What have you bought for your Cali today :-)

[Moose]

Hi @Moose, a little advice if you don’t mind. I noticed you’ve threaded your bench seat straps through the drawer. You’ll find the fabric will slip forward unless you put the straps through under the seat. You can squeeze them through as I found out this week thanks to some help off the forum.

I will redo the straps tomorrow, thank you

 

[calibusje]

nothing yet, just a california coast Delivery sometime in May 2021, so still some time to figure out what to buy. A set of nice seat covers will probably be one of the first things on our list ... never-ending list and poke around pages like these
Greetings
Calibusje
...but the old lady stays, she’s 30 next april

 

[Nathz]

Set of Jackyard seat covers.
I know they are marmite to some but we like them, it brightens up a very drab interior and suits the Cali perfectly.
View attachment 65375

Hello,
Nice!
One question, where did you get the nets that are under the back seat?
Thanks

 

[Nathz]

If you search for it, other people have put pics on in other posts. I’ll post some as well when it comes. Ordered FrI afternoon and with Mon being a bank hol I’m hoping it comes by this Fri. Latest should be early next week.


If it’s really comfy we might remove the upper bed standard mattress and store it deflated up there to sleep there and bring it down if we can’t. If not we’ll have it in the back probably rolled or folded on the rear shelf under the Ikea Drona boxes we store our bedding in.


Perfect fit is a little swing bin I got from home bargains for £4.99 (Have also seen it in B&M and the Range). Advantage is you don’t need to lift the lid.

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The bin looks exactly with what I am looking for, how many litres please?
Thanks

 

[Moose]

Hello,
Nice!
One question, where did you get the nets that are under the back seat?
Thanks

Hi I just found them on EBay or Amazon sometime ago, I’ll try to find the link if I can
HAKACC Storage Net for Bottles/Groceries,Storage Organizers for Car / Truck / Trunk...

 

[Nathz]

Hi I just found them on EBay or Amazon sometime ago, I’ll try to find the link if I can
HAKACC Storage Net for Bottles/Groceries,Storage Organizers for Car / Truck / Trunk...

Thanks!!!

 

[Elly Swanson]

The bin looks exactly with what I am looking for, how many litres please?
Thanks

The make is “wham“ and it’s 8 litres. They have them on amazon at £7.50.

 

[Nathz]

The make is “wham“ and it’s 8 litres. They have them on amazon at £7.50.

Ta!

Ta!

Ou la la, shipping costs to France 17 euros...

 

[threetone]

How do you move the seat forwards? Do you have to roll up the lino? Or does this limit where the back seat can be positioned?
Looks very nice and I like the way it continues between the seats.

Yes, you need to roll up the lino when it’s time to make the bed. Pretty easy and you hardly even notice it’s there.
There are no limitations as to where the seat is positioned, if you want to move to the front, then you need to roll the lino a little.

No issue for me, because my bench is only ever in two positions; all the way back, or in bed position.

 

[Nathz]

Hello,
Did not feel like lino here, so bought a 35 euros carpet at Ikea yesterday and cut it to pretty much fit the back floor. We wanted a green one with patterns, but it was out of stock, so took this one instead.
We have not planned to sleep downstairs unless necessary and it can easily be rolled. We have burned the cut sizes, but not sure it was necessary.

Hello,
Did not feel like lino here, so bought a 35 euros carpet at Ikea yesterday and cut it to pretty much fit the back floor. We wanted a green one with patterns, but it was out of stock, so took this one instead.
We have not planned to sleep downstairs unless necessary and it can easily be rolled. We have burned the cut sizes, but not sure it was necessary.

 

[grainflow]

Fire pit. Packs down flat. And a bbq grill to sit on top.

View attachment 64118

Hi Kernowboy,
Have you any more info on these, a link maybe to where they can be bought, just what we are after,
Thanks

 

[McGoogly]

Made use of our old beach table kept me busy for a couple of hours, don't like to see waste used a sliding table rail Kit from clearcut campervans, some people probably think it's pointless but we like making drinks outside when we can especially on day trips so why not recycle.

