Modding the Hymer ML-t 580 4x4

[Rog NotJane]

Ahhh. Ok. I thought ALL the AWD ones had the lift. Those are the ones I notice/standout (I’m not looking)

No, I thought the same but I did a bit of googling and I think I’m making this up to justify the cash we spent

 

[CaptainPaul]

I am pretty sure it is. I don’t think there is any lift of the standard AWD chassis from Merc. Xtura is definitely higher than most other 4wd sprinters and higher than the Crossover.

Re the Man and Iveco conversions. We looked at them semi seriously. The DARC mono is nice and looks less like a portacabin on wheels. In addition to the price, the problem with all of these expedition vans is the delivery time. They tend to be built to order with upwards of two years waiting lists.

When you look at the specs and equipment list you don’t get much extra for that money. Off road they maybe have a better exit angle and perhaps better tank placement but apart from that nothing you don’t see on Xtura or crossover. I don’t know if the MAN/Iveco 4x4 is better than Merc’s AWD for reasonable use.

To get something different budgets need to be half a million plus on an TGE and then you have a lorry which limits where you can get to in other ways.

100% Agree with a lot there, its trying to get a nice balance that suits the user.. i met a German guy last year multi millionaire owns a campsite up in Tafroute and various other businesses in Morocco, really nice guy, joined us for a bit of grub etc but done nothing but complain about the mpg of his overlander truck! Lol (think it was a MAN) but he told me he wasn't enjoying it and getting something else more practical and overall more comfortable! so I expect next time I see him he'll be in an Xtura or Crossover or something similar...
Speaking for myself I know that probably 20% of my Crossover use will be off road to some degree and the rest will be normal motorhoming touring holidays like everyone else.. but its like anything its always nice to have it than not have it, same as Audi cars ive owned previously with Quattro, they always felt very sure footed on the roads and were comfortable with it too but much of the time the 4 wheel drive wasn't necessary or a fast sports car, your never going to drive it flat out but its nice to have the power there if you want it so I feel a bit the same with this Mercedes AWD system on my van its not always going to be necessary but its still nice to have it for the various other types of offroad motorhoming to enjoy and experience... (hence the Gambia in my sights for this winters trip)

 

[Abgs]

I thought the Crosstrail edition reminded me of something ...

Matching 'sports' car !

 

[CaptainPaul]

I see even that new Crosstrail comes with the unique "sinking arse" as standard....
Must be in cahoots with VB!

 

[Abgs]

Tips for Hymer Crossover owners ...

New Video guidance on how your partner should behave whilst in the Crossover.

 

[Abgs]

I was looking at various wheel option a month or so ago and in the end I figured that sticking with original size would be the way to go. If you go to an 18" wheels and tyre combo you have less tyre sidewall and therefore less 'squish' which is better for ride comfort, especially if you have stiffened the suspension a little.

When I was looking at Alloy wheels I did run the following past Mrs ABGS...

"Should I go from this"

'to something like this ...'

View attachment 1146089
To which her reply was; "what am I looking at here? surely they the are both the same thing."

I guess at the moment I'm sticking with the steel wheels!

Well I caved ...

I went with 16" Black Rhino Atlas at 25% off. Damm those Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals !

I wonder how long it will take for Mrs ABGS to notice ....

 

[Landy Andy]

At least you stayed with the 16s

 

[CaptainPaul]

Well I caved ...

I went with 16" Black Rhino Atlas at 25% off. Damm those Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals !

I wonder how long it will take for Mrs ABGS to notice ....

View attachment 1148653

I knew these were coming sooner rather than later!
Just right too, life's too short
Health to enjoy them

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[Abgs]

I knew these were coming sooner rather than later!
Just right too, life's too short
Health to enjoy them

Might have bought a lighting upgrade also .. 20% discount on Monday.

I have no over-cab light-bar you see, was feeling left out.

Pretty sure these will turn night into day on high beam!

