Cali technical tips&tricks

[WelshGas]

.... curiosity got the better of me. I just popped out to look and, @Tactical is indeed correct. Ours is brand new and I'm the only owner. Moving the seat forward until it hits the stop provides the correct position to make the bed.

And if you remove the stop all you have to do is move the seat forward, lower the back and then slide the seat back to touch the rear board, when making up the bed.

 

[Tactical]

And if you remove the stop all you have to do is move the seat forward, lower the back and then slide the seat back to touch the rear board, when making up the bed.

I agree with that alternative approach WG.

However, I'd say "lower the back and then slide the seat back to just touch the rear board"

From my own experience, if you slide it back too hard then there is a risk that when you later raise the back (and have forgotten to slide the seat forward a little) the pressure on those pesky rubber buffers on the bed board will be enough to pull them out of their fittings.

Just something to watch out for.

 

[DrJuanKerr]

And if you remove the stop all you have to do is move the seat forward, lower the back and then slide the seat back to touch the rear board, when making up the bed.

.... suggesting you too have removed the stop?

 

[WelshGas]

.... suggesting you too have removed the stop?

Correct, so I can reach behind from the side door.

 

[WelshGas]

I agree with that alternative approach WG.

However, I'd say "lower the back and then slide the seat back to just touch the rear board"

From my own experience, if you slide it back too hard then there is a risk that when you later raise the back (and have forgotten to slide the seat forward a little) the pressure on those pesky rubber buffers on the bed board will be enough to pull them out of their fittings.

Just something to watch out for.

I've replaced my stops with something similar from a Land Rover Defender, which are held on by a screw and washer from behind. . But I agree, you don't want to slide the bed back hard.

 

[Ting Tong]

I broke the plastic seat back panel (£130) because I’ve removed the stop, so have to push it back into position once flat and it caught under the bed frame when I tried to raise the bed in the morning. I now know to slide it forwards before trying to raise the seat back.

Not having the stop is useful though as it creates a huge area at the rear for moving stuff plus it gives easy access to the jack and toolkit through the side door, avoiding the need to empty the underbed storage area.

 

[motacyclist]

those pesky rubber buffers on the bed board will be enough to pull them out of their fittings.

BTW, if your rubber cones are missing (like mine!) and you push the seat right back the seat belts can jam against the rear shelf. Something to watch out for.

 

[willwander]

Good post, thank you

 

[DrJuanKerr]

The first image is before I removed the stop. The second after
2-3 minutes to remove the stop and access to the rear is significantly easier

 

[Hotel California]

Was visiting CCN just yesterday and the evening before there was yet another "technical info evening" and some bits where still on display...
A cut open fridge




And the inside view of the fresh watertank where the gasbotlle fits in




View of a Cali without seats...




Also they had some nice new fabric witch they used for pillows and sheets ....
This they sold as a shade blanket...




Theire website is recent updated and features some nice video's , but all in Dutch ...
https://www.campercentrumnederland.nl/#ontdek

 

[motacyclist]

I have taken out the front and the rear one out, so now can push bench seat all the way back for more space if the rear self is not needed.

Oh - can you tell Theresa May how you removed the backstop then?

 

[Rich63]

.....Very informative & helpful, thank you for sharing this....

 

[rich11235]

Here is a tip I use to give more flexibility in the Cali, it needs a mod which costs nothing and takes about five minutes to do.

The picture below shows the rear seat slid right forward, giving access to the rear. This is handy to use the loo when travelling, just slide it forward from under the rear shelf, drop the blinds, and thro a blanket over the headrests.

It’s also useful to carry furniture etc around! Also gives easy access to the tool kit when the boot is full of stuff.

View attachment 31934

To enable the seat to be slid this far forward the stop (below) has to be removed. This is located in the rail nearest the kitchen, about 30 cms from the front. Slide a screwdriver along to locate it, then unscrew it.

View attachment 31935

To remove the stop after it has been unscrewed, you have to remove the plastic trim at the front of the rail, then slide the stop forward. The plastic trim can be removed by levering carefully up at the front.

View attachment 31936

Keep the stop somewhere safe in case it’s needed, pop the trim back rear end first and tap down at the front. That’s it, now you can use the loo

Hey guys, I know this post is old but hopefully someone can help. Where am I looking to find this stop? I have prised off the plastic end cap and shone a light along but can see no stop with a screw head in it. Just a kind of plain aluminium or steel mushroom that looks embedded in the base of the rail

 

[andyinluton]

Front one in your van if still fitted should be in the rail nearest the sink. Just drop a screwdriver in the slot in the rails & run it along the slot , you can't miss it.
If you still can't find it slide the bench forward till you hit it, at that point it will be a couple of inches back from the front of the seat.

 

[ThomasHJ]

perhaps the photos in this thread will help you?

 

[LRGS253]

I have learnt more about my Cali in one post. This is amazing.

