Thanks for getting me to this point in life you lovely people

[Isaac Height]

Hey Campers. I’ve never had a live in vehicle. Ordered one today after 3 solid days of deliberation and as a result getting NO work done! This forum has been very useful, helping me navigate the minefield that is vee-dub campers.

Back in January 2006 I bought a high-spec T30-174bhp for work (and also as my run around) so I am familiar with T5’s. I decommissioned it as a work van early 2019 and bought a much larger van to carry more construction stuff.

In theory I was going to convert the T5 and had many quirky ideas for it. 5 years later and with it still not being done and my daughter racing towards 12, I’ve taken the bull-by-the-horns to hopefully enjoy some camping magic with her, before she loses interest in hanging out with her old dad.

Looking forward to learning about great places to visit, especially those a short drive away from the Midlands.

My purchase is a fortnight or so away from being with me and I have not told my other half or daughter, so I’m excited about parking it on the drive and revealing what I hope will be an exhilarating surprise.

Thanks for all the helpful posts and topics so far, that have helped me understand just what the differences in Californias are and getting me to this point….CHEERS {:¬)

 

[kurienp]

Hey Campers. I’ve never had a live in vehicle. Ordered one today after 3 solid days of deliberation and as a result getting NO work done! This forum has been very useful, helping me navigate the minefield that is vee-dub campers.

Back in January 2006 I bought a high-spec T30-174bhp for work (and also as my run around) so I am familiar with T5’s. I decommissioned it as a work van early 2019 and bought a much larger van to carry more construction stuff.

In theory I was going to convert the T5 and had many quirky ideas for it. 5 years later and with it still not being done and my daughter racing towards 12, I’ve taken the bull-by-the-horns to hopefully enjoy some camping magic with her, before she loses interest in hanging out with her old dad.

Looking forward to learning about great places to visit, especially those a short drive away from the Midlands.

My purchase is a fortnight or so away from being with me and I have not told my other half or daughter, so I’m excited about parking it on the drive and revealing what I hope will be an exhilarating surprise.

Thanks for all the helpful posts and topics so far, that have helped me understand just what the differences in Californias are and getting me to this point….CHEERS {:¬)

Woah! Now that's exciting, especially if you've not told wife and daughter about it and boy, what a surprise they will have!

Welcome to this forum and when you do get the bus, post a pic on here.

Camp out on the drive the first night in the poptop. It is good fun!

Btw, what model and colour?

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Georgeo]

Hey Campers. I’ve never had a live in vehicle. Ordered one today after 3 solid days of deliberation and as a result getting NO work done! This forum has been very useful, helping me navigate the minefield that is vee-dub campers.

Back in January 2006 I bought a high-spec T30-174bhp for work (and also as my run around) so I am familiar with T5’s. I decommissioned it as a work van early 2019 and bought a much larger van to carry more construction stuff.

In theory I was going to convert the T5 and had many quirky ideas for it. 5 years later and with it still not being done and my daughter racing towards 12, I’ve taken the bull-by-the-horns to hopefully enjoy some camping magic with her, before she loses interest in hanging out with her old dad.

Looking forward to learning about great places to visit, especially those a short drive away from the Midlands.

My purchase is a fortnight or so away from being with me and I have not told my other half or daughter, so I’m excited about parking it on the drive and revealing what I hope will be an exhilarating surprise.

Thanks for all the helpful posts and topics so far, that have helped me understand just what the differences in Californias are and getting me to this point….CHEERS {:¬)

Wow not including your wife in such a major purchase.

 

[OxonCalifornia]

Hey Campers. I’ve never had a live in vehicle. Ordered one today after 3 solid days of deliberation and as a result getting NO work done! This forum has been very useful, helping me navigate the minefield that is vee-dub campers.

Back in January 2006 I bought a high-spec T30-174bhp for work (and also as my run around) so I am familiar with T5’s. I decommissioned it as a work van early 2019 and bought a much larger van to carry more construction stuff.

In theory I was going to convert the T5 and had many quirky ideas for it. 5 years later and with it still not being done and my daughter racing towards 12, I’ve taken the bull-by-the-horns to hopefully enjoy some camping magic with her, before she loses interest in hanging out with her old dad.

Looking forward to learning about great places to visit, especially those a short drive away from the Midlands.

My purchase is a fortnight or so away from being with me and I have not told my other half or daughter, so I’m excited about parking it on the drive and revealing what I hope will be an exhilarating surprise.

Thanks for all the helpful posts and topics so far, that have helped me understand just what the differences in Californias are and getting me to this point….CHEERS {:¬)

If you haven’t told your wife hopefully the surprise will not be you living in it permanently on your own on the drive!?…good luck and I hope it all goes down well

 

[CaliforniaSeb]

I am sure they will both love it. What's there not to love about owning a California?

I wish my wife didn't keep surprising me with her clothes purchases.

 

[Mehdime]

If you haven’t told your wife hopefully the surprise will not be you living in it permanently on your own on the drive!?…good luck and I hope it all goes down well

Can someone here please go record this moment on video. This is going to be epic.

“Hey darling, remember how you spent £200 on a dress the other day without telling me? So I went and spent £80,000 on a van as a surprise to make up for it”

 

[Mehdime]

But congrats nonetheless - they *will* love it for sure if they don’t kick you out first.