 

[Just smiffy]

I wonder how long it will take for Mrs ABGS to notice

I won’t tell her, but the truth has a habit of coming out….

 

[Rog NotJane]

That’s a lot of boxes. Are they all going in the grill or are you making a light bar too.

We got the last mods before morocco

Dutch Van parts engine protection:

And (not so relevant to the Hymer thread) a WM aqua tech UV water filter, a second victron 330ah battery and twin Orion 50a chargers.

We’ve seen the batteries getting nearly the full 100a when we’re driving 70 or so when idling.

We have still not got a snorkel!

 

[Abgs]

That’s a lot of boxes. Are they all going in the grill or are you making a light bar too.

The lights are going in the grill. The kit includes a template to make the cuts to grill fins and the specific fixings.

They have a fancy wireless CanBus adaptor so can be programmed to various light settings, aux high beam lights etc. I also purchased a programmable Bluetooth switch to operate them independently. I'm trying to figure whether I can program the switch and module to flash the lights and sound the horn on one press of the switch.

They also do upgraded LED fog light kits for the Sprinter which can be programmed as extra daytime running lights and on with high beam function or, operated as Fog Lights.

Talking of horns ... the Sprinter horn is feeble and sounds like a strangled moped. Fortunately the last of my Cyber Monday deal parcels arrived this morning, all the way from sunny California.

A dual horn upgrade with custom bracket and plug and play wiring to the Mercedes loom. And to finish, a pair of gas bonnet (hood) struts.

Just need the rain to stop so I can crack on a fit everything.

 

[cyberyacht]

Rog NotJane That's not a screw in your front offside tyre is it?

 

[CaptainPaul]

The lights are going in the grill. The kit includes a template to make the cuts to grill fins and the specific fixings.

They have a fancy wireless CanBus adaptor so can be programmed to various light settings, aux high beam lights etc. I also purchased a programmable Bluetooth switch to operate them independently. I'm trying to figure whether I can program the switch and module to flash the lights and sound the horn on one press of the switch.

They also do upgraded LED fog light kits for the Sprinter which can be programmed as extra daytime running lights and on with high beam function or, operated as Fog Lights.

Talking of horns ... the Sprinter horn is feeble and sounds like a strangled moped. Fortunately the last of my Cyber Monday deal parcels arrived this morning, all the way from sunny California.

A dual horn upgrade with custom bracket and plug and play wiring to the Mercedes loom. And to finish, a pair of gas bonnet (hood) struts.

Just need the rain to stop so I can crack on a fit everything.

View attachment 1148921

Santa has been good to you!

 

[Abgs]

Not sure if you have this saying in Blighty but over we have one and its
"You might as well get hung for a sheep as a lamb"....

Santa has been good to you!

In fairness Mrs ABGS bought some unauthorised Christmas decorations from John Lewis this week. This is tit for tat shopping on my part.

 

[CaptainPaul]

I have the Maybach lighting system on mine which is fantastic and with the overhead light bar on it really is literally like broad daylight... trouble is they make the standard fogs look like candles so might look into those fog lights upgrade lol

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[Abgs]

I have the Maybach lighting system on mine which is fantastic and with the overhead light bar on it really is literally like broad daylight... trouble is they make the standard fogs look like candles so might look into those fog lights upgrade lol View attachment 1148923View attachment 1148924

Those are proper fancy!

Mine has the standard LED which are pretty good but on a country lane, on a dark wet December night a bit of help for deer spotting would be good.

 

[CaptainPaul]

Those are proper fancy!

Mine has the standard LED which are pretty good but on a country lane, on a dark wet December night a bit of help for deer spotting would be good.

View attachment 1148961

Yes they look like the standard Merc ones, the genuine Maybach are a fortune with the built in cooling fans etc, but they are very good, theres dozens of fake ones on ebay etc but even they're looking £1200+ a pair!
Once you get the new lights fitted it'll be like a different beast altogether

 

[Rog NotJane]

Rog NotJane That's not a screw in your front offside tyre is it?

