How would you redesign the Cali interior?

[snowy55]

Anyone fancy full power operation of the tailgate? (not just the last bit)

 

[marshian70]

Thanks for all the comments so far. Seems an electric turning seat would be very popular improvement plus a better control panel. I particularly like the 'app' idea.
Keep them coming. Let's hope VW are watching!

 

[Californiaman]

I would like more beer on the table, hang on, it's ok, I have just found some. (I wouldn't change a thing... )

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[IanE]

Californiaman - well said!!! ☺

 

[shaun5]

In the Beach I would like fixed cupboards, a sink and a twin burner hob. Oh, hang on a minute. ........

 

[Skylark2.0]

I would like a reading light in the downstairs bed by the cupboards. It's 20 years since I chose to sleep on this side and I can't see my book!

 

[splitmike]

Well I've only had my Cali a week and only spent a day anywhere near it.
A power tailgate would be good
3 pin power towards the back of the van too.
Possible water outlet outside for us outdoor water sports types.
Lights on the tail gate for when it's open, I've even thought of running strip LEDs around it.
The electric handbrake too great idea.
The electric seats too with memory settings.
How about a 2 bike, bike rack option for those with shorter arms.
Remote head unit with wifi to stream DVDs or films to iPads/tablets similar to seagate hard drives.

I've been camping in VWs for too long and these are a few of the things I can think of to make life even more enjoyable than they are now.

Mike

 

[marshian70]

Well I've only had my Cali a week and only spent a day anywhere near it.
A power tailgate would be good
3 pin power towards the back of the van too.
Possible water outlet outside for us outdoor water sports types.
Lights on the tail gate for when it's open, I've even thought of running strip LEDs around it.
The electric handbrake too great idea.
The electric seats too with memory settings.
How about a 2 bike, bike rack option for those with shorter arms.
Remote head unit with wifi to stream DVDs or films to iPads/tablets similar to seagate hard drives.

I've been camping in VWs for too long and these are a few of the things I can think of to make life even more enjoyable than they are now.

Mike

Mike
Others have retrofitted the water outlet as this was an option on the later Calis.
The head unit issue is possibly solved by an aftermarket unit.
Electric seats are a very popular suggestion!

 

[splitmike]

Oh wow.does anybody have any details on the other water outlet? Part numbers etc. that's somthing ID like to look into..

 

[marshian70]

Oh wow.does anybody have any details on the other water outlet? Part numbers etc. that's somthing ID like to look into..

There is a thread on here somewhere, but may take some searching. Hopefully someone with more knowledge on how this is done will respond. Good luck!

 

[GrannyJen]

I would like a reading light in the downstairs bed by the cupboards. It's 20 years since I chose to sleep on this side and I can't see my book!

I use one of these clipped to a cupboard shelf

 

[marshian70]

Oh wow.does anybody have any details on the other water outlet? Part numbers etc. that's somthing ID like to look into..

OK found this, hopefully of use
http://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/vw-camping-shower.6423/page-2#post-78340

 

[sidepod]

Forget the inside, it's near enough. If I'm spending North of £50k on a vehicle I'd quite like to be able to specify a nice colour. Give me any colour from the VW palette, not just the half dozen dull colours VW deem acceptable. Imagine a Cali in the sweet orange or powder blue that VW apply to other vehicles.

This is a serious issue for us. The T5 Cali has an identical internal layout/config as the T4 it evolved from. When pitched up on site a new T5 isn't going to do anything better or different from the T4. Ok, the drive out on the road is better but to justify the outlay I need everything to be right and that includes colour.

Come on VW, the Campervan historically is a cool funky bit of kit. Does your market research tell you it's only bought by borderline caravaners?

 

[marshian70]

Forget the inside, it's near enough. If I'm spending North of £50k on a vehicle I'd quite like to be able to specify a nice colour. Give me any colour from the VW palette, not just the half dozen dull colours VW deem acceptable. Imagine a Cali in the sweet orange or powder blue that VW apply to other vehicles.

This is a serious issue for us. The T5 Cali has an identical internal layout/config as the T4 it evolved from. When pitched up on site a new T5 isn't going to do anything better or different from the T4. Ok, the drive out on the road is better but to justify the outlay I need everything to be right and that includes colour.

Come on VW, the Campervan historically is a cool funky bit of kit. Does your market research tell you it's only bought by borderline caravaners?

Thats why the T6 should have been based on the Bulli concept IMO

 

[Raggedroy]

Oh wow.does anybody have any details on the other water outlet? Part numbers etc. that's somthing ID like to look into..

http://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/vw-camping-shower.6423/page-2#post-83516

 

[Skylark2.0]

I use one of these clipped to a cupboard shelf

I've got a little light of mine that I let shine too but I thought I would mention it!

 

[Rob H]

I think the challenge is to design in functionality / comfort, efficiency and reliability, without resorting to complexity, neither digital or electronic or hydraulic complexity, the cali is a pint pot, can only fit so much into it, 'electric everything' means ... sitting in the dark after the puff of magic blue smoke or when the batteries go flat ... lol .. KIS ..

 

[rippers]

Forget the inside, it's near enough. If I'm spending North of £50k on a vehicle I'd quite like to be able to specify a nice colour. Give me any colour from the VW palette, not just the half dozen dull colours VW deem acceptable. Imagine a Cali in the sweet orange or powder blue that VW apply to other vehicles.

I'm probably wrong but I'm sure read somewhere that they are introducing two tone colours from factory.