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That’s genius - such a simple idea but sooooo useful.

 

[Elly Swanson]

Didn’t buy

Made use of our old beach table kept me busy for a couple of hours, don't like to see waste used a sliding table rail Kit from clearcut campervans, some people probably think it's pointless but we like making drinks outside when we can especially on day trips so why not recycle.

View attachment 65279

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Small but perfectly formed. I hate waste too, so love this.
Sometimes a little bit of extra worktop makes all the difference.
Nice one.

 

[Dottie]

New Boots. 4 Michelin CrossClimate SUVs. Local garage £140 each fitted. Was thinking of the Agilis version but eventually figured if I was planning on going where snow chains were actually needed I’d get some used wheels and get proper winter/off road tyres.
Also had Haldex Pump & filter replacement for the 4motion system. I’ll do separate post on that one!!!!

Are they winter tyres....looks like I’ll have to swat up on these this winter, especially if I head for Norway next year? I suspect there’s a thread....

 

[calibusje]

Are they winter tyres....looks like I’ll have to swat up on these this winter, especially if I head for Norway next year? I suspect there’s a thread....

Have also bought CrossClimate (agilis) so that they no longer have to change twice a year: they are all seasonal tires with the sign of winter tire on it (snowflakesymbol) so yes: they are wintertires Don't know about Norway and a special arrangement, seems strange to me.
I have now made a few trips with these tires (too little to my liking due to covid19 of course) and find them very pleasant to drive: firm yet comfortable.
Greetings
Calibusje

 

[Dottie]

If you want to spend a bit more money (£110) Go for the Roberts Stream 94i. See pic below. FM/DAB/Internet Radio/Bluetooth player/Remote controller. Fantastic sound quality plus many other features. Battery pack sold separately. Something you can enjoy at home too. We use it in the Cali with the Bluetooth player, which gives a really good sound quality without using the starter battery. And no I’m not connected with Roberts.

I initially wondered why you wouldn’t just use the van radio....but I take it that could use the starter battery and you might go flat?
If this is the case, then why wouldn't you use your phone with Tuneinradio and a beats pill, or similar?
I spent ages yesterday trying to get my phone and iPad to pair so that I could listen to the audio book I had on my ipad with my beats pill when I discovered my iphone was new and didnt have the same connection. The answer was to buy an adaptor....and then I remembered I have recently got a new contract with unlimited data....fab! So I created a hotspot and I’m sorted! However, having a dab radio presumably fixes it better if abroad?

(my first outing this year...and I got a shoutout from a DJ friend when I finally got connected, in time for his local radio show...I love internet radio and feeling close to friends and to places I’ve spent many a holiday in)

 

[Jodalo]

I initially wondered why you wouldn’t just use the van radio....but I take it that could use the starter battery and you might go flat?
If this is the case, then why wouldn't you use your phone with Tuneinradio and a beats pill, or similar?
I spent ages yesterday trying to get my phone and iPad to pair so that I could listen to the audio book I had on my ipad with my beats pill when I discovered my iphone was new and didnt have the same connection. The answer was to buy an adaptor....and then I remembered I have recently got a new contract with unlimited data....fab! So I created a hotspot and I’m sorted! However, having a dab radio presumably fixes it better if abroad?

(my first outing this year...and I got a shoutout from a DJ friend when I finally got connected, in time for his local radio show...I love internet radio and feeling close to friends and to places I’ve spent many a holiday in)

Appreciate what you are saying about iPhone/remote speaker which is fine but we are used to the Roberts radio which we use at home. Space is not an issue with us and we love the excellent sound quality. Also we are radio nuts and listen to it most of the time leaving our phones/iPads free for other things. And you are correct re van radio draining the starter battery. There have been lots of threads about linking the Cali radio to the leisure batteries but I believe there are issues with doing that.

