Mid life crisis Cali Swamper!

[nigpdreadingfc]

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.....

I like mine

 

[Jimmylondon07]

I do love a Warlord but think you’re missing a trick not going for bronze wheels on a black van

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

I do love a Warlord but think you’re missing a trick not going for bronze wheels on a black van

I was hesitant at first but went with the two tone gunmetal black satin with the bronze bead ring. It’s a very light brushed bronze and I’m happy with the contrast as it adds some “pop”. Also hides the brake dust a bit longer between maintenance washes.


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[Nand0]

The wife says you can only put 1 set on at a time ha ha

That also applies to shoes

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

That also applies to shoes

The rules apply to thee but not to me…


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[soulstyledevon]

Know your limits…
Can’t work out if it’s real or photoshopped?

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Know your limits…
Can’t work out if it’s real or photoshopped?

View attachment 119575

Ouch!


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[wildslammer22]

Know your limits…
Can’t work out if it’s real or photoshopped?

View attachment 119575

Is it a Sprinter? I’ve read a few horror stories of them toppling over off road. Mind you any vehicle can roll in the wrong circumstances.


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[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Is it a Sprinter? I’ve read a few horror stories of them toppling over off road. Mind you any vehicle can roll in the wrong circumstances.


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Sprinter based Hymer it looks like


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[wildslammer22]

Know your limits…
Can’t work out if it’s real or photoshopped?

View attachment 119575

Slightly off on a tangent - have you seen the Crafter based Kaktus vans? They are made in Wales and look amazing - very expensive but some really nice features. Or have you already bought a bigger van?

Kaktus Adventure Vans

kaktusvans.co.uk

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[Corradobrit]

Slightly off on a tangent - have you seen the Crafter based Kaktus vans? They are made in Wales and look amazing - very expensive but some really nice features. Or have you already bought a bigger van?

Kaktus Adventure Vans

kaktusvans.co.uk

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Several vloggers highlighted and Kaktus vans during their tour of the recent NEC Show

 

[soulstyledevon]

Slightly off on a tangent - have you seen the Crafter based Kaktus vans? They are made in Wales and look amazing - very expensive but some really nice features. Or have you already bought a bigger van?

Kaktus Adventure Vans

kaktusvans.co.uk

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Alright have a deposit on a Sprinter Hymer. Following this thread because lots of things cross-over between the Cali Swamper and Merc.
Some of the wheels here are lush.
One of my first jobs, wheels and tyres.

The issue with the Sprinter is possibly the height. They’re tall vehicles for off road use…

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Have any of you templated your van living area for replacement flooring or replaced with anything other than Brandrup carpets or Dunelm rugs etc?

I was loathe to pay the premium for VW wood effect.

I toyed with some real wood, but feels like a massive, impractical hassle.

Lately, I favour marine grade cork. Durable, good sound dampening, looks good (to me).

Not cheap. Project Yonder Sprinter interior for reference.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Have any of you templated your van living area for replacement flooring or replaced with anything other than Brandrup carpets or Dunelm rugs etc?

I was loathe to pay the premium for VW wood effect.

I toyed with some real wood, but feels like a massive, impractical hassle.

Lately, I favour marine grade cork. Durable, good sound dampening, looks good (to me).

Not cheap. Project Yonder Sprinter interior for reference.

View attachment 119594

 

[wildslammer22]

Have any of you templated your van living area for replacement flooring or replaced with anything other than Brandrup carpets or Dunelm rugs etc?

I was loathe to pay the premium for VW wood effect.

I toyed with some real wood, but feels like a massive, impractical hassle.

Lately, I favour marine grade cork. Durable, good sound dampening, looks good (to me).

Not cheap. Project Yonder Sprinter interior for reference.

View attachment 119594

I covered my floor with some cheap wood effect vinyl tiles from B&Q, 16 months on of muddy boots and muddy dog it’s still holding up really well. I do like that cork floor though

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Whatever you do think about if it insulates well if planning off season camping. I already had a wood floor, but use 12v heated floor mats if it’s super cold, or standard floor mats if not. If they get dirty I can toss them in the wash and the floor is protected. The cork looks amazing though! If I had to do a floor too I’d consider adding underfloor heating with 12v too. Heated with the flip of a switch. Some vans offer this as an option and it’s pretty slick!


