Every Cali should have this !!!

[Pro moochers]

This is high on my to buy list


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sidepod]

Good evening,

I haven't use the awning an awful lot yet. The weather was simply not warm and sunny enough.

But that is my question (if it is ok to raise it here), do you use the awning as protection against rain or only as a sun shade? In other words is the awning designed to protect against rain?

Of course it is clear that if it is used as a rain shelter that it has to be fixed properly.

Regards,
Eberhard

That’s a good point. Anyone with a wind out knows you need to dip one side when it rains. That will properly screw up your feng shui with the awning side wall thingy attached.

Like many things, in all the time we’ve been vanning at no point have I ever thought I needed one of these. That said I can see the pros, apart from when it rains that is which kind of self defeats given my point above.

 

[Elly Swanson]

Good evening,

I haven't use the awning an awful lot yet. The weather was simply not warm and sunny enough.

But that is my question (if it is ok to raise it here), do you use the awning as protection against rain or only as a sun shade? In other words is the awning designed to protect against rain?

Of course it is clear that if it is used as a rain shelter that it has to be fixed properly.

Regards,
Eberhard

Awning is a protection against anything, as long as it’s not so fierce it causes damage.

 

[soulstyledevon]

What I want to look into, is a tarp to come off the passenger side rail at about 45degrees-ish to ground, where I can throw a few things under at night. Something that just keeps the rain and elements off the chairs and stuff, to save packing away.

 

[Jason wallace]

That would be handy, I've got the Thule sun blocker but an equivalent with fully waterproof material may be handy.

I support getting an inexpensive tarp and attaching a kandor strip may be an option.....like....

https://urbancraftuk.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/tarp-for-vw-roll-out-canopy/

What I want to look into, is a tarp to come off the passenger side rail at about 45degrees-ish to ground, where I can throw a few things under at night. Something that just keeps the rain and elements off the chairs and stuff, to save packing away.

 

[flying banana]

What I want to look into, is a tarp to come off the passenger side rail at about 45degrees-ish to ground, where I can throw a few things under at night. Something that just keeps the rain and elements off the chairs and stuff, to save packing away.

Cali kev had one at the slimbridge meet. Might be worth asking him where he got it. I'm sure there's a video knocking about somewhere

 

[Elly Swanson]

What I want to look into, is a tarp to come off the passenger side rail at about 45degrees-ish to ground, where I can throw a few things under at night. Something that just keeps the rain and elements off the chairs and stuff, to save packing away.

Would be easy to set up. If you sewed awning piping to it it would be easy to attach to an awning rail or you could use hooks and tie it. Good quality dark shower curtains can be used as side panels. A tarp is great as you have many configurations, especially if you have some tentpoles with you too. Used one (sometimes two) loads with our old Toyota. At Easter I trialed a tailgate rain protector with a tarp folded in half but didn’t take a picture.

 

[soulstyledevon]

I currently use a base seconds. Which is ok. But we only use it to store a Toddlers car seat, buggy and the chairs and table.
We can do without it.

I just don’t see the point of awnings.

Weatherproof tarp would be great.
Slide through the channel, 4 ground pegs. Done.
Roll up and store with the chairs when not in use.

 

[Elly Swanson]

Cali kev had one at the slimbridge meet. Might be worth asking him where he got it. I'm sure there's a video knocking about somewhere

Quechua do a good nylon (tent material) tarp for around £25 which comes with some poles. The Bushcraft store also stock different types and qualities.

 

[Jason wallace]

This might do the trick....

http://www.sunncamp.co.uk/products/show/1767

What I want to look into, is a tarp to come off the passenger side rail at about 45degrees-ish to ground, where I can throw a few things under at night. Something that just keeps the rain and elements off the chairs and stuff, to save packing away.

 

[WelshGas]

What I want to look into, is a tarp to come off the passenger side rail at about 45degrees-ish to ground, where I can throw a few things under at night. Something that just keeps the rain and elements off the chairs and stuff, to save packing away.

Simple to do. 2 Awning Thumb Screws. 2.5 meter wide awning tied to the Screws and then either use Guy Lines to the ground or some cheap poles and guys to maintain some height.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Quechua do a good nylon (tent material) tarp for around £25 which comes with some poles. The Bushcraft store also stock different types and qualities.

I just had a quick look. I guess it would be possible to sew in the rail strip and that would work.

 

[Elly Swanson]

I currently use a base seconds. Which is ok. But we only use it to store a Toddlers car seat, buggy and the chairs and table.
We can do without it.

I just don’t see the point of awnings.

Weatherproof tarp would be great.
Slide through the channel, 4 ground pegs. Done.
Roll up and store with the chairs when not in use.

Depends what type of trip you’re on, how long for and what kit you take as to whether an awning is a good idea or not.

On our longer holiday - a mix of on-grid (usually only to boost the leisure batteries), off grid, sites, stopovers and festivals, we take a khyam quick erect driveaway (sometimes with an extension and extra tarp), we have a smaller outdoor revolution xl handi with pole and sleeve for shorter trips on sites and at weekend festivals not in the long holiday.

For us the great thing about an awning is that we can store wet coats, boots and outdoor cooking stuff, etc. Also we can shower, toilet, get dry AND wash/dry the dog easily before getting in the van. For us it’s worth the effort of erecting.

