What do you store where?

[BeeBee]

This is embarrassing... but important too .. we store ‘emergency roof straps’ in drawer under bench seat.
And we really should investigate just how to use them !!!

 

[GSX1300R]

This is embarrassing... but important too .. we store ‘emergency roof straps’ in drawer under bench seat.
And we really should investigate just how to use them !!!

The problem is nobody knows how to use the straps until something really bad happens which we all hope never will...I think the instructions are in the California service book supplement..

 

[Anthony1]

The problem is nobody knows how to use the straps until something really bad happens which we all hope never will...I think the instructions are in the California service book supplement..

Hotel California posted this some time ago

Watch video here: https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/emergency-roof-tie-down-kit.14925/

 

[GSX1300R]

Hotel California posted this some time ago

View attachment 64875

Nice to know where they actually go..Let’s hope we never have to use them..

 

[Vagophile]

Nice to know where they actually go..Let’s hope we never have to use them..

Unless these are hidden somewhere, I don't think that any were supplied with my (used ) van. Where should I find these?

 

[Elly Swanson]

Can you join them up together and make a humongous awning?

Yes! Throw a couple of Tarps in the mix and you have a city!

We were at a festival a few years back at Newstead Abbey and knew we’d have tons of space. It was when we’d just bought the tailgate awning for our old van And wanted to try it out. So we had our khyam classic with extension plus the tailgate plus a tarp, loads of solar fairy lights too. The first night we were walking back for the night a lady in front of us said to the fella she was with said, “wow, look at that setup”. He replied disdainfully, “Oh my God, how very ostentatious”. We nearly fell over laughing!

 

[GSX1300R]

Unless these are hidden somewhere, I don't think that any were supplied with my (used ) van. Where should I find these?

When the van was new it would have had them supplied, same as the window and screen blinds and child safety net..I honestly don’t know where mine are but probably in the slide out draw.

 

[Anthony1]

Unless these are hidden somewhere, I don't think that any were supplied with my (used ) van. Where should I find these?

Here: https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/shop/p...kSuq18iZwlmugFaghxtaazomrYOqB8Y8aAvuMEALw_wcB

 

[GSX1300R]

I had a look in the draw and there they are, probably haven’t moved since we bought the van...

 

[BeeBee]

Checked out the video on how to use Velcro strips and plastic ‘doofers’ . Seems pretty straightforward on passenger side but not too sure of how it will work on wind out awning side.. will check out on ladders tomorrow.
Also would be useful to see in detail how to manually put down roof ... it seems very convoluted ... take off control panel and ‘cut out’ foam’ to access oil pressure screw ... phew, what happens next !!!

 

[foxy-rob]

we fitted shelves in the RH cupboard
shelves in the wardrobe
and put the porta pottin the the LH cupboard
so much easier to organise with shelves

 

[edocali]

we fitted shelves in the RH cupboard
shelves in the wardrobe
and put the porta pottin the the LH cupboard
so much easier to organise with shelves

View attachment 143281

Thanks for the post and photo, I'd like to add the two top one too and the lighting strip is great.
Is this all DYI or did you buy all the pieces? can you post links please? thanks

 

[foxy-rob]

the lighting strips and the shelving I fitted myself
the drawers in the under sink cupboard I did too
I used a link I found on youtube on how to fit them - someone who had already done it kindly posted - was some time ago now but def worth a search!

the shelves and drawers were bought direct from germany but having looked at this youtub vid they may be available in the uk? ours is an older model cali and we had to make a slight adjustment to the sliding door - no issue and it was easy!

 

[Adeline]

Good morning,

To find the most effizient way to store items in the California is an ongoing quest. I believe it has a lot to do with the "camping / overnight stay workflow", which everybody has a different process.

Recently we did some changes (got shelves for wardrobe) and plan to get the drawer kit for under the sink. For August 2020 we have organised the storage like this:

Wardrobe (from boot)

• Fans, small electric heater, LED lights, blankets
• Safety box
• Papers for the van, manuals (how to lower the roof in emergency) etc.

Drawer (boot)

• Double size Euro box for awning tent
• Euro boxes for food and cloth

Boot (on the shelve)

• Bed duvets
• cushions
• jackets
• bags to hold items needed for shower
• ladder

Wardrobe

• Cloth (on the new shelf)

Cupboard (left)

• Pots and pans
• radio
• alufolie
• plastic bags etc.

