How do experienced owners do it?

[Yorkie]

Having only used Brian once we are unsure how to live in different conditions. To save us going through the learning curve can anyone unravel my thoughts?

Rainy weather
I imagine returning to the van with dirty shoes covered in grass and trying to remove and store them tidily before entering the van. For this reason i considered an area for doing this. Outside? Inside? Then where do these shoes go; in the van? In a plastic box outside? Also do you have a mat to step onto in the van that is stored in dry weather?

Dry weather
No problem but should i take enough wine for the whole week or just buy local; only kidding.

 

[Alibee]

Rainy weather
I imagine returning to the van with dirty shoes covered in grass and trying to remove and store them tidily before entering the van. For this reason i considered an area for doing this. Outside? Inside? Then where do these shoes go; in the van? In a plastic box outside? Also do you have a mat to step onto in the van that is stored in dry weather?

In dry(ish) weather shoes tend to go under the van, and in wet weather they sit on the step inside the van. That said, we usually have the drive-away awning set up for anything more than a single night, so there's loads of room to store shoes in the dry between the van and the main section of the awning. I can definitely see the merit of a plastic box though....

Dry weather
No problem but should i take enough wine for the whole week or just buy local; only kidding.

Definitely kidding....never travel without a full week's supply of wine, even if that requires a trailer! Just imagine..... camping.....without....wine.....

 

[GrannyJen]

I have a side-door step mat.

I step on that, park my butt on the interior floor (ever so elegantly of course), then remove shoes putting them into the handy container that I have left ever so cleverly on the step before leaving.

Then depending on state of shoes they are either put outside under the van or brought inside to live in the passenger front foot well until next time required.

 

[Meoncoast]

crocs/plastic shoes slip them off leave outside under van or into a plastic bag

 

[Amarillo]

Rainy weather
I imagine returning to the van with dirty shoes covered in grass and trying to remove and store them tidily before entering the van. For this reason i considered an area for doing this. Outside? Inside? Then where do these shoes go; in the van? In a plastic box outside? Also do you have a mat to step onto in the van that is stored in dry weather?

Dependent on space, we hope to pack a large doormat to put under the awning outside the sliding door. Boots and oilskins and other wet gear will be transported externally in a Thule EasyBag on a Thule EasyBase.

 

[Hotel California]

Just go to warm/dry places .....

Serious now , we travel with a dog , this means getting in and out sevral times in any weather . I take of muddy shoes while sitting in the sliding door opening feet on the ground. Put shoes under the Cali or in the footwell in front or the footwell from the sliding door.
Always have a towel ready for the dog and that can also be used to put the shoes on.

@Yorkie , don't worry to much you'l get allong fine after a trip or five it's routine.

 

[Velma's Dad]

We have a Solva woollen rug (made to size for Velma) for when it's nicey-nicey dry weather - and it can go in the washing machine. But when it's muddy outside we just stow the mat and don't mind a bit of crud getting into the van - easily sluiced out.

We often end up stealth camping so tend not to leave footwear etc outside the van - different on a camp site of course.

BTW a nice tip (I got it from one of @hotel california's posts) is to unroll the side awning about 50cm when parked in wet weather - no need to drop the legs - which gives a little bit of a 'rain porch' for when the side door's open.

 

[Jonathan Duke]

I just climb in.... Muddy boots and all..... Life is short (and I may end up spending a lot of it cleaning the van.....)

The dog doesn't wipe his feet either, so at least I can blame him

 

[RedCali]

My dislike of muddy wellies/ boots is one of the main reasons we always try to pitch on a hardstanding. I can't see any point in tramping about in wet grass if we don't need to - l do enough of that with the dogs.We use crocs and wellies on site ( not elegant but practical, keep them under the van) and change into proper shoes if we need to just before we drive off. We keep the muddy wellies etc in a plastic box or a supermarket 'bag for life'. Only socks or slippers allowed in the living area of the van.

 

[larrylamb]

wet shoes will soon dry out in front of the heater grille, then store them in the front footwells.

 

[CaliCrazy]

Roll out the awning when it's raining. Somewhere dry to stand whilst you shake off wet coats and dry off the dog. You can drape your towels from the struts afterwards. Sit on the step to take your shoes off and store them in the footwells on yesterday's newspaper. Plastic box in the boot to store dry shoes. Boot bags essential for those muddy boots.

 

[vanmarr]

We have a plastic tray where we put the shoes on. and slide under the car.

 

[WelshGas]

That's what the awning is for. Roll out a metre or so. I personally put the legs down and Guy ropes. In that configuration, tightened up against the Guy ropes then it is very sturdy and acts as a porch.
If it is really wild then I use my "Storm Awning". Hooked over Awning cassette with bungee cord. 4 Guy ropes and 2 x 6' tent poles. Does the job and unlikely to cause any damage to vehicle. Only cost about £80 in total.

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/storm-porch.8895/#post-105373

 

[Yorkie]

Just go to warm/dry places .....

