VW (Volkswagen) T6.1 California Ocean FULL TOUR & HONEST REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 18 чер 2022
- We set off on a 2 week road trip around the NC500 in a VW T6.1 California Ocean. This is our honest review from a couple of van life novices. The things we liked & didn't like!
Shout out to VW UK for loaning this beauty of a camper.
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A veeery good overview. Thx guys. Safe trips!
Super informative video. Thank you.
We have just ordered a California Ocean and we have a 4 year old and an 18 month old. Your video has given us an insight into what its like so thank you
Ah that's amazing! You'll love it we're sure. It is a great way to roadtrip
Guys thank you for that video. We rented VW in Portugal and spent 1+h to make a bed( and then we found your channel 😂
Great video, thank you!
great review, thank you
Great video. I’ve had a T6 Ocean for 6m and agree with other comments on moving downstairs bed. Just working up to travelling with 9yr old and 2yr old having travelled extensively in a 9metre long Concorde Motorhome across Europe and NC500. Cali is small but nice as an everyday vehicle plus getaways.
it is great for everyday use like you say. Hope you've managed to get out and about with your kids :)
Great video. I've had a 6.1 Ocean for nearly a year and love it. My rear seat moves really easily so I guess some sort of issue with yours as that's not normal. One really important point about the pop-top - the sliding panel needs to be open before you put the roof up or down and you also need to have a door or window open. It's basically a big set of bellows so will need to suck air in or squeeze it out of the van. Couple of other things - the USB ports on the side of the kitchen work off the leisure batteries so they're always 'on' - it's just the 3 pin socket on that panel that only works on hook-up. The 3 pin socket under the driver's seat runs off an inverter connected to the leisure batteries (not the front starter) and on a T6.1 I think it'll take upto 300w load.
Thank you so much for your info! really help us alot for next time :)
Great review, our Cali ocean 6.1…4motion with a 205bhp engine was delivered a year ago. We also have a caravan which the Cali tows when we go on longer adventures or we just take the Cali so lots of option. The comments on proper usage are correct so enough has been said, the seat movement eases with use but there is a knack..be brutal pulling the leaver. The seatbelts are connected to the seats so It is important that with potentially 2 adults strapped in that the seat holds firm. We have bought a blow up drive away awning which works really well when we take our 2 labradors with us. We love the go anywhere design an we have yet to find a barred car park the we couldn’t get under. We looked at a lot of retro fit van and they are just not on the same page as a VW in our view. Loving Van life and the freedom ..from an active adventurous couple.👍
love to hear this review from you guys! keep on adventuring 👍
As an owner of a VW California hire company I can honestly tell you that seeing your struggles with moving the lower bench seat is not typical. You have either been extremely unlucky and have a defective seat or...dare I say it...operator error. I must have owned over 20 Californias, none of them have that problem with the bench seat.
I found that pulling the leaver and then lifting the bench a little bit opens some kind of attachment and then it will just slide easily.
I would say operator error looking at how hes doing it. I have to push it back a touch to get it moving forwards but its not as difficult as hes making out.
I have had the same issue. It is due to the bench not always being at right angles to the rails in the floor. If the bench is at a tiny angle offset from 90degrees, Anyone will experience this issue. My solution, was to sit central on the bench, pull the lever and ‘balance’ the pull forward so that the bench remains right-angle aligned with the rails. I do think VW could do a better job with this system. It can be extremely frustrating when try to put the bed up or down, when you are not aware of what the issue actually is.
Mine was terrible and got adjusted by VW. But still pretty poor for the price tag paid.
Me the wife & dog have a self built van hightop wich we go away most weekends as we love it so much, we are doing nc500 next year.
That sounds incredible! You will love the NC500, one of the best drives we have ever done. Best of luck with it!
Interesting, we hired last year and picked up our Cali July. Quick addendum - the inverter runs from the leisure batteries, not the start battery. It is the only plug forward of the seats that uses the leisure. The USB sockets in the rear also work off hookup - it is only the 230 plug socket that switches on with hookup.
we've since realised this 🤦♀ thanks for the heads up!
Nice review. The best technique I found for the bed is to sit as far back on the seat as possible as you move it. Your method will always create challenges. Also - never open/close the roof with the hatch closed - you'll damage the roof bellows. All those items in the drawer will have been supplied by the hire company, they are not standard VW supplied kit.
Thanks for your info and help we really appreciate it!
Interesting review and hope you have lots of fun in your Cali. Noticed an important error you’ve made raising the roof.
It’s VERY important to open the sliding hatch BEFORE opening the pop top roof. Failure to do this can cause problems with the canvas. Even more important that the hatch is not closed before lowering the roof. You should also open a door or window before raising or lowering the roof. If not a vacuum can cause the canvas to be caught in the scissor mechanism and sliced - Expensive to replace.
thank you for this! 🙏
Sympathies regarding the broken bed hinge. Happened to me too! I contacted a local’ish VW dealer and had a terrible experience with lack of communication. Basically, I don’t think they cared. In the end, I bought the ‘nearside’ hinge (they are left or right handed) for £12 inc. delivery. Took me and my son to remove the upper bed to the lower one, drilled out the rivet (VW! Why rivets!!!) and then fit the new one with a 9mm x 35mm bolt and nut (I think that was the size), then replace the bed up top. Key takeaway…it’s a two person job to carry out this easy method. Don’t think you need to remove the upper canopy or anything drastic.
fantastic you managed to do it on your own 👏i'm glad to hear we weren't the only ones who made the silly but easily made mistake.
Is it possibel to adjust the backseats angle when driving or are they fixes in the sitting angle ?
