Hi, we (family of 4 - 2 primary school aged children in car seats) have a beach camper with the option of the 3 seater sliding seat. It’s the best. The sliding door being on the drivers side hasn’t been an issue, because you don’t actually often park on heavily trafficked / busy roads! I use it for work every day, delivering and fitting furniture/kitchens, carting lots of tools and small appliances. The table and chairs included I take onto site to use my laptop on etc. I work in the van at the table when surveying on building sites that are cold, nice to have the stove to make a cup of tea 👍🏻. It’s incredibly versatile, being able to fold the seat down and slide up to the front seats give masses of storage. Taking out the multiflex board and mattress if we’re going away on a day trip cycling (4 bikes on the bike rack) and pushing the sliding seat right to the Back door and popping the roof give loads of space to hang out inside. And again the stove for a hot chocolate or warm up some simple food (we don’t fry etc. In the van, just warm through pre prepared food or boil water for simple food. Long camping holidays we cook outside, on short weekends away we use the van stove for breakfasts, tea coffee porridge. I can’t reiterate just how amazingly versatile the beach camper is. And it’s cheaper on road tax. Which Chris helpfully pointed out when I called up to ask some questions before buying ours over a year ago now. Keep making great videos. Oh, and there’s enough space under the downstairs bed to store the car seats at night on short camping trips when we haven’t taken our gazebo. We wind the awning out to bridge a gap to a standalone gazebo instead of having a drive away tent that attached to the van. Beach camper, 3 seater sliding seat the best.
Hello Chris, thanks for your helpful videos. Because of your better knowledge of cali options, I drove to Liverpool and booked a beach tour(at that moment I didn't know you already change to Wales branch😅). The most important reason why I chose tour version is that tour has the door on the left which means a lot especially safety, for my young children could get off the van on the safer side. And secondly the cooking part is not so necessary, it can be easily replaced by portable gas stove putting on the folding table in the door, which I think is much more compact and safer compare with propane bottle, and easier to clean. And also you can use it outside. And third about the socket and leisure battery of camper, you could buy large capacity lithium battery bank which has multiple 230v and usb sockets, and also has multiple charging methods such as 230v, 12v even solar panels, maybe just need a conversion lead or adapter to connect to the campsite. And also easy to maintain. The last reason is tour could be a seven seater, which is what I ordered. It's quite helpful as a family car when my parents come over for holidays.
I have few questions hope you could answer. 1. Could you make a video to show tour version with 7 seats how to making beds? Is there enough space in the cabin to make the bed without taking out the two middle seats? 2. What's exactly difference of tax between these two versions? I thought their road taxes are same. 3. What's the body types of these two versions on their V5C? Are they same or different? What I heard from forums DVLA change them to multivan since 2019 which may have influence when buying insurance as a motorhome or campervan. If they're not classified as motorhome or motor caravan, is it possible to change to motorhome afterwards by any modifications?
Thanks Chris. Another great video and confirms why we - like you - recently bought a Tour from you. Just a minor point regarding the lack of EHU on this, my understanding is that this is not due to the interior socket location but rather the external EHU which would foul the second sliding door when it opens. There are aftermarket options to have one fitted elsewhere for this configuration if required.
V interesting video Chris, thank you. We have a Cali Coast, and love it for the kitchen, wardrobe, and great storage. But it is also our only vehicle for daily use, and the sliding doors either side of the Beach Tour would be great too, as the offside sliding door often means passengers getting out into traffic.
Steve, I have just got a tour in memory of my dog, waited 12 months and its amazing I an from Liverpool put me onto this channel and for that I am grateful. I would like to thank you as you have confirmed all my thoughts and decisions. Can you please let me know the companies you suggest for accessories. FYI I am thinking of a vamped as it allows me to have it when I want it, but not fixed hence tour. Reason being I am looking to rescue a couple of malamutes and become a nomad worker, I agree with you Cook outside the van is a travel tool. Also any suggestions for storage ideas for the back? Thanks in advance
Hi Steve, thanks for your great comment. I love the Beach Tour! I recommend Campervantastic for accessories, they have a lot of unique choices specifically for campers / the California range. We've got a video lined up on storage options and tips, keep an eye on the channel. Best of luck with your nomad working plans!
