Soon to be 6.1 California Ocean owner

[Eric1]

Hi there from Yorkshire. After a very successful trial long weekend a few weeks ago in a rented California Coast we took the plunge and in 2 days will be collecting our very own 6.1 Ocean 4 motion. That has a nice ring to it!

We are keen and long time tent campers but are growing tired of erecting and packing tents in the rain, and as we are now in our 60s I think we deserve a little more comfort. Hoping to try it out in the Lakes this coming weekend. I will no doubt be posting quite a bit in the near future as there are a lot of questions buzzing around in my head. I look forward to engaging with you all.

 

[Up10]

Hi there from Yorkshire. After a very successful trial long weekend a few weeks ago in a rented California Coast we took the plunge and in 2 days will be collecting our very own 6.1 Ocean 4 motion. That has a nice ring to it!

We are keen and long time tent campers but are growing tired of erecting and packing tents in the rain, and as we are now in our 60s I think we deserve a little more comfort. Hoping to try it out in the Lakes this coming weekend. I will no doubt be posting quite a bit in the near future as there are a lot of questions buzzing around in my head. I look forward to engaging with you all.

Welcome to Cali ownership. You are in a great part of the country for exploring and escaping.
We retired before we started camping but love our 4 motion and have travelled extensively in the last few years.
I am sure you won't look back.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Congratulations on your wise decision to get a Cali. You will love it. Why not post a photo when you take delivery- we like van pics !!

 

[nigpdreadingfc]

Hi there from Yorkshire. After a very successful trial long weekend a few weeks ago in a rented California Coast we took the plunge and in 2 days will be collecting our very own 6.1 Ocean 4 motion. That has a nice ring to it!

We are keen and long time tent campers but are growing tired of erecting and packing tents in the rain, and as we are now in our 60s I think we deserve a little more comfort. Hoping to try it out in the Lakes this coming weekend. I will no doubt be posting quite a bit in the near future as there are a lot of questions buzzing around in my head. I look forward to engaging with you all.

Welcome to the 4 Motion club!

 

[Eric1]

Thanks to all for your welcome. I am now officially a Cali owner! Now trying to resist overbuying accessories until I know what I really need

 

[Kev56]

Thanks to all for your welcome. I am now officially a Cali owner! Now trying to resist overbuying accessories until I know what I really need

Good luck with that idea.

 

[Eric1]

 

[Eric1]

Good luck with that idea.

Just bought some Awning sides

 

[Up10]

Just bought some Awning sides

View attachment 149148

I think that is a smart idea. You are then making use of equipment on the van.
You may want tie down straps to secure the awning in a light wind and tap a couple if tent pins in the awning legs too. There are some scary stories of awnings flipping over the roof.
Forget the rubber mallet, a claw hammer is way more useful. It drives pins into hardcore bases and extracts them more easily too.

 

[Kev56]

I think that is a smart idea. You are then making use of equipment on the van.
You may want tie down straps to secure the awning in a light wind and tap a couple if tent pins in the awning legs too. There are some scary stories of awnings flipping over the roof.
Forget the rubber mallet, a claw hammer is way more useful. It drives pins into hardcore bases and extracts them more easily too.

Definitely the straps.

 

[acer]

I think that is a smart idea. You are then making use of equipment on the van.
You may want tie down straps to secure the awning in a light wind and tap a couple if tent pins in the awning legs too. There are some scary stories of awnings flipping over the roof.
Forget the rubber mallet, a claw hammer is way more useful. It drives pins into hardcore bases and extracts them more easily too.

Wholeheartedly agree on your first point and on tent pegs into awning legs / claw hammer. But, I wouldn’t even buy the tie down straps to start with. We nearly always wind-in the awning at night - the squeaks wake me. If you have a tent guy line you could use that as a tie down. (Of course, no judgement on anyone using the fancy tie downs )

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I got these early in ownership:

Amazon.co.uk

I kept them in the door pocket and put around the steering wheel, labelled up with relevant messages: ‘EHU’, ‘drain open’, ‘roof’, etc etc. They were useful reminders to me and my wife as there are always things to remember (or not forget): particularly in the early days.

 

[nigpdreadingfc]

Good luck with that idea.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Wholeheartedly agree on your first point and on tent pegs into awning legs / claw hammer. But, I wouldn’t even buy the tie down straps to start with. We nearly always wind-in the awning at night - the squeaks wake me. If you have a tent guy line you could use that as a tie down. (Of course, no judgement on anyone using the fancy tie downs )

We rescued a van’s wind out awning in Ireland a couple of years ago. The owner had taken a walk on the beach and it got gusty. We saved it just before it was too damaged. The pegs weren’t too useful. Tie downs needed if you’re noving away from the van. Simple to use, and £20 could save you £800.

 

[Loz2286]

On the subject of awning tie downs, I recommend the Peggy Peg system. A couple of the big corkscrew pegs with the tie downs and the awning is secure.

 

[Eric1]

I got these early in ownership:

Amazon.co.uk

I kept them in the door pocket and put around the steering wheel, labelled up with relevant messages: ‘EHU’, ‘drain open’, ‘roof’, etc etc. They were useful reminders to me and my wife as there are always things to remember (or not forget): particularly in the early days.

Thanks, that took me a moment to figure what you meant, but I have it now. These are visual reminders in your face (being on the steering wheel) to prevent you driving off when still attached to EHU etc. Good idea.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Thanks, that took me a moment to figure what you meant, but I have it now. These are visual reminders in your face (being on the steering wheel) to prevent you driving off when still attached to EHU etc. Good idea.

‘Life savers’ whilst you get to learn all the things to remember that will become automatic in time.

 

[acer]

Thanks to all for your welcome. I am now officially a Cali owner! Now trying to resist overbuying accessories until I know what I really need

As you can see from the above already, there are polarised views on what everyone needs. In fact, it’s all opinion based on how other people camp. I think that you’re right to work out what you need. That in itself is fun. I hope you enjoy Cali life. Personally, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to canvas.

 

[Kev56]

On the subject of awning tie downs, I recommend the Peggy Peg system. A couple of the big corkscrew pegs with the tie downs and the awning is secure.

I’ve been using Peggy pegs for years now, makita rattle gun simple, quicker and safe.I also use the stainless steel for tough ground and recently the stainless pet peg for locking my bike to.