 

[Aidy P]

Googling new items for my van and came across this website...
https://campingsecrets.co.uk/great-gadgets-for-new-vw-california-owners/
Some good gadget suggestions.

 

[Elly Swanson]

Googling new items for my van and came across this website...
https://campingsecrets.co.uk/great-gadgets-for-new-vw-california-owners/
Some good gadget suggestions.

I would totally disagree with the Remoska being on the list. As an alternative cooker it's fabulous and I have the grand version now at home in the kitchen (previously had the regualr size too).

The element is in the lid and of course it gets incredibly hot (as does the base pan that it sits on). So all incredibly hot (albeit on a stand but underneath gets stonking hot too so I suggest a board underneath). When you've finished cooking the hot lid comes off and has to be left to cool. I know some people do take these camping but if you're clumsy, a disorganised cook or have kids or dogs, it's a distater waiting to happen if you use it inside the van. If on the other hand you use one successfully it'll work like an oven so you can bake/roast anything that'll fit (the baked spuds and toad in the hole come out particularly well).

 

[Karlos]

I would totally disagree with the Remoska being on the list. As an alternative cooker it's fabulous and I have the grand version now at home in the kitchen (previously had the regualr size too).

The element is in the lid and of course it gets incredibly hot (as does the base pan that it sits on). So all incredibly hot (albeit on a stand but underneath gets stonking hot too so I suggest a board underneath). When you've finished cooking the hot lid comes off and has to be left to cool. I know some people do take these camping but if you're clumsy, a disorganised cook or have kids or dogs, it's a distater waiting to happen if you use it inside the van. If on the other hand you use one successfully it'll work like an oven so you can bake/roast anything that'll fit (the baked spuds and toad in the hole come out particularly well).

What about sitting it on a board under the awning, would that work Elly?

 

[Elly Swanson]

What about sitting it on a board under the awning, would that work Elly?

Anywhere where you have space is fine. I think it’s very “clunky” and Would take up valuable space. The lid has a glass circle (which is great for viewing your food) but if it breaks the whole lid unit, including the handle and electrics, has to be replaced. Obviously, you need electric to use it. The small one is 400 watts and I don’t know enough about that to know if you could run it in the van without being on EHU.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a fantastic bit of kit and we use ours regularly at home, just not for the confined space of the van. I’m sure they’ll be some who disagree. It will be interesting to read what others think, either way.

If you want to bake or roast I think the Omnia oven would be a better option as you use it on a hob, or over other heat sources, and it’s lightweight and small for packing/travelling. Although I’ve just researched and disregarded that idea For inside the van as I don’t want something sat on the gas hob for 30/40 minutes or more.

For me, I’ll just stick to my Cobb and cook outdoors, used in conjunction with my kellie kettle and Trangia spirit burner (The Cobb becomes the base for them) it gives me lots of options and they earn their place in the van due to their versatility.

 

[Elmo3]

A 3 ton trolley jack from SGS, so I can ‘safely‘ fit the new wheels to Elmo. Currently on offer at £69.99.

 

[Aidy P]

Googling new items for my van and came across this website...
https://campingsecrets.co.uk/great-gadgets-for-new-vw-california-owners/
Some good gadget suggestions.

I quite like the idea of a mini projector for winter camping with the kids. I’d like one that I could connect wirelessly to my iPhone. Apple are rather annoying that it seems to restrict screen mirroring on lots of devices. I’d rather not have to take a laptop with me.

 

[Karlos]

A 3 ton trolley jack from SGS, so I can ‘safely‘ fit the new wheels to Elmo. Currently on offer at £69.99.

Picks when done please.

 

[Elly Swanson]

I quite like the idea of a mini projector for winter camping with the kids. I’d like one that I could connect wirelessly to my iPhone. Apple are rather annoying that it seems to restrict screen mirroring on lots of devices. I’d rather not have to take a laptop with me.

I know you’d rather go wire less, Andy, but you’d have more options with a hdmi connection.