Autosleeper or Hymer (1 Viewer)

Aug 18, 2011
12,091
17,897
derbys
Funster No
17,808
MH
AUTOSLEEPER SYMBOL
Exp
since 2007.Tugger before since 1970
Which would you buy? 1998 autosleeper excelsior on a 2.5 Transit TD or pay £2500 more for a 1996 Hymer 544 on a Fiat 2.5 TD. Busby.
 

Tilly99

Free Member
Jan 8, 2013
3
0
West Wilts
Funster No
24,212
MH
Autosleeper Talisman
Exp
Newbie
I would prefer the auto sleeper for the well regarded monocoque bodyshell and the built in goodies like full oven, grill etc. They also have gas/electric heating/water. Build quality is also well known.
Tranny engine well regarded and powerful but check the Ford chassis for rust areas! I've owned a Hymer caravan and build quality was very good on mine but had european fittings..... Not to my taste!
The choice is yours. Good luck.
Merv
 

JohnM

Free Member
Nov 8, 2008
650
179
Central Scotland
Funster No
4,886
MH
CClass
Exp
Since Feb 2009 and 40yrs c/vaning
No contest as far as i am conserned it has to be a german van and hymer is about as good as it gets.I caravaned for forty years buying badly built and leaky vans for most of that time.Then in sept 05 we bought a hymer and had it for three years,we only parted with it to buy our first m/home it was the best van we had owned in all that time.And hymer backup in germany is second to none even for older vans.
We now have a hobby and love it, but getting parts is nowhere near as easy.WE bought an autotrail in 2010 and kept it eight months thats how good the uk vans are.If you intend to use your van in winter forget the a/sleeper. Thats my advice for whatit is worth i would have bought a hymer if we could have got the layout we wanted.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

normanandsue

Free Member
Dec 31, 2010
1,871
21,571
Dunfermline - Scotland
Funster No
14,796
MH
van conversion
Exp
Since 2007
I would prefer the auto sleeper for the well regarded monocoque bodyshell and the built in goodies like full oven, grill etc. They also have gas/electric heating/water. Build quality is also well known.
Tranny engine well regarded and powerful but check the Ford chassis for rust areas! I've owned a Hymer caravan and build quality was very good on mine but had european fittings..... Not to my taste!
The choice is yours. Good luck.
Merv
Having owned an autosleeper and N+B which is now hymer I agree with Merv. If you are intending using campsites then the autosleeper with its electric heating is a definite boost.
The presence of a gas fire in the autosleeper is an added bonus as the warm air system in the Hymer is not the best at keeping the mh warm. I do miss the oven in my N+B.

Having said that as I tend not to use sites and my N+B has a lot of extra goodies like a webasco heater and three leisure batteries and 2 solar panels and is winterised I do prefer my N+B
Also there is much more space in the N+B than the autosleeper but then it is a few feet longer.

If you only intend using your mh in the summer on sites and then not for long periods I would definitely opt for the Autosleeper. If you are not using sites and intend using your mh all year round then go for the Hymer.

Hope this helps

Norman

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Last edited:

reader

Free Member
Apr 27, 2011
185
73
IO83rk
Funster No
16,172
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
1999
If you like socialising the Excelsior has to be a winner as far as seating is concenrned, as you can comfortably seat 8 around the table and with imagination get 10 seated in the van for "drinks"

The main thing with the Tranny (of this vintage) though is to look out for rust but replacement panels are easily obtained for these workhorses. I know a couple that have been done and they look great as the bodyshell comes up like new when given a good wash.

Within the AS community the Excelsior is highly regarded
 
Apr 12, 2010
4,795
51,072
Bury St Edmunds, West Suffolk
Funster No
11,027
MH
Weinsberg Cara
Exp
since 2007
hymer or autosleeper

We have had 2 Hymers, the first one was over 20 years old and every knob and whistle still worked perfectly. No 2, a starline 630 is brilliant, admittedly its on a Merc chassis. The build quality is top notch.
When we sold the first one through Autotrader, we had over 30 phone calls, first one to see it bought it. You cant beat quality.
We have never owned an Autosleeper.
 

Carol

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 2, 2007
14,044
111,512
North Wales.
Funster No
519
MH
A class
Exp
18 years s Motorhome (33years caravans)
The extra cost aside, I would spend half a hour in both on your own with out seller, see which one would feel more comfortable to spend time in, does one have better storage than the other, does the Hymer have underneath lockers.
Are they both winterised. Then as JJ puts it get the one that you like best. Enjoy which ever you choose.
 

hilldweller

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 5, 2008
605
36,109
Macclesfield
Funster No
5,089
MH
Zilch Mk1
Exp
From Aug 2007
Which would you buy? 1998 autosleeper excelsior on a 2.5 Transit TD or pay £2500 more for a 1996 Hymer 544 on a Fiat 2.5 TD. Busby.

The name on it is irrelevant, it's how it suits you that counts and at that age how well it's been cared for, mileage etc.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

weekenders

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 30, 2008
2,657
1,957
Leicestershire
Funster No
2,443
MH
A Class
Exp
15 years
We had an Autosleeper Executive, has all in one monoqocue body, but having a gas fire heat rises and the floor was cold, Hymer with blown air circulates better but uses more battery power, we carry genny in the winter to top up batteries.
prefer Hymer (584) for shower area, living area and no beds to make up as double pulls down.
the choice is yours
 

aba

Free Member
Oct 27, 2009
2,775
1,112
yorkshire
Funster No
9,066
MH
coachbuilt
Exp
dec 2009
from a different perspective here.
if you want to use it in winter then the hymer would probably be warmer
the autosleeper will be less likely to have water ingress problems due to how they are built.

the fiat 2.5 engine is good however if the cam belt breaks its expensive.

the 2.5 transit engine if the cam belt breaks at worst it bends a couple of pushrods and causes no major damage to the engine at all and can be repaired by just about anyone with basic knowledge.

generally as a rule whats outside dont really matter as layout is king everything else is just cosmetic.
 

Gunner29

Free Member
May 24, 2012
836
610
Plymouth
Funster No
21,178
MH
Low Profile
Exp
8
Auto Sleeper

Have had an A/S Sigma for 4 yrs now Very happy with it and its construction but like Hymers too. As mentions its what SUITS your needs

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

chrisboyo

Free Member
Aug 5, 2009
1,317
818
Newport South Wales
Funster No
7,855
MH
Autosleepers Sussex Duo
Exp
5 + 30 years a tugger
We have recently changed from a hymer b584 to an auto sleeper Sussex duo pcv
It is quite a change from our much loved hymer but does have the advantage of Liz being able to drive it. It also does 39 to the gallon where the hymer did approx 25-27
We have had a few trips out in the pcv and the smaller size does take some getting use to but we are getting use to it and we are sure we will come to love it as much as the hymer

Happy daze
Chrisboyo

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top