Larger vans for tall couple?

[Pitstop Penny]

Hey all! We've had our VW Cali Ocean for over six years, and we love it. Not used it as much as we'd have liked. Lots of hard times, health issues and unlucky incidents, but we're finally getting out there more, and we've booked a big long trip for end of June. Heading to south of France for three or four weeks. We both work for ourselves and can work from anywhere, so we can escape for longer.

It's going to be a bit of a test. We know we'll love it. But our van is rather small for longer trips and we're starting to think of upgrading to something bigger. BUT... everything we've looked at, they don't have beds long enough for us. I'm six foot tall, my husband is six foot three.

Any options? Would love to start thinking about vans for next year.

 

[WelshGas]

Hey all! We've had our VW Cali Ocean for over six years, and we love it. Not used it as much as we'd have liked. Lots of hard times, health issues and unlucky incidents, but we're finally getting out there more, and we've booked a big long trip for end of June. Heading to south of France for three or four weeks. We both work for ourselves and can work from anywhere, so we can escape for longer.

It's going to be a bit of a test. We know we'll love it. But our van is rather small for longer trips and we're starting to think of upgrading to something bigger. BUT... everything we've looked at, they don't have beds long enough for us. I'm six foot tall, my husband is six foot three.

Any options? Would love to start thinking about vans for next year.

Sorry but I don't get this " need something bigger for longer trips " argument.
There are shops and laundries available. You " don't " need to take more stuff and if heading into Europe then you'll probably be spending more time outside than in the van.
A bigger vehicle starts limiting where you can go compared with a California.

 

[Pitstop Penny]

Sorry but I don't get this " need something bigger for longer trips " argument.
There are shops and laundries available. You " don't " need to take more stuff and if heading into Europe then you'll probably be spending more time outside than in the van.
A bigger vehicle starts limiting where you can go compared with a California.

I suppose more context helps. We need to work from our van and so that was a reason. Not having to make the bed up every day. Being able to stay away for longer. Being able to store expensive bikes hidden away.

But you know, the VW Cali is amazing for what it is. That’s why we got it. It’s ok to want something bigger you know

The other argument we keep coming back to… just keep the Cali and do hybrid trips where we sometimes stay in gites or villas for a week. Which might work out ok, given we’d need to pay to store a larger van elsewhere whilst at home.

I’d still love some nice ideas of larger vans so we might consider them. If anyone else wants to help?

 

[Keith Smith]

We’ve just done a month in Scotland, a mix of camping and lets, and we’ve come back and had a look for something bigger. What we have found so far is that even in much bigger vans the bed situation is often worse than the Cali. If you need more space to work and you have an awning room you can set that up easily as an office and it doesn’t take a lot of room in the van when travelling.

 

[Camperfamily]

Grand Cali 680? Bed goes lengthwise.
I read the bed is 6’3 at its shortest side and 6‘6 at longest

 

[rod_vw]

@Pitstop Penny if your desire is to stay with the VAG range I fear your only choice is a LWB Crafter / MAN TGE so that you can have a lengthways bed. I had this built to replace our previous LWB T5s & T6

 

[Pitstop Penny]

@Pitstop Penny if your desire is to stay with the VAG range I fear your only choice is a LWB Crafter / MAN TGE so that you can have a lengthways bed. I had this built to replace our previous LWB T5s & T6

Oh wow! That’s a nice conversion. Thanks for sharing that. A lot to think about.

 

[Pitstop Penny]

We’ve just done a month in Scotland, a mix of camping and lets, and we’ve come back and had a look for something bigger. What we have found so far is that even in much bigger vans the bed situation is often worse than the Cali. If you need more space to work and you have an awning room you can set that up easily as an office and it doesn’t take a lot of room in the van when travelling.

Yeah. This is what we keep coming back to. Thank you! Hope you had fun in Scotland!

 

[Pitstop Penny]

Grand Cali 680? Bed goes lengthwise.
I read the bed is 6’3 at its shortest side and 6‘6 at longest

Lovely stuff, thank you!

 

[Jenny H]

Our neighbours 6'2, had a Cali, recently upgraded to a Westfalia Sven Hedin - theres a side pop out for leg room when you're sleeping. They love it but quite expensive as fairly new to the market I believe & even though its got a shower/toilet room they still use the site facilities!

 

[pluc99]

Visiting many camper shows I concluded that a lot of the larger space is used by a toilet/shower stall and the living space isn't always roomier.
Have you considered adding a tent or two to your setup? A kitchen type tent could serve as your office space and/or a large regular tent for sleeping.

 

[tobyprivett]

I'm 6'6" and it would be nice to have a longer bed. But I don't think they are easy to find - even on a bigger van. Perhaps construct a little foot rest at the end of the downstairs bed?

 

[acer]

Perhaps construct a little foot rest at the end of the downstairs bed?

It’s called a Thetford 335

 

[mr pg]

We have a 680 and a 6.1 Ocean.
I can measure the bed length in the 680 if it's of use. Apart from the fixed bed, the real great advantage is the shower room/toilet.

 

[Camperfamily]

We have a 680 and a 6.1 Ocean.
I can measure the bed length in the 680 if it's of use. Apart from the fixed bed, the real great advantage is the shower room/toilet.

Grand Cali and a Cali. I like your style

 

[Cali Phillip]

I noticed the same with larger vans, more space but turned into a small lounge and corridor and a bed. You could go custom, there are a few simple layouts that could be fitted to a Merc sprinter, fiat et al or ford vans. Some ideas here, https://outsidevan.com/van-gallery/

 

[Dizzy]

Sorry but I don't get this " need something bigger for longer trips " argument.
There are shops and laundries available. You " don't " need to take more stuff and if heading into Europe then you'll probably be spending more time outside than in the van.
A bigger vehicle starts limiting where you can go compared with a California.

We're away at the mo in Spain and i kinda disagree with this one. If you load up with a porta potti 335, cada safari chef 2 and an eco flow delta 3 plus then you have precious little space under the boot area. Sure putting clothes and bedding in the cupboard and draw is fine and tbh we still have stuff we havent worn after 5 weeks. We have a rolled up mattress, screen covers and parasol behind the seats in the shelf.

After all that there is the best part of bugger all space for anything else, we got in 2 sets of walking boots, rucksacks and a pair of fins/mask plus beach towel etc and that was it. We even carry a large fishing backpack that we pack with stuff and move from the living area to the passenger footwell when we park up.

Sure, can you do the 6 week trips in europe in a cali ? you sure can, we are on our fourth, but i do think the space limits activities.

Thats why we have a hymer MLT-580 Crosstrail coming in the next month or so... i agree (hence the kinda) this does limit what you can do when you go somewhere, but at least we can carry bikes without the faff of a rack.. and dive gear and tbh what ever we want !

But its still a pita having to "tackle down" the cali to go out for the day (like we did yesterday to got up Fuente de).

But.. we're keeping the Cali as its great !

D