Future Travellers (1 Viewer)

[rabandju]

Hello
We are going travelling next year around europe, we havn't bought our campervan yet just doing lots of researarch, but we've come to the decision it's got to be an old Mercedes Hymer, we would be very grateful for any tips to look out for on an old Hymer, lots we've looked at seem to have very high milage is this the norm? what problems can you get with these older Hymers?
Thanks all
Rab and Julie

 

[vwalan]

hi. rusty chassis engine un economic to rebuild . problems with starter ring on flywheel and starter. they really arent built that fantastic . slow, and fetch too much money . you may have to think again.

 

[Jim]

Hi Rab and Julie, Most Hymers grow old gracefully, there are tens of thousands of 20/25 years old Hymers touring as you read this

Welcome to the Fun :thumb:

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[Spacerunner]

Diesel engines like to be worked.

Be more wary of an older engine with low miles than an older engine with high miles.

 

[PaulyP]

Hymer

Got my Hymer B694 just 2 weeks ago,tag axle, 6 berth, U shaped rear lounge and Bar version with 3 swivel seats, just over 50K in milage, first run out up to the lakes yesterday, ran well on motorway, pleased so far.
It's on a Fiat Ducato base and 2.5 TD engine. Will be looking to give it a good service soon, for a 19 year old model it's in really good shape but obviously not perfect, but over time it can be worked on.
Keep looking and do your homework.
Get the buyers guide, i found it useful.

Drop down bed at front was so comfy last night.

 

[John & Joan]

Hello
We are going travelling next year around europe, we havn't bought our campervan yet just doing lots of researarch, but we've come to the decision it's got to be an old Mercedes Hymer, we would be very grateful for any tips to look out for on an old Hymer, lots we've looked at seem to have very high milage is this the norm? what problems can you get with these older Hymers?
Thanks all
Rab and Julie

We have the 1992 Hymer S700 on the 410D chassis. It is the Transporter chassis, not the Sprinter which is later. The engine is the 5 cylinder diesel non-turbo.It is 2.8 litre. It has 213000 km on the clock.
We have had it since 2006 and it had 140,000 on the clock when we bought it. It does between 18 and 22 m.p.g. its maximum gross weight is 4.5 tonne so you need category C1 to drive it.
The build is very solid and everyone says the engine is bullet proof. In the time we have had it we have replaced the heater matrix,exhaust and manifold and fan belt tensioners, which aint bad in twenty years.
We have had to replace the big leaf springs after one broke on our trip back from Spain last year and we had to have the chassis on the overhang replaced after it failed its MOT last November.
We would recommend you get your vehicle undersealed to protect it.
We also had some delamination on the floor by the sink and the door which has been repaired.
Good luck in your search.
Joan and John.

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[rabandju]

Thank you all so very much, we have also found that they are quite hard to find, there never seem to be any down our way (south west), have looked at importing but really don't know enough about that and it sounds risky. Seem to be more up north! I know were not going until next year but there seems to be so much to sort out where on earth do you start first?
Rab and Julie

 

[Wildman]

hi and welcome to the forum. Our last van "The Beast" was coachbuilt by Newlander on a merc 508D chassis. 5 ton payload, lots of space 8ft roof height inside so we could carry a canoe inside without banging our heads. The chassis was a solid as the day it left the factory had never been welded and probably never would need to be.
It was a 1981 van with a 3.8 engine and would run on straight vegetable oil. 17 MPG all day long. the engine was noisey, don't expect to hold a conversation with a passenger unless your hearing is excellent. Those older engines were good for 650,000 miles as opposed to 350,000 miles for other makes and a million mile engine was not uncommon. Parts for even the oldest engines and the knowledge to fix them can be found in almost any country in the world. so there you have it.