So what's in your Cali bottom drawer....?

[Smiffy4bikes]

With the new Cali on order, I'm already forming a shopping list or 'bottom drawer' in my head so that when the Cali is here I have lots of goodies put by so as to make it 'ours'. As seasoned camper van owners we already have all the kitcheny stuff, including the excellent Coleman Folding Kettle (what a great bit of kit) and all the usual bits such as hook-up lead etc, but I'd be really interested to see what other members are either collecting, or have already collected and are using!

So far the list is small, and includes:

Internal Cali-Cozi
Pop-top bungee
Small plastic folding step (lame I know but I'm sure it will be useful!!)
A couple of battery/usb charging LED lights from Decathlon

Any more ideas??

 

[Hotel California]

If you want check out my bottom drawer and the rest of the stuff i carry ,
feel free to look here:
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/inside-the-hotel-california-for-your-eyes-only.9776/

 

[T6 CFO]

VW California Bellows Bungee
SpareSafe
Hook Up Cable Storage Bag
Converter For Inverter Socket
Fuse 80A £1.99
Campervan Hook Up Cable - 25 Metres
Euro Hook Up Adapter
Hook Up Adapter for use at Home

Quest Mini Oven
Thetford Porta Potti 335 Qube Toilet
Alpro Pop Up Utility Tent
Milenco Triple levelling ramps
Monster Mats
Moonrock Carpets Front Cabin & Boot
Campingaz Cylinder Cover
Inka waterproof Car seat covers
Screen cover
Cali-Topper

There are a few other bits and bobs but I'm to embarrassed to go further.



Mike

 

[Neilgbj]

Good Lord that's a lot...how about ......beer, wine, some food, a tank of diesel and heading off to wherever you fancy?

 

[Lewis]

VW California Bellows Bungee
SpareSafe
Hook Up Cable Storage Bag
Converter For Inverter Socket
Fuse 80A £1.99
Campervan Hook Up Cable - 25 Metres
Euro Hook Up Adapter
Hook Up Adapter for use at Home

Quest Mini Oven
Thetford Porta Potti 335 Qube Toilet
Alpro Pop Up Utility Tent
Milenco Triple levelling ramps
Monster Mats
Moonrock Carpets Front Cabin & Boot
Campingaz Cylinder Cover
Inka waterproof Car seat covers
Screen cover
Cali-Topper

There are a few other bits and bobs but I'm to embarrassed to go further.



Mike

You're so much further ahead than us in the accessory planning stakes. We need to get our behinds into gear! Ordered some Brandrup Second Skin seat covers this week, will hopefully see them before the end of the decade...

 

[GrannyJen]

Most of my pre-delivery bottom drawer is still in the bottom drawer

Astonishing how much has either not been used, or, used and decided unnecessary.

 

[T6 CFO]

You're so much further ahead than us in the accessory planning stakes. We need to get our behinds into gear! Ordered some Brandrup Second Skin seat covers this week, will hopefully see them before the end of the decade...

Yep your right on that. Ordered the Brandrup stuff back in March. Looks like they may beat VW
In my defence I was laid up for quite a while with a back issue and I needed something to keep me amused. The wife and bank manager are pleased I am recovering


Mike

 

[T6 CFO]

Good Lord that's a lot...how about ......beer, wine, some food, a tank of diesel and heading off to wherever you fancy?

That's a given! Enjoying moving to the planning trips stage. Some great stuff on here which is all getting bookmarked.


Mike

 

[Neilgbj]

In all seriousness the Cali Topper is the 'extra' we use the most (particularly last weekend where we had a bit of a soaking with high winds!).....seat covers ( yes Jackyards), levelling ramps (occasionally) and 25 metre hook up cable (yes, also have 10m but rarely use it)....

 

[Wind Witch]

Since we are campers/tenters moving onto four wheels we too have a lot of the camping stuff we need. We have made a solemn vow to wait for the cali to arrive and THEN see what we really need - I wouldn't put good money on my lasting out on this since I understand it may be the new year before we get our pride and joy . So far we are up to a roof bungee, a 25 metre hook up and I've already bought some battery fairy lights in the sale in Primark. We did a "try before you buy" weekend away and decided we needed much smaller pillows that our domestic ones but I'm having trouble sourcing these.

Less a bottom drawer and more a shoe box really.

Cheers, Wind Witch

 

[BikerGran]

All great stuff, just what I need to know when I'm trying to work out where to put what in my new Cali - there seems to be huge amounts of space but I bet I can fill it! I used to load the big rack on my trike, them when I had to get a bigger tent and campbed I progressed to a small trailer......

We did a "try before you buy" weekend away and decided we needed much smaller pillows that our domestic ones but I'm having trouble sourcing these.

I bought a couple of these small pillows or cushions in Dunelm to go in the matching covers - I expect they are sold elsewhere as well, they might be ideal unless they're too hard...

 

[Wind Witch]

Oooh! Thanks BikerGran. They look perfect. Firmer is better - everything I've found so far has been far too squishy for a good night's sleep.

I know just what you mean about having more and more stuff - we did just the same; the tent got bigger, which meant more room for kitchen stuff and then we needed more comfy mattresses....

