We started van life with a VW California in 2017….a family of 5 exploring Europe! Fantastic times and adventures. We then bought the superb Ford Nugget…and now we have a NuggetPlus! Watch our adventures, hear our plans and see how well it suits our family. #vanlife #fordnugget #westfalia #vwcalifornia #camper 4936
We r considering a campervan for a family of 4. I would never buy a brand new car due to severe depreciation. Does the same apply when shopping for campervans. Because it’s a huge amount of money I worry about second hand campers having all sorts of problems that a novice like me would never detect on a viewing. Should we only consider brand new?
Hello 👋 and a good question! It can be a bit tricky. New campervans typically don’t lose money as quickly as a new car. It depends on the market and timing, but we didn’t lose any money on our Ford Nugget Plus when we sold it recently. Waiting times for a new order to your specification can be very long, but a new ‘dealer pre ordered’ one can be available very soon, especially if in stock. The very long wait/availability has a positive effect on second hand prices. There are deals to be had too with a little bargaining. In your case, with a family of 4, there is a huge choice out there, so to avoid a long wait, I would enjoy looking around the dealers for different brands and layouts which suit and keep watching YT videos/reviews. As novices, I would certainly recommend buying from a dealer as you will get warranty/support and finance options too. A smaller van can be justified as everyday transport, for example. Good luck…the family will love it!
As a dreamer camper five 22 owner it was very interesting to get this walkthrough. Some details looks nice but there is a mayor flaw in the affinity. The fridge size. We love the 150l dometic compressor fridge in the dreamer. We can easily roam a week without popping into lidl all the time. And it has been cooling flawlessly for this years 4 weeks in Italy and last year 6 weeks in scorching heat in the balkan
Great comment, and yes, the importance of a bigger fridge has been overlooked by Affinity on this design. It was one of the things that put us off it. As regards the 150l fridge in the Dreamer Camper 5…..we know “exactly” what you’re talking about 😉👍
Great video. It was nice to see campervaning at Disney - I had no idea that was possible. For my family, we started off with a VW California (like you guys) and also ran into the bathroom problem when our boys got a bit bigger. Fortunately the Grand California was able to suit our needs when we got it like 4 years ago (time flies). I know the grand cal doesn't work for your family so I do hope that you find something suitable but isn't too big. For next, might I suggest finding a Universal Studios. I took my family to Beijing's park and we really loved Harry Potter. My boys and I have read all the books and watched all the movies so it was really spectacular. All the best in your future campervanning days.
Thank you for your lovely comments and suggestions! VW California’s are lovely campers and we really like the Grand California, especially for build quality and looks. Congratulations on yours. We have something that works really well and a video will be out soon revealing it. We are on our second day of a months tour, and so far, so good 👍. Thanks for the tip about Universal. Izzy is getting into Harry Potter now 😎👍
Good luck finding your new van. We got a nugget plus soft top last year thanks to your videos, and we are currently in a camp site near Scafell Pike :)
Cool! Thanks for watching our Channel and I really hope you’re enjoying your Nugget Plus! - I feel responsible now! 😲☺️😂. Enjoy your trip and Scafell Pike - perfect 👍
Hi Gill! Happy memories indeed! Thoroughly enjoyed it, glad you did too. New van video next video…sorry it’s taking a while 🙃😌…it’s been a lot to sort out a before this years big trip which got underway yesterday 😎👍
What is the name or website for that train? And how do you use the toilets while on the train all the way back to Italy? Thanks. Looking forward to your revel of the next van.
Just done similar, we went to Paris Disney in the Westfalia Exclusive, was great but as the Girls get bigger we decided bigger is better. Only having 2 Girls makes it a bit easier but there was one issue..they don't like sleeping next to each other. So after looking at 6M Panel Vans with Bunks..Wildax and Autosleeper Windrush we decided they just aren't big enough, lack of storage being the main one and the bunks being very narrow. We purchased a Hymer B524SL A Class...Amazing bits of kit..so much room and storage, Try to go A Class if you can you won't regret it.
What a great holiday for the girls. I was at my son’s house tonight when the lemonade exploded and my grandson shouted Ratatouille, apparently they were sprayed at the end of the ride when they visited a few weeks ago. I took my son over 30 years ago but there was no Ratatouille ride then. I love the Peter Pan ride but the Small World ride is my favourite. I would have thought they’d provide and electric hookup and an elsan point! I always enjoy your trips in the Nugget and I’ll miss the van but as you already know, I can’t wait to see your new van 😁.
