Retirement present

Paul Horn · Oct 23, 2023

Hi,
I've just joined the forum, having aquired our 2014 Calif in 2022, and not having made as much use of it as I would have liked! So far, we have had no real problems and it has been an absolute joy to use; There are still things that I am learning about it, both features and quirks!
One concern that I have, given that it lives outside in the elements, is properly managing the inherent moisture increase in the winter months, given that we use it purely for pleasure, so not regularly used. I'm intending to purchase a dessicant dehumidifier, given the lower temperature operating capability, but I'm very keen to understand how this might have been tackled by others to understand the 'do's' and don'ts'.

Looking forward to learning a lot!

Paul

BeeBee · Oct 23, 2023

Our van lives outside, on driveway. It’s a 2019 150 DSG Ocean. We do use it as a back up vehicle, so it gets at least a once a week trip out, weather permitting as we live in Scotland and yet to obtain all season tires. However our ‘winter prep’ consists of emptying the water tanks and taking out the mattresses, top and bottom. Little else needs done other than ensuring the pop top gutters and door channels are cleaned.
It will be interesting to hear what others do.

WelshGas · Oct 23, 2023

Paul Horn said:
Hi,
I've just joined the forum, having aquired our 2014 Calif in 2022, and not having made as much use of it as I would have liked! So far, we have had no real problems and it has been an absolute joy to use; There are still things that I am learning about it, both features and quirks!
One concern that I have, given that it lives outside in the elements, is properly managing the inherent moisture increase in the winter months, given that we use it purely for pleasure, so not regularly used. I'm intending to purchase a dessicant dehumidifier, given the lower temperature operating capability, but I'm very keen to understand how this might have been tackled by others to understand the 'do's' and don'ts'.

Looking forward to learning a lot!

Paul

Mine will have been outside for the past 9 yrs come Dec 1st.

It remains fully loaded apart from water . I use Disposable Dehumidifiers x 2 in the van, all year round, changed when full generally every 6 weeks.
AirCon is left permanently On and it is driven at least every other day or more frequently, never less than 30+ miles and more often much longer.

jeff · Oct 23, 2023

BeeBee said:
Our van lives outside, on driveway. It’s a 2019 150 DSG Ocean. We do use it as a back up vehicle, so it gets at least a once a week trip out, weather permitting as we live in Scotland and yet to obtain all season tires. However our ‘winter prep’ consists of emptying the water tanks and taking out the mattresses, top and bottom. Little else needs done other than ensuring the pop top gutters and door channels are cleaned.
It will be interesting to hear what others do.

Mines been living outside for 15years polished twice a year always loaded and ready to go, used regularly once a week for a 20mile journey and air con left on.

Lambeth Cali · Oct 23, 2023

Ours is a holiday vehicle. Left often August to March. I empty the water tank only. 14 years so far. It shouldn’t leak!

Beeechke1 · Oct 24, 2023

Lambeth Cali said:
Ours is a holiday vehicle. Left often August to March. I empty the water tank only. 14 years so far. It shouldn’t leak!

Agree with much of what's been said above one addition if you don't camp regularly through the winter is to lift the pop top once a month on a sunny day. last winter I found moist air and temperature fluctuations result in condensation on the roof mechanisms, so worth lifting and drying out from time to time.

BeeBee · Oct 24, 2023

Beeechke1 said:
Agree with much of what's been said above one addition if you don't camp regularly through the winter is to lift the pop top once a month on a sunny day. last winter I found moist air and temperature fluctuations result in condensation on the roof mechanisms, so worth lifting and drying out from time to time.

Good tip, will take that on board this winter. Was also looking at the ‘Disposable dehumidifiers’ mentioned in a previous post.

RockinNRollin · Oct 24, 2023

BeeBee said:
Good tip, will take that on board this winter. Was also looking at the ‘Disposable dehumidifiers’ mentioned in a previous post.

