How difficult is raising the VW T6 Cali roof

[Regg]

Hi,
We currently have a high top, 6 metre camper and are looking to part ex it for a 2024 VW T6 cali.
I am not of good health and have lost a lot of upper body strength due to chemo/radio for cancer . I have tried a couple of front raising roof campers and found them quite difficult, the easiest was a SWB Bilbo with a side raising roof. Does anyone have an opinion on how easy or not the cali is ? I know some calis have an electric roof but I have read that they can be quite troublesome.
Thanks
Reg

 

[WelshGas]

Hi,
We currently have a high top, 6 metre camper and are looking to part ex it for a 2024 VW T6 cali.
I am not of good health and have lost a lot of upper body strength due to chemo/radio for cancer . I have tried a couple of front raising roof campers and found them quite difficult, the easiest was a SWB Bilbo with a side raising roof. Does anyone have an opinion on how easy or not the cali is ? I know some calis have an electric roof but I have read that they can be quite troublesome.
Thanks
Reg

Well I had my California SE with hydraulic roof for 10 yrs and No Problems. Just press a button.
Remember, only those who have had problems, a minority overall, post on the Internet. You'll rarely get posts applauding the Hydraulic roof.

 

[Regg]

Well I had my California SE with hydraulic roof for 10 yrs and No Problems. Just press a button.
Remember, only those who have had problems, a minority overall, post on the Internet. You'll rarely get posts applauding the Hydraulic roof.

Thanks for the info

 

[Corradobrit]

Manual roof's can be a little tough to open and close if you lack upper body strength. Primarily the latching and unlatching together with pulling the poptop down to allow the latch to engage. I would say in this case go with the hydraulic roof and just take care to ensure the fabric folds in properly and you have a door open.

 

[Meoncoast]

I had no issues with our Cali's with electric roofs. They would be ideal for you as it is a simple press the button to raise and lower the roof.

 

[Regg]

Manual roof's can be a little tough to open and close if you lack upper body strength. Primarily the latching and unlatching together with pulling the poptop down to allow the latch to engage. I would say in this case go with the hydraulic roof and just take care to ensure the fabric folds in properly and you have a door open.

many thanks for the advise

 

[Regg]

I had no issues with our Cali's with electric roofs. They would be ideal for you as it is a simple press the button to raise and lower the roof.

thanks for the help

 

[Regg]

I had no issues with our Cali's with electric roofs. They would be ideal for you as it is a simple press the button to raise and lower the roof.

thanks for the help

 

[Black Forest]

There is a big difference IMHO, opening the roof with and without an open window. It's a big space and will move a lot of air to fill when it goes up. Windows closed, it does need a bit of a shove to get started and it's noticeably easier with a window open even a little.... Remember the upstairs vents / openings are zipped closed too.

 

[BeeBee]

2019 Cali Ocean, owned from new and the hardest thing about the ‘electric roof’ is remembering to open the windows & sliding door when lifting and closing.
I operate ‘the button’ and my husband checks outside to see its closing with no catches in the bellows.
We’ve had absolutely no issues with it, so easy to operate.
I would point out that the action of pulling the upper bed down ( when you are closing everything down) has a wee point, right at the last couple of inches, where it kind of ‘drops’ and you have to be aware of that if like me you are standing between the seats, with your head in the hatch.
Not difficult just a bit of a wobble, but needs a bit of ‘holding’.

 

[Flower Power]

Opening a manual roof is much easier if one sits in a turned around front seat. Easy to reach latches and one good push opens it fully. closing needs more involvement making sure that fabric is not pinched and closing latches sometimes is easy and sometimes requires strong hands/fingers. i think the key is to operate it from turned around front seat.

 

[SusiBus]

Raising and lowering the roof on California Ocean is easy because of the motor, but there are two difficult aspects for you to consider.
One is the fact of lowering the bed down before you lower the roof. The bed it's quite a stretch to reach, and does need a little bit of upper body strength to initiate the drop of the bed. Then when the bed is down, closing the concertina cover above the driver and passenger seats is reasonably difficult, because there is almost too much fabric to go behind it, and needs reasonably strong fingers to tuck it away.
I'm 80 years old, and have slight weak upper body strength due to osteoarthritis. Arthritic fingers make the tucking away a little difficult, but l manage OK. I have enough confidence that I will be able to carry on managing, and have recently bought a new Cali, not anticipating giving up Cali life, it's too good to miss.
These are just great easy vehicles to drive especially the DSG.

IMO, you should definitely test these aspects before you buy.

Mr SusiBus

 

[Up10]

I would point out that the action of pulling the upper bed down ( when you are closing everything down) has a wee point, right at the last couple of inches, where it kind of ‘drops’ and you have to be aware of that if like me you are standing between the seats, with your head in the hatch.
Not difficult just a bit of a wobble, but needs a bit of ‘holding’.

Suggest that you might like to use a couple of sponges on the frame to the side of the driver and passenger seats at roof level to soften the impact of the bed as it lands in the lower position. These would then need to be removed before lowering the roof. I am thinking of something like the small spontex yellow and green scourers (other makes are available!
Standing on the front seats to initiate the lowering of the bed certainly helps but I suppose that also depends on how tall you are!

 

[Meoncoast]

it does need a bit of a shove to get started and it's

Never needed to go that.

 

[Jenny H]

I would definitely advise trying a manual roof before buying as I find it takes quite a lot of strength to push up & then to pull down the final part to latch on.

 

[chockswahay]

We have a manual roof, I am 6ft 2 and quite strong……. I find it takes a lot of energy either up or down. Also I would just add you might like to try pulling the lower bed out, that too takes a lot of effort.

 

[CaliforniaPhil]

Raising and lowering the roof on California Ocean is easy because of the motor, but there are two difficult aspects for you to consider.
One is the fact of lowering the bed down before you lower the roof. The bed it's quite a stretch to reach, and does need a little bit of upper body strength to initiate the drop of the bed. Then when the bed is down, closing the concertina cover above the driver and passenger seats is reasonably difficult, because there is almost too much fabric to go behind it, and needs reasonably strong fingers to tuck it away.
I'm 80 years old, and have slight weak upper body strength due to osteoarthritis. Arthritic fingers make the tucking away a little difficult, but l manage OK. I have enough confidence that I will be able to carry on managing, and have recently bought a new Cali, not anticipating giving up Cali life, it's too good to miss.
These are just great easy vehicles to drive especially the DSG.

IMO, you should definitely test these aspects before you buy.

Mr SusiBus

Besides the manual/hydraulic question, how do you get on with the hop up onto the upper bed. The OP might find this difficult.

Regg, there are steps available to climb up. For such a big investment, I would hire one to try.