2 day clean….

JohnCalifornia · Apr 23, 2023

Hello, so this weekend the plan was to clean the Cali and get it up to my standards. Didn’t think it was gunna take me 2 days. Carpets washed (why do they put beige carpets in a commercial vehicle), rear floors scrubbed to get rid of engrained muck, California foot step lights touched up with silver paint (don’t look too bad), roof raised and cleaned all under seals and lubricated all moving parts (I don’t think this has ever been done to this van), jet washed engine bay, wiped down all seats , washed and waxed the exterior, removed all crud out of tambour door guides and now work perfectly, adjusted drawer pack as door didn’t open easily due to bottom drawer not leveled up properly, re stuck the storage thing under the mirror in wardrobe as was wobbly , removed tow bar and put in jack storage box where it belongs, removed bike rack. Now I’ve typed out what I’ve done no wonder it took 2 days……… Photos attached of my new pride and joy

Lambeth Cali · Apr 24, 2023

Looks great. I would be very careful jet washing the engine bay. Those things are super powerful. Could do some serious damage. The dpf sensor in there contains a crystal!

willwander · Apr 24, 2023

Cracking job and lovely van.

Do you really need that roof bungee?

bobbybasic · Apr 24, 2023

Looking mint, great work.

I'd be keen to see the step lights you've painted as the silver paint on mine has started to wear away.

Also, which paint did you use?

JohnCalifornia · Apr 24, 2023

Lambeth Cali said:
Looks great. I would be very careful jet washing the engine bay. Those things are super powerful. Could do some serious damage. The dpf sensor in there contains a crystal!

Yes I was very careful but it definitely needed it, more dusty than anything else so only a good shower really. Then I dried the engine bay with my motorbike dryer which is a fantastic bit of kit for getting in all the nooks and cranny’s .

JohnCalifornia · Apr 24, 2023

willwander said:
Cracking job and lovely van.

Do you really need that roof bungee?

Thanks. I don’t know if I need the bungeeI. It came fitted to the Cali so just left it as doing no harm and quite a few have them fitted so can’t be a bad thing

JohnCalifornia · Apr 24, 2023

bobbybasic said:
Looking mint, great work.

I'd be keen to see the step lights you've painted as the silver paint on mine has started to wear away.

Also, which paint did you use?

I’ll take a pic or 2 and post them later. The paint I used is actually a silver permanent marker pen type of thing but it is a paint type that comes out of end. It’s great for touching up stone chips on silver alloy wheels.

Ch1pbutty · Apr 24, 2023

JohnCalifornia said:
Thanks. I don’t know if I need the bungeeI. It came fitted to the Cali so just left it as doing no harm and quite a few have them fitted so can’t be a bad thing

You need to slack it off a bit, as you can see the fabric creasing.

JohnCalifornia · Apr 24, 2023

Ch1pbutty said:
You need to slack it off a bit, as you can see the fabric creasing.

Ah ok, so just tight enough that it doesn’t crease it he fabric. Are these needed at all or are they a good idea so that the fabric doesn’t caught in the lifting mechanism?

Borris · Apr 24, 2023

Great job.

We have one in the same colour scheme. I must confess that I don't wash it more than once every two months or so. This is for three reasons:
1. As you have pointed out, to do it properly is a lengthy job and a right PITA.
2. As we don't use the van a lot it doesn't need cleaning every week.
3. I believe that cleaning it too often isn't necessarily a good thing. Every time it's washed you are causing a small amount of micro damage.

Anyway, when I do wash it I usually do it in two stages to make the job less time consuming.
Day 1 - Thoroughly wash and dry the Candy white top section. Then knock off early for a brew.
Day 2 - Give the bottom half a good going over then ignore it for another 2 - 3 months.

Amarillo · Apr 24, 2023

After transporting three filthy boys home from a *very* muddy rugby tournament on Sunday, parked on a sloped field that needed snow chains to drive out, Amarillo needs a good clean inside and out, including all seat covers washed.

I’ll be at it nearly all day tomorrow.

JohnCalifornia · Apr 24, 2023

Borris said:
Great job.

We have one in the same colour scheme. I must confess that I don't wash it more than once every two months or so. This is for three reasons:
1. As you have pointed out, to do it properly is a lengthy job and a right PITA.
2. As we don't use the van a lot it doesn't need cleaning every week.
3. I believe that cleaning it too often isn't necessarily a good thing. Every time it's washed you are causing a small amount of micro damage.

Anyway, when I do wash it I usually do it in two stages to make the job less time consuming.
Day 1 - Thoroughly wash and dry the Candy white top section. Then knock off early for a brew.
Day 2 - Give the bottom half a good going over then ignore it for another 2 - 3 months.

Ha ha I know what what you mean with the washing. It was in a bad state inside but now it’s done I’ll just keep up to it. So no more 2 day valets hopefully. A good half day to do everything once a month should do it. Hope it to get it in garage over winter months so I’ll clean it before it goes in for the winter so that should be it for 6 month or so then bring it out all lovely and clean

JohnCalifornia · Apr 24, 2023

bobbybasic said:
Looking mint, great work.

I'd be keen to see the step lights you've painted as the silver paint on mine has started to wear away.

Also, which paint did you use?

