Hymer T-SL 668

Berths: 2 Travel seats: 4 Length: 7.49m Max weight: 3,500kg Payload: 440kg Base vehicle:Fiat Ducato Al-Ko 2.3-litre, 148bhp

Hymer T-SL 668 motorhome

Flat floor throughout? Believe it or not, that’s one of the biggest points in favour of this low-profile Hymer. There’s plenty of evidence that moving up or down from cab to lounge, lounge to kitchen, kitchen to bedroom, bedroom to washroom, etc is all too often a step too far.

But there’s a lot more to this low-profile coachbuilt than that. It’s got a fashionable twin single beds/end washroom floorplan, too.

It all starts off with a Fiat Ducato cab allied to an Al-Ko chassis. On this, Hymer builds using a double floor and its still market-leading PUAL bodywork construction. As is the European way, though, there are plenty of options fitted here – some £10,000 of them in fact. Just as well then that this example – as tested from Becks Motorhomes in Norfolk, at a special price of £68,180 – has had the chassis upgrade to 3,850kg.

That’s not untypical at this level of motorhome, however. Potential Hymer owners know their stuff. Chances are, they’ve owned quite a few motorhomes before and have a very good idea of what they want. That’s why they don’t mind the research involved in going through an extensive array of extras – and paying for them!

You can ring the changes in the lounge, with the option here of an L-shaped settee from the travel seat (it also creates an exterior-access storage area), or just keeping it as a double seat. There’s a fixed pedestal leg table with plenty of adjustment, which should easily cope with two diners, but may struggle a bit to accommodate more. At least it ensures easy access from the swivelled cab seats to the rest of the living quarters.

Almost full marks to Hymer, too, for the Thetford cooker (dual-fuel hob, separate oven and grill) in the kitchen. Too bad it’s only from the options list, but then not everyone will need or want it.

Those beds are set at a decently low height and, of course, are supremely comfortable. Despite lockers overhead, you can sit up in bed – there’s an area of padding for each and an open shelf. Reading lamps have a blue ‘night-time’ setting. The bases hinge up on struts for storage access (also from the outside on the nearside).

The washroom simply continues with the theme of overall excellence. Open the mirrored door (it’s slightly narrow) and the facilities here extend to a large wardrobe on your left (with removable shelving), a swivel-bowl toilet, fixed basin and separate shower cubicle.

If it really is all about first impressions, there’s not a single untoward creak here, not a piece of material out of place. You can bet it will be great to drive, too. And while it will never be a cheap purchase, rest assured residual values will be a compensation.

A winner on all fronts? You pay the price, but you get great quality and no shortage of practicality.