Ten things I hate about my Cali

snowy55 said:

VWCS don't have a clue whats going on at the factory despite what they say.

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Sorry, to hear that!

You will only forget you have left the flame on low and watch the glass top explode with a horrendous bang into a gazillion small pieces most of which will end up in you once. After that you will always turn off the tap under the hob after using it, always turn off the main when leaving the van and always turn off the main while travelling. I speak from experience and I am still picking pieces of glass out of my body crevices five years later.

Borris said:

Well one has to keep up standards doesn't one!
Seriously, nothing is likely to change as we are both very much set in our ways, (leopards not being able to change their spots and all that). Whilst I can sometimes get a bit tetchy about the bags I don't really mind that much as long as Mrs B is happy.
We are both looking forward to seing you again soon. Nick at Comfortz Leisure has just sent me a joining kit that enables two Cali awnings to be joined together with no gaps. So their should be enough room for the gramophone, aspidistra and tiger skin rug.

P.s Actually the candelabra started out as a bit of a joke but it actually provides a lovely soft light in an otherwise dark and gloomy awning room. It also warms up the awning a little and provides a great ambience for guzzling wine and scoffing tasty delights with friends.

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Our part of the keeping up standards is the Edwardian standard lamp. We can't find a collapsible one and putting the shade in as well means we can't bring much else with us. The shade takes up nearly the whole back shelf by itself.

SimonB said:

Our part of the keeping up standards is the Edwardian standard lamp. We can't find a collapsible one and putting the shade in as well means we can't bring much else with us. The shade takes up nearly the whole back shelf by itself.

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I have read somewhere about this...............Apparently you are never supposed to wake them!

Borris said:

Well one has to keep up standards doesn't one!
Seriously, nothing is likely to change as we are both very much set in our ways, (leopards not being able to change their spots and all that). Whilst I can sometimes get a bit tetchy about the bags I don't really mind that much as long as Mrs B is happy.
We are both looking forward to seing you again soon. Nick at Comfortz Leisure has just sent me a joining kit that enables two Cali awnings to be joined together with no gaps. So their should be enough room for the gramophone, aspidistra and tiger skin rug.

P.s Actually the candelabra started out as a bit of a joke but it actually provides a lovely soft light in an otherwise dark and gloomy awning room. It also warms up the awning a little and provides a great ambience for guzzling wine and scoffing tasty delights with friends.

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Why would you want to connect two awnings together? Am I missing something?

jess said:

Why would you want to connect two awnings together? Am I missing something?

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Join them together to get a large dining area. The piece that Nick has made keeps the front and back walls joined plus the roof join as well in case it rains. Takes a bit of careful positioning but we managed it.

jess said:

Why would you want to connect two awnings together? Am I missing something?

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You may not. However if you are meeting up with friends and you want to eat together then you obviously have several choices:
1. Go to the pub.
2. Eat outside.
3. Eat inside your Cali.
4. Eat under the awning.
1 and 2 present no problems and 3 is also fine for four people if not a little cramped. However option 4 provides much more space when the weather isn't so good outside.

We have one of those spendid Comfortz awning rooms that fixes onto the Thule factory fitted awning. So do our friends. To connect the awnings to make one large joint awning room, park both Calis facing in opposite directions (if you are allowed to do that), so that the extended awning rails run paralel but are separated by a very small gap. Then adjust the positioning of one Cali, for and aft, (whilst someone raises that Cali's extended awning rail), to line up the extending awning arms on both vehicles. This is to ensure that the front and back walls of both Cali awning rooms line up. The kit that I asked Nick at Comfortz to make me, joins the gap between the two awning room wall sections at the front and back and the two awning rails to make the whole thing weather proof and cosy. Any rain will run off at either the front or the back via the joining gutter strip. Under these circumstances it is advisable to drop one end of both awnings to create good rain water run off. If using it as a large joint awning room then obviously you would leave off the outer awning walls that run parallel to the sliding doors.

The other reason that I would want to do this is that my wife and I own two Calis and have hoards of grandchildren. This arrangement will be very useful when camping with them.

snowy55 said:

VWCS don't have a clue whats going on at the factory despite what they say.

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@snowy55
Totally agree with you, i also don't think the new head man at VWCS will make any difference.

Ten things I do like about our Cali.