Cupboard (right)

• Cubs
• plates, etc.
• coffee, tea, sugar etc.

Big drawer under the back seat

• Electric cable for camping
• step to get into the van
• brushes
• cleaning items

Small drawer under the back seat

• Yellow vests (2x)
• tools
• flashing lights for emergency
• alcohol test (France)
• fire extinguisher

Storage on the ceiling (over the back seat)

• Towels
• small TV

Planned changes are to get the drawer set. At the moment we have 2x Ikea boxes on each shelf. To get the right box out, the left box has to be removed first. That annoys me. I hope that with drawers it will be better.

Also I try to store the matratze differently. If it is fully folded back on top of the back shelf, all the items for the bed and many other things are on top of it. This means each night everything has to be removed (where to put all of this in the rain?) before the matratze can be extended. I hope to have the 2x first sections of the matratze vertical and store the bed items on the last section. Doing so I will be able to move the back seat forward and extend the matratze without to remove everything that is on it.
Last year during our tour through Europe we had no problems, but the weather was wonderful and we stayed a lot outside of the van. During the last holidays the weather was rather bad. Moving everything away in heavy rain just to unfold the matratze for the night annoyed me. Let's see how it goes.

Happy California
Eberhar

 

[Adeline]

Good morning,

To find the most effizient way to store items in the California is an ongoing quest. I believe it has a lot to do with the "camping / overnight stay workflow", which everybody has a different process.

Recently we did some changes (got shelves for wardrobe) and plan to get the drawer kit for under the sink. For August 2020 we have organised the storage like this:

Wardrobe (from boot)

• Fans, small electric heater, LED lights, blankets
• Safety box
• Papers for the van, manuals (how to lower the roof in emergency) etc.

Drawer (boot)

• Double size Euro box for awning tent
• Euro boxes for food and cloth

Boot (on the shelve)

• Bed duvets
• cushions
• jackets
• bags to hold items needed for shower
• ladder

Wardrobe

• Cloth (on the new shelf)

Cupboard (left)

• Pots and pans
• radio
• alufolie
• plastic bags etc.

Cupboard (right)

• Cubs
• plates, etc.
• coffee, tea, sugar etc.

Big drawer under the back seat

• Electric cable for camping
• step to get into the van
• brushes
• cleaning items

Small drawer under the back seat

• Yellow vests (2x)
• tools
• flashing lights for emergency
• alcohol test (France)
• fire extinguisher

Storage on the ceiling (over the back seat)

• Towels
• small TV

Planned changes are to get the drawer set. At the moment we have 2x Ikea boxes on each shelf. To get the right box out, the left box has to be removed first. That annoys me. I hope that with drawers it will be better.

Also I try to store the matratze differently. If it is fully folded back on top of the back shelf, all the items for the bed and many other things are on top of it. This means each night everything has to be removed (where to put all of this in the rain?) before the matratze can be extended. I hope to have the 2x first sections of the matratze vertical and store the bed items on the last section. Doing so I will be able to move the back seat forward and extend the matratze without to remove everything that is on it.
Last year during our tour through Europe we had no problems, but the weather was wonderful and we stayed a lot outside of the van. During the last holidays the weather was rather bad. Moving everything away in heavy rain just to unfold the matratze for the night annoyed me. Let's see how it goes.

Happy California
Eberhard

Hi, I noted you pack an electric heater in your van. Can you tell me what type?

 

[YesCampervan]

Thanks for the post and photo, I'd like to add the two top one too and the lighting strip is great.
Is this all DYI or did you buy all the pieces? can you post links please? thanks

Hi EdoCali, thanks for the question. We have been making shelves for the VW California in the UK since 2019, it was one of the first products that we started our California accessory business with. Ours are made from light weight and strong aluminium with a high-quality powder coating to match the interior of the VW California. They are easy to fit without requiring any permanent alterations to your California and are available in various configurations to fit Californias from SE T5.0 to T6.1 Ocean/Coast and with different shelf size options.

Will and Sarah who have a you tube channel called Campervan time (Formerly California Time), did a nice installation video that you might find helpful:

Do let us know if you have any other questions on [email protected], or visit our site www.yescampervan.co.uk to see all the products we make.

Also VIP members of this forum will find a 5% discount code available in the members area.