Hi Sylvia! We already miss our Nugget! We really like the new van but it is so new we don’t feel connected to it yet. Plus, the Nugget was such an accomplished product/campervan. Funny that your grandson related the lemonade bit so well! Good on him! It is one of the best rides at Disney, and Poppy’s favorite too. Apparently, there is somewhere to dispose of toilet waste but not clearly advertised. No electric hook up though. New van almost ready for our summer trip starting next week 👍. Thanks as always for watching 😃 👋
Always enjoy and appreciate your videos. I came for the Nugget review, but ended up staying for the adventures! Looking forward to seeing your new van. Have a great summer!
Oh we’ve been there many times! Fortunately we have an annual pass so it’s only 15€ a day for us. If you had solar panels you can pitch up in the end 2 or 3 rows as they are not covered. Our 2021 Nugget Plus has the old panel in the cab so not in percentages. I’ll let it run down to 12.1 volts which can last up to 4 days. There is a camper service point behind the old toilet block, but no one tends to let you know. You can get fresh water and dump the toilet. Another lovely video, looking forward to seeing the new van in use.
Oh great! Where is the old toilet block? Do have to drive the van out of the camper area, and then down to the entrance/animal welfare area? €15 a day is a bargain! Setting off in our new van to Norway next week…! Can’t wait 😎👍
@CaliCamperFamily when you enter the camper area there is a building roughly in front of you. It's the old coach drivers lounge/toilet block and bulk ticket place. The other side of it is the service area. Just a few minutes walk, much less than half the distance walking up to the Animal Care place and a lot quieter. Three coach/motorhome bays and at least two taps, well insulated for year round use.
I also plan to RAM ProMaster L3H3 with 6 pcs PV on the entire roof and a Air condenser generator 230V 800W for water , and 70L per day. I also plan to install a washing machine with a heat pump behind the wheel arch. "Atmospheric water generation condense humidity to produce water 70L/day Reverse Osmosis Water Filter system" it contain tank itself.
That’s cool, I’ve never heard of an atmospheric water generation condenser before, on a campervan at least. Is the RAM ProMaster a Fiat Ducato underneath? You have some great plans…good luck 👍
@@CaliCamperFamily Yes RAM it is Fiat Ducato it is exactly Stellantis Vans, but RAM Pro Master is for Petrol Engine 3,6L + Propane LPG tank under. "atmospheric water generation condenser" is form aliexpres 1000€ with tax for import 60 days.
Really looking forward to se your video tonight, followed by the film Find Me Falling on Netflix with your "twin brother" Harry Connick Jr. Our whole family loves following you guys, keep up the good work, best greetings from Denmark.
Hello Denmark 🇩🇰. We are heading to Lego Land next week and the. Onwards to Sweden and Norway in our new van! Well, that’s surely a compliment being a look alike Harry Connick JNR…😜☺️…enjoy your TV night, sounds lovely !
Great that you made this video now. My daughters and I plan (dream?) of going to Disneyland, only from the other side of Europe (the northernmost place in Norway). I think I saw a Nugget on the way to the North Cape this summer, and immediately thought of you. I actually haven't seen so many Nuggets here before. Obviously not you :D PS I love the way you show individual needs without having to address them out loud. <3 Thanks for the video, looking forward to the next one!
Welcome to our channel! Thanks for subscribing. Yes, it’s all coming on well. A new update coming in a week or so 👍. Garage roof is on and plumbing and electrics being installed 😃.
It looks great on the inside - nice and spacious. We hired a Weinsberg Carabus last week, built on the same van, and the extra size on the outside makes so much difference to how it feels driving around small towns and narrow roads, and especially trying to park in a normal carpark. A nugget is cosy in a normal carpark space, but the Carabus does not fit, so best to look for 2 spaces side by side and a grass verge behind, though maybe as a family you can use the parent & child spaces and get enough width? I won't be getting a van that size again - might as well go for the full motorhome. In the UK at least, the Nugget Plus seems discontinued for 2024, which is a shame. A PHEV or BEV van is perfect for a campervan, as you have a huge high voltage battery that can directly run a high power 230v inverter. That means you can ditch the gas & leisure batteries, to free up some internal space. Use induction hobs, kettle or coffee machine, microwave etc, instead of combining Gas, diesel and leisure batteries.