1. It hasn't got an electric handbrake
2. It's a manual gearbox
3. It's 4 Motion, go anywhere
4. It's a diesel
5. No big problems, so far
6. Hard drive on the RNS unit
7. Can cover 700 miles in day easily
8. It's comfy
9. Diesel heater
10. It's not a Ford or a conversion.

I can only think of one really big thing I don't like about my Cali. Its not been delivered yet!!! The rest I am sure/determined to love with all its perfect idiosyncrasies.

Trailertrash said:

You will only forget you have left the flame on low and watch the glass top explode with a horrendous bang into a gazillion small pieces most of which will end up in you once. After that you will always turn off the tap under the hob after using it, always turn off the main when leaving the van and always turn off the main while travelling. I speak from experience and I am still picking pieces of glass out of my body crevices five years later.

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So what do you do at home, or have you got an electric cooker?
I know what you are getting at but surely switching off the flame with the gas Ignition/Flame control tap is safer than possibly leaving that on and just having the switch in the cupboard off leading to a gas air mix in the tubing between that and the burner?

It would be a bit like turning the gas cooker at home off at the meter in case you didn't switch the burner off and turning the gas off at the pavement stop-tap everytime you leave the house unattended.

Shouldn't you make it an Absolute Point to switch off the burner after use. I presume you do that at home.

Picture this: Waiting in the last MH to board the Ramsgate to Ostend overnight ferry. Suddenly told that you are not boarding for an hour water too rough. Put the gas on to make tea. Sudden knock on the door to say they had changed their minds and we were boarding immediately. Partner shut glass hob top without realising the flame was very, very low. Just about to get out of van on ferry when the glass top exploded. Very lucky or the gas would have been burning for many hours and who knows? Of course stating the obvious I have never driven my house down the motorway at seventy miles an hour or boarded a ferry in it. Tewkesbury CC site have a wonderful set of photographs of a totally gutted motorhome. It does not look nice. So there!

Trailertrash said:

Picture this: Waiting in the last MH to board the Ramsgate to Ostend overnight ferry. Suddenly told that you are not boarding for an hour water too rough. Put the gas on to make tea. Sudden knock on the door to say they had changed their minds and we were boarding immediately. Partner shut glass hob top without realising the flame was very, very low. Just about to get out of van on ferry when the glass top exploded. Very lucky or the gas would have been burning for many hours and who knows? Of course stating the obvious I have never driven my house down the motorway at seventy miles an hour or boarded a ferry in it. Tewkesbury CC site have a wonderful set of photographs of a totally gutted motorhome. It does not look nice. So there!

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Didn't mean to upset, but you stated you turn off the Main when you leave the van, not referring to driving. Why, if you have already turned off the gas via the stop cock do you turn it off at the Main?
How far back do you go. Remove the cylinder?
You should also never close a glass lid over a burner without checking the burner is cold, never mind lite with a flame.

Table rattle can be sorted by wedging a garden kneeler pad in the gap, makes a nice cushion when I sit on the side step and watch the world go by to

SimonB said:

Join them together to get a large dining area. The piece that Nick has made keeps the front and back walls joined plus the roof join as well in case it rains. Takes a bit of careful positioning but we managed it.
View attachment 17967

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Eeeek! That looks like some strange California mating ritual. Or have I overdosed on David Attenborough?

Re gas, not sure if I've misunderstood but I always turn off the valve on top of the cylinder when driving. In the event of being rear ended (or even hit on the near side) the gas pipe could rupture and if the valve is open then the gas will escape, and I wouldn't fancy being around then.

briwy said:

Ten things I do like about our Cali.

1. It hasn't got an electric handbrake
2. It's a manual gearbox
3. It's 4 Motion, go anywhere
4. It's a diesel
5. No big problems, so far
6. Hard drive on the RNS unit
7. Can cover 700 miles in day easily
8. It's comfy
9. Diesel heater
10. It's not a Ford or a conversion.

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I wondered whether to entitle the thread "XX things I love about my Cali" but the "XX" would have probably been at least 99 and probably much more

SimonB said:

Join them together to get a large dining area. The piece that Nick has made keeps the front and back walls joined plus the roof join as well in case it rains. Takes a bit of careful positioning but we managed it.
View attachment 17967

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If you arrive and see another Cali on site, would it be OK to just couple up to them? Going further, would a threesome work? And what happens if one of "the vans is a-rockin' " ? ( as in 'Don't come knockin' if" )

WelshGas said:

Didn't mean to upset, but you stated you turn off the Main when you leave the van, not referring to driving. Why, if you have already turned off the gas via the stop cock do you turn it off at the Main?
How far back do you go. Remove the cylinder?
You should also never close a glass lid over a burner without checking the burner is cold, never mind lite with a flame.

