IS THIS WHAT THE G/C SHOULD OF BEEN

[Wondering Star]

Unlike the VW California the Hymer Grand Canyon roof can be closed with bedding in place, also no weight limit as the poptop is mounted on the original steel roof.
Having a large flat area also allows for three large solar panels.
If your worried about the cold the interior tent can be supplied with a internal insulation kit and electric blanket.
As McSnuff points out it also gives kid's a room of their own.
Not sure a hardtop is better in the rain never had a problem with mine but agree poptop is restricted by wind.
Plenty of examples of leaking skylights out there.

 

[The Blue Merle]

Unlike the VW California the Hymer Grand Canyon roof can be closed with bedding in place, also no weight limit as the poptop is mounted on the original steel roof.
Having a large flat area also allows for three large solar panels.
If your worried about the cold the interior tent can be supplied with a internal insulation kit and electric blanket.
As McSnuff points out it also gives kid's a room of their own.
Not sure a hardtop is better in the rain never had a problem with mine but agree poptop is restricted by wind.
Plenty of examples of leaking skylights out there.

The down side with pop tops on bigger vans is you loose the skylights which are very important for ventilation and light.
Having a shower or boiling the kettle and opening a skylight will get the steam out much better than any side window.
Also the big skylight in my van I can lay in bed and look at the stars.
At night they are good leave a little open so you get fresh air in the van whilst sleeping and will let heat out if it baking hot at night.

Plus side is they are great for kids/summer sleeping or on a little van without the solid original van roof.

 

[subthree]

Looks a beauty.
I’ve gone gooey for one of these. Norantz IPAR 4…
View attachment 89677

Fun video on their homepage.

NORANTZ | IPAR ALLROAD

De la colavoracion de MAN y NORANTZ nace la IPAR ALLROAD la camper 4x4 que no pondra limite a tus aventuras

en.norantz.com

 

[rod_vw]

Still too small when it’s raining…. Too big for country lanes and small city streets… ...

If you are referring to the standard body width, why is it too big for these roads? Look what size van all the major parcel delivery companies use. They manage to deliver to almost every location you can imagine.
That's the reasoning that I am using when ordering a MAN TGE for conversion.

 

[Jester]

Still too small when it’s raining…. Too big for country lanes and small city streets… Shower is too small for normal people… An inside loo IS tempting though (but still too much hassle overall when you take into consideration the faff of emptying it in comparison to nipping behind a hedge).

Might be worth trying one before making uninformed comments.

 

[andyinluton]

Still too small when it’s raining…. Too big for country lanes and small city streets…

Have you tried one? the Crafter / Man at 2040mm is only 136mm wider than a normal Cali and only 36mm wider than a BMW X5.
A "normal" Coachbuilt motorhome would be 2350mm wide - now that is wide & feels it. All excluding mirrors.

The only thing stopping me going anywhere that I would in an ocean is going to be hight barriers.

Strangely once you are inside a GC it feels miles wider in the back than a cali because the sides rise vertically rather than sloping in.

Plenty big enough for 3 of us when its raining. there's the top bed, the rear bed + the 4 seats that can all be used at the same time so a bit of room to spread out.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Fun video on their homepage.

NORANTZ | IPAR ALLROAD

De la colavoracion de MAN y NORANTZ nace la IPAR ALLROAD la camper 4x4 que no pondra limite a tus aventuras

en.norantz.com

Now I really want one.
Considering a bigger van and ID Buzz to replace the Cali. Just waiting to see how the ID Buzz interior is delivered…

 

[subthree]

Now I really want one.
Considering a bigger van and ID Buzz to replace the Cali. Just waiting to see how the ID Buzz interior is delivered…

Bigger van AND a Buzz, ouch!

 

[soulstyledevon]

Bigger van AND a Buzz, ouch!

Should be able to sell the California which will cover the cost of the Buzz, I’m guessing £50k.
Then just need to buy the bigger van.
Although, if I bought a bigger van. It will be going out on rental, outside the school holidays in order to help pay for itself.

 

[The Blue Merle]

Should be able to sell the California which will cover the cost of the Buzz, I’m guessing £50k.
Then just need to buy the bigger van.
Although, if I bought a bigger van. It will be going out on rental, outside the school holidays in order to help pay for itself.

Just get a joker you know you want one!
Wandahomes has/maybe still has a nice new one in stock and Rob at campersales has a couple on order.

 

[Wondering Star]

Interesting alternatives for those not keen on poptop beds in larger vans.