Stone. Those tyres grab onto them.

Nice spotting though thanks.

 

[gus-lopez]

This one was parked next to us in Burgos a few weeks ago.

View attachment 1147013

Would it be a true 6 x 6 or 4 x 6 with a leg dragging?

 

[Lenny HB]

Would it be a true 6 x 6 or 4 x 6 with a leg dragging?

I believe it is a proper 6x6 conversion.

 

[Rog NotJane]

Talking of horns ... the Sprinter horn is feeble and sounds like a strangled moped. Fortunately the last of my Cyber Monday deal parcels arrived this morning, all the way from sunny California.

A dual horn upgrade with custom bracket and plug and play wiring to the Mercedes loom. And to finish, a pair of gas bonnet (hood) struts.

These are both great upgrades. The horn is indeed pathetic and the bonnet is a pain in the neck.

CaptainPaul is there a Maybach horn that plays the German national anthem?

 

[CaptainPaul]

These are both great upgrades. The horn is indeed pathetic and the bonnet is a pain in the neck.

CaptainPaul is there a Maybach horn that plays the German national anthem?

Amhrán na bhFiann
Only on this van sir!

 

[Grianan]

Great thread .. just read all 19 pages. MLT 580 is on our shortlist but yet to see one in the flesh.

Can I ask is the shower room big enough to dry and change in after showering? … From videos I’ve watched there doesn’t seem to be a curtain or panel to split van into 2 areas.

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[CaptainPaul]

Great thread .. just read all 19 pages. MLT 580 is on our shortlist but yet to see one in the flesh.

Can I ask is the shower room big enough to dry and change in after showering? … From videos I’ve watched there doesn’t seem to be a curtain or panel to split van into 2 areas.

I saw your thread ref a smaller van but thought by most of the replies you were getting a pvc type van so i didn't suggest one of these Hymers to you....
As you probably know we went for the 570 but when i was looking at them i noticed the 580 had the bigger shower room of the 2 but I dont believe any of the 2 of them have a split room type system but I did see some folk have done this which gives you a very big area for privacy for changing etc after shower room use & is a very cheap fix to achieve....
(Curtain also available in tartan!)

 

[Abgs]

The bathroom is the 580 is bigger than the 570. I’d say it’s just about OK for me at 6’3” but my wife reckons it’s plenty spacious enough at 5’2”….

We went for the 580 at 7m long as it had the option of 2.13m bed on one side. I wanted a 570 to work but it just didn’t feel big enough for me.

Theirs is no room divider in the 580 either, just a curtain across the end of the bed.

 

[Abgs]

Great thread .. just read all 19 pages. MLT 580 is on our shortlist but yet to see one in the flesh.

Can I ask is the shower room big enough to dry and change in after showering? … From videos I’ve watched there doesn’t seem to be a curtain or panel to split van into 2 areas.

These pics might help - you can use the bathroom door as a partial screen giving a bit of space at the end of the bed. Especially if the infill bed section is removed.

 

[Grianan]

These pics might help - you can use the bathroom door as a partial screen giving a bit of space at the end of the bed. Especially if the infill bed section is removed.


View attachment 1150636View attachment 1150637View attachment 1150638View attachment 1150639View attachment 1150646

Thanks photos are super useful! If we could get a wooden duck board made to size we could maybe use shower room for drying/changing which might work better.

 

[Abgs]

It comes with a duck board for the shower but it’s not very strong - though I think they may have upgraded the board on the newest model .

 

[CaptainPaul]

It comes with a duck board for the shower but it’s not very strong - though I think they may have upgraded the board on the newest model .

Yes mine has supports built in between the board & the floor and it seems strong (holds me anyway!)
I only noticed because some boy was selling support spacers for them on Facebook that he had 3D printed them and was selling them but they seem to be standard now on the newer vans