If we’re staying put it makes for a good, spacious basecamp. If we’re driving out and about it means we can leave our stuff in it. If we’re on a one night stopover as a break in a journey or a pub stop and walk next day it always seems weird that we’re not spreading out a bit.

But as many have said it depends on personal preference, “horses for courses”.

 

[Elly Swanson]

Simple to do. 2 Awning Thumb Screws. 2.5 meter wide awning tied to the Screws and then either use Guy Lines to the ground or some cheap poles and guys to maintain some height.

View attachment 46052

I just had a quick look. I guess it would be possible to sew in the rail strip and that would work.

Yep, or easier still use awning rail thumb screws (like welshgas suggests) and simply tie or bungee on. It depends on whether you want the whole thing completely connected all along. The rail strip will make it bulkier/more cumbersome to store. Also your tarp is more flexible and conducive to different configurations without the strip attached.

 

[briwy]

Cali kev had one at the slimbridge meet. Might be worth asking him where he got it. I'm sure there's a video knocking about somewhere

I think that was a Brandrup one. Guess they have them in the shop.

 

[willwander]

I just had a quick look. I guess it would be possible to sew in the rail strip and that would work.

We use a cheap tarp with a Kador strip, we just use tarp clips to hold the tarp to the strip, instead of sewing it in, mainly because I can’t sew...but also because it then packs away much smaller and can use the tarp in so many other ways

 

[Elly Swanson]

This first setup was on our old Toyota and kept us dry at the wettest festival I’ve ever been too (so bad one of the marquees collapsed under the weight of the rain). The tarp gave us a dry path from the windout awning and driveaway “tunnel” through to the back of the van.


The second was me just tinkering at Easter (Chester food festival) with the Cali. A tarp folded in half and connected to thumbscrews at the ends of each back rail. Poles and guylines to hold it out/up. Worked as a good sun screen without having to put the back blind down. I’ve yet to test it with water to see if water pools by the back canvas of the pop up. Had an idea late and put it up in the dark (that’s why it’s a nighttime photo).



You can also use a tarp as a wind deflector or camp space extender.




Of course they don’t need to be attached to the van either, a great way for kids to experiment and make a den.

Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I do like to problem solve and tinker! AND OMG, I just love a tarp

 

[willwander]

Lol, I love a good tarp too, so flexible.

 

[sapto]

What I want to look into, is a tarp to come off the passenger side rail at about 45degrees-ish to ground, where I can throw a few things under at night. Something that just keeps the rain and elements off the chairs and stuff, to save packing away.

Saw one: Expensive from Caliboard.de. It‘s called „Calisail“.
Pros: Add to both awning and passengerside/driversside (down here) rail.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Some great ideas. Will definitely experiment once I’m home.
Managed for years without anything but a van. Awnings to me are just tents and tents really are miserable...
Every time I pack away a wet Base Seconds, the words, I fking hate these things spill from me chops.
My wife is sick of hearing it this trip.

 

[westfalia]

This first setup was on our old Toyota and kept us dry at the wettest festival I’ve ever been too (so bad one of the marquees collapsed under the weight of the rain). The tarp gave us a dry path from the windout awning and driveaway “tunnel” through to the back of the van.
View attachment 46061

The second was me just tinkering at Easter (Chester food festival) with the Cali. A tarp folded in half and connected to thumbscrews at the ends of each back rail. Poles and guylines to hold it out/up. Worked as a good sun screen without having to put the back blind down. I’ve yet to test it with water to see if water pools by the back canvas of the pop up. Had an idea late and put it up in the dark (that’s why it’s a nighttime photo).

View attachment 46062

You can also use a tarp as a wind deflector or camp space extender. View attachment 46063

View attachment 46065


Of course they don’t need to be attached to the van either, a great way for kids to experiment and make a den.

Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I do like to problem solve and tinker! AND OMG, I just love a tarp

I like the Toyota van, what happened to it?

 

[soulstyledevon]

Saw one: Expensive from Caliboard.de. It‘s called „Calisail“.
Pros: Add to both awning and passengerside/driversside (down here) rail.

Sweet Jesus Sapto.
It’s €169...

Calisail Sonnensegel

!!! Achtung Lieferzeit bei Farbe BLAU zuzüglich 4 Wochen !!! Sonnensegel aus AIRTEX® classic 195g/m²…

shop.vwcamper.de

 

[Jason wallace]

This is the one i posted earlier....and is on the shop...

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/shop/product/sunncamp-240-sunnshield-universal-sun-canopy-sf8001

 

[sapto]

Sweet Jesus Sapto.
It’s €169...

Calisail Sonnensegel

!!! Achtung Lieferzeit bei Farbe BLAU zuzüglich 4 Wochen !!! Sonnensegel aus AIRTEX® classic 195g/m²…

shop.vwcamper.de

I saw that: Never bought one but like the ideas with the decathlon tarps

 

[Elly Swanson]

I like the Toyota van, what happened to it?

It was fabulous and lasted us 11 yrs from second hand. Very sadly it started to become a bit unreliable (and it was our second “car”). Then it had a very bad MOT fail that included major corrosion underneath. Even if we’d had it all sorted we weren’t able to fit safe child seats for the grandkids, So time to say goodbye. Me & my hubby are pretty tough but it was like losing an old friend and we both shed a tear.

We love our new Cali, but still think of Vic Van number 1. We sold it to a guy who had the means to do him up so he wasn’t scrapped.