To change or not to change...

[Anthony1]

We've just placed an order for an Ayres Rock, which is only half a metre longer than our Cali and has a fixed bed, toilet and no pop-up. We know there will be driving compromises - I don't think anything will beat the Cali - but the benefit for us will be with the camping experience. We're buying from Highbridge Caravans in Somerset, and have got a good deal from them as they're having Cali in part-exchange. They have been able to amend an order they had placed for a stock vehicle, which means we should take delivery in mid-May.

That's my vehicle of choice at the moment but they are so expensive and I did want the pop top, just in case we take one of our sons away with us. And second hand ones are as rare as hen's teeth.

 

[DJ315]

We did the same thing. Traded it in for a Knaus Boxstar 600. Great van. Slightly bigger, but fixed bed and toilet/shower. And the drive is actually quite good.

 

[Wild Bob]

We have done the same, sold our 12 month old Cali and ordered a Hillside Hopton

 

[Pmaxted@hotmail.com]

We've just placed an order for an Ayres Rock, which is only half a metre longer than our Cali and has a fixed bed, toilet and no pop-up. We know there will be driving compromises - I don't think anything will beat the Cali - but the benefit for us will be with the camping experience. We're buying from Highbridge Caravans in Somerset, and have got a good deal from them as they're having Cali in part-exchange. They have been able to amend an order they had placed for a stock vehicle, which means we should take delivery in mid-May.

We swapped from a Cali to an Ayers Rock last year. Thoughts. Much more of a van to drive, slower but not massively so. Quite a bit wider and a bit more of a handful down narrow lanes. Camping wise it’s hugely more convenient, fixed bed and bathroom are a blessing. Don’t need a side drive away awning. Lots of storage and a massive spot under the bed. Enough to get bikes inside the van. Can’t camp on wet grass, it’s heavy and gets stuck quite easily. Twice so far. Needs a hard standing or v dry solid ground. Very fuel efficient over 44 mpg. 2 year service interval on the first service for the Ducato too. Fits in a standard parking spot (just). Like a big camper disguised as a smaller one. Great fit out, truma, hot water, in built fly screens, privacy windows. Probably worth getting it winterised, or you either have to leave it plugged in for freezing weather or drain the water to avoid the central heating boiler automatically releasing all the water if it gets down to 4c as frost protection. Oh, they seem to inflate the Michelin agilis tyres to 80psi. 65 front and 70 rear is fine and your teeth won’t fall out that way. The Ducato bike rack won’t take a heavy bike, if you have an e bike you’ll need a towbar rack.

 

[DJ315]

We swapped from a Cali to an Ayers Rock last year. Thoughts. Much more of a van to drive, slower but not massively so. Quite a bit wider and a bit more of a handful down narrow lanes. Camping wise it’s hugely more convenient, fixed bed and bathroom are a blessing. Don’t need a side drive away awning. Lots of storage and a massive spot under the bed. Enough to get bikes inside the van. Can’t camp on wet grass, it’s heavy and gets stuck quite easily. Twice so far. Needs a hard standing or v dry solid ground. Very fuel efficient over 44 mpg. 2 year service interval on the first service for the Ducato too. Fits in a standard parking spot (just). Like a big camper disguised as a smaller one. Great fit out, truma, hot water, in built fly screens, privacy windows. Probably worth getting it winterised, or you either have to leave it plugged in for freezing weather or drain the water to avoid the central heating boiler automatically releasing all the water if it gets down to 4c as frost protection. Oh, they seem to inflate the Michelin agilis tyres to 80psi. 65 front and 70 rear is fine and your teeth won’t fall out that way. The Ducato bike rack won’t take a heavy bike, if you have an e bike you’ll need a towbar rack.

Similar experience so far in the switch from Cali to 6m Knaus Boxstar buscamper. Love it so far. Never been stuck though . And fits an e-bike and normal bike just fine on the doormounted thule, it’s within weight limits.

 

[Pmaxted@hotmail.com]

Similar experience so far in the switch from Cali to 6m Knaus Boxstar buscamper. Love it so far. Never been stuck though . And fits an e-bike and normal bike just fine on the doormounted thule, it’s within weight limits.

Brilliant. I love it for camping. Don’t bother with side awning now, a lot less time standing outside to get things done. Dry grass is fine, but it’s not happy on wet grass, been towed out of spots twice, Wales and Norfolk, so bit more careful than with the Cali. Old van was 4motion so happy on anything pretty much. Love the fact that bed, seating area loo and kitchen are all accessible without having to faff around. Pop top is good too, plenty of space upstairs.