What have you done with your California today?

Got a piece of steel in my rear off side tyre, only took the kids to school, 3 mile round trip, and when I got home it was rapidly going flat. Now I need a new tyre :(
 
Patiently waiting for @zerofour to return home from SMG with our (hopefully) lowered van to set off to East Kent for the weekend. Fingers crossed for sunshine!
 
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Modified the Fiamma bike rack to keep the total height below 2m.

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Fixed a U-profile 25cm with to magnets to clip it to the gas strud to prevent the door to slam down when the bikes are on the rack. Two strips of velcro keeps it just where I need the thingy.


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Modified the Fiamma bike rack to keep the total height below 2m.

260180ea07b12236f966e34fe54187df.jpg
8464f4724e4c21f494f2578ba8b48337.jpg


Fixed a U-profile 25cm with to magnets to clip it to the gas strud to prevent the door to slam down when the bikes are on the rack. Two strips of velcro keeps it just where I need the thingy.


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Excellent idea for holding the loaded tailgate up. :thumb

Just one point. When that piece is fitted does that mean that that side is carrying more than 50% of the weight of the loaded tailgate?
I've seen a gas strut lower fixing that had given way and punched through the tail light fitting. Not an easy job to get the tailgate open to remove strut/light fitting and repair.
Would 2 of those Aluminium Profile strips be a safer option?
 
Maybe you are right. To prevent disaster I clip the bar to the inside where the strut is attached. And our bikes are quite lightweight. The tailgate stays open without help but it only takes a finger tip to move it down.


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Moved a bed and a load of other junk!

It's amazing what you can get in a Cali. Over the last three months we've moved nearly all our stuff in to storage, and are now moving it back again. There were only a few items we weren't able to shift ourselves. Mind you, we gave a lot of stuff away. And I think we'll be getting rid of a lot more, nothing matches our new house! :(

Hopefully we can get back to doing some fun stuff in our van soon :)

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We moved our entire house into storage (& out again) using our Cali...such a genius vehicle!!


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A few things really...

- Furnished the rear seat with a throw, so the seat keeps nice and I can stop panicking every time we eat
- Agreed to buy someone's awning off this site, pick it up on Saturday
- Updated the Pioneer firmware on the new stereo, which seems to have solved the glitches I experienced when using it for the first time last weekend

Still can't believe just how good the Cali is and how happy it makes me feel....:)
 
Hi Tom, were these hooks easy to install? Can they be moved and do they leave a hole in the van. I am tempted to buy some but not keen on drilling holes in the fittings.
I rate myself one level below a DIY novice, a DIY incompetent, but managed to install these myself. I was unable to screw the supposedly self drilling screws into the metal frame (which is later concealed by the dropped upstairs bed) so I drilled pilot holes myself. Then it was all easy. But you do end up with holes in your Cali, albeit holes which are not only concealed by the screws, but by the upstairs bed frame.
 
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Stayed at perfect-camping.de in Grainau next to Munich and took a walk around the Eibsee close to Zugspitze (highest mountain in Germany).
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Camping place was (self) rated as a start camping however the place it self was okay. The pitches were some kind of gravel and we had a privat bath. The facilities were clean and the staff friendly. There are several super markets in walking distance and you get a free bus/train card for the ride to Garmisch-Patenkirchen&Eibsee.
 
Are you taking orders?
 
Blown up the tyre twice this week, I must have a slow puncture :-(
 
Checked tyres and pressures. All fluids, A OK. Expedition meals packed. Fridge filled with various refreshments. Gas cylinder renewed. Clothes packed, just need my waterproofs and winter jackets. Water tank to be filled. All documents in order. Headlight stickers to hand.

Return trip to Aberystwyth tomorrow. Cut grass Saturday. Return trip to Aberystwyth on Sunday, return trip to Reading on Monday. Wash the Cali on Tuesday and the head for Harwich on Wednesdayfor my 3 week trip to Tromso and the delights of the open road.:D
 
Today I have ordered 3 Queshua tarps from Decathlon, 3 m kador strip and pegs from the club Shop … it is all gonna be transformed into some nice sides for the awning. I will show you the result if it turns out like in my head ;-)

I also got some rope and karabiner … looking forward laying in the Parachute Hammock we bought on the Hannover Club Meeting.

I just love that the forums is getting more and more active again – everyone is doing small and big things in preparation for the trips to come. It just makes me smile ;-)
 
Had the tracking checked and corrected. Common problem. Toe in on the n/s rear was outside parameters at 3.6 degrees. Hence the sawtooth tyre issue. £45 hopefully well spent.
 
Camped up last night at the venue for Mrs Padders dog agility show today. Enjoyed a lovely sunset and a bottle of wine . Up early to supervise the car parking . Job done, time for a bacon butty. Then 50 miles on the roadbike in lovely borders sunshine. Lunch at Lockerbie, back to the show and some serious sunbathing. Typical Cali weekend then, made for times like this.FB_IMG_1494188842215.jpg
 
Day-van trip for for four of us to Newby Hall near Ripon to meet whole family for 'Cars In The Park' gathering. Very little VW action & a bit overcast, but I did spot this lovely BMW M1 & a Lamborghini Countach.

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Made some brackets to fit a small shelf above the sink.

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