This is exactly why we have tried not to move to a motorhome. Exploring and parking is much better in a van sized vehicle. Shame about the Nugget Plus being discontinued, but no surprise. Yes, a PHEV would be advantageous for a campervan, but it’s taking the market ages to catch up, as usual. Thanks for the comments 👍
Ive got 3 older teenagers and as lovely as the van is, would be concerned that the bunks wouldnt be that comfortable for very long. Would be better to have a drop down bed over the cab and 2 bunks at the back so youve just so theyve got some head height to sit in bed and chill out of the way in their own space. Clever use of space tho
How exciting is that? It looks great. Thanks for showing us that blue sky, even if it didn’t last long it was there when it mattered. Now get on with the new van video. 😁
The bricks are specially shaped to fit in between steel reinforced beams. It forms the structure (base) to then support a poured concrete floor with steel reinforcement. This floor need to be strong as we will have cars driving on it. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@CaliCamperFamily will you be putting the camper in the garage? You don’t seem to have enough height clearance for it? Great update though, look forward to the next one.
@@CaliCamperFamily It's kind of the old german ceilings where they had steel beams and also those bricks to fit in between. But they didn't add rebar to the concrete, they just poured it on top of that. And here you still add rebar to the concrete? Thats interesting. I wonder if the reinforced concrete wouldnt be enough alone. But hey, better stronger than too weak.
@emanemanresuresu the structural engineer designed it with the added steel rebar mesh mainly because cars will be driving on it and we needed to achieve a prerequisite load per square meter.
Really nice van with a great layout! The only thing to me is that it looks more of a camper than van: elegant and classy but missing the van vibe a bit…The Nugget was a great compromise there! Curious to see what you went for at the end! Enjoy the summer with the new van!!😉 Regards from Canada!🇨🇦
Another one thing…the affinity you showed has a low clearance and that can be limiting…a bit higher clearance will be better…and if you plan to use the van all year long I would add a 4x4 so you are ready for anything..!😎
Wow, you hit exactly the reason we didn’t buy this van. The van vibe just wasn’t there. It is beautiful inside and out, but has more of a look of a european style motorhome, than a ‘van’. Actual new van announcement coming soon! Thanks for your great observations!
I know what you mean! Our new van is has identical ground clearance to this one though….they don’t do a 4x4 version of what we wanted unfortunately. Although, it’s still very good and has a prper van vibe!
I would see if you could put blackout curtains in the bunks for privacy and it should allow all your daughters to sleep when you put the lights on in the living area, or if the had reading lights they wouldn’t disturb anyone else.
Great minds think alike! I drew a picture to explain exactly this to the manufacturer but they declined to help. It was one of the things that put us off in the end.
Just a heads up.. you tube, dropped you videos to me. I fixed it. Here's, my thoughts on the, NEW NUGGETS 2.0.. THIS WHAT I THINK IT MIGHT BE MISSING.. THREE KIDS, DIFFERENT AGES. BUNKS, ARE GREAT. BUT,. I WOULD ASK, ABOUT, CURTAINS, PULL AROUND FOR EACH KIDS BUNK. ALSO, ( DONT KNOW HOW. ), CHARGING PORTS AND A LED READING LIGHT IN EACH GIRLS, BUNK. ALSO,. SURE IT WOULD NOT COST MUCH... A SMALL, FLIP OPEN MIRROR ON THE WALL FOR EACH GIRLS BUNK..( LIKE A SUN VISOR IN A CAR, NOTHING TO FANCY. ALSO, I WOULD WAS... FOR, ON THE GIRLS BUNK WALLS, FACE OUTSIDE.... CHEAP, MESH, NETS,.. HANGER, SO THE GIRLS, CAN,PUT STUFFED, ANIMALS, .. BOOKS, THERE READING, TABLETS, IN THE NICE, WALL, MESH, YOU KNOW, THE, MESH, IS SCREWED TO THE WALL, ALL AROUND, TOP IS OPEN, AND STRIGHTCH OUT, TO MAKE. Basket... The same, for the wet bathroom.. you need, a way, for soap, hand sanitizer, girl,( stuff ), to have a up high.place...yes I saw the medicine cabinet... I'm talking about, your taken turns, for a quick, shower.. where, do u hang the towel,. I would ask, can, a curten track be added, outside the bath, room,. So mom can help the girls, wash, and still have, privacy. Also, in this day and age... Solar is kind of a must... Line, the roof, with new modern... Flex, glue down solar...and, hide a couple of, leathem batteries in back.( Yes it will cost a few thousand more.), but in the low run, lights, AC, cold drinks...and u can bundock...cheap, for free, as you show off, Europe... Also, SECURTY.., night, vision camera, motion camera, and, outside, alert, flood, lights, if someone, TRYS to break in and the family asleep. . I would ask, for a 2 to 4 inch, lift kit....I have watched, where you drive... That RV rides low, and would bottom out.. ask, if they can add those wheels in back, that lift, the RV, up, before, it, drags bottom... ... Good, luck...., how's the house... You bring us along, then stop..... Love to see, how the new add on looks.. as I ramble...a small, tailor,. I closed, to hold, the e bikes. Girls getting bigger, your going to need, 3, or 4., or a hitcher hicker, bike, extension, like two bikes in one. ...
