Another camper gone, now back to motorhomes

[CaliMac]

For me (and my wife) the BoxDrive 600XL or GC600 would’ve been perfect as a couple. We had a Westfalia KeplerOne early days when we first met and we really liked the utility of having the toilet on board but didn’t like needing the roof up to be able to move around effectively. The Crafter based vans make for much more pleasant living environment IMO. I liked my Cali but again, it worked best when solo rather than as a couple or with the kids - again, just my opinion and think my experience was rather clouded by having had motorhomes previously. I never felt for me that the extra accessibility of the Cali offset the other compromises. I’ve never really struggled to get in anywhere I’ve wanted to go in a larger vehicle. But everyone has different requirements.

I’ve concluded that space is the key thing for us. Crafter works very well for two and just about for four but five is a different ball game. I take my hat off to all those parents who manage two or three kids in a Cali. It’s very impressive but I’m not sure any of us would survive longer than 48hrs without either lolling myself or wiping out the family!

I can't argue with that. If I did not have a dual purpose for the Cali i.e. purely camping rather than second car, I would be moving up tbh.

 

[CaliMac]

Over 20 years with Transporter based vans.
Approaching 12 months with a Sprinter van.
Not once have I missed the California whilst travelling/camping. It’s superior in every aspect other than fitting into small carparks

They do make more sense as a camper, I will no doubt join you one day

 

[Nand0]

They do make more sense as a camper, I will no doubt join you one day

Same here. My Cali is the best compromise for my needs as it's my only four wheeled vehicle. So needs to be used as a camper as well as a day to day car for: DIY shop, Ikea, trip to recycling for bulky items, visiting friends out of town, etc

But I sure would like to have a toilet+shower, a bed that I don't need to make every day, and enough room inside to store two bicycles. Skiing outings with two people can also feel like a constant game of Tetris.

I wouldn't fancy my local supermarket car park on a Sprinter/Crafter though, so Cali fits the bill

 

[AdamsFamily]

Introducing the Bürstner Argos 747-2G! Bürstner have a very solid reputation as builders of mid-high quality motorhomes. The Argos has been built in a similar design and feature list for over 20yrs until it was phased out in 2021, just a year after my van was built. It’s fully winterised (all water tanks located inboard), double-floor for insulation, with underfloor heating and wet central heating throughout the vehicle. It is of similar construction and heating as my previous Concorde Charisma I in which I used to live full-time and I took to the Austrian Alps in -26C and enjoyed living in +25C inside.

View attachment 131984

What a BEAST!!! It the nicest sense of the word....
Looks stunning, and the interior just amazing. There's trading up, and then there's this.... not something I think i could handle, let alone park. All the same - nice to own.

 

[CaliMac]

Same here. My Cali is the best compromise for my needs as it's my only four wheeled vehicle. So needs to be used as a camper as well as a day to day car for: DIY shop, Ikea, trip to recycling for bulky items, visiting friends out of town, etc

But I sure would like to have a toilet+shower, a bed that I don't need to make every day, and enough room inside to store two bicycles. Skiing outings with two people can also feel like a constant game of Tetris.

I wouldn't fancy my local supermarket car park on a Sprinter/Crafter though, so Cali fits the bill

We have friends with a 7.5M MOHO who only do 1000 miles despite touring a lot more often than we do, I do 10k doing many of the additional things you mention above. The journey is a pleasure in the Cali compared to larger vans; however, the benefits flip when you park up in the campsite. I guess in balance that is why I have a Cali and will do for a while yet.

 

[SpuffingtonMe]

Well, that's it - the Knaus was driven off by its new owner today. A sad day watching someone else driving off in "your" van but I'm persuaded that he will look after it and cherish it just as much as I did. A splendid chap and I'm lucky once again to have had a very easy private sale.

So with the money in the bank, the next phonecall was to Travelworld and the 10% deposit is paid now to secure the workshop slot. Looking on track for a 1st week of March delivery on the new 25 plate!

Excitement is already building!

 

[DJ315]

@DJ315 im curious what you thought of the Knaus? We almost bought one but didn’t, and ended up with a Cali Ocean, what were your reasons for going back into a Cali? Cheers

Knaus was OK, and initially we liked the extra space. Build quality was pretty bad though, it was too big to park in too many places, and driving a Cali is a much much better experience. Which we can also really use a second car. And to top it off the trade-in to an almost new Cali was an offer we couldn’t refuse