Top 3 Items You Wish You Had When You Got Your First Cali

altvic · Aug 24, 2020

LucyYorkshire said:
Totally! Very very sensible. It’s in my ‘must have’ list now and I really appreciate your advice. Thank you. Very much appreciated.

Get a Surf Key cut - inexpensive and easier to carry around if you ever get locked out. If you lock yourself in at night with the door button, but get out of the van with the sliding door opener and close behind you, you likely to need a key to get back in! A small surf key will let you in.

altvic · Aug 24, 2020

Michelin Cross Climate?? There are many posts on forum in ‘Tyres’ section with all manner of opinions for best AllWeather tyres.
4 Motion pretty useless on soggy campsite with ordinary Summer tyres. Two wheel front drive with all weather tyres would likely be better at pulling yourself out of the wet and mud.

LucyYorkshire said:
Mmmm... good idea. if you do’t mind me asking a further question...What would be grippier tyres?

SusiBus · Aug 24, 2020

altvic said:
Get a Surf Key cut - inexpensive and easier to carry around if you ever get locked out. If you lock yourself in at night with the door button, but get out of the van with the sliding door opener and close behind you, you likely to need a key to get back in! A small surf key will let you in.

Agree. Fix a surfer key somewhere on the vehicle in the most discreet place you can find, but somewhere you can retrieve it from in the middle of the night.

California4x4 · Aug 24, 2020

altvic said:
Get a Surf Key cut - inexpensive and easier to carry around if you ever get locked out. If you lock yourself in at night with the door button, but get out of the van with the sliding door opener and close behind you, you likely to need a key to get back in! A small surf key will let you in.

Where is the best place to get a surf key cut for a VW please? Google is suggesting Timpson Auto Specialists.

Ch1pbutty · Aug 24, 2020

We use one of these on the rear tow loop:

2024 Northcore Keypod 5GS - Key Safe XK02 - Black - XK02-5GS - Accessories

Northcore Accessories: Keypod is The Original Sports key safe and now it's even tougher Featuring a thicker al...

www.wetsuitoutlet.co.uk

kave · Aug 25, 2020

We have a surf lock to and its great. I managed to damage one of the keys while surfing in the ocean.

T6 CFO · Aug 25, 2020

Billylou said:
Hi @California4x4 I've just recently purchased a couple of surf keys after taking advice from @WelshGas and @ArunAlec. I used the ebay seller known as “telecommann” who was able cut the keys from photos. There are other sellers to chose from. If you have the key number, usually on the plastic tag that came with the keys, you can quote that. The thing to remember is the surf key can only give you access to the van so you can retrieve the original keys. It won't start the engine and the van alarm will sound when you open the door with it. Quite simply it allows you to open the van to retrieve the keys and nothing else. However there might be others on the forum who have another solution. I "think" the Timpson key has some circuitry and is paired to the van "which might" stop the alarm going off. I think it would be worth a visit to find out. The eBay keys are just keys that can be taken into the shower, into the sea and any other damp orifice you wish to conceal it such as under the van for example. I've taken Welsh Gas's advice and wear it around my neck.

Been posted before but as I went for the 4 sets of keys option I removed the blade from one which makes it much smaller and gives you a number of options. Same issue as the surf key in that your alarm will go off and it won’t start the Cali.
Before doing this I was constantly checking where the keys were.

Mike

wilburthewombat · Aug 25, 2020

Gosh, I was so certain that 2 keys would be enough that that's all I ordered! Now I am getting paranoid about losing keys. There's only the one of me who will be using the Cali, but I'm forever losing them. I guess the way to think of it is as a 'home' instead of a 'car'. I've always been OK with 2 car keys, but only 2 house keys - never!
Still, I think I'll go for one (or two) surf keys and one of those surf locks.

Vagophile · Aug 25, 2020

It's a little off topic, but I thought it slightly strange when I took delivery of my van and was handed a biscuit box full of keys! There are four lock and ignition keys, a remote for the heater and a remote for the awning strip light, not to mention safe and water filler cap!