7 seat as you can still make beds and cook, shower and toilet at facilities or external shelters. p.s finally i got side by side coparision now all i need to do is win lotto.
great video, thank you Chris. I have a question with leisure battery: it is standard also in the tour version, right? if yes, how it is charged if there is not the 230V hookup? just when the car is running, like the normal car battery? thank you
Hi Chris, finding your videos so useful 👍 thank you! Wonder if I could ask for your recommendation for carrying a spare bulb kit to comply with French regulations (as I understand them). As we’ve got LED headlights in the Cali, carrying spare LEDs seems rather extreme…. Any suggestion? Thank you 😊
Neither car is quite right for me. The Beach sold in Australia is slightly different. It has the two sliding doors, 3-seat bed and external power socket. Having has a Coast in France we are familar with the 2-seat bed and it works fine. To the Australian spec car I would prefer a 2-seat bed and make use of the space down the left of the car where the kitchen would go on a Coast/Ocean. To realise that I would need to exchange the 3-seat bed for a 2-seat bed. I wonder if that is possible? And not only a 2-seat bed but the same one as on the Coast/Ocean with the tilt-up rear and bolt-on tool box at the back of the seat. For a kitchen I would add a VanEssa Oslo kitchen pod which bolts into the floor rails behind the driver's seat.
Prefer the camper version and although the two seater bed/bench is perfect for sleeping 🛌 I can truly see the reasons for the 3 seater for use on non camping trips. Yep 👍
I recently bought a nearly new tour. It wasn't a conscious choice as there is such high demand I just had to accept whatever beach model became available first. But isnt one big advantage with the tour that the lower sleeping area is wider because you don't have the cooking facilities taking up some of the sleeping space?
The cooking facilities take up minimal space as it folds in to the side where the second door is on the Tour model. That being said, you're not wrong! It does make a difference even if it's only marginal for some.
@@CaliforniaChris Ah ok. Fair enough. I thought just having the two seats would mean it was narrower but maybe the bed makes use of that storage area too then. The only thing I think might be a problem with the tour is that you don't have an option to charge the leisure battery. If I plug various appliances into the 12v sockets and use the power socket under the drivers seat too I am thinking the leisure battery would soon need recharging?
U can specify camper with the three seat bench as the tour which is what I have? The tax and insurance is lower on camper also. Just a thought. The extra seats if needed can be bought after plenty for sale...
2 full minutes of time wasting pointless repetitive waffle - why? The title tells us all that and brought us to the video - you could have come straight in at 'so with the Tour...' (which should've been 'camper') Thumbs down for waisting our valuable time
@@CaliforniaChris Yeah but unless YOU add timecodes etc. it's difficult to know where to skip to. Interesting that you'll spend time recording and editing pointless waffle but you can't be bothered to add timecodes that would be way more useful. But in response to your response I could say 'so could you'. The intros are pointless and if you came in straight on the info (that we've come here for) your videos would be easier to watch and easier for you to edit. Alternatively if this is a video-length/monetisation issue, fill those first minutes with useful information - or maybe instead of 'I'm not going into that because I've done another video of it' you could do a concise recap of that bit of kit which would be less frustrating. 2 minutes of intro waffle just insults your viewers intelligence.
Hi, we (family of 4 - 2 primary school aged children in car seats) have a beach camper with the option of the 3 seater sliding seat. It’s the best.
The sliding door being on the drivers side hasn’t been an issue, because you don’t actually often park on heavily trafficked / busy roads!
I use it for work every day, delivering and fitting furniture/kitchens, carting lots of tools and small appliances. The table and chairs included I take onto site to use my laptop on etc. I work in the van at the table when surveying on building sites that are cold, nice to have the stove to make a cup of tea 👍🏻.
