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Grand California Owners- Unhappy With Your Current Mattress

J

Jester

Top Poster
Lifetime VIP Member
Messages
2,171
Location
Dorset
Vehicle
Grand California 680
Hi all,

I have been talking to Duvalay over the past few weeks about a Mattress Topper to help improve upon the existing VW offering! In my view it’s not fit for purpose due to the poor fitting, separation between the cushions and is not really supportive.

So I contacted Duvalay to initially discuss the Topper. They then forwarded me a template drawing to approve and in the subsequent discussion about measurements we got on to how unhappy a lot of GC owners are with their mattress and particularly the GC 680 owners. We then got into a useful discussion
about the prospect of manufacturing a full blown mattress to add to their range.

Duvalay would like a GC 680 from which to make a template and this should take around 1.5 hours. As I’m down on the south coast and they are in West Yorkshire we wonder if there is a member that would be willing to go along or is passing their factory at Duvalay, Station Lane, Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, WF16 0NF?

Please let me know if you’re up for this and I will advise them.

Many thanks,

Will
 
Jester said:
Hi all,

I have been talking to Duvalay over the past few weeks about a Mattress Topper to help improve upon the existing VW offering! In my view it’s not fit for purpose due to the poor fitting, separation between the cushions and is not really supportive.

So I contacted Duvalay to initially discuss the Topper. They then forwarded me a template drawing to approve and in the subsequent discussion about measurements we got on to how unhappy a lot of GC owners are with their mattress and particularly the GC 680 owners. We then got into a useful discussion
about the prospect of manufacturing a full blown mattress to add to their range.

Duvalay would like a GC 680 from which to make a template and this should take around 1.5 hours. As I’m down on the south coast and they are in West Yorkshire we wonder if there is a member that would be willing to go along or is passing their factory at Duvalay, Station Lane, Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, WF16 0NF?

Please let me know if you’re up for this and I will advise them.

Many thanks,

Will
Click to expand...
Hi Will,
Obvs I have the GC600 but will be passing there after the bank holiday. Around the 8th -9th. Did you by any chance discuss the GC600 to? I’m happy to spend a little time with them for us GC600 owners.

Apologies for hijacking your post.
 
T3Z-GB said:
Hi Will,
Obvs I have the GC600 but will be passing there after the bank holiday. Around the 8th -9th. Did you by any chance discuss the GC600 to? I’m happy to spend a little time with them for us GC600 owners.

Apologies for hijacking your post.
Click to expand...
Hi Terry yes they are happy for both variants so if you can make it great I will put you down as a contact, is that for a topper or mattress, guess it should not matter. Will let you know after Tuesday.
have a good weekend.

Will
 
Jester said:
Hi Terry yes they are happy for both variants so if you can make it great I will put you down as a contact, is that for a topper or mattress, guess it should not matter. Will let you know after Tuesday.
have a good weekend.

Will
Click to expand...
Thanks Will.
 
We got a duvalay mattress made to the specs of their template. It might not be perfect fit but tbh with the depth and weight of it there’s not much movement. Also allows a little bit of space to fit a water bottle between mattress and side.
It’s very comfy. We are en route to France and were just saying what a different prospect it is now with the new mattress and air con available compared to sleeping in the oven that was the roof bed of our old T5.
Definitely recommend the duvalay mattress. You lose all rear view from the back windows once pillows and duvet are on but that’s fine.
 
I would be interested to see what they come up with for a 600 we already have their topper which on the face of it makes a comfortable bed. However there is a flaw in that it comes in two pieces with the join exactly halfway down the bed, after about ten minutes use the two halves have invariably separated leaving a dip in a most uncomfortable position.
We also have their specific fitted sheets and are wondering if the solution is to see the two sheets together so that the topper can fold at the join but not seperate.
 
