Do we go bigger ?

[BeeBee]

We’ve read most of the previous threads and we are still in a quandary! Should we go bigger from our so well loved , nearly 7 year old California Ocean ?
Just about to get a couple of tickets for the Scottish Caravan and Motorhome show and hoping it gives us a better insight into the pro’s & con’s, not entirely sure it will !
There are two of us , plus dog ( Labrador, so not small ). In our early 70’s so a toilet on board and a fixed bed seem attractive. We are both fit and agile so at the moment me accessing the pop top is still pretty easy and hubby downstairs with the dog.
The thought of not having to make up a bed is appealing and just arriving and being ‘set up’. Currently we have a drive away awning, not difficult but a faff.
On line research has led us to looking more closely at the Westfalia Columbus 5.40 and the Ayers Rock 5.40 … phoned Wandahome and they’re not exhibiting the Columbus at either of the shows in February.
All thoughts welcome.

 

[WelshGas]

We’ve read most of the previous threads and we are still in a quandary! Should we go bigger from our so well loved , nearly 7 year old California Ocean ?
Just about to get a couple of tickets for the Scottish Caravan and Motorhome show and hoping it gives us a better insight into the pro’s & con’s, not entirely sure it will !
There are two of us , plus dog ( Labrador, so not small ). In our early 70’s so a toilet on board and a fixed bed seem attractive. We are both fit and agile so at the moment me accessing the pop top is still pretty easy and hubby downstairs with the dog.
The thought of not having to make up a bed is appealing and just arriving and being ‘set up’. Currently we have a drive away awning, not difficult but a faff.
On line research has led us to looking more closely at the Westfalia Columbus 5.40 and the Ayers Rock 5.40 … phoned Wandahome and they’re not exhibiting the Columbus at either of the shows in February.
All thoughts welcome.

My personal opinion. How do you use the California?
Presumably not as a daily driver.
Do you just drive from campsite to campsite and cycle/walk/ public transport while on site or use the California to visit local towns/attractions while on site?
If the former then larger will make no difference.
If the latter then more problematic.
The California is designed as a tourer, to visit anywhere a car can go and sleep in.

 

[BeeBee]

My personal opinion. How do you use the California?
Presumably not as a daily driver.
Do you just drive from campsite to campsite and cycle/walk/ public transport while on site or use the California to visit local towns/attractions while on site?
If the former then larger will make no difference.
If the latter then more problematic.
The California is designed as a tourer, to visit anywhere a car can go and sleep in.

It’s a wee bit of both actually and that complicates things further.
I use the van a few times a week when husband is using the car. And when on 2/3 day trips we do leave it ‘parked up’, but on a week plus trips we don’t use the awning as we are moving on to other areas.

 

[RedWhiteMonkey]

I would agree with what WelshGas has said. If you go any longer than a California (i.e. longer than 5m) it starts getting problematic to use as an everyday car. At the same time I can see why a fixed bed and toilet might be appealing for your needs. There are some exceptions but the next class of van up from a California tends to be at least 5.40m long.

 

[chockswahay]

We have had both (previous was an Ayers Rock). It may not appear so big on paper but the 5.4 van is considerably bigger on the road, less pleasant to drive, more restricted by roads and lanes than wouldn’t even be on your Cali radar. On the other hand, once on site the bigger van is a much more comfortable place to be. ‘Pays yer money and takes yer choice’ ………

 

[sticky1]

Over the years I have gone from an original T2 camper through to a full six berth, to a two berth 6.3m and now down to a T7.
There have been times where a fixed bed, loo and hot shower have been marvellous, however what they don’t mention is the cold weather preparation you need to do around ensuring the pipework doesn’t freeze. I had to drain down all of the pipes when it got cold and cold snaps happen so often I pretty much avoided having water in the system from October.
This also goes for the toilet maintenance and whilst it’s not onerous, it is something you end up having to do regularly, to the point where we tended not to use the on board facilities unless we really needed them.
As WelshGas points out, the smaller vans allow you to go where cars can go, we used to have to park on the outskirts and travel in, which is not something I worry about with the T7.