It’s incredibly versatile, being able to fold the seat down and slide up to the front seats give masses of storage.
Taking out the multiflex board and mattress if we’re going away on a day trip cycling (4 bikes on the bike rack) and pushing the sliding seat right to the Back door and popping the roof give loads of space to hang out inside. And again the stove for a hot chocolate or warm up some simple food (we don’t fry etc. In the van, just warm through pre prepared food or boil water for simple food.
Long camping holidays we cook outside, on short weekends away we use the van stove for breakfasts, tea coffee porridge.
I can’t reiterate just how amazingly versatile the beach camper is.
And it’s cheaper on road tax. Which Chris helpfully pointed out when I called up to ask some questions before buying ours over a year ago now.
Keep making great videos.
Oh, and there’s enough space under the downstairs bed to store the car seats at night on short camping trips when we haven’t taken our gazebo.
We wind the awning out to bridge a gap to a standalone gazebo instead of having a drive away tent that attached to the van.
Beach camper, 3 seater sliding seat the best.
The camper can have the three seat bench?
@@benohanlon yes, we have the 3 seater bench seat option in our camper. So it’s a 5 seater.
Hello Chris, thanks for your helpful videos. Because of your better knowledge of cali options, I drove to Liverpool and booked a beach tour(at that moment I didn't know you already change to Wales branch😅). The most important reason why I chose tour version is that tour has the door on the left which means a lot especially safety, for my young children could get off the van on the safer side. And secondly the cooking part is not so necessary, it can be easily replaced by portable gas stove putting on the folding table in the door, which I think is much more compact and safer compare with propane bottle, and easier to clean. And also you can use it outside. And third about the socket and leisure battery of camper, you could buy large capacity lithium battery bank which has multiple 230v and usb sockets, and also has multiple charging methods such as 230v, 12v even solar panels, maybe just need a conversion lead or adapter to connect to the campsite. And also easy to maintain. The last reason is tour could be a seven seater, which is what I ordered. It's quite helpful as a family car when my parents come over for holidays.
I have few questions hope you could answer.
1. Could you make a video to show tour version with 7 seats how to making beds? Is there enough space in the cabin to make the bed without taking out the two middle seats?
2. What's exactly difference of tax between these two versions? I thought their road taxes are same.
3. What's the body types of these two versions on their V5C? Are they same or different? What I heard from forums DVLA change them to multivan since 2019 which may have influence when buying insurance as a motorhome or campervan. If they're not classified as motorhome or motor caravan, is it possible to change to motorhome afterwards by any modifications?
Thanks Chris. Another great video and confirms why we - like you - recently bought a Tour from you. Just a minor point regarding the lack of EHU on this, my understanding is that this is not due to the interior socket location but rather the external EHU which would foul the second sliding door when it opens. There are aftermarket options to have one fitted elsewhere for this configuration if required.
V interesting video Chris, thank you. We have a Cali Coast, and love it for the kitchen, wardrobe, and great storage. But it is also our only vehicle for daily use, and the sliding doors either side of the Beach Tour would be great too, as the offside sliding door often means passengers getting out into traffic.
We do get a lot of people asking about a sliding door on the left -- the Beach Tour is the model we recommend for that.
I'd like the Camper version for sure!
Steve, I have just got a tour in memory of my dog, waited 12 months and its amazing I an from Liverpool put me onto this channel and for that I am grateful. I would like to thank you as you have confirmed all my thoughts and decisions. Can you please let me know the companies you suggest for accessories. FYI I am thinking of a vamped as it allows me to have it when I want it, but not fixed hence tour. Reason being I am looking to rescue a couple of malamutes and become a nomad worker, I agree with you Cook outside the van is a travel tool. Also any suggestions for storage ideas for the back? Thanks in advance
Hi Steve, thanks for your great comment. I love the Beach Tour! I recommend Campervantastic for accessories, they have a lot of unique choices specifically for campers / the California range. We've got a video lined up on storage options and tips, keep an eye on the channel. Best of luck with your nomad working plans!