Google Image Result for https://www.pngitem.com/pimgs/m/29-295782_ukraine-flag-emoji-heart-hd-png-download.png

 

[Wondering Star]

Interesting alternatives for those not keen on poptop beds in larger vva

 

[Wondering Star]

Sorry not sure what's happened with this post

 

[andyinluton]

That wouldn't work for us. If the second bed is in use the whole dinette is out of action. The attraction of the GC is being able to let the daughter stay in her pit up top without it stopping us using the rest of the van.
We have already established that she doesn't need the ladder to get up there which was pain when it was in place.

 

[Wondering Star]

Have you seen the Globetraveller Voyager X. Has an interesting roof bed layout I haven't seen before.
Looks to be a quality van.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Just get a joker you know you want one!
Wandahomes has/maybe still has a nice new one in stock and Rob at campersales has a couple on order.

I do have a soft spot for the Joker. But think it would work better if there were just two of us.
I would want permanent beds for 3 people.

 

[dominichayhoe]

Unfortunately has many tings that wouldn't work for me.

Length - too long for my drive.
Pop top - reason I went away from that is we like to use our van all year round and it's just too cold upstairs.
Rear bed - restricts using the van for loading long items, not just a motorhome.
Price - ouch!

Of course everyone would like the huge battery capacity though.

 

[dominichayhoe]

Still too small when it’s raining…. Too big for country lanes and small city streets… Shower is too small for normal people… An inside loo IS tempting though (but still too much hassle overall when you take into consideration the faff of emptying it in comparison to nipping behind a hedge).

There speaks someone who has never owned a vehicle this size clearly.

We have 3 of us in our 600 which is plenty big enough for us when it's raining.

Doddle to drive down country lanes to beaches.

Whats a 'normal' size person? I'm 5 ft 10 and this bathroom is bigger than the GC bathroom, which feels roomy to me after our Fiat Ducato based van!

Casette toilet takes all of a minute to empty, and is far better than trying to find somewhere to go in the middle of the night or when it's piddling down.

Each to their own though

 

[Chainline]

Inflammatory I hope not, but genuine question. What are your views on the RP value for what it is in a balanced spec. This year with inflation running at 12%+ for a late 23 build on the new AWD Sprinter that is probably about £155k for a Rebellion without big options. Lots of options £175k based on 2022 prices. I have never seen one in the flesh as could't get into the NEC, what did those of you who have seen it think.

I had been looking at one (tho potentially with std doors at 50mm less sleeping length) with a view to a late 23/early 24 delivery. Initially I was looking at the the Rebel slide alongside a Las Strada Regent S (no go due to brexit).

I was nervous about the 7m size and jumping in with such a specialist vehicle at that cost so began to look for a AWD GC680, as a cost effective (bet none of your thought you'd hear that!) alternative that I might be able to get used and use earlier. I couldn't find an AWD, I did find a lovely ex demo and very happy with it I am so far having paid my £80k or a little under half that of an AWD rebellion.
As per my other thread so far I am pretty comfortable with the size.

I am about to find my feet as to how, and how much I will use it, if it restricts me and what I might want that is different. It is of course entirely possible that its just fine, that I don't need AWD with my rufty tufty AT tyres and we don't end up straying off the beaten track much and spend most of our time in warmer weather and cook outside when not in restaurants so have no need at all to 'upgrade; whatever that really means. In my head, I'm in the wilds of the Basque country and Italy, alongside mountain rivers wild camping, on mountain gravel tracks and maybe trundling around Morocco)

What would I like to be different with my GC on initial reaction, mainly battery capacity actually (appears to be fixable, solar (also fixable) and a diesel heater (not fixable but Gaslow would help). Assuming no frustating gremlins beyond that of a normal house on wheels not much else so far.

Just interested in peoples view, an equivalent GC with after market 'offgridisation' would be about £120k on a blinged out from factory AWD at a hair over £90k with say £20k of batteries, lift kits, wheels, maybe less.

 

[andyinluton]

What would I like to be different with my GC on initial reaction, mainly battery capacity actually (appears to be fixable, solar (also fixable) and a diesel heater (not fixable but Gaslow would help). IF there are no frustating gremlins not much else so far.

Someone on one of the Forums - I think it is the German one has retro fitted stand alone diesel heating. Its a Webasto unit, feeding the floor vents between the front seats with the controls mounted in the cab ceiling. No different to fitting a unit to a van conversion & operates totally independently of the factory installation.

 

[Chainline]

Someone on one of the Forums - I think it is the German one has retro fitted stand alone diesel heating. Its a Webasto unit, feeding the floor vents between the front seats with the controls mounted in the cab ceiling. No different to fitting a unit to a van conversion & operates totally independently of the factory installation.

I did wonder this as it is an option you can choose the auxiliary diesel heater.