Classic Hymer B544

For Sale: Classic 1991 Hymer B544 92,897 Miles
2 Berth Solar Motorhome Ideal Wild Camper
It’s located in Bolton Greater Manchester

This is a classic 1991 Hymer B544 (manual gearbox, not automatic).

Since December 2015, there has been £10,000 on extras (see below), including making it ideal for wild camping.

At 18 feet long it’s able to fit into a normal parking space, which is important if you want to wild camp.

We have never used official caravan campsites on our trips.

We always wild camp and find locations using a wild camping app on our phone/sat nav.

The engine is fab.

Other Hymers, we know struggle uphill in first gear. This one flies up them in third gear!

I can’t tell you how much more enjoyable it is to drive a motorhome with a quality engine.

Externally she looks great for her age (see images).

2 births with a comfortable drop-down bed.

Comfortable swivel cab chairs (reupholstered in 2015). The two windows in the dinette come with blackout blinds, fly screens and hotel-quality curtains.

Skylight in the bathroom and dinette areas. Hot water and shower. We never use the shower.

Trauma blown air heating makes it very cosy in the winter months.

Bathroom has a Thetford porta potti, shower, sink, and lovely lights.

Kitchen has a 2 ring cooker, sink, and 3-way fridge (a new 3-way Dometic fridge was installed in 2013).

6 overhead lockers in the dinette area. 2 overhead lockers in the kitchen. Large wardrobe. Large storage under the two long sofa in the dinette area. 2 long sofas in the dinette area (reupholstered in 2015).

2 outside garages for storage (with engine oil, brake fluid, jack, diesel can filled with diesel just in case you run low on fuel, and levellers). New CD/radio with USB charger.

============= Features List =============

Year of Registration: 1991

Receipts: Full log of receipts detailing works undertaken since 1991
Advisories:None
Key sets: 2
Miles: 99,000
Sleeping Capacity (birth): 2
Water Capacity: 300
Model Year: 1991
Type: Motorhome Model: B544
V5 Registration Document:
Hymer Colour: White
Vehicle Sub-Type: Coachbuilt Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany
Safety Features: Back Seat Safety Belts
Transmission: Manual

Drive Side: right-hand drive
Axles: 2
Fuel Type: Diesel
Features & Equipment: 12V Lighting, Awning, Blinds, CD Player, Central Heating, Central Seating Group, Cooker, Fridge/Freezer
Previously Registered Overseas: Yes
Engine Size: 2500 Previous owners (excl. current): 7
Length: 5.4 meters (17.7 feet) Width: 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) Height: 2.8 meters (9.2 feet)
Gross weight: 3400 kg. Dead weight: 2900 kg.
French Classification: Class 2 under 3.5 tonnes

================== Wildcamping Extras ==================

Below are some of the extras added to the Hymer making it ideal for off-grid, wild camping.

Off-Grid Use: To make the Hymer a wild camping, off-grid superstar its fitted it out with a bunch of extras including large solar panel, inverter, two leisure batteries, plug extension for inverter, and changing all lights to LED. The solar panels worked so well that the very heavy, noisy and expensive external generator was got rid of!
When on trips, my partner and I always take our laptops because we both work online, and the solar panels always provide enough energy, even in the depths of winter.

Cost: £2,000 Autogas Refillable Underslug Gas Tank:
The Hymer has an “Underslung LPG Gas Tank” fitted to the underside of the vehicle (see image). Why struggle connecting, lifting and carrying heavy gas bottles and then pay 50% more for the gas than you have to? Plus, when you travel to Europe and you run out of gas, it becomes a nightmare because you cannot exchange your empty cylinder for a full one. That’s why you’ll love the autogas refillable underslung gas tank is the answer.

Cost: £900 iBoost D8 Directional System: Serves to both boost the externally available WiFi signal and repeat that signal at full strength inside your van, creating your own secure network with your own unique security code. This means that the system is compatible with any device which is WiFi-enabled. Connect your laptop, iPad, tablet, smartphone and even kindle – all at the same time! No drivers to install on your devices and no wires between you and the system. You can find out more about it here: https://www.motorhomewifi.com/product/iboost-pro-d8-directional-system/.

Cost: £160 4G Window Antenna: With a portable suction mounted window antenna, the 4G Mobile Lite is a cost-effective solution providing an incremental increase in weak signal areas. ‘Always On’ Secure Internet Connection. Up to 2.5 x performance of a mobile phone. WiFi for up to 10 devices. Remove & use portably. Use stationary or in motion.

Cost: £60 Total Value Of “Wild Camping Extras” = £2,960

============ Other Extras ============ Below are some other extras added to the Hymer.