7 seat as you can still make beds and cook, shower and toilet at facilities or external shelters. p.s finally i got side by side coparision now all i need to do is win lotto.
Haha. Good luck on the lotto!
Hi. The Camper Beach looks perfect. Please let me know if you do a ULEZ petrol version in stock. Thank you
I wish the tour was available in Ireland we only get the camper with the 2 seater bench not even an option to get the 3 seater bench.
That seems like a major oversight! Sorry to hear that. Hopefully you'll have access to the Tour / 3 seat bench over there in the future 🤞
great video, thank you Chris. I have a question with leisure battery: it is standard also in the tour version, right? if yes, how it is charged if there is not the 230V hookup? just when the car is running, like the normal car battery? thank you
Exactly that, yes!
Hi Chris, finding your videos so useful 👍 thank you! Wonder if I could ask for your recommendation for carrying a spare bulb kit to comply with French regulations (as I understand them). As we’ve got LED headlights in the Cali, carrying spare LEDs seems rather extreme…. Any suggestion? Thank you 😊
Neither car is quite right for me. The Beach sold in Australia is slightly different. It has the two sliding doors, 3-seat bed and external power socket. Having has a Coast in France we are familar with the 2-seat bed and it works fine. To the Australian spec car I would prefer a 2-seat bed and make use of the space down the left of the car where the kitchen would go on a Coast/Ocean. To realise that I would need to exchange the 3-seat bed for a 2-seat bed. I wonder if that is possible? And not only a 2-seat bed but the same one as on the Coast/Ocean with the tilt-up rear and bolt-on tool box at the back of the seat. For a kitchen I would add a VanEssa Oslo kitchen pod which bolts into the floor rails behind the driver's seat.
Prefer the camper version and although the two seater bed/bench is perfect for sleeping 🛌 I can truly see the reasons for the 3 seater for use on non camping trips. Yep 👍
how are you?- Yeah~ you shared ureal content. see ya!! 👏
Cheers! Thanks for your support.
I recently bought a nearly new tour. It wasn't a conscious choice as there is such high demand I just had to accept whatever beach model became available first. But isnt one big advantage with the tour that the lower sleeping area is wider because you don't have the cooking facilities taking up some of the sleeping space?
The cooking facilities take up minimal space as it folds in to the side where the second door is on the Tour model. That being said, you're not wrong! It does make a difference even if it's only marginal for some.
@@CaliforniaChris Ah ok. Fair enough. I thought just having the two seats would mean it was narrower but maybe the bed makes use of that storage area too then.
The only thing I think might be a problem with the tour is that you don't have an option to charge the leisure battery. If I plug various appliances into the 12v sockets and use the power socket under the drivers seat too I am thinking the leisure battery would soon need recharging?
U can specify camper with the three seat bench as the tour which is what I have? The tax and insurance is lower on camper also. Just a thought. The extra seats if needed can be bought after plenty for sale...
Camper is the much better option 👍🏻
2 full minutes of time wasting pointless repetitive waffle - why? The title tells us all that and brought us to the video - you could have come straight in at 'so with the Tour...' (which should've been 'camper') Thumbs down for waisting our valuable time
Sorry you don't like intros. You can always skip the first part of the videos :).
@@CaliforniaChris Yeah but unless YOU add timecodes etc. it's difficult to know where to skip to. Interesting that you'll spend time recording and editing pointless waffle but you can't be bothered to add timecodes that would be way more useful. But in response to your response I could say 'so could you'. The intros are pointless and if you came in straight on the info (that we've come here for) your videos would be easier to watch and easier for you to edit. Alternatively if this is a video-length/monetisation issue, fill those first minutes with useful information - or maybe instead of 'I'm not going into that because I've done another video of it' you could do a concise recap of that bit of kit which would be less frustrating. 2 minutes of intro waffle just insults your viewers intelligence.