 

[BeeBee]

Taking everything you’re all saying ‘on board’ and starting to think maybe just keep our wee Van.
I was out in our van today and really love driving it, over to the vets , dog on board and it’s so easy.
We’ll still go ‘have a look’ at the SSEC show, but I think I’ll start looking at a new drive away awning.
Been really useful hearing thoughts and experiences, thanks.

 

[LRGS253]

I am about to move to an Adria Twin Sport 600SPB. Main reason is that I sleep upstairs and Wife sleeps downstairs and always find it a lot of work to reconfigure. I still like the tented experience having grown up camping in tents, hence the sport pop-top version! I can see the pros and cons, but don't intend to use it daily like my Cali. The toilet and shower will be beneficial, but the extra space will be amazing. I looked at 5.4m campervans, but these are limited to numbers and you seem to get a lot more room in a 6m campervan. In my eyes the Adria Twin was far superior in build quality to anything else I looked at.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Go bigger…!!!
It’s infinitely better for camping.
Don’t bother with the 5,40m van. Been there, done that, no thanks.
Just go for a 6m and Sprinter if you can. Steer clear of those god awful Fiats.
Anyway.
The Fiat lasted 8 months. Good to camp, awful van.

Now in a 6m Sprinter and can’t see me downsizing anytime soon.
Ski camp Christmas gone.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Worth looking at a Club Joker

 

[stoobthealien]

Or look at a caravan for longer trips

 

[andyinluton]

Should we go bigger from our so well loved , nearly 7 year old California Ocean ?

All thoughts welcome.

We went from T6.1 to a GC600 and back to a GC600
I could summarise it as a T6.1 is brilliant all round daily driver that makes an OK camper, the GC600 is a brilliant camper that makes an OK daily driver if you only go places that it fits!

I loved camping in the GC it was much less hassle than an ocean, bed always ready, room for someone to be in lounge area or bed while someone cooks, no trips to the facilities in the rain, a bit of privacy for getting changed. On a typical Uk rainy day it was an ok place to be.

On the other hand it didnt fit in the station car park, I couldn't drive it to work either. When away in it, it wasn't quite as easy as an Ocean but nowhere near as bad as our previous 8m long Great white. The Crafter base was a lovely drive.
It just got me depressed seeing it unused sitting on the drive all the time.

The Ocean as you have found whilst compromised for camping - particularly in bad weather, makes a brilliant multi use daily vehicle.

These days I don't have a van & tootle around in a very expensive sports car, its not practical, I miss having a van & if I was going to buy again it would probably be a GC600 ( + a trailer to bring the car with me! )

 

[BeagleMum]

We’ve read most of the previous threads and we are still in a quandary! Should we go bigger from our so well loved , nearly 7 year old California Ocean ?
Just about to get a couple of tickets for the Scottish Caravan and Motorhome show and hoping it gives us a better insight into the pro’s & con’s, not entirely sure it will !
There are two of us , plus dog ( Labrador, so not small ). In our early 70’s so a toilet on board and a fixed bed seem attractive. We are both fit and agile so at the moment me accessing the pop top is still pretty easy and hubby downstairs with the dog.
The thought of not having to make up a bed is appealing and just arriving and being ‘set up’. Currently we have a drive away awning, not difficult but a faff.
On line research has led us to looking more closely at the Westfalia Columbus 5.40 and the Ayers Rock 5.40 … phoned Wandahome and they’re not exhibiting the Columbus at either of the shows in February.
All thoughts welcome.

We have occasionally considered a 5.4 / 6m, we are 2 with only 1 Beagle now as we suddenly and heartbreakingly lost one in September. We looked at Orange Campers, Consort, Sunlight, Hymer and many others but despite there being some advantages to larger vans we always came back to the go anywhere size and quality of the T6.1
Like most over time we have refined how we use the van we no longer use an awning.

 

[pjm-84]

We've just picked up a Burtsner 649. On paper its only 2m longer, 300mm wider, and 1m taller but its like a truck compared to the VW Cali......space / storage is amazing, but It does make you appreciate how truly versatile the Cali is.

The fronts of both vans are aligned in this picture

 

[chockswahay]

The views and opinions on this thread show the scale of the problem, we all have different needs, lifestyles and budgets and ‘One mans meat is another mans poison’

I think there is no right way or wrong way, just do it ‘Your way’

 

[pchmlk]

Interesting views. I’m always thinking a 6m van would be nice, there are more drawbacks than I thought. I also just love driving the Cali day to day.

