OUR NEXT CAMPERVAN !! What's replacing our VW California 🚐🔥

We have finally chosen our next Campervan ! What is replacing our VW California ? There were three vans on our shortlist, the VW Grand California, Westfalia Columbus and Hymer Free S600. We have been trying to find the right van to replace our VW California for a long time and one of these will be the successor. Have we finally found the right one...?!?!?!
#campervan #vwcalifornia #hymer #westfalia
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So Who are Campervan Journey?
We are JT, Harry, Claire, Sam and Ben, oh and Hunny the Dog. We discovered campervanning in 2015 when we bought our first Volkswagen T5 Combo after seeing many at our favourite campsites. We were staying with our tent, and dreaming that one day we would have our own Campervan. After much research, we bought and converted our own T5 Kombi to suit our requirements, check out the video on the channel. We soon discovered that owning a Campervan is a way of life and it is not just about amazing trips round Europe, it’s as much about great days out and family time…
We have been lucky enough to visit some amazing places with our van, many of which we know we wouldn’t have seen if we had not owned it. They instil a sense of adventure and where shall we go into your life.
After 3 years with the T5, we upgraded to a Volkswagen T6 California Beach, our current van, and we continue to enjoy travelling and visiting some amazing places. You can check out our latest videos and adventures here on the channel !
Please hit SUBSCRIBE! if this is your thing ! We try to make videos to share the good and bad of where we have been and some tips and tricks that we have learnt along the way, as well as reviews of some of the things we have bought to use whilst camping and places we have visited and stayed.
Remember, We believe that buying a Campervan was one of the best things we have ever done !!!
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#vwcalifornia #campervan #camping #motorhome #vanlife
00:00 Introduction
01:19 What we want in next van
04:36 Remembering the California
05:27 Option 1
08:48 Option 2
13:08 Option 3

[@freeontour]

First of all, congratulations! Choosing a replacement for a California is not an easy task, even in our experience. We understand your arguments and also ended up with the Campus edition of the Free S 600. But even on this model not all options were available: heated front seats and a soft close for the sliding door, as on the California Ocean, could not be ordered. But you won't hear us complaining, there are plenty of other things we enjoy to the full. One disappointment is that the state of the domestic battery cannot be displayed as a percentage, which is annoying. An optional shunt battery monitor solved this. By the way, a second battery is not a luxury. Best regards from Belgium!

[@CampervanJourney]

Thank you, we got there in the end ! It has certainly been a Campervan Journey ! I have been following your posts and it's good to see you are settling in well with your new Hymer. We have managed to find a van with Heated Seats which was key for us, and 95% of the other options we wanted. Right place, right time I guess. We are having a solar panel fitted which via its system has an Phone App that will, I believe, detail the state of our batteries. I am going to have to spend the summer learning how it all works ...! Cheers JT

[@camperfam]

Congrats. We just picke dup a Grand Cali 600, having found the incentive to upgrade and stick with VW far stronger than looking to move to other brands. The Svens do nothing for us unfortunately, and the Hymer we struggled with, especially with a pop top (tired of the 'tent' element of them), and the sudden stop/start of the cab and living area decor/theme. Hope you all have some fantastic journeys!

[@CampervanJourney]

I saw your recent post about your Grand California, there was a lot we liked about it when we tried one. The guys at Breeze Poole have looked after us very well over the past few years, so you are in safe hands ! Wishing you some great adventures in your new van too !

[@elliotcrilley]

Congratulations on your choice and the colour of the vehicle is so pleasing when you see it in the metal. I would have added the Knaus Boxdrive 600 XL to your list. You can even get 4x4 version right hand drive. It resolves every design deficiency in the GC within the same shell. Rear seats separate and tilt for travel. Slide out bed takes two. It’s insulated. It has a proper kitchenette . Etc etc. .

[@CampervanJourney]

Thank you ! I was aware of the Knaus, but we weren't able to view one easily so it wasn't really on our radar. Maybe if the Hymer doesn't work out we'll have to check it out. Cheers JT

[@camperfam]

Worth noting the GC is insulated. But the lack of tilt on the rear seats is for sure a failing.

[@soulstyledevon]

Congrats JT. Great van, I’m sure you’ll be over the moon with it. Any chance you can keep the Beach as well…😎

[@CampervanJourney]

Thank you ! We would have loved to have kept the Beach as well, but sadly that's not possible. So one out, one in...We will be very sad to see the Beach go...JT

[@soniagallaher3544]

How exciting! We looked at some vans at a camping show and I was confused about the travelling seats as well. Manufacturer’s definitely missing out! Hope everything goes well with your new van.

[@CampervanJourney]

Thankyou Sonia ! If you are wanting to carry passengers I suggesiting try to view and try as many vans as you can, not all travelling seats are the same...I guess it comes down to cost of development. Based on the feed back I've had over the last 3 years of doing Campervan Journey, if someone as well as Westfalia could come up with a top notch travelling seats, especially for children, they should be on to a winner ! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, remember to subscribe if you enjoyed the video ! Cheers JT

[@petermurphy994]

That hymer that you showcased on your previous video I noticed they took the price board out when I drove past you've bought it enjoy mate good choice good price as well which I shall not disclose happy trails.

[@CampervanJourney]

Brilliant ! Thank you, we think we've made a good choice, it has been a long time coming. Leisure First have done a great job of looking after us so far. If you see us around locally, give us a wave ! cheers JT

[@Van_Diesel_vw]

Great video JT, will you get it in time for your summer hols. Agree German engineering is better than Italian, best going with a Mercedes or VW/Man chassis. I really like the Sven, which would work for us as only 2, however that will be a retirement purchase when I have more time to travel, at the moment the Cali still ticks the boxes for me, as works great asa daily drive. Look forward to your next video introducing the new van.