NeillyG said:
We got a duvalay mattress made to the specs of their template. It might not be perfect fit but tbh with the depth and weight of it there’s not much movement. Also allows a little bit of space to fit a water bottle between mattress and side.
It’s very comfy. We are en route to France and were just saying what a different prospect it is now with the new mattress and air con available compared to sleeping in the oven that was the roof bed of our old T5.
Definitely recommend the duvalay mattress. You lose all rear view from the back windows once pillows and duvet are on but that’s fine.
Click to expand...
Hi Neilly,
Thanks for your conformation that the Duvalay mattress is a good investment, I particularly think this is the right way to go for the GC’s
 
andyinluton said:
I would be interested to see what they come up with for a 600 we already have their topper which on the face of it makes a comfortable bed. However there is a flaw in that it comes in two pieces with the join exactly halfway down the bed, after about ten minutes use the two halves have invariably separated leaving a dip in a most uncomfortable position.
We also have their specific fitted sheets and are wondering if the solution is to see the two sheets together so that the topper can fold at the join but not seperate.
Click to expand...
Hi Andy,

well I guess when they manufacturer the mattress it will be thicker and heavier than the topper and less likely to separate. They may decide to manufacture the 680 in two pieces?

Anyway Will post with updates on here when they have both templates 600 and 680.
so if anyone interested please advise.
Will
 
They offered it in 2 pieces. I went for one. One of our dogs sleeps in a crate under it so we rarely lift the bed. It is very comfy. Got the bespoke sheets too and mattress protector but tbh a super king fitted sheet worked just fine and was cheaper. Getting the mattress in was a challenge. I suspect that was partly due to my assistant. It is fairly bulky compared to the supplied one but no gaps and no unstuck sheets rolling under you at night. Best investment in van yet. Also just fitted the yes camper shelves. Brilliant to have some shelves and seem sturdy.

79CB17B4-9BBF-4C21-ABAC-03914C6E297D.jpeg
 
T3Z-GB said:
Hi Will,
Obvs I have the GC600 but will be passing there after the bank holiday. Around the 8th -9th. Did you by any chance discuss the GC600 to? I’m happy to spend a little time with them for us GC600 owners.

Apologies for hijacking your post.
Click to expand...
Hi here’s a guide to the road signs if you’re passing through Yorkshire.

B936A6C3-E13F-4B1A-A341-C95D783484B0.jpeg
 
NeillyG said:
They offered it in 2 pieces. I went for one. One of our dogs sleeps in a crate under it so we rarely lift the bed. It is very comfy. Got the bespoke sheets too and mattress protector but tbh a super king fitted sheet worked just fine and was cheaper. Getting the mattress in was a challenge. I suspect that was partly due to my assistant. It is fairly bulky compared to the supplied one but no gaps and no unstuck sheets rolling under you at night. Best investment in van yet. Also just fitted the yes camper shelves. Brilliant to have some shelves and seem sturdy.

View attachment 93877
Click to expand...
Hi Neilly,

Thanks for your photo that’s very helpful, it looks like you have removed the Firoli springs. Think that’s what they are called. Our initial discussions did not include the removal as we would still like easy access to the boot area meaning the Duvalay would be similar to the existing VW offering but slightly thicker and made from superior materials, they also said they could make them to any thickness required.

Will
 
I left the springy things on. Stuck the original mattress bits in my loft.
We went for the pocket sprung mattress rather than the memory foam one. I find memory foam a bit hot even when it’s got cool gels etc. the pocket sprung one is very comfy. You obviously lose some light but the blinds are still easy to operate and theirs enough space below the cupboards. I am wondering if I should put some sort of support in the cutaway area to prevent sag of the mattress there.
I think anything that’s fits without gaps and a bit thicker will be better than the original. I think the thicker and heavier it is the less precise the template needs to be.
 
So I’ve just ordered the 2 piece duvalay topper from campervantastic. I’d rather only have one item to be honest and this has thrown me!
I have some original Raskalfs, which we still use from our ocean in 2010! Best investment ever.
I don’t mind travelling up to let them template mine. How quickly?

To be clear are they going to replicate the VW design in 3 parts so still with the gaps or will it be a single piece or two piece (like the topper?) or they don’t know yet.

