Hello fellow Cali owners

[Dave Wickham]

Hi to all you Cali owners. Having eyed with jealousy these magnificent machines from my 20 yr old trailer tent I have finally taken the plunge and will spend the best part of my pension on a new T6 Cali in January. I will be seeking your guidance on all things Cali, particularly tips on accessories.

 

[Dave Wickham]

Morning campers
getting to find my way around this site and reading many of the forums....
I take ownership of a new T6 Ocean next month and have not bought the pull-out awning, instead looking for top tips on a good drive away awning that is easily mountable/dismountable. Also want to get a 2 bike rack. Any advice?
Thanks to all
Dave

 

[Kmann]

We have several different awnings for different purpose. Should I take one to do it all, it would definitely be the Gybe. But it all comes down to where and how you use the car.

The Gybe is more a drive-away pavilion than a regular tent with groundsheet. And it is more protecting than the normal Thule Wind-Out Awning.

We use the Wind out when heading south in the summer, because we the only need shade and love the breeze coming tru. The tent (Kampa Travel Pod) we only use if we have people abroad to sleep over, i.e. on festival with my daughter and friends etc. And the Gybe we use for everything else.

Its packs much smaller than a tent, soo easy to put up and take down. And extends the livingspace enormously. It withstands loads of rain and high winds.

Read more in this thread: https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/kampa-travel-pod-mini-real-life-pictures.27427/#post-314830

 

[Hotel California]

Welcome allong , many pro's / con's on drive-away awnings , do some research here:
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/forums/drive-away-anwings-tents.125/

As for bike racks , many have one but never carry a bike , it do comes handy to dry some wet clothing...

 

[parrot2]

Welcome to the forum. Personally I like the wind out awning I also have a Kampa drive away awning. I only tend to use the drive away if I am staying for more than 2 days on one site it does give a good storage space.

 

[Dave Wickham]

Welcome to the forum. Personally I like the wind out awning I also have a Kampa drive away awning. I only tend to use the drive away if I am staying for more than 2 days on one site it does give a good storage space.

Thanks for advice. I thought you could not attached a drive away awning if you had a wind out awning as how do you use the awning rail if its being used by the wind out one?

 

[Drpps]

Thanks for advice. I thought you could not attached a drive away awning if you had a wind out awning as how do you use the awning rail if its being used by the wind out one?

The wind out awning has an awning rail in its leading edge. You also need a figure of 8 kador strip to make life easier.
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/shop/product/drive-away-awning-kador-kit-for-the-vw-california

 

[Drpps]

Also have a look about 10 posts down this thread. https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/some-favourite-accessories.27282/#post-321123

 

[Darren Hughes]

Good morning David , we have purchased a new khyam tourer awning . Having tried two types of inflatable awnings this is by far the quickest to put up and has loads of windows which makes it very light and airy plus a useful clip in groundsheet. Attaches to the wind out awning via figure of eight channels and a kaydor strip.