Game changers for the Cali. What are yours?

[Pitstop Penny]

Hello one and all! We’ve finally got back out and enjoyed our Ocean these last few months. And it has been humbling, surreal and fun. Hope you’re all very well!

We’ve been getting back into prioritising the van and our little adventures. This means we’ve been buying a few new things and improving on what we have. Which leads me to this question: what have you purchased recently that have been ultimate game changers?

For us? Sea 2 Summit self inflating mattress with a 12v pump from Aldi to top it up and deflate quickly. Sooooo good! We have a five star sleeping setup now.

What about you?

 

[Bumble The Van]

thrown out tools and heavy socket set for a leatherman wave which ive used umpteen times and never once used socket set

 

[Bumble The Van]

shelves for cupboard which have been brilliant, portable power battery and foldaway solar panel, foldable wine glasses, small gas stove with canisters (so simple yet so brilliant) oxo small dustpan and brush which ive attached phone magnet to so it sticks to side and comes off really easily when you want it to, oh and 3 miles of non slip matting

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Sony stereo with Apple CarPlay, Siri and Waze. For our T5 this was an amazing change. Our 2008 VW now works like a 2022 Apple product when on the move.

 

[Pitstop Penny]

shelves for cupboard which have been brilliant, portable power battery and foldaway solar panel, foldable wine glasses, small gas stove with canisters (so simple yet so brilliant) oxo small dustpan and brush which ive attached phone magnet to so it sticks to side and comes off really easily when you want it to, oh and 3 miles of non slip matting

Foldable wine glasses Awesome! It sounds like you’ve really got there. We’re still figuring out a few things. The boot is one of them. What do you use for water? We’ve got a collapsible water carrier but it’s massive and takes up so much space!

We definitely need a review of what we’ve got. The boot is not as good as it could be. It’s nearly there. Just need to cut back.

 

[Pitstop Penny]

Sony stereo with Apple CarPlay, Siri and Waze. For our T5 this was an amazing change. Our 2008 VW now works like a 2022 Apple product when on the move.

Noiiiccccce! Love it. We take our little Bluetooth speaker too. Nice for movies on the iPad in the evenings. Just looking at projectors and keep thinking how fun that would be, but it’s expensive!

Also, trying to look at ways to make a daybed in the Cali. Which is probably overkill. But I love the idea of making a comfy sit-up lounger. I saw another thread where someone has made some metal braces for the back seat. Going to look into that

 

[Bumble The Van]

Foldable wine glasses Awesome! It sounds like you’ve really got there. We’re still figuring out a few things. The boot is one of them. What do you use for water? We’ve got a collapsible water carrier but it’s massive and takes up so much space!

We definitely need a review of what we’ve got. The boot is not as good as it could be. It’s nearly there. Just need to cut back.

well we have an ocean so it does come with a 30 litre tank i think but i normally just take a 10 litre water container. ive had a camper many years ago a t5 and a few motorhomes and this time ive learnt that minimum is best if you can try lol , as so many times we travelled only to get home and realised we never used something at all

 

[chockswahay]

@Pitstop Penny
Eh? If you mean daybed as in full length bed…… the rear section already has a pull up backrest type of mode …….. have you tried that?

EDIT: oops, just realised you have T6…….. maybe it’s only standard on the T6.1?

 

[Pitstop Penny]

@Pitstop Penny
Eh? If you mean daybed as in full length bed…… the rear section already has a pull up backrest type of mode …….. have you tried that?

EDIT: oops, just realised you have T6…….. maybe it’s only standard on the T6.1?

Yeah it’s not on the T6! So I’m trying to figure out how to do that in our van. Probably overstretching it but I fancy making something work

 

[chockswahay]

Yeah it’s not on the T6! So I’m trying to figure out how to do that in our van. Probably overstretching it but I fancy making something work

Well, as you saw on the other thread @Tim Hook came up with great solution. Time to get in that shed and have a go!

 

[Pitstop Penny]

Well, as you saw on the other thread @Tim Hook came up with great solution. Time to get in that shed and have a go!

Thankfully, my brother in law works with steel and will know loads of people who can! So thank you!

 

[Kayleigh]

Thankfully, my brother in law works with steel and will know loads of people who can! So thank you!

I am looking to do something similar for our Beach with the 2-seat bench… just working it all out.

For the Ocean, this is one solution that would be a good starting point for your brother in law

 

[Pitstop Penny]

I am looking to do something similar for our Beach with the 2-seat bench… just working it all out.

For the Ocean, this is one solution that would be a good starting point for your brother in law

View attachment 93966

Wow! Who did that? Ingenious. I wish I had these kind of skills!

 

[Kayleigh]

It’s in the for sale section on here. Maybe ask the seller about it..

California Ocean 204 7SP DSG 4Motion, differential lock

Exceptional and rare Cali Ocean 204 DSG Auto 4 Motion 4x4 with differential lock and hill decent control. Included in sale - VW extended warranty and VW roadside assist until October 2022. Brand new 12 month MOT both starting from May 2022. It has been lovingly cared for and in near new...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Perfectos]

What do you use for water

Several of these, light weight easy to carry and cheap and easy to replace,
they fit in the front door pockets when on the move.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Foldable wine glasses Awesome! It sounds like you’ve really got there. We’re still figuring out a few things. The boot is one of them. What do you use for water? We’ve got a collapsible water carrier but it’s massive and takes up so much space!