 

[The Merle]

We’ve read most of the previous threads and we are still in a quandary! Should we go bigger from our so well loved , nearly 7 year old California Ocean ?
Just about to get a couple of tickets for the Scottish Caravan and Motorhome show and hoping it gives us a better insight into the pro’s & con’s, not entirely sure it will !
There are two of us , plus dog ( Labrador, so not small ). In our early 70’s so a toilet on board and a fixed bed seem attractive. We are both fit and agile so at the moment me accessing the pop top is still pretty easy and hubby downstairs with the dog.
The thought of not having to make up a bed is appealing and just arriving and being ‘set up’. Currently we have a drive away awning, not difficult but a faff.
On line research has led us to looking more closely at the Westfalia Columbus 5.40 and the Ayers Rock 5.40 … phoned Wandahome and they’re not exhibiting the Columbus at either of the shows in February.
All thoughts welcome.

Roseisle near Edinburgh did sell and hire westys (don’t know if they still do worth a checking).

 

[BeagleMum]

Roseisle near Edinburgh did sell and hire westys (don’t know if they still do worth a checking).

They are no longer open

 

[Hawthorn37]

We’d like to camp in a larger vehicle with a fixed bed and larger living area and kitchen, oh and a loo would be good. But we like driving in a car sized vehicle so we’re not excluded from visit towns and can navigate lanes with confidence.

Is what we need a CARAVAN

 

[chockswahay]

We’d like to camp in a larger vehicle with a fixed bed and larger living area and kitchen, oh and a loo would be good. But we like driving in a car sized vehicle so we’re not excluded from visit towns and can navigate lanes with confidence.

Is what we need a CARAVAN

Yes, but only a small one!

 

[Phase one]

Everyone’s needs are different and importantly they change over time

We have certainly evolved our needs over time from Cali to VW High top to our current 5.3m Wingamm Micros.

As others have said it’s crucial to decide your priorities and to weigh up the compromises in each option before choosing.

I would strongly recommend hiring before buying so that you get to “feel” if the compromises and advantages feel right. This might help avoid expensive mistakes.

Bigger vans are not optimal every day vehicles though some c5.4m ones can come pretty close but on the plus side they offer comfortable all year round camping, good beds and decent toilet/shower facilities. Examples can be found in Hymer Wingamm and Westfalia ranges.

However these “modestly” bigger than Cali vehicles (at typically c5.4m) do initially “feel” bigger to drive and typically command premium prices as their design and build may use expensive, bespoke and limited volume construction techniques and their overall sale numbers are far smaller than your typical bonded panel big white or a c6m converted van.


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[Boomer]

We moved to a 6.4m Adria Twin Sports. As a camper, I find it better than the California - being able to stand up throughout the van, even when the pop top is up, is great. And, as others have said, having a loo and fixed beds is better for us. It is absolutely more compromised as a "daily driver" and you definitely need to plan parking and routes more. But I still do school runs, shopping trips, visiting the relatives etc in it. And you get use to driving a bigger vehicle quite quickly. The change worked for us and how we camp, but if you're in doubt, hire a bigger van for a few days. As an aside, I've had zero mechanical issues with the Fiat Ducato it's based on, and only minor habitation issues that were all fixed in the first few months of ownership.

 

[stoobthealien]

I've reflected a lot on this (especially given I could get a bigger van for about the same price as a Cali!) - I do think a lot depends on where you live as well - we're in a city suburb so a lot of our driving and parking (multi stories, parallel parking etc) would be a lot harder in a bigger van. On the other hand my parents live in rural Suffolk and the local towns / villages all have big open air car parks with most of their driving being on the local dual carriageway

 

[Michele Taylor]

We went from 6.1 to GC600, it’s brilliant, spacious, really warm in winter, easy to drive and park if you over hang the back on a grass verge. No problem changing everything a positive experience. We explore in the highlands and cruise on the motorways, a really great van!

 

[Glynn]

Agree with @soulstyledevon Go for a Sprinter Hymer S Free 600. We have a GC680 and after one or 2 upgrades are very happy with the van. However, if we were to buy again it would be the Sprinter Hymer S Free 600.