After a rocky few years, my life is settling down and I look forward to a better 2016. I hope to get away more often in the Exsis in the coming year… we shall see.
A bit about my Exsis
Hector, as I call him (for it’s a ‘he’, not a ‘she’) is a 2004 Hymer Exsis SK and on its introduction was unequivocally described by Which Motorcaravan as “The most exciting motorcaravan – ever!” He’s done about 40,000 miles and Hector is one of only a very few that Hymer made with an automatic gearbox.
(In the Iliad, Homer’s epic about the Trojan war, Hector is a hero and warrior, portrayed as a noble and honorable leader. Very fitting, I think!)
Here he is (picture above) among his friends at our 2015 meeting “Exsistravaganza”, held in Leicester each year.
See the brochure (2006 Exsis Brochure) for a true view of what the Exsis is like inside. On board is a large washroom with flush toilet, shower and washbasin. Fitted with a kitchen, sink, refrigerator, wardrobe, masses of storage, and in the lounging area are two facing settees and swivelling front seats – there is everything here for very comfortable living. Centrally heated and with a hot water gas boiler, a massive skylight and plenty of 12v lighting, nothing is lacking. Both fresh and waste water tanks plus all services are kept within the efficiently insulated body so winter camping is eminently possible with no fear of freezing up.
The Exsis can actually sleep five! A massive drop-down overhead bed is big enough for three and a small double downstairs can sleep two smaller adults. It is a true Tardis inside, with the available space totally belied by its modest exterior dimensions – just 5.5 meters long, making it one of, if not the, smallest in its class. That’s only 63 centimeters longer than a Volvo estate!
A record-breaking 24 people in one Exsis!
I bought Hector in 2012 and brought him down to Devon all the way from Scotland. I’ve carried out lots of modifications to make him more to my liking, as follows:
‘Snipe’ Satellite TV system
‘Avtex’ TV installed, connected to Exsis’ speakers
Heaters controls moved
12v extractor fan installed in shower room vent
Large mirror fitted on back of wardrobe door (needs permanent fixing – ‘Stickies’ no good)
Shurflo water pump pressurised system, with accumulator
New base to wardrobe
Reversing camera and monitor
Refillable gas bottle
Automatic change-over between gas bottles
External gas (barbecue) outlet
Towbar (removable) – 12v trailer socket hidden and fitted facing downwards
Washbasin and back panel in shower room replaced (washbasin in strong fibreglass, not ABS plastic)
Rear door ‘hole’ blocked by removable perspex
Armrests fitted to settees
Fiat ‘Connect’ system junked and Sony radio/CD fitted (problem with fascia and aerial)
‘Sterling’ Inverter – 1500watt
‘Sterling’ Battery Charger (charges 5 times faster)
Twin 110a leisure batteries
Mains ‘voltage loss’ alarm
Plug-in electrical tester (essential on the continent)
12v sockets in dash connected to leisure batteries
Flat table socket in floor (still to be sealed underneath when next on ramp)
Wing mirror covers
New style roof light fitted by body shop that accidentally broke it!
New replacement electricity/water input covers
Fridge sealed round perimeter (cured a massive draught)
‘Heo’ security locks fitted to front doors
Deadlock fitted to habitation door
Security bar to sliding window
New organic latex mattress
SOG fitted with floor outlet option
Extension air line to spare tyre (I can still barely reach it!)
New floor covering to hide damaged floor surface (“D’oh!”)
‘Head bumpers’ fitted to cab aperture and top of habitation door (pipe insulation)
Lift-up settee bases (not very practical – wish I hadn’t bothered)
New bound carpets throughout
Small removable Ikea tables (not as practical when touring – a bloody nuisance sometimes!)
Shower drain in boot repaired and improved
And these jobs are still to be completed:
Ventilation system ‘upstairs’ (ideas still being explored)
Fit poppers to stop carpet ‘walking’
Radio aerial to replace Fiat’s – replacement ‘under test’ at the moment
TV wiring (TV suffers ‘voltage drop’ so new run required)
Awning light (a job still in progress – concerned about proximity of moving awning parts)
Finger grip on water heater external cover (I don’t like what I’ve done)
Headlight leak (new lights fitted – one leaks)
Internal ‘boot flap’ to be made to drop down or ‘pull off’ rather than lift up (a nuisance)
Step to have a remote control by the steering wheel and a larger button by the habitation door
Heater controls wiring to be covered over
Flyscreen to rear boot door ‘hole’ into shower room
Grey plastic adhesive covering (I chose the wrong colour… Ho hum…!)
Create fascia for radio/CD
Seal draughts in front doors before winter (Too late!)
Repair ‘parrot damage’ on steering wheel
Introducing you to Exsis…
(Not all vehicles illustrated are ‘Hector’)
Dimensions
‘Ghosted’ view
Note the headroom even when the huge bed has been lowered and comfortable lounging with the captain’s seats reversed
Spacious lounge and kitchen
Record-breakers!
Pleasant, comfy lounge
Masses of storage space, with the shower beyond
This is the alternative layout – the ‘SG’ model. There is another, ‘Vario’, that has single forward-facing seats on either side of the central gangway
Another Exsis with solar panels of the size and position I’d eventually like mine to be.
My beautiful BMW motorcycle. How to take it with me on the Exsis?
My dear late Dad (aged 96 here), a long-time motorcyclist and inveterate camper and explorer, who introduced me to motorcycling and motorhoming/camping. A really lovely gentleman who I miss dearly. He would have loved exploring in the Exsis. And taking the motorbike!
The Hydralift trailer, perfect for the BMW
Such a short outfit, barely 7m total
Exsistravaganza 2015
Various places round, Cornwall, Devon and Wales, in no particular order
And finally, the culprit who bit chunks out of Hector’s steering wheel… May I introduce you to ‘Ollie Beak’, the sweetest, naughtiest parrot ever to go motorhoming!
-EXsisPLORER- 