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[Restival]

Hi everyone,
Just joined the ranks of California owners courtesy of the classifieds on this site (thank you P&J for such a smooth sale), after trying both a great white and a tent for folk festival use and reckon the California is the perfect middle ground...we shall see how that holds up.
We've tested the van for a couple of nights now, and working up the list of what accessories to buy next...awning tiedown kit arrives today, reckon it's ramps next, and off to scour the threads for whether the ones with definite levels are better than simple drive ups...

 

[acer]

Hi everyone,
Just joined the ranks of California owners courtesy of the classifieds on this site (thank you P&J for such a smooth sale), after trying both a great white and a tent for folk festival use and reckon the California is the perfect middle ground...we shall see how that holds up.
We've tested the van for a couple of nights now, and working up the list of what accessories to buy next...awning tiedown kit arrives today, reckon it's ramps next, and off to scour the threads for whether the ones with definite levels are better than simple drive ups...

I can recommend the Thule levels in the shop. Just about wide enough and compact, fitting nicely down the left side of the boot.

 

[Beeechke1]

I can second the above, they are well constructed, ours have been in regular use for six years now.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Hi everyone,
Just joined the ranks of California owners courtesy of the classifieds on this site (thank you P&J for such a smooth sale), after trying both a great white and a tent for folk festival use and reckon the California is the perfect middle ground...we shall see how that holds up.
We've tested the van for a couple of nights now, and working up the list of what accessories to buy next...awning tiedown kit arrives today, reckon it's ramps next, and off to scour the threads for whether the ones with definite levels are better than simple drive ups...

Used to have thule ramps first years of ownership but soon replaced with traction mats. look like this:

Amazon.co.uk

multipurpose: level ramps, traction mat, door mat in front of sliding door.. will serve you well at festivals.
very easy to drive on/off/over , 1 layer is 1 inch, you can fold to get 1 to 4 layers

 

[acer]

Used to have thule ramps first years of ownership but soon replaced with traction mats. look like this:

Amazon.co.uk

multipurpose: level ramps, traction mat, door mat in front of sliding door.. will serve you well at festivals.
very easy to drive on/off/over , 1 layer is 1 inch, you can fold to get 1 to 4 layers

View attachment 130746

View attachment 130747

Love the idea of these, but when folded to achieve 4 inches is it a struggle to mount them? I’d have thought that without the gentler gradient offered by dedicated levels it could be tricky? Unless you can fold it in such a way as to create the ramp. Do you have the 1.2m length?

 

[Roger Boeken]

Love the idea of these, but when folded to achieve 4 inches is it a struggle to mount them? I’d have thought that without the gentler gradient offered by dedicated levels it could be tricky? Unless you can fold it in such a way as to create the ramp. Do you have the 1.2m length?

120 cm . You seldom need 4 inches, but it is no problem to mount for cali with 150hp and 17 inch wheels. If you do not fold the mat exactly in the middle you can create a step of 1 inch + 2 or 3 inch. I'l try to take more pictures next time.
If you do not have 4motion they will definitely help you get out of a wet festival field ..

 

[Restival]

120 cm . You seldom need 4 inches, but it is no problem to mount for cali with 150hp and 17 inch wheels. If you do not fold the mat exactly in the middle you can create a step of 1 inch + 2 or 3 inch. I'l try to take more pictures next time.
If you do not have 4motion they will definitely help you get out of a wet festival field ..

That's really interesting thank you, shall investigate. The multi-use aspect is appealing, I left a festival early this year (when camping with my mini) as I feared the mud was going to be an issue getting away

 

[acer]

120 cm . You seldom need 4 inches, but it is no problem to mount for cali with 150hp and 17 inch wheels. If you do not fold the mat exactly in the middle you can create a step of 1 inch + 2 or 3 inch. I'l try to take more pictures next time.
If you do not have 4motion they will definitely help you get out of a wet festival field ..

Thanks. I look forward to those pictures. Looks a great product, but quite an investment. I often worry about getting stuck somewhere and if these do both jobs well, they might be worthwhile.

 

[wildslammer22]

Used to have thule ramps first years of ownership but soon replaced with traction mats. look like this:

Amazon.co.uk

multipurpose: level ramps, traction mat, door mat in front of sliding door.. will serve you well at festivals.
very easy to drive on/off/over , 1 layer is 1 inch, you can fold to get 1 to 4 layers

View attachment 130746

View attachment 130747

I'm a big fan of multi-use products in the van. I do venture off road so use proper traction boards which see most use as levellers and once as a base for the jack when fixing a puncture. Never thought about door mat though, great idea!

 

[Kev56]

Like the look of them. As said if used as a ramp as well, very useful.

 

[kurienp]

Used to have thule ramps first years of ownership but soon replaced with traction mats. look like this:

Amazon.co.uk

multipurpose: level ramps, traction mat, door mat in front of sliding door.. will serve you well at festivals.
very easy to drive on/off/over , 1 layer is 1 inch, you can fold to get 1 to 4 layers

View attachment 130746

View attachment 130747

Door mat! Now that's a great multi-use product! Expensive though. Ok, that's on the list for Santa!

 

[Roger Boeken]

Door mat! Now that's a great multi-use product! Expensive though. Ok, that's on the list for Santa!

you' can find it cheaper, on amazon germany or netherlands I can find it for 53 euro.
1 m length is enough saves weight and space.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Thanks. I look forward to those pictures. Looks a great product, but quite an investment. I often worry about getting stuck somewhere and if these do both jobs well, they might be worthwhile.

I used it several times .. to help big whites on wet grass and snow and once for the cali in very deep snow.

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Hi everyone,
Just joined the ranks of California owners courtesy of the classifieds on this site (thank you P&J for such a smooth sale), after trying both a great white and a tent for folk festival use and reckon the California is the perfect middle ground...we shall see how that holds up.
We've tested the van for a couple of nights now, and working up the list of what accessories to buy next...awning tiedown kit arrives today, reckon it's ramps next, and off to scour the threads for whether the ones with definite levels are better than simple drive ups...

Just listing an awning tie-down kit and some Thule ramps if you are still looking.

 

[Corradobrit]

If you have DSG, the stepped ramps are the prefered option I think, and even better with the mini chocs to minimise roll back when the handbrake is release to rotate the seats.

 

[Restival]

Just listing an awning tie-down kit and some Thule ramps if you are still looking.

Am good but thank you. Invested in Black Friday price awning room from the club shop, now checking down sofa to fund it...