J
jonclareVWGrand
VIP Member
Hi All
We've just ordered a new GC680 and would like some advice on options we've selected. Had a look through this forum and watch CaliforniaChris videos, as well as trying google translate on the German forum, but can't find all the answers.
Hoping the owners out there can help our understanding.
Our aim is to stay off-grid as much as possible - we've hired motorhomes before and the best days have been off dirt tracks hidden away from civilisation - getting a US 39' motorhome up a sandy dirt track in Colorado was well worth the effort!
Heating - we've ordered the diesel heating but don't really understand what the required add-ons are. There is a programmable remote diesel aux heater which we don't think we need as the main heating should be sufficient. Programming the heating isn't needed - if we're out for the day we can leave the main heating on low. But that then leaves an electric aux heater. I don't understand why this would be needed if the diesel option is just changing is the main boiler? I think this aux heater is in the main cab and allows the front blowers to be used on battery power from the main driving battery?
Wifi - being off grid we have struggled for phone reception in Scotland. I have seen others say that the van wifi increases the strength of reception in poor coverage areas? What have others found when on the same network, ie a phone and the van on the same network? Is reception much better on the van data SIM + aerial vs a phone hotspot? We could retrofit one, but it's really the integrated van aerial that we're after.
Bikes - we've got two road bikes and would much rather travel with them inside. Our hope is that we can remove the front wheels and store them top-to-tail under the main bed. Has anyone done this? I've seen pictures of a single mountain bike, but those have much wider handlebars. Measuring up a van in the dealers I think we would probably need to remove the vertical load retaining boards due to the length of the bikes? We'd rather avoid removing the back wheels if we can.
Rear cycle carrier - planning on getting this for longer trips when we need the space. Is it a Thule carrier? We've always found theirs are so much better designed for loading and unloading. So for short weekend breaks we can lift the beds and put the bikes in for travelling to avoid the road dirt, then put them on the carriers at night.
Ambient lighting - is it only in the rear above the bed, or are there coloured lights in the seating area as well? We ordered it for the seating area, but if its only in the back we can save ourselves some money.
Diff Lock - we've used these on 4WD in the sand and they are essential. But the Crafter has clever electrics so that it can apply brakes to low traction wheels to put power onto those with higher traction. Does this negate the need for the diff lock in most situations that the GC is likely to be in? Off road is more likely to be gravel tracks rather than anything wilder? Or maybe soggy and slippy fields? So really just getting the 4WD for extra grip due to the weight of the van.
Solar - definitely want this, but just wondering how much extra off-grid time it would give us in UK spring and autumn conditions? How many days can others go off-grid without needing to start the engine for a battery recharge? We've not ordered satellite so will watch films / listen to music on portable devices, so the electricity needs to power the heating plus device recharging mostly. I've seen that the diesel heating takes slightly more power than gas, and I'm happy with that to avoid the faff of remembering to changing gas bottles etc.
Any and all opinions welcome.
Jon & Clare
We've just ordered a new GC680 and would like some advice on options we've selected. Had a look through this forum and watch CaliforniaChris videos, as well as trying google translate on the German forum, but can't find all the answers.
Hoping the owners out there can help our understanding.
Our aim is to stay off-grid as much as possible - we've hired motorhomes before and the best days have been off dirt tracks hidden away from civilisation - getting a US 39' motorhome up a sandy dirt track in Colorado was well worth the effort!
Heating - we've ordered the diesel heating but don't really understand what the required add-ons are. There is a programmable remote diesel aux heater which we don't think we need as the main heating should be sufficient. Programming the heating isn't needed - if we're out for the day we can leave the main heating on low. But that then leaves an electric aux heater. I don't understand why this would be needed if the diesel option is just changing is the main boiler? I think this aux heater is in the main cab and allows the front blowers to be used on battery power from the main driving battery?
Wifi - being off grid we have struggled for phone reception in Scotland. I have seen others say that the van wifi increases the strength of reception in poor coverage areas? What have others found when on the same network, ie a phone and the van on the same network? Is reception much better on the van data SIM + aerial vs a phone hotspot? We could retrofit one, but it's really the integrated van aerial that we're after.
Bikes - we've got two road bikes and would much rather travel with them inside. Our hope is that we can remove the front wheels and store them top-to-tail under the main bed. Has anyone done this? I've seen pictures of a single mountain bike, but those have much wider handlebars. Measuring up a van in the dealers I think we would probably need to remove the vertical load retaining boards due to the length of the bikes? We'd rather avoid removing the back wheels if we can.
Rear cycle carrier - planning on getting this for longer trips when we need the space. Is it a Thule carrier? We've always found theirs are so much better designed for loading and unloading. So for short weekend breaks we can lift the beds and put the bikes in for travelling to avoid the road dirt, then put them on the carriers at night.
Ambient lighting - is it only in the rear above the bed, or are there coloured lights in the seating area as well? We ordered it for the seating area, but if its only in the back we can save ourselves some money.
Diff Lock - we've used these on 4WD in the sand and they are essential. But the Crafter has clever electrics so that it can apply brakes to low traction wheels to put power onto those with higher traction. Does this negate the need for the diff lock in most situations that the GC is likely to be in? Off road is more likely to be gravel tracks rather than anything wilder? Or maybe soggy and slippy fields? So really just getting the 4WD for extra grip due to the weight of the van.
Solar - definitely want this, but just wondering how much extra off-grid time it would give us in UK spring and autumn conditions? How many days can others go off-grid without needing to start the engine for a battery recharge? We've not ordered satellite so will watch films / listen to music on portable devices, so the electricity needs to power the heating plus device recharging mostly. I've seen that the diesel heating takes slightly more power than gas, and I'm happy with that to avoid the faff of remembering to changing gas bottles etc.
Any and all opinions welcome.
Jon & Clare