Just ordered a new Hymer Evolution Blue 540

[HowieDog]

There’s no ‘right’ floor plan, only what works for your own needs. The various Cali vans have worked for the last 15 years but not now.

For us the 540 length was important so there is a finite space inside albeit substantially more overall volume than the Cali.

Our current porta potti is in a very spacious toilet tent but it’s a bit miserable

 

[GrannyJen]

I keep looking at the hymer van range and they do look good but the floor space is none existent for such a big van the shower toilet area is very cramped.The main benefit would be being able to stand up and the fixed bed but lots of negatives with the general flexibility day to day

We all drive what suits us so one persons negative may well be another persons positive.

Curious about your lack of floor space comment. I can carry two bicycles in my hymer, could never do that in the cali without leaving the bed behind.

The only lack of flexibility, and it's a big one, is the height factor. The reason why I will always have a Cali in the drive except for this, temporary, hiatus. Otherwise I can park in any parking space not height restricted.

 

[Defender90]

We all drive what suits us so one persons negative may well be another persons positive.

Curious about your lack of floor space comment. I can carry two bicycles in my hymer, could never do that in the cali without leaving the bed behind.

The only lack of flexibility, and it's a big one, is the height factor. The reason why I will always have a Cali in the drive except for this, temporary, hiatus. Otherwise I can park in any parking space not height restricted.

Definitely it’s what suits, i was talking about floor area for the dog it just seems like I would be still standing on her.The bigger van would be great in the winter months especially in Scotland

 

[GrannyJen]

Definitely it’s what suits, i was talking about floor area for the dog it just seems like I would be still standing on her.The bigger van would be great in the winter months especially in Scotland

There is a far bigger space in the front between the seats which is where my dog sleeps and he's not little. He also likes his "dog cave" which is under the bed. There is a huge space there, I have the flexible load divider with utilises the lashing rails and have it fixed halfway under the bed. That gives me a boot space bigger than I have in the Cali ocean and also on the other side Max's space

He is with me when I go away this weekend. I will see if I can get a pic of him in his den.

 

[Defender90]

There is a far bigger space in the front between the seats which is where my dog sleeps and he's not little. He also likes his "dog cave" which is under the bed. There is a huge space there, I have the flexible load divider with utilises the lashing rails and have it fixed halfway under the bed. That gives me a boot space bigger than I have in the Cali ocean and also on the other side Max's space

He is with me when I go away this weekend. I will see if I can get a pic of him in his den.

Yes just thinking the area under the bed might be a good place for her to hide lol

 

[GrannyJen]

The extra width of the 5.4 hymer can appear problematic.

It did when I went to a car park I've used before and found width-limiting posts placed, apparently to "prevent campers getting in and overnighting".

Was a bit of a squeeze but still manageable

Also had some off-road, off grid time although getting back up that track I really did miss the 4WD.

 

[Billylou]

We also sold our Cali fir the same reasons mentioned on this thread and purchased a new 540 Ducato converted by Malibu Carthago a few months ago. We left the forecourt and 50 miles later it broke down. A long story short this led to us rejecting the van and getting our money back. Despite being disappointed with Fiat it hasn’t stopped us buying another 540 albeit a Westfalia which we hope to get next summer. Funnily enough, despite no longer being the van owner, I had a call from Fiat 10 weeks later letting me know the van had been repaired. Great to read positive comments posted by @GrannyJen and @HowieDog.

 

[GrannyJen]

We also sold our Cali fir the same reasons mentioned on this thread and purchased a new 540 Ducato converted by Malibu Carthago a few months ago. We left the forecourt and 50 miles later it broke down. A long story short this led to us rejecting the van and getting our money back. Despite being disappointed with Fiat it hasn’t stopped us buying another 540 albeit a Westfalia which we hope to get next summer. Funnily enough, despite no longer being the van owner, I had a call from Fiat 10 weeks later letting me know the van had been repaired. Great to read positive comments posted by @GrannyJen and @HowieDog.

The Ducato is a van pretending to be nothing other than a van, the Cali is a van that quite respectably pretends to be a limo.

However, yesterday I looked at the Grand California. It's 6m so not for me, but 180/Auto same as my Hymer. My hymer is pretty fully loaded, both base vehicle and conversion so I went on the configurator to get a like for like comparison. £25,000 price difference. For a van that cruises effortlessly wherever I want to take it I will stick to the Ducato.

I looked long and hard at the Westfalia, really almost a toss of the coin that or the Ayers Rock. I'm very impressed with Hymer quality but it was really a toss of the coin and main difference was delivery wait.

 

[4x4 joker]

The Ducato is a van pretending to be nothing other than a van, the Cali is a van that quite respectably pretends to be a limo.

However, yesterday I looked at the Grand California. It's 6m so not for me, but 180/Auto same as my Hymer. My hymer is pretty fully loaded, both base vehicle and conversion so I went on the configurator to get a like for like comparison. £25,000 price difference. For a van that cruises effortlessly wherever I want to take it I will stick to the Ducato.

I looked long and hard at the Westfalia, really almost a toss of the coin that or the Ayers Rock. I'm very impressed with Hymer quality but it was really a toss of the coin and main difference was delivery wait.

Yep you would be still waiting for a westfalia, I’m over 16mths in for mine now

 

[ArunAlec]

The extra width of the 5.4 hymer can appear problematic.

It did when I went to a car park I've used before and found width-limiting posts placed, apparently to "prevent campers getting in and overnighting".

Was a bit of a squeeze but still manageable

Also had some off-road, off grid time although getting back up that track I really did miss the 4WD.

View attachment 85961

View attachment 85962

Front number plate but not rear?

 

[Hannick]

We moved from seven years of Cali ownership in June 2020 to a 5.4m Hymercar Ayres Rock. No regrets. We can still park it in a standard parking space when out and about and it has a loo. Perfect. 11,000 miles travelled in the last 16 months. We still sleep in the pop top.

 

[GrannyJen]

Front number plate but not rear?

Slipped up