[@CampervanJourney]

Thank you ! We think we have made a good choice for us. If it was just the two of us, the Sven would be right up there, I really think Westfalia are missing a trick with giving no option to sleep 3 or 4 in it . We are ready for a change and are fortunate in having a second vehicle for running around in so hopefully won't miss the daily driver versatility of the California. Cheers JT

[@keithj297]

Hi I appreciate you may have made your mind up on the choice of a van. However, we looked at similar vans and found that some had an annual habitation charge, if you wanted the warranty to be valid and that pretty much with a basic service was around a £900 and that’s for 10years at current prices. Hopefully that does not apply to you, but just giving you a heads up.

[@CampervanJourney]

Thank you for the tip.That's certainly something we will have to keep an eye on when we are budgeting for annual maintenance. Cheers JT

[@axelmacdonald6422]

Did you consider the smaller vans? The new Westfalia Kelsey? Or wait for the VW version

[@CampervanJourney]

We did, but felt that we were ready for.a bigger Campervan. The Hymer is a bigger step up in size of the overall vehicle, but it feels like it gives us what we are after. Fingers crossed we are right. We do still have a soft spot for the Westfalia's...Cheers JT

[@chrislongstaff9016]

Nice Video! Did you consider any Ford based vans such as the Bailey B64, or the Swift Trekker? I keep reading horror stories on Fiat based vans, including friends with new ones that have spent more time in the garage than on the road.

[@CampervanJourney]

Thank you ! We had a look at both the Bailey and Swift and for us neither layout was what we were looking for. I think Swift will do well with the Trekker it has some good features... It is sad, but I just couldn't bring myself to consider a Fiat based van over a German brand. That maybe unfair, and I hope I not proven wrong...thanks for watching, cheers JT

[@frenchcreampuff]

Great vid JT. Your new van must be due soon as I see that you have taken off your number plate. I know that you mainly stay on campsites but how do manufacturers that offer shower/pop-top combinations cope with condensation?

[@CampervanJourney]

Well spotted ! Number plate removed and California has been up for sale in preparation for the arrival of the new van in the very near future. The new van has plenty of opening windows and in the summer we will definitely have the top popped, hopefully these will manage any condensation.We will find out soon ! JT

[@wybird69]

Congrats JT. Thought you may let the Beach go!! Shame I’m not in a position to buy it off you :-)

[@CampervanJourney]

Cheers Stu ! Sorry about the Beach....

[@PaulMahy-pd2ho]

I get what you say about the Fiat, although the Hymer Free Campus has the upgraded dash which is now digital.. We have a transporter and only need it for 2 people, so I’m down to the Sven, free s or the Free Campus I need to test drive a Fiat to see what it’s like, no difference in width between the Sven or Fiat from what I can see..

[@CampervanJourney]

If it was just the two of us, we probably would have been able to made a choice some time ago. All of the choices you have listed are great, I would definitely try and test drive as many as you can. Good luck with your decision. Cheers JT

[@elliotcrilley]

I agree. On paper they look indistinguishable. However, I’ve spent all afternoon at a dealer comparing a Columbus 601 alongside a SH. There is no doubt they are very different viewed in the metal. Rear end of the Man/ VW is much narrower than the Ducato. Side walls also not as box like. Everything in the Columbus 601 is bigger bar the bathroom - kitchen units wider, overhead lockers bigger and rear bed is bigger without having to deploy the uninsulated pop out on a SH. No one should think that the lockers over the bed in SH will hold much at all. They are tiny in comparative terms. All carefully sized to retain feeling of openness in a smaller space. If I could get my head around paying so much for the Fiat base vehicle I’d have a Columbus 601 over a SH if yiu are interested in more camper facility within a 6 metre van

[@CampervanJourney]

That was one of our main struggles with the Columbus. I couldn't get my head round spending £100K plus on a Fiat based van... Perhaps I should have bought one 3 or 4 years ago when there were closer to £75k ! Cheers JT

[@martinblackmore4515]

Good vid, any reason why you didnt shortlist the Adria Twin? Also how was the van to drive and park vs the VW

[@CampervanJourney]

Hi Martin, The Hymer drives very well in comparison to the VW. As a 6m Van it was comparable in its manoeuvrability to the Grand California 600. Whilst we liked the Adria Twin, my preference was for VW/MAN/Mercedes as a base van over Fiat/Peugeot/Citroen for the driving refinement and availability of additional options especially things like full LED headlights and adaptive cruise control. Cheers JT

[@martinblackmore4515]

@@CampervanJourney Thanks JT. I am think of making the same move as you. Did you find the VW/MAN/Mercedes available second hand. Any firms you would suggest we look at? Many thanks

[@robww5921]

Finally!!!!' 😅 enjoy the new van. We've had our MAN with factory poptop for 6 months now and loving it. The extra space, able to stand and having everything want already in the van are game changers. You will love making new memories. Do I miss our old Beach....only when I have to park it in a small car park....but you can always get out the sliding door!

[@janetbowen7854]

Did you consider IH they convert with a rear lounge on a VW Crafter. Great video, very helpful.😀

[@vwcaliforniaadventures6763]

Welcome to “HYMER”

[@CampervanJourney]

Thank you !! Looking forward to being part of the club...JT