Hymer Van S 500 : a great little motorhome for the winter!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ก.ย. 2024
- This is the Hymer Van S 500 and this is now a third opinion. The video dates to January 2017, the commentary to April 2021. I have had four years to think about it and this is what I think. The Hymer Van S 500 is a great little van for the winter.
The Hymer Van S is based on the Mercedes Sprinter. There are Seitz S7 framed windows, insulated and heated tanks, GRP lightweight floor construction with XPS insulation and a garage with access from both sides. The garage is not big enough for a bicycle but it will carry all the junk that ends up in your van that you think you will use one day.
The vehicle is also only 565cm long and 222cm wide meaning it is much easier to park and drive than most motorhomes! I managed to park it in car parking spaces in town in Germany, even though there was a lot of snow when I was out. However I must point out that 222cm is much wider than most cars - even those which are as long as the Van S.
The Van S is rear-wheel drive. I found no difficulties with this even hill starting with snow and ice on the ground.
It has a two ton towing capacity - should you need a caravan to make up for the lack of internal space. This could be a useful additional feature.
Both the fresh water and waste water tanks are concealed in insulated trays in the floor which can have hot air flowing through them. This is a useful feature for winter! The GRP underbody also offers additional protection from weather-related damage together with that caused by stones and grit. The powder-coated aluminium frame is particularly lightweight and sturdy, and also has a thermal bridge insulation layer. It comes with a Truma-Combi-4-heater which has a 4kW output which should be more than sufficient to keep even the most demanding of users warm when it is below freezing outside. Individual temperature adjustments and the boost function for fast hot water supply and room heating in the Van S can be controlled via the serial central control panel Truma CP plus with timer.
The Seitz S7 framed windows feature double acrylic glazing - for optimised thermal insulation.
The kitchen is quite small but so is the van so we cannot complain. The kitchen drawers are equipped with roller bearings for smooth action. They feature a Servo soft-touch closing mechanism and one-handed push-locks that prevent the drawers from opening and rattling when the Van S is in motion. The worktop in the compact kitchen of the Van S can be extended in one easy step to create extra space for those that do not want to work at the table. The kitchen has a 2-burner hob and sink combo. There is a 65 litre compressor fridge.
The living area in the Van S is equipped with a Midi lift/tilt rooflight as standard. A steplessly adjustable opening angle ensures effective ventilation at all times. A double roller blind is integrated in the rooflight frame to darken the interior and keep out insects.
The interior lighting throughout the motorhome features modern LED technology as standard. Nowadays this is standard with even the cheapest vans, but it was not when this van was introduced. Outside, there is a high-power LED awning light with rain deflector is also part of the standard package. It lights up a wide area outside the entrance door of the Van S so you can exit the vehicle safely in the dark.
The beds in the Van S are equipped with multi-zone cold foam mattresses that provide the right support for all areas of the body. Breathable mattress toppers in the rear section ensure good ventilation.
The wardrobe which can also be accessed from the garage. In combination with an optional tailgate, this provides a handy through-loading space when required. The wardrobe is not very good. First of all it is tiny, of course I appreciate that there is no way it could be made bigger, so what I would suggest is that if this were my motorhome, I would place a metal bar somewhere over the bed that clothes could be hung. There is a hanging bar in the wardrobe but it is too far down to be of any use, as if it were put in there as an afterthought.
The waste water tank in the Van S can be drained at the touch of a button. It is equipped with an electric valve which can be instantly opened and closed via the switch at the side of the rear garage. I think one needs a bit practice with it in order to learn how to position the van over the drain, but this is the case with every motorhome I have driven.
RV manufacturers often talk of dual use. An RV for weekends and holidays and a normal vehicle to get you to work during the week. Hymer has not marketed the Van S as such as far as I am aware but this vehicle is the closest to dual use that I have come across.
The starting price in 2016 was around EUR65k but as always once options are added on then it is likely to end up being much more expensive. How much would a used one cost today? I don’t know and don’t even want to guess.
I think I have got much better at filming since the video shown here was filmed. Now I don't wobble so much!
😺👍
I think the camera is more stable as well.
In the future when you are driving could you face the camera out the window.
@@bambiharzott26 Like this for example ? th-cam.com/video/LUbqa8kLMJM/w-d-xo.html
I watch your videos for their content, not for your filming skills. You provide good information: features, prices and personal opinions of a user with much experience. Thank you.
I've got the funny feeling due to its small size, very good use of space, well insulated, good heating and rust protection the depreciation is going to be extremely minimal and that's where the real cost is.