I suppose it depends on what you plan to do in your Cali (and how far you plan to venture from home)?

Cheers, Wind Witch

 

[Smiffy4bikes]

Very interesting replies! What an interesting and friendly bunch on this forum

I've now added the spare wheel security bolt, mats and or carpets and possibly Jackyard seat covers to my list

I'm very much in the 'less is more and keep it simple' brigade. Experience has taught me the hard way that spending hours packing up, unpacking, packing up and unpacking again when you get home, just becomes an almighty chore (especially when it's chucking it down with rain...) and completely flies in the face of what having a camper van is all about in the first place, i.e., just heading off on the spur of the moment for fun and adventures! A bag of clothes, pint of milk and the always essential coffee takes all of 5 minutes to pack, fabulous!

And if the kids are lucky I might even remember to take them too...

My bottom drawer is also very much planned around what I definitely DONT want or need, such as drive-away awnings (PITA), pop-up tents, groundsheets, extra tables/chairs, folding storage units, mats, brooms, windbreakers, buckets, extension cables, cuddly toys and all that 'stuff' that seems to end up being chucked in the back of the van as you head off the drive, just in case... Which, incidentally is why I love the appeal of the Cali, as its all there, ready to go

And, like GrannyJen, I too have a pile of 'Essential Camping Items' piled up in the shed, never used and about to be listed on fleabay very soon...

 

[RedCali]

My advice would be to not buy anything until you've been away for a weekend or two. It's perfectly possible to have a great time in the Cali without buying lots of extra stuff if you've got a bit of camping kit. We're definitely in the less is more camp! ( This also goes for the spec of our Cali ).

 

[larrylamb]

We did a "try before you buy" weekend away and decided we needed much smaller pillows that our domestic ones but I'm having trouble sourcing these.

We bought some "european style" square pillows from Ikea, they also sell covers separately. These fit nicely in the Cali, normal pillows are too long especially downstairs.

 

[BikerGran]

I've been putting my usual camping stuff into the Cali, less tent and chair and bed etc. Chucked my sleeping bag in there too, although I intend to use a duvet; perhaps those who do could tell me what they do about a bottom sheet - plain or a normal double size fitted one?

Oh and as I shall be cooking in there (I understand some don't, but I can't see the point myself) - I feel I ought to have a fire extinguisher, although oddly I didn't think that when I was in a tent! Is there any particular sort I should get?

 

[T6 CFO]

I've been putting my usual camping stuff into the Cali, less tent and chair and bed etc. Chucked my sleeping bag in there too, although I intend to use a duvet; perhaps those who do could tell me what they do about a bottom sheet - plain or a normal double size fitted one?

Oh and as I shall be cooking in there (I understand some don't, but I can't see the point myself) - I feel I ought to have a fire extinguisher, although oddly I didn't think that when I was in a tent! Is there any particular sort I should get?

Covered on this thread but there are others. Search function will find most things you are interested in.

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/fire-extinguisher-blanket.13708/page-2#post-142636


Mike

 

[BikerGran]

Thanks for that - interesting thread and maybe I won't get an extinguisher!

 

[Leo K]

This is probably our most often used accessory:

 

[sapto]

If you want check out my bottom drawer and the rest of the stuff i carry ,
feel free to look here:
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/inside-the-hotel-california-for-your-eyes-only.9776/

Still one of the best threads about this subject/what goes where

 

[Pete M]

VW California Bellows Bungee
SpareSafe
Hook Up Cable Storage Bag
Converter For Inverter Socket
Fuse 80A £1.99
Campervan Hook Up Cable - 25 Metres
Euro Hook Up Adapter
Hook Up Adapter for use at Home

Quest Mini Oven
Thetford Porta Potti 335 Qube Toilet
Alpro Pop Up Utility Tent
Milenco Triple levelling ramps
Monster Mats
Moonrock Carpets Front Cabin & Boot
Campingaz Cylinder Cover
Inka waterproof Car seat covers
Screen cover
Cali-Topper

There are a few other bits and bobs but I'm to embarrassed to go further.

Monster Mats? I'm looking for a good outside set up!



Mike

 

[theonecraw]

Campingaz Cylinder Cover

Hey Mike, Where did you get the campingaz cover? Everywhere I try are out of stock...

 

[T6 CFO]

Hey Mike, Where did you get the campingaz cover? Everywhere I try are out of stock...

Found it. Was a tip from Welsh Gas

http://www.camperlands.co.uk/campingaz-cylinder-cover.html

Checked and in stock


Mike

 

[Tommy Gun]

Found it. Was a tip from Welsh Gas

http://www.camperlands.co.uk/campingaz-cylinder-cover.html

Checked and in stock


Mike

Thanks Mike & @WelshGas
Just ordered 2

Cheers

 

[ejmoore]

I bought a couple of these small pillows or cushions in Dunelm to go in the matching covers - I expect they are sold elsewhere as well, they might be ideal unless they're too hard...

View attachment 14060

John Lewis sell something similar, which we bought at first, but we now use full size pillows instead, & have these as cushions on the back seat.