 

[SilentRunning]

Wow not including your wife in such a major purchase.

I nearly did the same but then fessed up that I’d ordered it. I now realise this was the worst of both worlds. What was I thinking????

Good luck is all I can say …


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Isaac Height]

Woah! Now that's exciting, especially if you've not told wife and daughter about it and boy, what a surprise they will have!

Welcome to this forum and when you do get the bus, post a pic on here.

Camp out on the drive the first night in the poptop. It is good fun!

Btw, what model and colour?

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

Woah! Now that's exciting, especially if you've not told wife and daughter about it and boy, what a surprise they will have!

Welcome to this forum and when you do get the bus, post a pic on here.

Camp out on the drive the first night in the poptop. It is good fun!

Btw, what model and colour?

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

Thanks - will be sure to post a pic.

I went with one of the few remaining ‘Ocean 4motion’… (Jeez that’s fun to say – Ocean 4Motion, Ocean 4Motion, Ocean 4Motion) T6.1’s that were physically available.

Apart from a handful at dealerships and at port there are a few last ones the production line too.

Colour you ask?

I was talked out of the colours that one can by a standard van in by one dealer. Only to find out much later that a panel van comes in most of the same colours anyway!

I went with Hearing-aid-beige with sports pack…no, no wait I meant Mojave.

I bought the one that had the most extra spec on I could find. Hoping that helps the residuals but it is not really about that hey?

Just wanted to be sure I felt I had not made a mistake by missing out on anything and then regretting not pushing myself at a later date.

Must admit, It’s all a bit like Christmas!

 

[hirsty]

This is fantastic - looking forward to the reaction video!

On balance I don't think many people ever regret buying a California, and nothing has to be forever. I've had some priceless irreplaceable experiences travelling with my own daughter & I hope you all have a blast together.

 

[Californication69]

Hey Campers. I’ve never had a live in vehicle. Ordered one today after 3 solid days of deliberation and as a result getting NO work done! This forum has been very useful, helping me navigate the minefield that is vee-dub campers.

Back in January 2006 I bought a high-spec T30-174bhp for work (and also as my run around) so I am familiar with T5’s. I decommissioned it as a work van early 2019 and bought a much larger van to carry more construction stuff.

In theory I was going to convert the T5 and had many quirky ideas for it. 5 years later and with it still not being done and my daughter racing towards 12, I’ve taken the bull-by-the-horns to hopefully enjoy some camping magic with her, before she loses interest in hanging out with her old dad.

Looking forward to learning about great places to visit, especially those a short drive away from the Midlands.

My purchase is a fortnight or so away from being with me and I have not told my other half or daughter, so I’m excited about parking it on the drive and revealing what I hope will be an exhilarating surprise.

Thanks for all the helpful posts and topics so far, that have helped me understand just what the differences in Californias are and getting me to this point….CHEERS {:¬)

You haven’t heard it from me.
But a day trip out to Upper Arley, past Bewdley is a great day out by the river.
Severn valley railway to watch steam trains.
Great pub.
Great walks.
Ducks to feed on the slipway.
But don’t tell anybody else please
We are 35 minutes from the post office side and 45 / 50 minutes from the railway side.

 

[Californication69]

Wow not including your wife in such a major purchase.

I do it all the time.
She comes round after a couple of years.
But boy, the peace for two years is lovely

 

[flying banana]

I do it all the time.
She comes round after a couple of years.
But boy, the peace for two years is lovely

I love it when women think they're punishing men by nit talking to them. Lol. If only they knew.

 

[CamperFam]

Sounds epic! Congratulations and i'm sure you'll absolutely not be living in the van by yourself....

Humour aside - pics when it arrives!

 

[Californication69]

Thanks - will be sure to post a pic.

I went with one of the few remaining ‘Ocean 4motion’… (Jeez that’s fun to say – Ocean 4Motion, Ocean 4Motion, Ocean 4Motion) T6.1’s that were physically available.

Apart from a handful at dealerships and at port there are a few last ones the production line too.

Colour you ask?

I was talked out of the colours that one can by a standard van in by one dealer. Only to find out much later that a panel van comes in most of the same colours anyway!

I went with Hearing-aid-beige with sports pack…no, no wait I meant Mojave.

I bought the one that had the most extra spec on I could find. Hoping that helps the residuals but it is not really about that hey?

Just wanted to be sure I felt I had not made a mistake by missing out on anything and then regretting not pushing myself at a later date.

Must admit, It’s all a bit like Christmas!

Ocean 4Motion rolls off the tongue doesn’t it.
You’ll love it.
Took my wife 18 months to stay away for the first time this week.
Stressful first 2 days, not gona lie.
But it’s all come together and she’s wanting to have a better awning
With a better setup so we have some shaded area between Cali and awning.

 

[Isaac Height]

You haven’t heard it from me.
But a day trip out to Upper Arley, past Bewdley is a great day out by the river.
Severn valley railway to watch steam trains.
Great pub.
Great walks.
Ducks to feed on the slipway.
But don’t tell anybody else please
We are 35 minutes from the post office side and 45 / 50 minutes from the railway side.

Brilliant thanks - this is just the kind of thing i am hoping to learn about - short trips for a last minute Saturday night away.