A superb guide. Honest and balanced. Watched the whole item and I don't have a campervan ! After watching this, I wish I had one ! A totally professional presentation. Well up to the standard of a TV production. The best one I have seen on KZfaq, by a million miles .May your company prosper. You deserve it.

The main reasons I went for my Ocean is I don't like the carpet stuck to the walls most/all converters have to do, but each to their own, plus the digital dash is ace

How did I miss this airing 3 days ago? Totally Jerba conversion all the way. I will keep playing the lottery to make it happen🥰🥰

For me, having had a california, jerba all the way, bespoke build personal wants and needs such as long wheel base for more space, hot water for comfort and shower, proper on board loo with cassette, wider beds for more comfort , no cold edges from furniture and still all the vw cab options, well designed and personal to the owner.

Im so happy to know you are here. 😊

I'm really enjoying the Jerba boxed set. Just had a thought. IIRC the Caravan & Motorhome Club say that something like two thirds of their membership have dogs as pets and that the dog/s is are a main reason for choosing a caravan/motorhome leisure vehicle for holidays. That surely means that a large proportion of Jerba customers travel with a dog or dogs. The Highway Code specifies that dogs should be kept secured whilst travelling and if they're loose the driver can face a fine and/or points on their licence, not to mention the risks of an accident caused by or to the dog. So I'm wondering if a Jerba video about travelling with dogs in a campervan with suggestions for equipment to secure the dog whilst driving would be a good idea?

As a California Ocean owner I was interested in this video comparison. Not mentioned was versatility of the sliding rear seat, the ability to bring the children closer to the driver/increase luggage space is invaluable. The panel at the side of the seat drawer is removable to ensure long items can be carried into the cabin. The best way to move the seat is to sit on it and walk it forward/back, totally smooth then. The Cali seat is also at a comfortable height for shorter/taller people. Most convertors seats are too high which result in hanging legs and/or head brushing the headlining/slats. The three zone automatic air-conditioning is excellent, just not available on any conversion. The offside position of the sliding door is often mentioned at shows, we just walk through to the passenger door if exiting from the offside is not safe, the driver can also use this route of course, never a problem in practice. We always sleep in the upper bed, very comfortable and ensures the lounge below is kept fully available, the bedding is also kept up there until the pop top is lowered before travelling to the next location. The kitchen unit is an engineering triumph using an aluminium matrix, the curve line at the front enables the passenger seat to face the rear when swivelled, making it a four person dining space. We have owned our van for over five years, we paid VW just under £400 for a two year extension of the factory three year warranty that fully covered the vehicle and conversion. The pop top fabric is fine on our van, by the look of the nasty covers on the seats the Cali shown was a hire vehicle, hirers will unfortunately not always follow the correct simple procedure to avoid damage. I could go on but the crucial fact is that base for our Cali was the Caravelle and not the basic window van, chalk and cheese I am afraid.

Well the neutrality lasted less than 2 minutes! 🤦‍♂️ My suggestion would be for an independent reviewer to compare a like with like two comparable models from Jerba and VW I.e. the 150 engine, manual roof, SWB, front pop top and auto box? And then point out the engine and roof options around those specific models..

Excellent, great overview that’s really helpful 👍🏻😀

Interesting and ...... reassuring! The Cali is a great van that is not disputed BUT all I can say is that I am glad that I am already in the queue and have a "slot" for next year!!

We sold our VW California and opted for a new 2021 VW conversion from VW partner in Australia - Frontline. The LWB makes the vehicle much more usable as a campervan. The California is a good introduction to campervans but is quite restrictive. People become very defensive about their choice of campervan but really its about choosing the van that meets your needs.

Interesting comparison there….thanks for doing that

Super comparison video. I really do like the website as well as you can see the nighttime layout and the daytime layout, it has convinced me to get the LWB.

i didn't think it was a very balanced review dont get me wrong i think jerba do a lovely job on the vans but you mostly pointed out negative points of the california and you made everything look real akward on the california which is not the case even to the extent of having water coming out of the tank which seemed to be deliberate someone must have filled the tank to much i could do a negative review of a jerba campervan too but i wouldn't criticise any other campervan builder At the end of the day everyone have their own opinion i guess but theres no need to criticise other people's conversion you also didn't show lots of other features the california have but then again you are selling jerba campervans You do a gret job converting the vans but at the end of the day theres only one factory built vw transporter and thats the california which holds its value a lot more Anyhow keep up the good work as ye do a good job

Great vid full of info. One thing that you maybe should include in the comparison is the safety aspect with both units. Crash testing, Strengthening etc. The advantage/disadvantage of sliding seats or double glazing. Loved the hidden corner btw. Quality.

These designs are well thought out.

Excellent review but could you please cover the differences between the electrical control systems, sockets and USB ports. Thanks

Great video, would love to see a Jerba V Nugget next please! Also do you insulate your vans?

Come on, Gerbera!! Bring in the Volkswagen ID Buzz and make a camper for those who need to go into Greater London!!

Great video , fir me the senna would be the van I choose

I am a California Coast owner and can find nothing wrong with it. Excellent really comfy bed up top & down stairs. The rib seat in your van looks rather high to sit on giving poor headroom when pop top is down.

