Mid life crisis Cali Swamper!

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Hey, @JuanVecino2023 although I can’t reply to your for sale thread of 360 watt solar and Victron 100/20 mppt I think it’s important to inform potential buyers that the 100/20 mppt has a maximum solar input of 290 watts. There is NO WAY you will ever achieve anything close to 360 watts.


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https://grok.com/share/bGVnYWN5_2271ff05-9fa0-4423-acbe-d75d9b0ed8fa

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[JuanVecino2023]

Currently on a road trip in Portugal - sadly not in a campervan, just a little Yaris Cross. However, time in Geres National Park and the beaches from Nazaré down to Ereiceira has given me the flavour for camping road trip.

There look to be loads of amazing off road tracks as I drive down the A roads. No idea what the access is. And the campers parked at Praia Norte made me feel nostalgic.

Anyone know what the rules are around wild camping and how strictly they are enforced? A lady I met who camps a lot said the police do checks (not sure if she was just referring to Geres/mountain area), fir vans parked up outside of official campsites.

Portugal is such a fab country, I would move here tomorrow.

 

[wildslammer22]

Currently on a road trip in Portugal - sadly not in a campervan, just a little Yaris Cross. However, time in Geres National Park and the beaches from Nazaré down to Ereiceira has given me the flavour for camping road trip.

There look to be loads of amazing off road tracks as I drive down the A roads. No idea what the access is. And the campers parked at Praia Norte made me feel nostalgic.

Anyone know what the rules are around wild camping and how strictly they are enforced? A lady I met who camps a lot said the police do checks (not sure if she was just referring to Geres/mountain area), fir vans parked up outside of official campsites.

Portugal is such a fab country, I would move here tomorrow.

I too love Portugal. I’ve never camped there, by all accounts there is some good off road driving but wild camping is challenging and heavily restricted.


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[Wannabecamperman]

I too love Portugal. I’ve never camped there, by all accounts there is some good off road driving but wild camping is challenging and heavily restricted.


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I lived in the Algarve for 3 years, a little fishing village called Alvor, Was heavenly in the 90s. The property prices have gone bananas since. I regret not buying in Almancil / Villamoura / Albufeira / Vale de Lobo back then. Not returned for ages, but might make a trip as I used to, getting the ferry to Santander in N Spain and driving down... Muinto Beim!

 

[wildslammer22]

I lived in the Algarve for 3 years, a little fishing village called Alvor, Was heavenly in the 90s. The property prices have gone bananas since. I regret not buying in Almancil / Villamoura / Albufeira / Vale de Lobo back then. Not returned for ages, but might make a trip as I used to, getting the ferry to Santander in N Spain and driving down... Muinto Beim!

Sounds wonderful and a great time to have been there


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[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Just curious, has anyone installed or considered swapping out their OEM awning for a 180 degree or 270 degree awning? From, for example, Vickywood, Bushwakka, or Horntools?

I'm looking at this one in particular as I've seen it in person and the quality is amazing. Integrated LED's, closed it is 2 meters, and fully opened (and freestanding up to 40Kmh wind) it expands to 5 meters which fully covers the side of the van. It's also very lightweight at 18-19Kg versus the current Thule which is 26kg.

https://shop.vickywood.com/180-Markise-LEAF-200-cm-grau

 

[wildslammer22]

Just curious, has anyone installed or considered swapping out their OEM awning for a 180 degree or 270 degree awning? From, for example, Vickywood, Bushwakka, or Horntools?

I'm looking at this one in particular as I've seen it in person and the quality is amazing. Integrated LED's, closed it is 2 meters, and fully opened (and freestanding up to 40Kmh wind) it expands to 5 meters which fully covers the side of the van. It's also very lightweight at 18-19Kg versus the current Thule which is 26kg.

https://shop.vickywood.com/180-Markise-LEAF-200-cm-grau

Wouldn’t work for me with a pop top and tailgate but I’ve had one in the past and loved it. I had the ARB one on my Landy - not seen the Vickywood one but my only advice is go for best quality - they tend to be built for rigs that tour Australia and Africa and the cheap ones don’t do well in damp temperate climates! One feature worth having for use in the rain is the pop up struts that create a run off on the canvas or that 18kg can quickly become 30kg in the rain!

I suspect it’s work wonderfully well on your rig.

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Wouldn’t work for me with a pop top and tailgate but I’ve had one in the past and loved it. I had the ARB one on my Landy - not seen the Vickywood one but my only advice is go for best quality - they tend to be built for rigs that tour Australia and Africa and the cheap ones don’t do well in damp temperate climates! One feature worth having for use in the rain is the pop up struts that create a run off on the canvas or that 18kg can quickly become 30kg in the rain!

I suspect it’s work wonderfully well on your rig.

Yeah, the only way for me to install the universal brackets is to mount 2 airline rails parallel for the mount points. Would likely mount these the full length of the roof similar to what I've done on the other side as I then have additional mountpoints for other items if desired (as long as they don't interfere with the awning opened). The Vickywood is very premium quality and built in Germany so many suppliers in the region.

The 270 would be even more amazing but my rear storage box wouldn't allow this. Hence the reason I'm looking at the 180.

Sorry this is in German but you can see the quality and this is on a T6.1 without poptop:

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

These side panels look pretty nice also for the 180 when parked up at a campsite. Of course more of a faff if you want to driveaway but if parked up for days and using e-bikes or other this is quite cool:

https://shop.vickywood.com/Annex-Walls-for-Awning-180-LEAF-200-cm-grey

 

[The Merle]

Agree amazing for a landy rear entrance vehicle.
Not sure if you will gain much as tailgate can’t open when out and if you are having all that stuff box/bikes etc behind then not much room to sit under, unless it’s to shade that stuff.

Next meridian have a cool set up on there landy travelling the world and rate there 180 not sure what make it was, gifted to them by company in Oz I think.

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Agree amazing for a landy rear entrance vehicle.
Not sure if you will gain much as tailgate can’t open when out and if you are having all that stuff box/bikes etc behind then not much room to sit under, unless it’s to shade that stuff.

Next meridian have a cool set up on there landy travelling the world and rate there 180 not sure what make it was, gifted to them by company in Oz I think.

This is exactly the reason for the 180 version. Side only and expands to 5 meters which covers the entire side of the van and extends out 2 meters.


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[The Merle]

This is exactly the reason for the 180 version. Side only and expands to 5 meters which covers the entire side of the van and extends out 2 meters.


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Ah ok I’m getting confused with my angles