Our first Hymer, model B544, known now as Hymer One

01 DSC04528Before purchasing this used Hymer B544 we looked at the whole range of motorhomes, the different classes and layouts, weighing the pros and cons of each type. We decided against the C class motorhomes, those are the ones with the large bubble over the cab that accommodates the bed. Our reason was mainly the difficulty of climbing up a ladder to get into the bed.

We travelled to a number of dealers around the Manchester and Lancaster areas looking at a large number of different motorhomes from all the well known makers . Undoubtedly we got 'motorhome viewers fatigue' because of the number we examined, there are only so many motorhomes that you can look at before you start to think you have seen them all before.

Having temporarily given up of finding the right vehicle we had a call from Peter Hambleton (who has now retired) to say that he had just purchased a Hymer and were we still interested. We looked and after some discussion purchased this Hymer B544, at the time it was about 12 years old but in very good condition.

If you are thinking about buying a motorhome what features should you consider?

Here's a list of things that we think are important . . .

Important motorhome features

  1. Check the plate on the side of the motorhome carefully to note whether you will need a car license or a C1 license that  covers vehicles over 3,500 kg and up to 7,500 kg. Many drivers do not have the C1 so they are limited to driving motorhomes that are below the 3,5 tons limit. Is that really important, well that depends how much payload you want to carry. Some motorhomes only have a payload of around 350kg which has to include any passenger(s) and all the food, clothes and other equipment that you carry.
  2. How long is it and will it fit on your driveway? Our driveway has a steep slope at the road end, when we tried to drive our first Hymer up the drive the rear end of the chassis hit the pavement! Fortunately we knew to turn it around and reverse up the slope which is not as easy as it sounds. The Hymer B544 is 6.5 metres long, or if you prefer it's over 21 feet long. For easy comparison, most parking spaces are around 16 feet long and so are most modern garages. Will you have enough space to park a motorhome and a car on your driveway?
  3. How much money do you want to spend? Set yourself a limit, and then look very carefully at what you can expect to buy for that amount of money. It's easy to get carried away and spend more than you planned. Do not forget about depreciation either, motorhomes do hold their price well, but they are still expensive pieces of equipment and sometimes they are not easy to sell, especially if you are in a hurry to sell.
  4. Internal layout - where is the main bed, and can you easily make it and access it?  There are two major designs, fixed beds and what I will call folding beds to encompass everything else. Fixed beds are just what the name suggests, the bed is fixed, so you don't have to set it up every night. But - fixed beds are not always rectangular, they can have quite large pieces cut off to make room to walk around them, and a major consideration is that they add at least 1.5m (around 5 feet) to the length of the motorhome. That's a lot of space that could be used for sitting, dining, kitchen, bathroom or cupboards or other storage. Other beds hinge down above the cab, descend in the middle of the vehicle or are formed by moving cushions and making up the bed in the base of the vehicle. That all takes time and work - every night.
  5. Test drive it and get a feel for how it handles. This is really important. We visited a major motorhome dealer in  who would not let us test drive a motorhome that we were really interested in until we were committed to buying it. If that happens to you then walk away, do not be pushed into committing yourself before you have the facts to be able to decide properly.
    Driving a motorhome is not like driving a car, it's really a large vehicle and heavy. Technically speaking, everything over 3.5 tons is a heavy goods vehicle and you need to remember that, it's not a nippy little car! Having said that, our second Hymer built in 2016 has very light steering and turns very easily, so much so that you have to be aware of the length and the rear wheels cutting across corners.
  6. Don't pay the asking price. Dealers buy at low prices and sell at high prices, expecting to negotiate. You are the buyer, don't fall in love with a motorhome on a forecourt and feel that you must have it, that's a sure way to pay over the odds. If you have no part exchange vehicle you are in a strong position, be ready to walk away.

Other motorhome features to consider . . .

There are many relatively minor features that can make a motorhome more pleasant and easier to live in, but don't get carried away paying silly money for every gadget on the market, most of them are a waste of space and money. This list is things we have found useful.

  • A Thatcham standard alarm, you may find your insurance company insists on this.
  • A reversing camera with rear and downward pointing cameras, again, your insurance may require this.
  • Refillable gas tanks. Not essential but in the long run they can save money. The initial cost is high but then you pay the minimum for gas by purchasing it at garages that sell to vehicles that are gas powered. If you go to Europe you will find that the exchangeable cylinders are not the same, so you need a one for UK one for europe - waste of money and weight. With a refillable system you just need a small adaptor, and most garages will lend you one anyway.
  • 'Silverscreen' - an insulating cover that goes on the outside of the windscreen and helps to keep heat in when outside temperatures fall in winter.