VW California Beach: our experience and practical tips

For a couple of years, Graziano and I tried sleeping in an ordinary car. It was adventurous, but absurdly uncomfortable. We did it so we could wake up at the starting point for MTB rides and ski tours. Since my teens I had dreamt of a VW camper, the familiar “Bulli” on all those T-shirts, associated with freedom and Californian windsurfing.

Graziano, who is wilder than I am, had always thought a tent was the best solution. But when it was time to replace the car, we asked ourselves why we should buy another ordinary one.

California versions: Beach, Ocean, T5 and T6

This account was first published in 2020 and describes our T6-era experience, rather than the specification or pricing of the current California range.

The Volkswagen California campervan shares its underlying platform with the Transporter and Caravelle. In the versions we were considering, its familiar features included a pop-up sleeping roof, sliding side door, interior table, swivelling front seats, two chairs stored in the tailgate and the option of an awning. Check the equipment of an individual vehicle rather than assuming that every version is identical.

Beach or Ocean: kitchen, shower and toilet?

I can give a clear account of what works for me, although everyone has different tastes. If you choose a California, I think it helps to remember that it is not a full-size motorhome.

I know owners who buy endless accessories to make it more like one: external tents, awnings, chemical toilets, extra covers, shelving, cooking equipment and storage boxes. Sometimes the van becomes so full that they need somewhere to unload everything and establish a campsite before they can use it.

For me, the California is an adventurous vehicle for people who enjoy minimalism and the outdoors. It already feels luxurious compared with our previous approach. I do not feel a need to turn every outdoor trip into a competition for comfort.

Cooking inside the California?

Why would I want to cook in the passenger compartment? In summer I prefer being outside. In winter, steam, food smells and humidity are unappealing when it is difficult to ventilate the van.

My approach has been to cook outside and keep the interior as a warm living space. The California supports an outdoor adventure; I am not taking it away to recreate a full kitchen. Cooking equipment should be used and supervised in accordance with its instructions, away from combustible parts of the vehicle.

Managing without a built-in toilet

In a built-up area, a café, pub or restaurant often provides a practical toilet stop. In remote places I have carried a small shovel and have always taken paper and wipes away in a bag rather than leaving them behind. Local rules and appropriate waste disposal still apply.

More recently, I have used a folding portable toilet with a bag. I set it up either inside the van or, where permitted, inside a pop-up shower tent. Afterwards I close the bag and dispose of the waste appropriately. These are the products described in the original account.

A folding portable toilet

The Amazon links below are affiliate links and lead to Amazon Italy.

See the portable toilet on Amazon

See the shower tent on Amazon

If those arrangements do not suit you, a motorhome may be a better fit, although its toilet still needs managing.

Showering with the California Beach

Our Beach does not have a built-in shower. Instead of choosing a different vehicle just for that feature, I use a simple portable arrangement.

I normally carry a 35-litre water container behind the passenger seat. It serves the shower and other daily needs. In my experience it provides about four proper showers, or more short rinses after swimming or spending time on a sandy beach.

When I want a shower I take the container outside and put the pump and shower hose into it. The setup takes very little time.

A portable shower pump for the water container

See the portable shower on Amazon

Photographs from our California trips