Mid life crisis Cali Swamper!

[Jimmylondon07]

Urban Ark Overland was selling these but I can’t find the post to see if they had gone or not. Can’t quite make out what they are, look like Monotube AT’s but they aren’t. Holeshots maybe?

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Yeah they are KMC Holeshots. Lovely looking wheel but apparently a bit prone to corrosion around the studs.

 

[Camperfamily]

Just going to leave this here:

 

[Californication69]

Having a week away in Peak District this week, saw a proper nice grey swamper.
Nice.
The other thing is the pot holes are just ridiculous.
Like I had to slam brakes on to not hit it at 50mph.
Traffic coming the other way and I’d have bust my 18” alloy & winter contact.
It was 3” deep by 2 feet across.
I might have made it with the 3ply 60 profile on the Kato’s.
So there is something in having the swamper look tyres.
I counted at least 15 enormous potholes that were mapped in Waze.
Might have even needed some rock sliders to get in and out of some

 

[Californication69]

Just going to leave this here:

The VB air, looks like they changed the rear diff as well ? Thats on my bucket list for when I retire.
Would love to send it to that place and get it done properly.
Was that Hess Techs in Germany who did the work ?
Or just some garage ?
Love the integrated rear pod lights.
Under the lights.
Bonnet mounted tracks are hawt.
And snorkel for sure

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

The VB air, looks like they changed the rear diff as well ? Thats on my bucket list for when I retire.
Would love to send it to that place and get it done properly.
Was that Hess Techs in Germany who did the work ?
Or just some garage ?
Love the integrated rear pod lights.
Under the lights.
Bonnet mounted tracks are hawt.
And snorkel for sure

Hess is in Alpnach Switzerland near me. I’d recommend the Goldschmidt instead of VB though. Extra feature being able to weigh the van at any time (it has an algorithm to measure air pressure per corner) and is higher quality. Buel Garage in Gebertingen is the place to go. I drive 80Km’s to have him work on my van even though Hess is only 5Km’s away.


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[Camperfamily]

@Californication69 I believe this was all done by Hess themselves - probably a show wagon. It’s hugely impressive. Got to be close to a €200k Cali I imagine.

 

[Californication69]

@Californication69 I believe this was all done by Hess themselves - probably a show wagon. It’s hugely impressive. Got to be close to a €200k Cali I imagine.

Got to be. A lot of man hours and equipment.

My thought train is, I don’t drink, don’t smoke, no hobby’s per say, so my money can go into the swamper and will be of great fun to my 1 grandkid, soon to be 3 grandkids, by the end of the year !!!
Need to work out how to make my money work out between retirement and a full Goldschmidt upgrade as per @Webbah_in_Switzerland reccomendation.

 

[Californication69]

Hess is in Alpnach Switzerland near me. I’d recommend the Goldschmidt instead of VB though. Extra feature being able to weigh the van at any time (it has an algorithm to measure air pressure per corner) and is higher quality. Buel Garage in Gebertingen is the place to go. I drive 80Km’s to have him work on my van even though Hess is only 5Km’s away.


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Only issue is having to bring back my old suspension but I guess I could just ditch it.

I think seikel snorkel is the cheapest upgrade, that I can do this year.
But then would need breathers on Difflock ?

I know exactly what the Swiss border customs are like!
We tried 3 times to ship a robotic High throughput screening machine and ancillary’s from Switzerland to france.
3 times we had to take it back into Switzerland, un crate everything, to re label every tiny bit and take pictures and document.
The company would have been cheaper to buy a new one.

 

[Tarquers]

The VB air, looks like they changed the rear diff as well ?

They put diff spacers in to reduce the drive line angle with a raised suspension. Need to keep the drive shafts as close to horizontal as possible.

 

[Cali-donia]

Do you think ‘California Swamper’ needs a rebrand? What about ‘California Dakar’ or ‘California Sterrato’?

 

[wildslammer22]

Only issue is having to bring back my old suspension but I guess I could just ditch it.

I think seikel snorkel is the cheapest upgrade, that I can do this year.
But then would need breathers on Difflock ?

I know exactly what the Swiss border customs are like!
We tried 3 times to ship a robotic High throughput screening machine and ancillary’s from Switzerland to france.
3 times we had to take it back into Switzerland, un crate everything, to re label every tiny bit and take pictures and document.
The company would have been cheaper to buy a new one.

There is a Goldschmitt dealer in Devon - RV Installations. No idea how the prices compare to VB but it has to be cheaper than going to Switzerland and at least you would have some form of UK support? VB is spendy at £6k plus now in the UK.

The other potential issue is whether it’s VW approved in the UK for extended warranty policies.


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[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

There is a Goldschmitt dealer in Devon - RV Installations. No idea how the prices compare to VB but it has to be cheaper than going to Switzerland and at least you would have some form of UK support? VB is spends at £6k plus now in the UK.

The other potential issue is whether it’s VW approved in the UK for extended warranty policies.


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In Switzerland I have a full cover extended warranty with VW (Carlife Plus) and it’s no issue.


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[wildslammer22]

In Switzerland I have a full cover extended warranty with VW (Carlife Plus) and it’s no issue.


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I do recall you saying it’s VW approved in Switzerland but as you likely know we like to do our own thing in the UK…


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[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

I do recall you saying it’s VW approved in Switzerland but as you likely know we like to do our own thing in the UK…


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Would suck if true. Law here is simple. If mods are homologated and approved the car manufacturer has to accept them. The only way they can deny a specific warranty issue is if they can prove it was due to the modification.


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[Californication69]

There is a Goldschmitt dealer in Devon - RV Installations. No idea how the prices compare to VB but it has to be cheaper than going to Switzerland and at least you would have some form of UK support? VB is spendy at £6k plus now in the UK.

The other potential issue is whether it’s VW approved in the UK for extended warranty policies.


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Good find, thanks !

 

[Californication69]

Would suck if true. Law here is simple. If mods are homologated and approved the car manufacturer has to accept them. The only way they can deny a specific warranty issue is if they can prove it was due to the modification.


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We have very bad and quirky ways that VW like to get out of things here in the UK.
The whole wheel load rating fiasco is just one of them.

 

[CamperFam]

Currently debating these:

Thinking they're the least garish looking of any of the Swamper alloys out there currently, and would suit the Pearl Black rather well.....

 

[Californication69]

Currently debating these:

Thinking they're the least garish looking of any of the Swamper alloys out there currently, and would suit the Pearl Black rather well.....

Wot they called ?

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Wot they called ?

Black Rhino Warlords. Love mine!


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[Californication69]

Black Rhino Warlords. Love mine!


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They say love is in the eye of the beholder
They are not bad, it’s a very personal thing is wheels isn’t it.
I need to stop looking at wheels
The wife says you can only put 1 set on at a time ha ha

 

[Californication69]

And no idea why we are both awake at 5am when we meant to be on annual leave. FGS !

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

And no idea why we are both awake at 5am when we meant to be on annual leave. FGS !

It’s 6AM here. I’m always an early riser and unfortunately it’s work from van day for me!


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[Californication69]

It’s 6AM here. I’m always an early riser and unfortunately it’s work from van day for me!


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Good luck! Enjoy the outdoors

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Good luck! Enjoy the outdoors

Heavy rain all day today apparently. Makes it easier to sit inside nice and warm and work on documentation for network design for a customer.


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[Californication69]

Heavy rain all day today apparently. Makes it easier to sit inside nice and warm and work on documentation for network design for a customer.


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Yeah lots of rain here too, enjoy the topology design.