Hi, pictures attached. Not as good as I thought when you zoom in but acceptable from a distance. It was a rush job so when I have some free time I might take them out and do a much better job

JimP1992 · Apr 24, 2023

JohnCalifornia said:
Hi, pictures attached. Not as good as I thought when you zoom in but acceptable from a distance. It was a rush job so when I have some free time I might take them out and do a much better job

View attachment 107644

View attachment 107645

View attachment 107646

View attachment 107647

Hmm. Personally I’d have left them as is. If it really bothers you, you can buy replacements for about £40 each (but they’ll just get damaged anyway).

Other than that what a fab looking vehicle. Love the two tone with the blue bellows. Does yours have a blue dash also?

JohnCalifornia · Apr 24, 2023

They were in a bad way so a big improvement in my view. Yeah I thought about buying new ones but like you thought they would only get scratched again. I can’t believe they are not a bit more hard wearing considering where they are ie on a foot step. The 2 tone colour is the main reason we bought it. Thanks for your comments. Blue dash? No mine is black. I didn’t know they did them in blue. I did get blue windshield blackouts and blue bellows insulator thrown in though

Ch1pbutty · Apr 25, 2023

Y

JohnCalifornia said:
Ah ok, so just tight enough that it doesn’t crease it he fabric. Are these needed at all or are they a good idea so that the fabric doesn’t caught in the lifting mechanism?

Yes, just slacken a little bit so that doesn’t bunch the fabric as much.

If you are careful then there are not required, ie - open sliding door to let the air escape & lower slowly, have a quick check for any fabric poking out (just stand on top rear wheel and push it fabric back in if required) but often roofs get closed by partners in a hurry, in which case bungee can be a good idea!

Borris · Apr 25, 2023

Proper job.

Amarillo · Apr 25, 2023

I’ve just finished cleaning Amarillo, inside and out. She’s still filthy. Ingrained mud on the cabin floor, scuffs and scrapes all over the interior trim. The chewed handbrake lever hasn’t improved since Jess attacked it when Amarillo was brand new (never leave a six month old puppy unattended in a brand new campervan).

Outside isn’t much better. Dent on the front wheel arch when I drove into a stubby car park boundary post in Sicily. Tar stains from driving through freshly laid road in Estonia. Scrape to the metal when I left bikes leant against the van at California Cross campsite in Devon and the boys bounced about upstairs. And a really ugly scrape Clare claimed misjudging our driveway reversing in. That is not including the car park door dings given to Amarillo by unknown villains or the countless stone chips pock marking the bonnet.

willwander · Apr 26, 2023

Amarillo said:
I’ve just finished cleaning Amarillo, inside and out. She’s still filthy. Ingrained mud on the cabin floor, scuffs and scrapes all over the interior trim. The chewed handbrake lever hasn’t improved since Jess attacked it when Amarillo was brand new (never leave a six month old puppy unattended in a brand new campervan).

Outside isn’t much better. Dent on the front wheel arch when I drove into a stubby car park boundary post in Sicily. Tar stains from driving through freshly laid road in Estonia. Scrape to the metal when I left bikes leant against the van at California Cross campsite in Devon and the boys bounced about upstairs. And a really ugly scrape Clare claimed misjudging our driveway reversing in. That is not including the car park door dings given to Amarillo by unknown villains or the countless stone chips pock marking the bonnet.

A patina earned through use and love

Amarillo · Apr 26, 2023

willwander said:
A patina earned through use and love

That’s the way I see it. Every blemish and imperfection is a memory. (Except for the one Clare added. That one is just annoying.)

Jabberwocky · Apr 26, 2023

Did you check your roof drains are nice and clear? An essential part of an annual clean as blocked drains can lead to wet headlinings and carpets

IanE · Apr 26, 2023

Borris said:
Proper job.

Fantastic - I wonder what it costs!

Seaview · Apr 26, 2023

JohnCalifornia said:
Ah ok, so just tight enough that it doesn’t crease it he fabric. Are these needed at all or are they a good idea so that the fabric doesn’t caught in the lifting mechanism?

We had and needed a bungee on our 5.1 Cali as it had a different type of fabric.

We don’t use one on our T6, the fabric/design is much better quality and less prone to catching. However, always remember to have a door open when lowering your roof. Personal opinion, but we feel the canvass looks much better without a bungee if you have the newer style fabric and are careful.

willwander · Apr 27, 2023

Seaview said:
We had and needed a bungee on our 5.1 Cali as it had a different type of fabric.

We don’t use one on our T6, the fabric/design is much better quality and less prone to catching. However, always remember to have a door open when lowering your roof. Personal opinion, but we feel the canvass looks much better without a bungee if you have the newer style fabric and are careful.

Same and agree. On ours the bungee prevents the canvas folding properly with the front opening canvas.

JohnCalifornia · Apr 27, 2023

The bungee has now been removed. If it’s not fitted in the factory then it can’t be needed in my opinion

2 day clean….

JohnCalifornia

Lambeth Cali

willwander

bobbybasic

JohnCalifornia

JohnCalifornia

JohnCalifornia

Ch1pbutty

JohnCalifornia

Borris

Amarillo

Tom

JohnCalifornia

JohnCalifornia

JimP1992

JohnCalifornia

Ch1pbutty

Borris

Amarillo

Tom

willwander

Amarillo

Tom

Jabberwocky

Forever young (ish!)

IanE

Seaview

willwander

JohnCalifornia

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