Hattie is here!

A_Rig · Apr 30, 2022

A late delivery but finally she is here. Looking forward to getting out and about. p.s. Since she arrived I have spent the equivalent to the GDP of a small nation on bits to put in her!!! I didn't see that coming

)

Hawthorn37 · Apr 30, 2022

.. to the forum. Obligatory pics if you can, so we can all ooh and ahh!

Perfectos · Apr 30, 2022

A Rig , congrats :bananadance2

Polomint · May 1, 2022

Welcome to the club.

IainB · May 1, 2022

to the club.

SusiBus · May 1, 2022

Welcome to the Cali family. Why Hattie?

A_Rig · May 2, 2022

SusiBus said:
Welcome to the Cali family. Why Hattie?

We choose the name for our vehicles based on the number plate. Hattie's starts with HJ and the only tenuous link to a name we could think of was Hattie Jacques from the film 'Carry On Camping' from the 60's or 70's.

SusiBus · May 2, 2022

A_Rig said:
We choose the name for our vehicles based on the number plate. Hattie's starts with HJ and the only tenuous link to a name we could think of was Hattie Jacques from the film 'Carry On Camping' from the 60's or 70's.

View attachment 92589

I remember HJ from the C on Films, good old sophisticated British humour.

DaveP · May 9, 2022

Scary - we must be of similar vintage - also just named our new pride and joy Hattie - for same reasons! They must never meet

A_Rig · May 10, 2022

Hattie has been on her first trip and we had an absolutely brilliant time in the New Forest! A bit of a learning curve that highlighted a few things that we will do differently in the future but nothing major. Bring on the next trip

66tim99 · May 10, 2022

A_Rig said:
Hattie has been on her first trip and we had an absolutely brilliant time in the New Forest! A bit of a learning curve that highlighted a few things that we will do differently in the future but nothing major. Bring on the next trip

What’s the number one thing you’ll do differently?
Ours was to turn both the fridge and heater down. 3 seems to work well for the fridge in ‘normal’ southern U.K. temps (highs mid-teens) and the heater roasted the van on level 4 (lows of 5 degrees, roof up) - still not convinced I need a topper but not been in a big storm yet

Brightonbelle · May 10, 2022

A Rig
Many congratulations - she’s lovely. I like the name! You must be a similar vintage to me if you grew up in Carry On films.
Your awning looks nice. What sort is it? Asking because we’re waiting for our Cali and trying to gain as much info as possible. Can you share where you’ve find good to buy items for Hattie?
Please let me know what you decide re the topper. We’ve got a comfort topper and extension included bur I’m getting the impression we might need more comfort that that.

A_Rig · May 12, 2022

66tim99 said:
What’s the number one thing you’ll do differently?
Ours was to turn both the fridge and heater down. 3 seems to work well for the fridge in ‘normal’ southern U.K. temps (highs mid-teens) and the heater roasted the van on level 4 (lows of 5 degrees, roof up) - still not convinced I need a topper but not been in a big storm yet

We found the upstairs bed to be a bit like sleeping on a plank. Even after putting the comfort mattress up there as well. We may look into a memory foam mattress topper even though it will mean sacrificing some space. Hope we don't sound to precious! We're not

A_Rig · May 12, 2022

Brightonbelle said:
A Rig
Many congratulations - she’s lovely. I like the name! You must be a similar vintage to me if you grew up in Carry On films.
Your awning looks nice. What sort is it? Asking because we’re waiting for our Cali and trying to gain as much info as possible. Can you share where you’ve find good to buy items for Hattie?
Please let me know what you decide re the topper. We’ve got a comfort topper and extension included bur I’m getting the impression we might need more comfort that that.

Its an Outwell Parkville awning. Worked really well and was quite easy to put up/take down.

Brightonbelle · May 13, 2022

A_Rig said:
Its an Outwell Parkville awning. Worked really well and was quite easy to put up/take down.

Thanks very much. It’s good to have a recommendation. We’re off to the Southern Campervan and Mororhome show today!

66tim99 · May 13, 2022

A_Rig said:
We found the upstairs bed to be a bit like sleeping on a plank. Even after putting the comfort mattress up there as well. We may look into a memory foam mattress topper even though it will mean sacrificing some space. Hope we don't sound to precious! We're not

I find it hard with the standard mattresses too - makes a big difference to the whole experience to get your bed right. These have been out of stock for a while recently, but are back in and I recommend them. You could replace your roof bed mattress with one and deflate it and leave it up there, sacrificing no space...
https://www.addnature.co.uk/sea-to-summit-comfort-deluxe-self-inflating-mat-camper-van-M1019210.html

A_Rig · May 14, 2022

66tim99 said:
I find it hard with the standard mattresses too - makes a big difference to the whole experience to get your bed right. These have been out of stock for a while recently, but are back in and I recommend them. You could replace your roof bed mattress with one and deflate it and leave it up there, sacrificing no space...
https://www.addnature.co.uk/sea-to-summit-comfort-deluxe-self-inflating-mat-camper-van-M1019210.html

Thanks for the advise. I recently watched a a vlog by 'California time' that compared this and another self inflating mattress. At £250 it needs to be pretty special! I've also found memory foam toppers from Duvalay & Panda. The latter comes with a 30 day no quibble return policy and costs £135 ish. It doesn't have the corner removed but would work well in the pop top albeit it would need to be removed for travelling. I could use the money we save for for other gadgets and gizmos

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