Wow, thanks Frank! Awesome comments and suggestions here, some of which have ran through our minds, but many cool suggestions here. I like the mirror idea for the girls, and certainly the curtain. So many good practical ‘brainstorming’ ideas here…much appreciated!!!! This particular van, we decided against. Our actual new van has just arrived, and some of your ideas are ones which the new van either has, or we will try and impliment! We have found a double stack solution for our bikes! As regards the house build, sorry for the delay! A new video has just been published today, so would appreciate your thoughts there too 👍🏻
@@CaliCamperFamily I'm glad you liked some of my thoughts. Thinking ahead is not easy when your right there. I try to project, the what if of years down the road and say the kids are five years older. Glad you found a good fit. I'll pass this on to you . I'm older, in my 60s, This is a good rule.. ( don't second guess , what's is done. You made a great pick for the new RV,.." done ". No second, guessing u know it was the right fit.) My thoughts on the house.. just watched, the video. Things, I would have.. two wall, safes. Or one in the floor. You travel alot, as there building if you buy or find the safe. They can adjust, walls, make a cavity where you slide the safe in . And maybe, a hinge wall, that opens up. It not a daily safe. But for birth records, wills, car titles, ECT,. And some fall back, emergency cash in different country's currently. I would also, add... Harvesting, the lake wind.. you could have tons of free electricity there. Modern, roof top, low profile, wind turbines, are cheap now. Look very cool. More like spinning art work. ( Go to you tube, channel? TECK zone. ) They show case new stuff, just getting out to market. There, are new ones now easy to install. They look like a kids, pin wheels, toy. There also, a cool one, that looks like a box on a roof, but to catches wind from all 360 degrees, and thru luveors,, German makers and Dutch, seem to have ones with the highest out put. ( If u look, find out, what your town aloues by code first.) But wow, if the lake wind can be harvested. You have the perfect place to do it. Zero electric bills, sounds great. And a battery bank. To run the house. Would need to be add now. Where the battery, shed would go. One more, thought... Say if your gone, and bad guys, go after, the girls... One, safe room I would add. So mom, and the girls can run to it..lock there self in and call the police. Nows the time to say up grade, master suite, door frames, to metal, longer anchors..and, also, a SECURTY video system. Good luck.....house looks, great...
We did a trip to Paris and the weather was awful. It was at this point we decided that if we wanted to have all season use, we needed more space for the family. However, we still wanted a VAN. Not a motorhome. So, we sold the Nugget and our new van announcement is coming soon!
Nice to see a different layout and catering for 5. I really struggled. Had to go bespoke and got 3 seats upfront and a rib in the back. Then a pop top on a MAN tGE. At a push all 5 could sleep inside van but much easier with the pop top for one or 2
It’s a real struggle to find a van (even a motor home actually) that carries 5 people legally and sleeps everyone comfortably. I like the MAN TGE’s…good looking van 👍
With the girls getting bigger you definitely need a larger camper. I looked at the Affinity range at the NEC in February! One concern, no ladder for Izzy to climb up to the top bunk? Good luck and can't wait to see you bought?? 👍
Yea, the lack of ladder means it’s like a climbing frame all the time! Would probably wear a bit thin after a while. However, Affinity said they would engineer in some wooded foot/hand holds to help. Thanks for watching and commenting…new van arrived so new video coming soon on that one!!!
@@CaliCamperFamily Looking forward to seeing the new van! Good that Affinity said they would make it a bit safer to climb up to the top bunk. The villa is also coming on well! ☺️
The whole market is dominated by 3 companies with all the known brands under them who make no new developments. Affinity is of a new level and as a small company they go their own way. We love the brand.
Hi David, we didn’t go for this van in the end due to Polish tax complications and the lack of versatility with the layout, plus a few other reasons too. However, our new van has arrived and we are looking forward to new adventures coming soon!!!
It looks very similar to the Nugget. My only observation is the sockets nd control panel is above the cooker so I’d be worried about water/steam ingress over time. Excited to see what you get. We have the Plus pop top and love it for a family of 4 plus Labrahooligan. It can sometimes be a little cosy but the flexibility it gives us is amazing.
What a brilliant design - hope Affinity bring it to the NEC in October - would love a closer look. Is it 6.36cm? Can’t believe they have managed to get 5 berths in all of which look comfortable. Happy travels and good luck with your decision making - Sharon x