If 3 piece a close fit and maybe zip together sheets would be the way to avoid creep otherwise tolerance would need to be good.
 
Chainline said:
So I’ve just ordered the 2 piece duvalay topper from campervantastic. I’d rather only have one item to be honest and this has thrown me!
I have some original Raskalfs, which we still use from our ocean in 2010! Best investment ever.
I don’t mind travelling up to let them template mine. How quickly?

To be clear are they going to replicate the VW design in 3 parts so still with the gaps or will it be a single piece or two piece (like the topper?) or they don’t know yet.

If 3 piece a close fit and maybe zip together sheets would be the way to avoid creep otherwise tolerance would need to be good.
Click to expand...
Hi we are only at preliminary discussions at the mo as they want to see and measure a van in the flesh To get it spot on as I also ordered directly from them the 2 piece topper and was not happy with the fit from the template they had originally sent to me to approve.

So I asked if they had thought about a better quality and fitting mattress along the lines of the original in which he said he could but improve upon. I personally am not looking for a home bed mattres.

where are you based. When could you go. In have talked to them about the original VW and the issues we have with it so hopefully we can eliminate.
anyway it’s all open for grabs at the moment.
we need to get it right once and for all.

Will
 
I'm in Hinckley, Leics. Not on the doorstep but about a couple of hours. I have friends up there and would try and make a trip away of it. I'm looking for excuses to use the Van!
 
Based on your 'not happy with the fit of the 2 piece' I have just asked to cancel my order, I only ordered yesterday and its a 14 day custom turnaround so hopefully I've caught it in time as on a bank holiday.

If the template is revised I'd rather get the best one I can and I would rather it was a replacement than a topper if I'm honest.
 
I didn't answer the when! Tuesday is difficult this coming week but Wed, Thu or Fri I could manage. I can work from anywhere so it doesn't have too big an impact as long as I have some kind of signal!
 
Chainline said:
I didn't answer the when! Tuesday is difficult this coming week but Wed, Thu or Fri I could manage. I can work from anywhere so it doesn't have too big an impact as long as I have some kind of signal!
Click to expand...
Great I’m due to call him on Tuesday we now have you for the 680 and TZ3-Uk for the 600.

Could you pm me with your contact number and perhaps talk tomorrow before 12:00 if convenient.

Will
 
Jester said:
Hi all,

I have been talking to Duvalay over the past few weeks about a Mattress Topper to help improve upon the existing VW offering! In my view it’s not fit for purpose due to the poor fitting, separation between the cushions and is not really supportive.

So I contacted Duvalay to initially discuss the Topper. They then forwarded me a template drawing to approve and in the subsequent discussion about measurements we got on to how unhappy a lot of GC owners are with their mattress and particularly the GC 680 owners. We then got into a useful discussion
about the prospect of manufacturing a full blown mattress to add to their range.

Duvalay would like a GC 680 from which to make a template and this should take around 1.5 hours. As I’m down on the south coast and they are in West Yorkshire we wonder if there is a member that would be willing to go along or is passing their factory at Duvalay, Station Lane, Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, WF16 0NF?

Please let me know if you’re up for this and I will advise them.

Many thanks,

Will
Click to expand...
Hi
I know it’s not relevant to the 680, but I gave a template for the 600 to Devon Duvet and they made me a great topper.

Hope this helps somebody

Stuart
 
hhttps://seminautic.nl
 

Attachments

  • Seminautic-brochure-2022.pdf
    1.5 MB · Views: 21
Thank you all for your contributions and suggestion, we now have volunteers for the GC 600 and 680 for templates to be made.

I will update as and when templates have been made and a decision has been made on specification and cut.

Thanks all.

Will
 
Any news from Duvalay? Was there success via @T3Z-GB on the confirmation of sizing?
 
Afternoon,

Meeting Terry early next week to carry out the dimension check. Thereafter forwarding to Duvalay. Hopefully they well make up some trial mattresses to try out before manufacture.
 
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