 

[andywa119]

The cupboards on a Cali look great but are impractical. Draw units like those on the westfalia joker are much more useful. Also the interior colour us so drab and the seat cloth seems designed to collect strains. The fridge is fine. The hand brake get in the way so an electronic one would be better. As we only ever use the upstairs bed then a parcel shelf that could be 1/2 size would allow the rear seat to push back a further 12" would create better access to storage and create more living space. No more grey.


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[2CV67]

I'd like to see some sort of protection so nobody can accidentally kick the handbrake off while I am asleep upstairs near the cliff edge...

 

[Skylark2.0]

I'd like to see some sort of protection so nobody can accidentally kick the handbrake off while I am asleep upstairs near the cliff edge...

Sounds like a good story behind that comment? !

 

[aileron346]

Yes, agree with a lot of that. Keeping it simple, a split lid on the cooker/sink could allow a little bit of work surface to get the fridge open more easily.

Def agree with the handbrake issues. We'd quite like the option of hot water and a shower hose in the back wardrobe for wild camp showers in a curtain under the open tailgate...seen another T5 with it.

Finally, for us, we absolutely love the simple clean modern design of VW interiors. Almost every other conversion reverts to British chintz to varying degrees.., give me modern German design any day!



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[Dottie]

I love my chintz!

 

[Borris]

Despite the tardis like qualities of the Cali, there is a limit to what can be squeezed into the T5 body, hence the Beach and SE offer buyers different alternatives depending on their needs.
We love our SE, but for a bit of fun I started wondering, if I was in the VW design studio, what would be the perfect interior for us, within the confines of the existing body.
Many will say theirs is perfect as it is, and I agree it's pretty fabulous but if I could:
I would definitely keep the brill fridge and the double burner/sink, however I would make the unit that houses them a little shallower to allow a slightly wider 3 seater bench seat to be installed - I have seen this on some aftermarket conversions.
I would reconfigure the rear bed board slightly as the bed does not need to be as long (would mean sleeping with heads to front). This would allow the floor to ceiling storage next to the fridge to be a little deeper nearest to the tailgate. Rather than separate units that face to the rear and to the cabin, I would combine these into one bigger unit with tambour doors and storage shelves.
Water and waste to be underslung so that they do not take up space internally, freeing up space for a small water heater.
The seat would allow a porta potti to be stored underneath.
Otherwise everything that makes the Cali brilliant, stays.
I'm interested to hear your weird and wacky ideas on what you would do to yours, not to open up a Beach vs SE debate!
Cheers

I am very impressed with the current Cali SE layout. It is a brilliant design and I am happy with it as it is. It certainly doesn't need a crappy black plastic cup holder to make it any more perfect! However during the long research period before buying one I also looked at the Beach, Shuttle and Caravelle as at that time I was looking for a versatile vehicle to do several different jobs, people, carrier, load lugger and leisure vehicle. That vehicle doesn't exist. If it did, I think the following formula might prove quite popular with some. Forgive me as I am straying from the brief a bit here.
1. This vehicle would be based on the long wheel base Caravelle with twin manual side doors each containing a table which can be used separately or joined together to create one large one.
2. To include seven seats (incl. two removable swivelling captain's seats).
3. Front seats to swivel as well. All seats to be upholstered in leather.
4. Flooring to be rubber.
5. Auxiliary parking heater.
6. Two awnings, one each side.
7. A manually raised pop up roof with a built in restrictor to prevent fabric being trapped. To be fitted with wind and rain proof material.
8. Collapsable roof access ladder.
9. Good quality blinds on all windows (black to the outside).
10. Separate modular facility for batteries, gas, water, waste water, storage, cooking and washing to be housed in the area behind the rear seats. To be able to be easily broken down and fully removable. To be mounted to enable the whole module to be slid backwards out of the tailgate to use or to be dismantled. Just seen an excellent example in another post made by Slidepods.
11. A rear mounted awning with sewn in ground sheet and draught strip.
12. California style occasional chair storage in the tailgate.
13. To be called the California English Channel perhaps?

The advantages of this vehicle is that it could carry 7 people or 5 with the captains seats removed and all of their luggage. Stripped out it could act as a massive load carrier. The camper van function would be enhanced by the extra length and the twin side doors. No more exiting on the road side. Also with two awnings and both doors open you would be able to have either more shade or a drive-away tent on one side and an awning out on the other or two drive-away tents!!! You would have a proper double bed downstairs and another upstairs. No complicated and heavy hydraulic roof mechanism and easier access via the stowaway ladder.
Obviously the modular removable kitchen storage thing in the boot won't be to every ones liking but as many cook outside anyway, this shouldn't be too much of an issue. Also as some of the problems that people have been experiencing have been with the habitation/storage/kitchen, the break down removable module would enable easier fault finding and maintenance.

Oops, I have just realised that I am committing heresy. The Cali SE is a pretty perfect design and I am talking about creating a conversion! Anyway, I am sure someone's already built one like this.

I have now come to realise that the way forward is an SE for Nanny and Grandpops to selfishly spend their time cavorting around in, in complete luxury and to buy a separate Caravelle or Shuttle for transporting our hoards of grandchildren in - steerage class!!

 

[NZCol]

I'd base it on a RHS chassis , put the door on the right side, electric handbrake, Manual roof, better wardrobe design, LED lights upstairs in the roof. Beyond that not much else. I do ponder a slide out bog in the back though with a drop down modesty curtain....