We definitely need a review of what we’ve got. The boot is not as good as it could be. It’s nearly there. Just need to cut back.

These are good size. We have 1 and are usually near a tap. If I had a Beach I’d have 2!

2200 ml Water Bottle - Black

2200 ml Water Bottle - Black null Our weight training/cross training team created this GALLON WATER BOTTLE to keep you fully hydrated

www.decathlon.co.uk

We have a tank in our SE but mainly use for cooking and coffee. That way it lasts us 2 weeks. This bottle usually lasts us 4 a day. We stopped carrying big water carriers.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Sliding rear shelf
Towbar bike carrier
Zonesleepers
Collapsible kettle
Ridgemonkey
Porta Potti

Finally. If something isn’t used within 3 consecutive trips or 6 months, it’s removed from the van. With the exception of the first aid kit, snow socks and tool kit all under the drivers seat and there for emergency situations

 

[seasiders1]

Sony stereo with Apple CarPlay, Siri and Waze. For our T5 this was an amazing change. Our 2008 VW now works like a 2022 Apple product when on the move.

Great idea. Which model have you chosen? Did you fit it yourself? I’ve been thinking about this for my t5 some time.

 

[Jim2007]

Sliding rear shelf
Towbar bike carrier
Zonesleepers
Collapsible kettle
Ridgemonkey
Porta Potti

Finally. If something isn’t used within 3 consecutive trips or 6 months, it’s removed from the van. With the exception of the first aid kit, snow socks and tool kit all under the drivers seat and there for emergency situations

Agree with 5 of the six of them. Don’t know what a zonesleeper is, but all the others definitely.

Sliding boot tray is the single best thing we’ve done.

I’ll add 1000w electric pizza oven. That thing has turned out no end of meals of all kinds and will do so on a 6amp continental campsite. £50: Amazon.

 

[The Tall Luthier]

shelves for cupboard which have been brilliant, portable power battery and foldaway solar panel, foldable wine glasses, small gas stove with canisters (so simple yet so brilliant) oxo small dustpan and brush which ive attached phone magnet to so it sticks to side and comes off really easily when you want it to, oh and 3 miles of non slip matting

Second vote for the cupboard shelf.
Built my own L shaped shelf about halfway up the unit.
My Amazon basic bags go below, my wife’s sit on the shelf. Perfect access to my stuff without having to ferret through hers.

Four bags seems to do well: pants: bottoms: tops and sports gear.

 

[dripster]

We picked up some good bargains on here:

1. maxxcamp sink and storage unit, which we never could have afforded new, and we use more in the awning than we do in the van, but having water and a decent sized sink has been the biggest game changer https://www.maxxcamp.de/vario-addonmodule-compact.aspx
2. Vanessa window bags - being able to store 10 days of clothes for four of us without really taking up any packing space is fantastic https://www.vanessa-mobilcamping.de...tivan-t5/accessories-vw-packing-bags-ant.html

And a couple of things bought new:

1. Cadac Safari Chef 30 - we don't carry around a separate BBQ and stove any more, and with the pizza stone we can knock up some decent pizzas
2. Greunthall 'cutting board' shell that slots in where the table connects - makes an impromptu small table for tea and snacks and a good bedside table at night https://www.gruenthal-mobilcamping....alifornia-beach-kuechenmodul-2-schneidebrett/

We also got a cheap sliding shelf for the boot second hand on here and used it for the first time at this week but it didn't really work for us, so I think it will be up for sale on here soon.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Great idea. Which model have you chosen? Did you fit it yourself? I’ve been thinking about this for my t5 some time.

We got this. DAB and an actual button for volume.
Sony XAV-AX1005DB Media Receiver (6.2 Inch, with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay) with DAB+ Receiver - Black https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LCTBPZD/?tag=eliteelect-21
We like it a lot. Got someone else to fit it though.

 

[Dottie]

oxo small dustpan and brush

What’s the point of taking the dustpan.....just sweep crumbs outside....and save weight!

 

[Dottie]

These are good size. We have 1 and are usually near a tap. If I had a Beach I’d have 2!

2200 ml Water Bottle - Black

2200 ml Water Bottle - Black null Our weight training/cross training team created this GALLON WATER BOTTLE to keep you fully hydrated

www.decathlon.co.uk

We have a tank in our SE but mainly use for cooking and coffee. That way it lasts us 2 weeks. This bottle usually lasts us 4 a day. We stopped carrying big water carriers.

I use this too....perfect for filling up kettle, water for night, etc....so light to carry and stores behind seats along with other things whilst travelling.

 

[HappyGus]

1. Sea2Summit self-inflatable mattress
2. Custom made bin
3. Custom paper towel
4. Shelf in the wardrobe
5. Decathlon outdoor shower
6. Custom spice holder
7. Tefal ingenio cooking set
8. Oh I forgot the typically round "toaster" that folds nicely
9. The brandrup water container you can hang to fill the cali