Reconditioned gearbox: Cost: £1939.00

5 star hotel quality curtains and seat fabric. Cost: £850

Fiamma bike rack Cost: £600
Fiamma awning. Cost: £600
Roof Rack specifically designed and fabricated with labour ( 3 months ago ) Cost:£1200
Rear ladders specifically designed and fabricated with labour ( 3 months ago ) Cost £ 800
Wired motorhome alarm with GPS tracker and SMS ability. Set the alarm using your smartphone. Cost: £300 Motorhome rear vision camera. Cost: £300
Brand new silver screens (front window, passenger window, driver window, skylight): £130
Levelling blocks. Cost: £40
4 Pillows: £40
Motorhome safe plates and cup set + cutlery: £30
SheWee (unopened & unused): £10
Cigarette Charger for smartphone: £5
Motorhome manuals: £0 Total Value Of “Other Extras” = £6,844.00

Total Value Of “Other Extras” + “Wild Camping Extras” = £9,809.00

================= What’s Been Fixed =================

When I purchased the Hymer, I was interested in what repairs had been made to the motorhome, so I figure you might be as well.
A completely reconditioning gearbox in 2018. It cost £1,939.00. The good news is that the gearbox is now as good as new and won’t need any work hopefully for another 30 years or more.

Below is a breakdown of the main fixes and improvements since 2015.

2015 Fixes
Full tailpipe system from base of front pipe.
New fabric for all seats (including driver/passenger seats) and curtains.
Fit new complete engine timing belt kit.

2016 Fixes
Free up handbrake linkage.
Replaced handbrake cable.
Repair wiring to rear fog light.
Replaced brake shoes.
Cleaned up drums and adjust brakes.
Replaced brake light and flasher bulbs in O/S rear lamp.
Fixed minor leak in water tank.

2018 Fixes

Gearbox reconditioned.
New clutch.
Replaced wiper blades.

2020 Fixes
Replaced ignition battery. Cleaned terminals. Cleaned fire mount. Refitted habitation heating ignition wires. Replaced rubber seal around hob ring. Fixed fridge ignition fault. Replaced clutch.

2021 Fixes

Replaced alternator belts + cleaned drive pulleys for the belts. Replaced light switch in the toilet room. Replaced pump in the water tank. Purchased brand new internal window silver screens.

=================== What’s not perfect ===================

If you buy a classic motorhome, there will always be something you could improve. For full transparency here’s a list of things you might have a hankering to improve… The skylight must have had a leak before we purchased it because it has some epoxy resin on it .The resin fixed the leak, so we never felt the need to get a new skylight.

The two ring gas hob works perfectly.

The gas oven, however, takes far too long to heat up. A OMNIA portable camping hob oven which works perfectly and comes with the purchase of the motorhome. Ironically, its stored it in the non-working oven.

Minor scratch mark underneath the awning (see photo). The step for the habitation door needs a motor if you want it to go down/up by the switch. We were okay with it being manual. The bathroom sink plug is not quite the right size which causes the water to very slowly drain out. Though, it didn’t bother us enough to replace it. The blind material on the right-hand habitation window is missing. That never bothered us because the curtains are so thick it made the blind material unnecessary. Though, it’s very easy and cheap to replace the blind material.

You can’t empty the water tank from the plug that’s in the water tank. If we need to empty the water tank (e.g. in Winter in case of freezing weather) we empty it by putting a tap on. We figured as the tank only ever gets emptied once a year, it wasn’t worth spending the money on a new tank. The fix done was good enough.

The Trumatic heater needs a new switch. You can ignite it manually by lowering the bottom cable which is what is meant to happen when igniting it via the switch. I’ve submitted a question to the Classic Hymer Facebook Group asking for help and looks like it should be an easy fix. They’ve recommended taking the switch apart and cleaning the contacts with contact cleaner, and spraying lubricant at the base of the rod

# FYI: I highly recommend you join the Classic Hymer Facebook Group if you get the Hymer because you’ll get your questions answered within minutes of posting.

============== Final Thoughts ==============

We have had great adventures in her including 7000 miles last year alone to southern spain and over the French Alps staying in extremes of heat and Snow whilst skking a week in Morzine, but life has changed and we now need a Hymer that’s Left Hand drive as Europe beckons for my retirement.

The good thing about buying a classic Hymer is that they go up in value each year, and are usually in good condition for their age. The reason is that the Hymer is a classic, and new owners don’t mind spending a bit to keep it in tip-top shape. I’m no exception.

There is a wild camping app that gives us access to millions of free, wild camping spots and public toilets around the UK and Europe.

It has super low mileage for the age (99,000 miles) and has been very well looked after.

We get approximately 30 MPG fully laden.

If you have any questions, please let me know. Its located in Ramsbottom (BL9 5PL), Lancashire.

Please contact me for more info and photos.

The asking price is £16,900. I’m not open to offers. First to see will buy her if serious as you won’t find a better one with all that’s new and been spent on her. No returns accepted. Payment via bank transfer upon collection.