You can get desiccant dehumidifiers that can "recharge"; can't remember the ones I've got, but you plug them in and a small heating element drives off the moisture to reset them, then back in the van they go. As far as I can tell, they're stuffed full of silica gel balls.

vmaxkiddy · Oct 25, 2023

No need for disposable dehumidifiers there’s plenty available that can be reused simply by drying out on a radiator or in a microwave.

PINGI Car-Dehumidifier LV-A300 - PINGI

Over time a car interior accumulates quite a lot of humidity, fogging up windows and making it almost impossible to see the road. Foggy windows are a not merely a nuisance - every car owner will agree that driving under such conditions is extremely dangerous. The innovative PINGI Car-...

pingi.com

Mowbotman · Oct 25, 2023

My cali is parked around the corner from where i live , and really does mot get used much at all, as we have a Mini Countryman for a run around, Did have problems with Leisure battery battery going flat and also vehicle battery, so fitting 2 solar panels inside the windscreen and they are now always charged, have a tracker on it as well, so can remotely see vehicle battery voltage, never really thought of lifting roof at all !!
just purchased 2 of the humidifiers from Amazon for £16 , will give them ago

Paul Horn · Oct 27, 2023

Many thanks for sharing your experiences - there are some very useful pointers and comments which you all have made, and which I will be following up on.
I've opted for a dessicant dehumidifier to manage the internal moisture this winter (as I've managed to get hold of one), and will post my experiences next spring (including whether the energy costs were worth it)!

Gàirnealair · Oct 27, 2023

jeff said:
Mines been living outside for 15years polished twice a year always loaded and ready to go, used regularly once a week for a 20mile journey and air con left on.

Probably a stupid question - but why do some people run the Aircon?

Is it for the benefit of the aircon system or does using it move more air out of the van and thereby remove moisture?

jeff · Oct 27, 2023

Gàirnealair said:
Probably a stupid question - but why do some people run the Aircon?

Is it for the benefit of the aircon system or does using it move more air out of the van and thereby remove moisture?

It helps remove moisture from the van.
on the Ford I have when you turn heater on to windscreen, air con comes on automatically.

Gàirnealair · Oct 28, 2023

jeff said:
It helps remove moisture from the van.
on the Ford I have when you turn heater on to windscreen, air con comes on automatically.

Ah, that makes perfect sense, many thanks :thumb

WelshGas · Oct 28, 2023

Gàirnealair said:
Probably a stupid question - but why do some people run the Aircon?

Is it for the benefit of the aircon system or does using it move more air out of the van and thereby remove moisture?

When AirCon is On, not only is the system lubricated , as the fluid/gas carries a lubricant , all the seals are kept in good condition.

When On, all the air coming in is first cooled and then warmed to the desired temperature. This initial cooling significantly drops the humidity/water content of the incoming air so you end up with dry air coming into the vehicle helping to keep the inside at a lower humidity level than outside.
This will be at the expense of a minute increase in fuel consumption barely measurable even with expensive equipment.

Gàirnealair · Oct 28, 2023

@WelshGas
Thank you - I am old enough that 'air con' was winding a window down (manually

) and TBH, have always only used AirCon very occasionally.

Perhaps I need to run it more often.
Never too old to learn something. :thumb

Viktorgeorge · Oct 28, 2023

Gàirnealair said:
Perhaps I need to run it more often.

Why not run it all the time? I do.

One further related point following on from @WelshGas ’s post, if you leave aircon off it tends to get smelly over time (bacteria build up); and to cap that some well meaning garages/dealers spray a cherry perfumed antibacterial product into the unit (without asking, as my VW dealer did on my wife’s golf many years ago) which makes the car smell like a ….. (fill that in yourselves).

BeeBee · Feb 18, 2024

We have been using some disposable dehumidifiers over winter months and definitely happy with the results.
The van is used couple of times a week over winter but mostly sits on driveway.
Couple of pics to show results. Next year will probably opt for the ‘reusable’ ones.