 

[Hotel California]

@LRGS253 , glad to hear this
This post is old and pictures of a T5 but still so much to see that’s still usefull even in the T6.1
We made it a sticky post back then so it stays on top of the list but to little people do the effort of reading older post and learn from it .
Much easyer to post new threads over and over again regarding thesame issues , the forum is filled with a question to many answers if you look things up.

 

[Rhooky]

Should have taken more pictures , next time i'l be wearing a go-pro mounted on a helmet

But i did wrote some things on a note...
During bad weather with thunder&lightning , if on hook-up best to unplug it from the Cali as the cable on the ground is a potencial risk of catching lightning .
Also good to unplug it at the donorside at the same time
The roof itself is aluminium and they say it can take pretty stormy winds ( forgot howmuch speed ) but i wil be closing mine if possible.
Oh , always have the engine running while opening/ closing the roof , it's deadly for the battery if you don't have the engine running.

The 220/12v inverter is sensitive to heat , it can switch itself off if themps underneeth the wardrobe goes above 60degrees celcius
In hot country' s or very hot Brittisch summers , try to cool the left side of the Cali by providing shade to that side ...how you do it is up to you , under trees , attatch a tarp to the side, whatever is in reach.
Leave the sliding doors under the sink a bit open and take out the plastic round caps inside the wardrobe and under the cooker . They sell a fan to put in place of the cap under the coocker but for me thats overkill...
On recent models the inverter sits above the lesure bat in the booth opening the inspection door can help also , i'm thinking of placing a vent in that little door
Other earlyer Cali's have the inverter under the fridge

That fridge also has to suffer the heat and the same precautions might help here to.
Also useful to clean out dust underneeth the fridge around the fridge motor , vaccum or by compressor -air- pressure

If somehow the bech drawer is stuck , impossible to open.
Check if not the seatbelts are pushed the whole way in the seat when using the benchseat as bed...and pull them back up

The pump in the fresh watertank can come lose of the rubber hose , due to pressure by the pump ....best is when taking water at the tap , to open it in one time fully and than bringing it back to the position you want . That way the beginpressure floads away and less risk of disconecting the rubber hose .
Now you say if it happens , open the watertank and put a strap on it , good , but then the problem moves to the other side of the rubber hose in the tank and the risk of popping of on that side ....and it's nearly impossible to reach in the tank to fiks that!

Driving the Cali generates power thru the dynamo to charge the battery , as the Cali has three bats the dynamo is not powerfull enough to 100% load the lesure bats
Is therefore its best to plug your Cali in to 220v mains at least every month for 12h in a row.
It should extend the life of the bats.

Sparewheel is hard to reach , specialy when towbar is mounted .
Jack-up the Cali first or place it on your levelling ramps to higher it up.
Use a small wooden plank (say 20x20cm)to larger the groundsurface of the original VW jack and dropping the risk of jackfailure on lose ground/gravel

Clean both the watertanks once a year using hot water and some cheap tablets people use to clean theire fake theet in a glas water (don't know how you guys call this)

.....
Now some of you think i wrote a lot of bullst , but do with it whatever you want...
If you read it up to here , you wil remember some things in the near future and i hope at that moment this tips might have helpt you!

It's mostley just rational thinking but one is better at it then the other...
If something pops up i'l be adding it here.

Thank you for all your information Mate. Brilliant for someone like me who is new to the Cali game. You have gone to a lot of effort to help others. Well done.

 

[KevH]

Just read this old thread from start to end, it is excellent.

 

[FordPrefect]

Just read this old thread from start to end, it is excellent.

Same!!

 

[Balon]

Regularnie sprawdzaj otwory odprowadzające wodę z dachu
Z przodu otwór odpływowy znajduje się pod tą plastikową nasadką
View attachment 7277
Aby wyjąć, przytrzymaj go w ten sposób, ściśnij dłonią i jednocześnie pociągnij do siebie...w ten sposób.
Próbowałem zrobić to obiema rękami, ale musiałem trzymać telefon robiąc zdjęcia..'
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Wyczyść spód i sprawdź otwór odpływowy
Uwaga, nie wbijaj zbyt głęboko ostrych szpilek (tak jak ja to robię z gwoździem) w otwór, ponieważ gumowy wąż wykona skręt i przebije odpływ!
Użyj ....jak to się nazywa ....rzeczy do czyszczenia uszu patykiem
View attachment 7279

Tylna strona jest łatwiejsza, a jeśli dobrze się przyjrzysz, możesz zobaczyć światło przez odpływ, jeśli jest otwarty
View attachment 7280


O tej samej kategorii:
Czyszczenie gumowych uszczelek przesuwnych okien specjalną szczoteczką do zębów zapobiega przywieraniu brudu, co może doprowadzić do przedostawania się wody.

Jeśli chodzi o gumy do drzwi, generalnie używaj talkpowder, nie wazeliny ani tłustych substancji

View attachment 7281

 

[Balon]

This is super

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