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Don,t make me use upper case!

IanE said:

1. Ticking camper heater
2. Roller blind covering the upstairs keeps opening - a plastic card does the trick but it let's the aesthetic down
3. Rubbish sound system that I haven't managed to remedy yet despite spending a fair bit.
4. ... can't think of anything else!

Overall we still love it.

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Roller cover to pop top opening.... I was beginning to question my sanity when I look up to see a few inches of canvas. Haunted?

Trailertrash said:

Don,t make me use upper case!

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Ok.

WelshGas said:

Ok.

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Or apostrophes. You know Trailertrash is on one when he starts using those instead of commas!

Don't hate anything about our Cali.

There have been a number of points which made us query VW's design capability, but most have been fairly simple to rectify:
1. Ever-opening roof hatch blind - added 2 inches of Velcro with strong adhesive.
2. Losing stuff down gap in front of dash - added off-cut of 10mm tubing.
3. Slow sink drain - fitted latest parts.
4. Difficulty stowing (LHD roller type) windscreen blinds - drew guide lines inside blinds.
5. Rubber buffers behind rear seat falling off - glued back in & learned to pull seat forward one notch after sliding back.
6. Water dripping in if windows open even slightly - added VW deflectors.
7. Unreliabilty of 240v-from-12v socket - fortunately, VW fitted robust socket & switch under garantee...
8. Restricted view in central mirror - added vintage wide-angle prism.
9. No convenient USB connector for GPS - added connector (but that was expensive...).
10. Front of parcel shelf crushed boxes underneath when shelf raised - bent prop to allow smaller lift.


This really only leaves as outstanding irritations:
a. Having to get out in the cold/wet to turn gas on/off.
b. Effort to close rear hatch in hot weather.
c. Outside temperature indication on roof console is wrong...
d. Seat upholstery shows marks after slightest drop of clean water!
e. Leaks from sliding windows - need repeated cleaning/greasing to keep water-tight.

2CV67 said:

Don't hate anything about our Cali.

There have been a number of points which made us query VW's design capability, but most have been fairly simple to rectify:
1. Ever-opening roof hatch blind - added 2 inches of Velcro with strong adhesive.
2. Losing stuff down gap in front of dash - added off-cut of 10mm tubing.
3. Slow sink drain - fitted latest parts.
4. Difficulty stowing (LHD roller type) windscreen blinds - drew guide lines inside blinds.
5. Rubber buffers behind rear seat falling off - glued back in & learned to pull seat forward one notch after sliding back.
6. Water dripping in if windows open even slightly - added VW deflectors.
7. Unreliabilty of 240v-from-12v socket - fortunately, VW fitted robust socket & switch under garantee...
8. Restricted view in central mirror - added vintage wide-angle prism.
9. No convenient USB connector for GPS - added connector (but that was expensive...).
10. Front of parcel shelf crushed boxes underneath when shelf raised - bent prop to allow smaller lift.


This really only leaves as outstanding irritations:
a. Having to get out in the cold/wet to turn gas on/off.
b. Effort to close rear hatch in hot weather.
c. Outside temperature indication on roof console is wrong...
d. Seat upholstery shows marks after slightest drop of clean water!
e. Leaks from sliding windows - need repeated cleaning/greasing to keep water-tight.

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I thought the temp display on the control panel was for inside the van not outside? I never use that screen though so doesn't matter in my case

Borris said:

Well one has to keep up standards doesn't one!
Seriously, nothing is likely to change as we are both very much set in our ways, (leopards not being able to change their spots and all that). Whilst I can sometimes get a bit tetchy about the bags I don't really mind that much as long as Mrs B is happy.
We are both looking forward to seing you again soon. Nick at Comfortz Leisure has just sent me a joining kit that enables two Cali awnings to be joined together with no gaps. So their should be enough room for the gramophone, aspidistra and tiger skin rug.

P.s Actually the candelabra started out as a bit of a joke but it actually provides a lovely soft light in an otherwise dark and gloomy awning room. It also warms up the awning a little and provides a great ambience for guzzling wine and scoffing tasty delights with friends.

Click to expand...

Hi Paul , let us know how you and Simon get on with the awning kit , would love to get away without using laundry pegs and poundshop ground sheets !
Lesley