Seikel 'Cruiser Package' for T5 and T6 California

[HugoFar]

While looking into a way to stop the rear end of our T5 California 4motion from looking too low I discovered this package on the Seikel website. It would be wonderful to have this fitted here in NZ where lots of the roads are gravel,but it's quite spendy. Thought some others might like it too. http://www.seikel.de/shop/equipment-packagecruiser-from-seikel/?lang=eh

 

[HugoFar]

While looking into a way to stop the rear end of our T5 California 4motion from looking too low I discovered this package on the Seikel website. It would be wonderful to have this fitted here in NZ where lots of the roads are gravel,but it's quite spendy. Thought some others might like it too. http://www.seikel.de/shop/equipment-packagecruiser-from-seikel/?lang=eh

I just had a closer look at the photo on the Seikel Cruise page and it appears the 'California' is possibly not a California as there is no right side sliding door. At first I imagined the photo had been reversed but the 'Seikel' sticker is facing the right way so maybe it's a conversion done with Cali fittings and a left slider. ??? Doesn't really matter anyway as the kit would still work well I imagine.

 

[snowy55]

Fuel filler is also on the wrong side - bad photoshopping me thinks.

 

[HugoFar]

So it is... hadn't noticed that. California photo shopped to appeal to a non California owning market maybe? As Seikel have a close relationship with VW it seems odd they bothered to do this. It still looks good to me even the 'wrong way' round.

 

[symcro]

If you want an easy, cheap solution to the saggy arse end of your T5 or T6 Cali get a Pedders rear suspension upgrade.

I have mentioned it a couple of times on here in the past. If you want to improve the "stance", handling & load carrying of your T5/6 Cali & in particular use it for towing then I would say it is fairly essential that you get this kit (or something similar).

We have fitted it to our T5 Panel & T5 California & I have just got another kit to go on to our new T6 California.
It raises the rear end by ~45mm which makes it much better for towing & most definitely improves the handling of the vehicle.

More info on Pedder Suspension; http://www.pedders.co.uk/files_vw_transportert5

Facebook Album; https://www.facebook.com/simon.holl...=a.4579580225976.1073741831.1786031109&type=3

Previous Cali Thread on Pedders Suspension ; https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/pedders-suspension.10117/

 

[HugoFar]

I have looked at the Pedders T5 rear lift kit, possibly from a previous post from you symcro. By all accounts it improves as you say 'stance and towing ability'. And general handling from some other reviews. What we're unsure about is how much the rear will be 'in the air' when it's time for bed. (2 adults + 2 young kids). You don't mention this. We generally sleep heads to front. Don't really want heads down hill,or to have to use leveling blocks on a flat site to compensate. Although not the end of the world if we have to, and we rarely camp in perfectly flat sites any way.
Our 2007/8 Cali 4motion does have the saggy rear that seems common and since we also have a NZ spec 50mm square removable tow bar which sometimes holds a steel swing out bicycle rack,and a few bikes,it only seems lower. Even at walking pace we can hit car park speed bumps with the tow bar and at gentle twisty gravel road speeds we can bottom out the rear. I'm guessing it's hitting rubber bumpers,but don't actually know. BTW, I've added up approx weights and we will be under GVM 3000kg.
Another poster mentioned they had fitted the Pedders rear T5 kit and were now hunting for a 20mm front lift to level it out. What's odd is that even with the rear end seemingly quite low,the inside sits resonably level. (Yes,I even checked with a level.)
So, first option is do nothing,and live with it, or upgrade; save a bunch of cash and fit the Pedders rear for that better rear ground clearance/wedge look and better driving feel? or go crazy and give Seikel and TNT (shipping to NZ and local taxes, fitting and balancing) a whole bunch of dosh and go up a "theoretical" 30mm all 4 corners? http://www.seikel.de/shop/lift-figures-t5t6/?lang=eh
As we do drive a lot of gravel roads this is not a luxury or image decision, more a necessity. We don't do real 4x4 stuff.
Quietly wishing the Cali had come originally with the NZD$500 option 1BJ, Heavy duty suspension for rough roads with 20mm lift. But it didn't.

 

[HugoFar]

Just discovered that the Seikel(?) 30mm Lift Kit is now available from VW as a 'Special Equipment' option on the T6 California.
http://www.volkswagen-commercial-vehicles.com/en/models/california/information_material.html
If you look at page 33 or there abouts of the PDF it shows details. (To the right of the Child seats)
This option doesn't seem to have filtered through to the only just released NZ Cali Spec List,and possibly not the UK either. But it is possible. These options seem to be cheaper to get fitted from new if possible. I would spec it if buying new, but instead looking to fit it to our 2008 4Motion.