Serious now , we travel with a dog , this means getting in and out sevral times in any weather . I take of muddy shoes while sitting in the sliding door opening feet on the ground. Put shoes under the Cali or in the footwell in front or the footwell from the sliding door.
Always have a towel ready for the dog and that can also be used to put the shoes on.

@Yorkie , don't worry to much you'l get allong fine after a trip or five it's routine.

Not worried just keen. Won't be long till rain stops then photos not questions.

 

[Velma's Dad]

Not worried just keen. Won't be long till rain stops then photos not questions.

Another strategy is to avoid the rain. Seriously though: for short Cali trips we check the forecast just before heading off then aim accordingly within a 2-hour(ish) radius of home. The short-term forecasts these days are really good.

On Tuesday morning, driest forecast looked like East Kent so we set the compass. Overnighted (is that a word?) in Sandwich: Mrs VD got fish+chips+bottle of champagne for Valentine's (I spoil that woman). Brilliant beach weather all Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning #feelingsmug.

 

[Yorkie]

Another strategy is to avoid the rain. Seriously though: for short Cali trips we check the forecast just before heading off then aim accordingly within a 2-hour(ish) radius of home. The short-term forecasts these days are really good.

On Tuesday morning, driest forecast looked like East Kent so we set the compass. Overnighted (is that a word?) in Sandwich: Mrs VD got fish+chips+bottle of champagne for Valentine's (I spoil that woman). Brilliant beach weather all Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning #feelingsmug.

Avoiding the rain. That's a good one.

We use the same strategy. This weekend planned a hill walking trip in Peak District but will now go to Cambridge as Peaks are rainy and Cambs not.

Perhaps you are luckier and can take trips when the days are dry midweek. I need to wait till next year for that opportunity

 

[Velma's Dad]

We use the same strategy. This weekend planned a hill walking trip in Peak District but will now go to Cambridge as Peaks are rainy and Cambs not.

The hill walking is rubbish in Cambridge though.

 

[andrew bazeley]

That's what the awning is for. Roll out a metre or so. I personally put the legs down and Guy ropes. In that configuration, tightened up against the Guy ropes then it is very sturdy and acts as a porch.
If it is really wild then I use my "Storm Awning". Hooked over Awning cassette with bungee cord. 4 Guy ropes and 2 x 6' tent poles. Does the job and unlikely to cause any damage to vehicle. Only cost about £80 in total.

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/storm-porch.8895/#post-105373

Totally agree - that's what the awning's for! We sometimes put up a sun canopy (not attached, but very close), but the awning almost automatically goes up even for a short stay. A tip: if there's any sign of rain, lower one leg of the awning, to make a slope (and peg it down firmly so it doesn't spring up). That way the water runs off. Then put a washing-up bowl under the lower corner to catch the rain, and put your overnight washing-up in it, to give it a good rinse with nice clean rainwater.

 

[PAMMYVAN]

We use boot bags also a small cotton rug to step on to

 

[sapto]

We roll the awning out a bit or so and but the shoes under the doorstep or in the "foot" room of the passengerseat (we do have rubber mats for the front seats - not stylish - but easy clean).
When we go for a walk and then jump back into the van with wet shoes we often change and place the shoes on the doorstep of the sliding door and turn the heater on. I also do that when returning from snowboarding to dry my shoes on my way home.

We are not into wine however Inlike to buy local and try new thingsSo food shopping id always part of the game.

 

[Bobbybus]

We have an old bathroom rug inside the Cali that we are not bothered about getting dirty. It's dark blue on one side and cream on the other side (well it was when knew). Blue side up for mucky conditions and cream side up for dry. Just shake the rug outside when dry. Very wet footwear goes in the side door footwell unless wellies and they go in the boot. If not too wet, we usually shoes keep shoes on. We aren't too precious about getting the floor dirty; it cleans easily enough. Wet dog gets a mini shower (collapsing bucket with warmed and soapy water with portable electric shower) and towelled down. She then takes herself to the passenger footwell to sleep and dry off. You get used to the smell of wet dog after a while!

 

[CYCLOPATH]

I have a step mat,,,,boots go on it
Getting boots dry for the next day is as important as van cleanliness
And the heater blows onto thenstep, it works perfectly
Last winter we were in the snow for a bit.....boots were always wet. It worked perfectly

 

[CYCLOPATH]

Infact , In uk , boots are nearly always muddy and wet... door well works great

 

[Yorkie]

Been on our first real trip this weekend and we too put our dirty shoes in the step and they became toasty. Glad it didn't rain as I spent ages moving things around as we found out what worked and what didn't.

Our worst issue was the dog. He was confused at night and about every hour did what we in Yorkshire call a pewl. An ear piercing little cry. I guess he was either cold or wondering what was happening. We were in pop top he was on bench seat. He will get used to it.

 

[Velma's Dad]

Our worst issue was the dog. He was confused at night and about every hour did what we in Yorkshire call a pewl. An ear piercing little cry. I guess he was either cold or wondering what was happening. We were in pop top he was on bench seat. He will get used to it.

"Pewl": what an excellent word, will use that one.

If ours pewls then she's quite likely to be 'invited' upstairs for the rest of the night. Strangely enough it seems to have become quite a regular thing now...