Grand California 680 - Build DELAY!

[Mark C]

Thanks for this Tim, Will I didn’t go with WiFi option hoping my phone connection will be good enough. I haven’t looked at thermal screens yet but yes it would be good if I could order one ahead of time.

 

[Jester]

Thanks for this Tim, Will I didn’t go with WiFi option hoping my phone connection will be good enough. I haven’t looked at thermal screens yet but yes it would be good if I could order one ahead of time.

Ok guess some of the areas will not have great reception from the phone and the routers will receive better than the phone. 30 day data sim card works well just cancel for the winter, ranges between £10/32 dependent on data and speed.

Screen covers vary in quality, try Rainbow (expensive) screens or from the club shop. you need waterproof

Will

 

[Mark C]

Great will take a look

 

[Bart7974]

Hello ,
good news .
My dealer in Stuttgart, Germany, just wrote me that the diesel heating (YHC) Truma, is available again.

Due to Corona Truma had problems with parts delivery.
Bart

 

[Jester]

Hello ,
good news .
My dealer in Stuttgart, Germany, just wrote me that the diesel heating (YHC) Truma, is available again.

Due to Corona Truma had problems with parts delivery.
Bart

Hi Bart.

Will

 

[Bart7974]

Hi Will ,

have you , despite corona, tested your GC 600 under winter conditions already?

Bart

 

[Jester]

Hi Will ,

have you , despite corona, tested your GC 600 under winter conditions already?

Bart

Hi Bart,

Only as far as my driveway, last time it was out was mid December. You are the Bart from the German Forum I take it?

Will

 

[Bart7974]

Hi Will,

yes, I am the Bart from the German Forum . There you showed us your LPG Gas installation in your GC600.

Bart

 

[Jester]

Hi Will,

yes, I am the Bart from the German Forum . There you showed us your LPG Gas installation in your GC600.

Bart

Hi Bart and very welcome. I must have mist some of your earlier post.
How are you and things over there. Apparently Hanover is not good.

 

[Bart7974]

Hi Will,

"I must have mist some of your earlier post."--> my former posts here are from a time you did not know of my existence

Everything is fine here. We also have a lock down and travel ban. We avoid as much direct contacts to other people. It is almost the same situation as in the UK.

For us it is not a big problem as we have enough to do and we go regularly outside for a walk.
One thing we very miss, are the trips to the UK (twice a year). My wife is from York UK, and she miss her family and friends .

I am still “configuring and reconfiguring“ a GC600 .
Because of lock downs everywhere we are not in a hurry.

From the German Cali forum I know that most of the teething problems are getting less and less now and the waiting time for a new GC here is in a range from 2 to 4 month, on the moment.
I am still playing with the different options as e.g. the different heating systems, also front window heating (de-icing).
I liked your LPG installation and found a small company here which has the experience to upgrade a GC gas heating with a LPG one you have. On the other side I like the place saving diesel heating.
So still not decided yet. And it is not easy to stay below the 3.5 T with our “must haves”

Have you already plans to make some nice GC trips after the lock downs? I like reading GC travel experiences. I just bought a nice travel camper guide for Scotland, can’t wait to go there .


Bart

 

[Jester]

Hi Will,

"I must have mist some of your earlier post."--> my former posts here are from a time you did not know of my existence

Everything is fine here. We also have a lock down and travel ban. We avoid as much direct contacts to other people. It is almost the same situation as in the UK.

For us it is not a big problem as we have enough to do and we go regularly outside for a walk.
One thing we very miss, are the trips to the UK (twice a year). My wife is from York UK, and she miss her family and friends .

I am still “configuring and reconfiguring“ a GC600 .
Because of lock downs everywhere we are not in a hurry.

From the German Cali forum I know that most of the teething problems are getting less and less now and the waiting time for a new GC here is in a range from 2 to 4 month, on the moment.
I am still playing with the different options as e.g. the different heating systems, also front window heating (de-icing).
I liked your LPG installation and found a small company here which has the experience to upgrade a GC gas heating with a LPG one you have. On the other side I like the place saving diesel heating.
So still not decided yet. And it is not easy to stay below the 3.5 T with our “must haves”

Have you already plans to make some nice GC trips after the lock downs? I like reading GC travel experiences. I just bought a nice travel camper guide for Scotland, can’t wait to go there .


Bart

Morning Bart,

I did not appreciate you had relatives in England.

Well ordered the 680 end of November and in build tomorrow hopefully seems like the 204’s are now being sorted.

Re Gas tricky that one love the set up and simplicity but just wondering how long LPG will be acceptable long term in garages? The positives for diesel is that the gas locker can be partly utilised for storage, which is needed on the 600. If you don’t need the over cab bed don’t opt for it as the storage is invaluable.

We found we could do with a little more storage, not overhead but cupboard hence ordering the 680.
We did the NC 500 between lockdowns last year September no midges. Great adventure. We are going back this May if we are allowed, we are doing the islands this time. Also about 3 weeks in Wales and 5/6 weeks in Devon and Cornwall.