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[wildslammer22]

Whatever you do think about if it insulates well if planning off season camping. I already had a wood floor, but use 12v heated floor mats if it’s super cold, or standard floor mats if not. If they get dirty I can toss them in the wash and the floor is protected. The cork looks amazing though! If I had to do a floor too I’d consider adding underfloor heating with 12v too. Heated with the flip of a switch. Some vans offer this as an option and it’s pretty slick!


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I really wish someone comes up with a simple plug and play lithium upgrade for the Cali to power all these great gadgets! I’ve seen a few companies offering this now (mostly in Europe) but they are usually hellishly expensive. A 200Ah LifePro with DC charger that fits under the front seat or under the wardrobe would be perfect. Would save a bit of weight, free up a bit of extra space and for most of us 200Ah would keep us going almost indefinitely off grid with even just 100w of solar.

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

I really wish someone comes up with a simple plug and play lithium upgrade for the Cali to power all these great gadgets! I’ve seen a few companies offering this now (mostly in Europe) but they are usually hellishly expensive. A 200Ah LifePro with DC charger that fits under the front seat or under the wardrobe would be perfect. Would save a bit of weight, free up a bit of extra space and for most of us 200Ah would keep us going almost indefinitely off grid with even just 100w of solar.

AUTARKING in Switzerland offers 100Ah batteries at 600Chf a piece now. Just 6 months ago they were double the cost.


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[soulstyledevon]

I really wish someone comes up with a simple plug and play lithium upgrade for the Cali to power all these great gadgets! I’ve seen a few companies offering this now (mostly in Europe) but they are usually hellishly expensive. A 200Ah LifePro with DC charger that fits under the front seat or under the wardrobe would be perfect. Would save a bit of weight, free up a bit of extra space and for most of us 200Ah would keep us going almost indefinitely off grid with even just 100w of solar.

I would install lithium and forego the solar.
I think solar is over rated for vans. Eventually you need to empty toilets and rubbish. You as well charge up the Lith and have another 5/6 days of power…

 

[Californication69]

I would install lithium and forego the solar.
I think solar is over rated for vans. Eventually you need to empty toilets and rubbish. You as well charge up the Lith and have another 5/6 days of power…

But to have both. Dreamy !

 

[soulstyledevon]

But to have both. Dreamy !

Unless you carry stuff on the roof

 

[Californication69]

Unless you carry stuff on the roof

Bonus points, you get to have a ladder on!
Half storage, half solar

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Slightly off on a tangent - have you seen the Crafter based Kaktus vans? They are made in Wales and look amazing - very expensive but some really nice features. Or have you already bought a bigger van?

Kaktus Adventure Vans

kaktusvans.co.uk

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These look bang tidy.

I was trying to dial the price back to starting with a 4 Motion Cali and adding wheels, racks etc to get to a vaguely similar spec.

Given the amount of spending I’m adding just on wheels & a roofrack/ladder, I might as well go the whole hog and get one of these.

At least I can live in it when the family boot me out.

 

[Nand0]

but use 12v heated floor mats if it’s super cold,

Got a link for those? been skiing a few weekends this winter and the floor does get hellishly cold. I'm using a mat now, but once I do Lithiums a heated matt would just be plush

AUTARKING in Switzerland offers 100Ah batteries at 600Chf a piece now.

You can probably get 4x280Ah 3.6v cells by now, for anyone that knows a bit of electronics and is so inclined. And I think those will fit under the passenger seat. I built a 100Ah battery in my pre-cali days (B grade cells, 86Ah effective as tested by me, to run electrics while camping in my previous car) and that was a bargain at the time at under 300chf. Still going

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Got a link for those? been skiing a few weekends this winter and the floor does get hellishly cold. I'm using a mat now, but once I do Lithiums a heated matt would just be plush

You can probably get 4x280Ah 3.6v cells by now, for anyone that knows a bit of electronics and is so inclined. And I think those will fit under the passenger seat. I built a 100Ah battery in my pre-cali days (B grade cells, 86Ah effective as tested by me, to run electrics while camping in my previous car) and that was a bargain at the time at under 300chf. Still going

As you can see, once you start adding MPPT’s, a CerboGX and BuckBoost DC-DC charger things get very tight. I can barely fit the 100Ah’s.

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