the hot weather and a vehicle I don’t know made me a tad anxious. After it getting almost in the red and no sign of the fans kicking in near lake Windermere I called the AA. After 4 hours they plugged in their dongle and ran it up to red, which according to the ecu was 72oC. The fans kicked in at 92oC - the temp gauge it’s off it’s head.
All in a good journey was had, and looking forward to our next journey!
Held off doing the stickers, we’re still tempted but will hold off for a while as we’re going to make sure it’s a keeper first - we have talked about different layouts maybe, and may have a look about “out of interest”... It’d be nice to have a fixed bed at the back and the drop down bed for my nipper, we’ll see!
Edited by ADogg on Friday 14th August 23:28
A quick update - as a Pistonheader said “your best motorhome is your second or third” we’re picking up this on Saturday on route to a week in the lakes, having been offered a great PX on the Hymer.
Being a touch over 6ft1 I couldn’t get comfy in the drop down bed, and the sofa bed in the Hymer was a tight squeeze also. We had a look at a few different layouts and decided this was the one.
Being a touch over 6ft1 I couldn’t get comfy in the drop down bed, and the sofa bed in the Hymer was a tight squeeze also. We had a look at a few different layouts and decided this was the one.
We got a cat 1 alarm and immobiliser which was insisted by the insurance company, it lives on our driveway with a cctv camera on it behind locked gates.
We picked it up on Saturday and straight onto holiday, the swap went seamlessly, it’s so much nicer to drive and use, and the bed is better than our one at home.
So far so good apart from the rain which is biblical and showing now signs of easing.
We picked it up on Saturday and straight onto holiday, the swap went seamlessly, it’s so much nicer to drive and use, and the bed is better than our one at home.
So far so good apart from the rain which is biblical and showing now signs of easing.
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