You must try Dorset, sometime.

Will

 

[Bart7974]

Hi Will,

we need the space and not the extra over cab bed , that is already decided.

Scotland , the Islands , Cornwall, its al in our planning . Hope in the coming years.
Also plans for Norway, Sweden , Finland, France , Spain ..... hope we manage.

My wife has a friend in Dorset sure we will visit her sometime .

Lots of ideas and the time is flying by

Bart

 

[Jester]

Hi Will,

we need the space and not the extra over cab bed , that is already decided.

Scotland , the Islands , Cornwall, its al in our planning . Hope in the coming years.
Also plans for Norway, Sweden , Finland, France , Spain ..... hope we manage.

My wife has a friend in Dorset sure we will visit her sometime .

Lots of ideas and the time is flying by

Bart

Hi Bart.
Think you’ve read enough to know what is good and bad. And as you say most of the issues are have been addressed. To be fair the only issues I had was the wash room door was twisted the WiFi router incorrectly wired.

My disappointment is there are no sports pack like on the Cali, could do with some bigger wheels!!

Let me know when you get to England.

Take care

 

[rod_vw]

How much of the production delays are due to this?

Chip shortage to hit production at some Volkswagen plants in February

Chip supply bottlenecks will impact production at some of Volkswagen's plants in February, the carmaker said on Wednesday, adding it had applied for short-time work at its key Wolfsburg site on some days of the month.

www.reuters.com

and maybe any other item containing IC chips.

 

[soppelsa]

I wouldn't mind bigger wheels.
But the problem is they don't make load rated bigger tyres for the weight of the GC and speed rating.
Not in 18 inch , if you know of any on the market.

 

[rod_vw]

Ask on here, there are lots of owners on that page fitting various wheel options.

 

[Jester]

I wouldn't mind bigger wheels.
But the problem is they don't make load rated bigger tyres for the weight of the GC and speed rating.
Not in 18 inch , if you know of any on the market.

Looked at wheels there’s a few around, ie 18” Black Rhino think Oz, got me thinking now re Tyres.

 

[Bendwg]

Ask on here, there are lots of owners on that page fitting various wheel option

I wouldn't mind bigger wheels.
But the problem is they don't make load rated bigger tyres for the weight of the GC and speed rating.
Not in 18 inch , if you know of any on the market.

Continental do a van contact tyre 255/55/18 LR120. Not cheap though

 

[soppelsa]

I saw a load rating of 112 on the continental and a 98 load rating for 18inch.
I thought the current GC have a rating of 115 on the tyre.
The Continental blurb said not suitable for snow and shouldn't be used in sub zero temperatures.

 

[Bendwg]

I saw a load rating of 112 on the continental and a 98 load rating for 18inch.
I thought the current GC have a rating of 115 on the tyre.
The Continental blurb said not suitable for snow and shouldn't be used in sub zero temperatures.

They are hard to find and dont show up in general tyre searches hence it took me a while to find. They are specific camper tyres. https://www.pricerunner.com/pl/655-...Camper-CP-255-55-R18-120R-10PR-Compare-Prices

 

[soppelsa]

Great! Just need load rated vw 18 inch alloys.
What speed rating is R?

 

[Jester]

Great! Just need load rated vw 18 inch alloys.
What speed rating is R?

Load rating Front 2100 Rear 2380
R, speed apparently 106 MPH

 

[Zephyr]

Hey Guys.
We ordered our 680 on 01DEC20 and were told to expect delivery APR/MAY21. Coincidentally, the VW SHC delay allows us more hope of post-probation stability as Ross has just been recruited by a new company, working from home (or on the road, thankfully)
I turned SIXTY yesterday (I know, I KNOW!) and we’ve decided to hang on for a SEP/OCT delivery.
Still excited though...
About the van, that is - not the sixty bit.
Ian

Hello Ian,
I've just been told by my dealer that VW are saying that I have the choice of removing the diesel heating from the specification or walking away from the deal and have the deposit refunded. Waiting is not an option. Have you had any feedback about your?
Alan

 

[Zephyr]

Hello ,
good news .
My dealer in Stuttgart, Germany, just wrote me that the diesel heating (YHC) Truma, is available again.

Due to Corona Truma had problems with parts delivery.
Bart

Hello Bart,
Not so good news!
My UK dealer has just told me (YHC) diesel heating option not available. I can remove option from specification or walk away from deal and have my deposit refunded. No option to wait!
Alan

 

[Bart7974]

Hi Alan,

I was just writing you the following :

Since end of January, here in Germany, it was not possible anymore to order the Truma diesel heater for a GC. Last week a dealer in Stuttgart wrote me that the Truma is now available again and since yesterday it is again in the German configuration tool (disappeared there 3 weeks ago) and possible to order now.

maybe wait a week or two. I will follow this in the German forum.

Bart