Grand Californis - practical solutions.

[GrandCali600]

In the following please post your practical user solutions.
Tips & tricks for owners and potential GC buyers.

 

[GrandCali600]

01.
Front doors.
Easy accessable storage when arriving.

Left door. Electical power. leads and adapters. Enough room for most day’s.
Right door. Water. Hose, fittings and water treatment.

 

[GrandCali600]

02.
Bathroom.
Needs a shower curtain.......
1. Water runs out under the door.
2. Is the door under the sink waterproof?? Anyway water runs in there.
3. Easier to get a new shower curtain than.......

Shower curtain.
1. I installed a adjustable pole from IKEA just below the roof by the outside wall.
2. Also from IKEA the white suction cups on the left wall and above the door. the curtain rings slips in underneath = it’s easy to move the curtain out of the way to the right side wall.
3. The curtain runs along three sides except the right one.

Photo’s and IKEA info will follow soon.

 

[GrandCali600]

03.
Ladder 3 meters.

The ladder from CarBest fits in the back - left side - by the outdoor shower.

Photo will follow soon.

 

[GrandCali600]

04.
Storage AFT left side below the outdoor shower panel.

IKEA Samla fits there perfect and still room for the CarBest ladder.

Photo will follow soon.

 

[GrandCali600]

05.
TRUMA diesel heating system.
Is xtra cost but:
1. Autonomy. Diesel in the tank = heating. No issues with gas bottle refilling.
2. Gas bottles. No need for 2 x 11 kg’s but just a 5 kg for the two pits in the kitchen.
3. Gas bottle cabinet. Room for other ‘stuff’ like gas-grill, pots and pans.

 

[GrandCali600]

06.
Inverter 12VDC > 230VAC.
Note
- your VW garage is only allowed to install VW original accessories.
- why VW doesn’t offer an inverter beats me!

The CarBest 1000 Watt inverter fits to the left in the wall opening below the table.
To the right there is still room for the wine bottle....

Warning / warranty.
Install is tricky and takes a long time. Don’t do it yourself!!
Only connect straight toi the camper battery with FUSE!!
The camper is the battery in the engine compartment. The Crafter is underneath the floor - drivers side.

Camping Torres just outside Torres Vedras in Portugal did a perfect job and warranty have not been infringed.

Photo to follow soon.

 

[GrandCali600]

07.
Safe under right front seat.
REIMO 2020 - page 410.

Note
Looks easy to install but wiring needs to be re-routed = let a garage do it!
All depending on YOUR DIY skills.

Camping Torres just outside Torres Vedras in Portugal did a perfect job.

 

[GrandCali600]

08.
Front seat arm rest’s.
Sweat and wear protection.

Well pull a clean......... sock size ‘42’ in maybe matching colour over the arm rest!!

 

[GrandCali600]

09.
Winter option.
I have the winter package with heated front screen and auxillery heater under the bonnet which heats the engine water and provides hot air to cabin. The heater has a control panel with timer and so on + an remote control.

 

[GrandCali600]

10.
Winter camping.
The waste water tank is not heated.
How about the waste water pipes before they connect to the tank?
The clean water pipes is within the ‘heated’ living compartment.

Please share ‘tips&tricks’ (T&T).
See photo’s - any wexpirience out there? I’m leaning towards the Frostwachter - 2’nd photo.

 

[GrandCali600]

11.
Winter frost precations for the fresh water system.
Instruction book.......

T&T - (Tips&Tricks)
01 - In electrical cabinet on the floor - under a cover - there is also valves for the water!!
02 - Open waste water valve 1/2 way!
03 - Open tap’s.
04 - Empty pipes going to outside shower! Connect shower head - position heat 1/2 hot cold - lock the showerhead open while emptying the system!

Question’s -
01 - Is it an idea (at all possible) to blow ’warm’ air thru the system in order to get all droplets away?
02 - Leave the drain valves open??
03 - Toilet water pipe. How to empty? Necessesary?

 

[IsThisNameLongEnough]

Tip to new owners, check there isnt a plug in the bathroom sink under the tilting tray before bleeding air out of pipes

 

[SandyR]

02.
Bathroom.
Needs a shower curtain.......
1. Water runs out under the door.
2. Is the door under the sink waterproof?? Anyway water runs in there.
3. Easier to get a new shower curtain than.......

Shower curtain.
1. I installed a adjustable pole from IKEA just below the roof by the outside wall.
2. Also from IKEA the white suction cups on the left wall and above the door. the curtain rings slips in underneath = it’s easy to move the curtain out of the way to the right side wall.
3. The curtain runs along three sides except the right one.

Photo’s and IKEA info will follow soon.

Hi I am in the process of doing something similar on my GC600. Do you have in pictures of this setup. Regards Sandy

 

[bromleyxphil]

Hi I am in the process of doing something similar on my GC600. Do you have in pictures of this setup. Regards Sandy

Sandy did you ever complete this? If so I wouldn’t mind some info to give me a start

 

[SandyR]

Hi I did buy an extendable pole and curtain from Ikea but wasn’t happy about fitting it. There is so little space in there and then you would have to deal with a soaking shower curtain. If we use the shower we just dry up everything afterwards.

 

[bromleyxphil]

Thanks Sandy, I have in mind some stick on metal discs on the wall and then hanging a shower curtain flat over the door with magnets. I seem to get water splashing on the door and running down the two vertical gaps. The drip strip and chamfer at the bottom can’t cope and a little water ends up in the corridor outside. I will report back.

 

[SandyR]

That sounds like a great idea. Let me know how you get on. That’s how mine leaks through too. Cheers Sandy

 

[Deise13]

Hi folks, I used the IKEA suction pads and 3D printed upward facing hooks for the inside of them. I purchased a 2m x 2m fabric curtain from Ali Express, with a section of shower lead rope weight, this was sown into the bottom hem. Also I use a magnet to hold back the curtain, it attaches to the wall adjacent to where the door latch inserts into the wall. Finally I use a peg to attach the curtain to the shower hose just below the bottom of the mirror. It all works well, the space is not large and you will touch the curtain from time to time. But if you are not too large it's a good compromise. The shower room and toilet is kept dry, the curtain can be installed and removed in seconds. Which means it drys very quickly outside. ..I will post pictures in 5