I love the size of this van ❤️
Yeah small windows should help to keep the heat in, overall a very very cosy van.
My favourite van
One of mine too!
Thank you so much 🌻
One advantage of this little van is that I'd have no problem thinking up a name. "Noddy". And if the wing mirrors were a bit large, "Big Ears".
Very nice ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I so wish this was a North American item, my wife and I would definitely be able to use it in a Dual Use item.....
In the US it would work much better than here!
I'm in the US and, like you and your wife, I would love to have this
Me three!!! Why can't Thor, an American company that bought Hymer a couple years ago, bring over these to the US?! Actually, I read some articles that they wanted to but met with tepid response to smaller RVs like the Aktiv. Hopefully the younger #vanlife crowd will create a new market for small, family oriented RVs like this one.
@@IMP3TIGO The Aktiv was made by Hymer North America based in Canada. It folded up. Thor bought Hymer and created Hymer USA, but the German engineers couldn't come over to the US due to the Wuhan virus, and Tho decided to scrape the whole thing for now. I think the real reason is that Thor's crappy B vans sell very well and they don't have any reason to bring the German automation manufacturing process over here and cannibalize their own products. As long as gullible people keep borrowing money to buy all these overpriced US B vans, it will continually be that way. Demand and supply. I've decided to hire handymen to build out my camper van. If you have friends that can help you and you are handy, you will be much better off in terms of quality, price, and maintenance. Dealing with RVs and RV dealers are like walking through a minefield.
I think revisiting motorhomes you reviewed a few years ago is a good idea. These are the vehicles that you are more likely to come across on the second-hand market.
I think people that are considering motorhomes built on small pickup trucks and that kind of thing might like to took at something like this. It is not much bigger than a car but it is very efficient in its use of space.
Personally I like 6 to 7 metres size which is the most common in Europe of course. I wouldn't be wanting to use the motorhome as a car personally but others have very different requirements.
I though of the hanging bar just before u talked about it. I would remove the couch. And build cabinet/closet/storage where couch is.
A lagoon table in between the driver and passenger seat is enough.
I would make air suspension driver seat like in 18 wheeler trucks. From Bambi
Imagine how much cold comes in from the driving cabin.
Personally, I prefer the "small footprint"-concept.
Only as much as necessary, as little as possible.
Anybody tried to import a German RV to USA? It will probably have to be paid in full but still worth it. This one doesn`t look as modern as other models but it is well designed. The use of space is excellent. In America we don`t need to drive such small vehicles. Even if I am a minimalist (but an American minimalist), I think the 144"(6 meter body) Sprinter is a good size for a daily driver. Regarding the price, if you deduct the price of the van, this conversion costs half of what we pay for something similar or worse in the US.
Alan, world you be up for doing a Top 5 - maybe even Top 5 used (value for money), or Top 5 for certain lengths?
I think you saw yesterday's live broadcast where I answered this question! Thanks for asking it as it gave a good subject for the broadcast.
Hi Alan, rather than my daft comment about motor home for one. This could be it for working away from home. Apart from the price lol.
I like it.
Hi Alan, that's a little bit on the small size, looks more of a weekend that one that you could live in for a couple of months, it does seem to have everything that you need though.
Great camper for you Alan,,imo. Grab it if you can.:)
P.s. You look great driving it. Suites you,, crashes of dishes and all. XD
good for winter it seems, I prefer a bit longer instead, not wider
Just found this video and you are talking my sort of size. Just need a bit more versatility. Love your updates thank you.
Thanks Janet!
well i like it, or maybe im to scared to drive a big van, thanks allan
Ideally I’d like a slightly larger space for the shower.
Alan, When can we expect an electric RV with Tesla-like autopilot?
Not for some time Jim!
You haven't changed much in five years, good genes or is it all the camping? :)
😁👌👍!
Alan ,are you still in Poland ,if so how is the Brexit situation affecting you ?
It is not very good Eric but at least I have not lost my job, my business has not gone bankrupt because of it, I am currently not buried deep in pointless paperwork as is the case for many in the UK - or worse as the situation is now in Northern Ireland! However it is a major problem.
Your video is still going on my phone. You're driving
LOL,, Hi Anni. Leaving for vaca. for a couple weeks will be in touch if WiFi is available. Talk soon.:)
Where are you going?
@@VanlifewithAlan I'm home,,, l-o-n-g story. lol
Sooner then I thought!! Hahahaha
So what you are saying is that whenever you post a video about a new RV we must wait another 4 years because your initial 2 opinions are crap ? ha ha ha well done.
Get to the point man.
Lot of unnecessary bable
No-one is forcing you to watch.