Great video by the way ❤❤
Thank you for the review. Love the features of Ocean. The only thing I wish would be to replace the the gas cooktop with induction cooktop and replace the gas bottle with electric battery. Add a solar panel at the top and the Ocean can be off-grid for a few days.
great ideas!
Thanks for the heads-up mate. VW lost my sale at 8:00
Hello dear travelers, thank you for your inspiring vidéo ! May I ask you the color code of your van ? This light Grey is really fantastic ! Is it real painting or vynil sticker ? Many thanks again.
Excellent job and fantastic conversion... I live in Mexico and I would to know if you can quote all this equipment as a package?
It's not a conversion on a Transporter chassis and don't know if California Ocean is available from VW Mexico
It would be nice if they could swap out the gas cooker for an electric hob. It would mean not having to buy gas. And in conjunction with a solar roof and adequate battery storage it would be very appealing.
I’m waiting for the ID buzz California. 2024?
Where is the shower and the portable WC?
Open the shutter before raising or lowering the roof to let air in/out!!!!!!
Beautifully made video. We picked up our ocean a few weeks back and are off to do the NC500 for 3 weeks in July. Our bench seat does the same. Did you work it out/ did VW belive it was a fault? Xx
Thanks very much! Oh amazing! You guys are going to love it, the drive will just blow you away. Really not too sure about the seat, maybe that's the way they are. It just feels like they should slide a lot easier and also have a better grip. It's a minor compared to the amount of fun you're going to have! Have a wonderful time 🙌🏽
Bench needs to be at right angles to the rails. If it is slightly off, you will experience this issue.
What engine was in it? Was it 4motion? A bit more info about that side of things would have been useful.
A great review I have just. Split up with my wife is it possible to live in this long term I have 50k to spend
I’ve just picked up my second California…the sliding seat was quite temperamental in the first but really easy in the second….not sure why but perhaps it needed to be removed and refitted by the dealership? 🤔
perhaps, it was the only issue really that we found particularly annoying! Hope your second California is treating you well.
I just saw a video that said “spraying the floor” (didn’t say with what) can help in pulling/pushing the bed on the runners in a California. Owner forums would probably have more details.
maybe WD40 on the runners?
@@user-ov4ni9on9u Possibly but I would check with owner forums in case WD40 would stain or damage and they use something else.
@@Zalley Thank you! appreciated :)
Silicon spray (back to black)
I enjoyed watching the Video. I recomend the Model for Families with young Children
Thanks very much for watching! We'll check it out! thanks
The question of a loo didn't come up!?
That’s not a freezer?
Ironically, the VW Euro was sold in the US but not the California. 😂
I would prefer solar panels on roof
Price is insane! But nice van.
GREY
The california's fridge is top access, not as good as normal front access for getting to what you want immediately. The diesel heater controls are in the wrong place in the cab, you want them by the bed to turn them up or down during the night. An electric roof in my opinion is not a good idea, it is much easier to trap the canvas material in the scissor mechanism. There are no high level cupboards so storage is poor. There is no long wheelbase option to choose from. Normally, there is a voltage indicator on your 12 volt system on display, so when the electric hook up is plugged in, the voltage from charging is immediately apparent.
Why pay about 20k more for a VW california, when you can buy a Traffic, Talento etc. Professionally converted to a much higher functional standard and bigger with exactly what you want saving thousands. A california's bed is very narrow because a VW is so thin, mine is a rib alraire 120 cm wide bed in a converted van, with side kitchen because I could pick it. A canopy is not included in the price, neither is a second liesure battery or a solar panel. I could go on.
I’ve not used one but I always thought the rails in the floor doesn’t look like a good design either, surely it gets full of crud? With my dog in my own van the floor needs cleaning regularly and I wouldn’t want any grit in their either.
Also the whole finish of the van looks plasticky.
The fridge has much more capacity than an normal conversion Dometic fridge. Yes access could be better, but it makes good use of the space. The heater controls are by your bed if you want them, because they come with a remote control. Awning is included, second battery is included - if you want a wider bed and are happy with a bigger van then get one. Your information is 50% inaccurate and the rest is personal preference.
Out of the above, I only agree that I wish they did a lwb version as they are just as easy to drive and the extra space would have been great. However, the reason the California is so attractive to many is the fact that it’s such a great drive, inconspicuous if you want it to be and gets you to places a larger van would never do (especially the 4motion). Also, from what i understand (admittedly second hand knowledge from reading) the build quality on a conversion will Never be that same as a factory made van.
The other positive of a top access fridge is that is a lot more energy efficient. When you open a front door fridge all the cold air falls out where as in a top door it doesn't.
@@ShaiAharony There are many conversion builders who build out vans to the same standard as VW and some better. Take a look at ecovan. All have pluses and minuses. With a bespoke van you get to chose what you want exactly. I'm considering a California. On the pluses for me are the outside chairs and table on the minus side I don't want the electrical hookup and no upper cabinets in the kitchen.
I just dont get it with these VWs.
They're expensive and tiny.
Is it just the badge that does it for people or am I missing something?
You are missing something. Fuel efficient and small enough you can use it for a daily driver. Big enough for camping. Can sleep 4. Drives like a car.
Fits in most multi storey car parks and height barriers in normal car parks 👍🏻
it looks to me someone forced you to make this video.
This days im Gonna buy OCEAN 6.1 so for single man it can be a lot of room if little familly can live on that kind of board... Just im trying imagine how my life travel can be in next entire year when I miss/skip Europe Winter... wish me godspeed 🚐 and good luck 🛌