Wow, that section around 07:00 in the Cali felt like a 60s Top of the Pops episode...

I feel you just can't beat a factory build finish, as apposed to converted van. Especially regarding the pop roof the overall finish around the cab. Nothing against Jerba vans there work looks fantastic.

Love it, “the cally only ... the cally only... the cally only has blah blah”, good effort at being factual, I’d go for a jerba by the way, I love the options in your vans, however the California’s interior “looks” a little more modern perhaps, more factory, and is the benchmark. Good comparison review, very well put together and super helpful.

Had a couple Calis and like the Jerba, gas free van potential etc, getting it repaired at reasonable price at reasonable distance.. could you do an Aftersales / snagging video? Good if you could in future explore westfalia / euro style linings and cassette blinds

California storing seats in tailgate is excellent. Is this something Jerba could do?

Wow Steve what a great video. Thank you so much for all of that. Having seen the factory first hand, the workmanship you do there is 2nd to none. That’s why you have a waiting list as long as it is ❤️

Really informative video. thank you.

Love ur show ! I would love to know how I can get your style of products for a Hi Top Ford transit connect or a Hi Top minivan ,when I live in Virginia?

I kinda prefer the cali even with its shortfalls. Here in Australia we DONT get the model with the kitchen, instead we only get a bench seat, which again I prefer as I can fit it out as I want.

Great video. Here's a naive question... Why are all these pop-tops all 'wedge-shaped' or triangular. There's always a low end and a high end to the pop top, hinged either at the front or back. Why not have a more 'rectangular' design that can pop up at both ends giviving a greater area with maximum headspace and more room for the top sleepers too ? There's probably a good reason why not, but why not ?

Great vid, don't have a van at the moment, but have hired a Cali on a couple of occasions and a van is in my not too distant future. Couple of things, under the roof bed the wooden slats are on show, do you have an option to cover those? Is the diesel hob night heater as efficient as a webasto blown air unit? Finally Transporter HQ do an after market chair carrier which fixes to the rear door, would that be an option? Cheers (Loving the vans, especially the Full Type Approval)

Nice work! Do you produce campervans with left steering wheel for EU?

I would like to see a comparative test of the Ford Nugget and the Volkswagen Gebra camper.

As a California Beach owner, I would say that a plus point for the sliding door on the 'wrong' side is that it is quick for the driver to access from the same side. Personally I would go with the 2 sliding door option if I was buying today. But the reason there are so many conversion companies is that everyone has their own preferences and priorities. And high quality converters like Jerba are surely one of the best out there.

can you fit a pop top to the medium height top transporter?

Excellent video, what is the price of a Tyree medium spec camper van please?

I have seen both of these and have had a good poke around both, both are very good, but the jerba wins hands down for me

Love the california..... still the best campervan ever made.......far better integrated than 3rd party converters.

I understand the California now is in either Ocean or Beach configurable. The Coast has been deleted from the line up. We happen to own an 18 month old Coast which we bought from new. We bought a genuine VW California to have the satisfaction of known build quality and vehicle safety. Just like millions of others throughout the world. Are there any crash test statistics available for you particular conversions? I’m not suggesting yours are deficient at all, I have no idea, just wondered if any stats are available? I wish you well and enjoy your site.

Hi there.. Have you still got the van?? Did you have any regrets?? A few years on and they are considerably cheaper.

Jerba nice van and at a competitive price , the Froli bed system is the way to go on the pop top , not keen on the slotted bed

Great video. Do your conversions offer ISO fix in the back like the California? Also what about crash testing?

No one cooks inside a small camper van. Only boil up a kettle. No idea why the main option is a small rr bed. A full width 150 bed is way better. I can’t knock the finish on both vans.

Our Coast from 2021 comes with a manual gearbox and a 110 hp diesel........that is Denmark

Couldn’t really see why I would choose one of these over a genuine Cali…..down to personal taste I guess

And by the way, why not use the current Ford Transit Electric for a camping vehicle? It certainly has the space inside and the comfortable driving seats in the cab!! By 2040, the petrol and diesel vehicles will be a thing of the past!!

Interesting video , was the gentleman hosting the video deliberately making the California look clumsy with the sliding of the kitchen unit doors , knocking rear shelving off and folding of the beds etc ? Surely with his experience hed have it all sussed prior to filming ... or poss edited the video fairer ...

It would be nice if the rear seats were lower. I notice that even tall people struggle to but their feet on the floor. The rear independent A/C is a nice feature on the Ocean plus the hidden blinds. The Ocean is my no1and Jerba my No2 if I was after an independent build. Ps it would be nice not have to see the bed slats.

I'm not an owner, just an interested observer. We don't get these offered in the US. I think the bespoke route would be the better option especially as these aren't cheap vehicles to buy. One thing I would suggest though is to but a 50mm lip on the front of any shelf as things will fly off.

You forgot to mention that California also has double glazing on the rear three windows which helps with heat retention and reduce condensation. I own a California and after being quoted nearly 5K more for self build by Wessex vans which was made of wood and screws it's a no brainer to buy the California plus a transporter will always be a transporter at a lower value for resale, my California has lost very little value even after 8 years of ownership, I will say you do make some very nice products that fit very well within the market with your ideas and choices for your customers but it scary that the cost of self builds lose so much money afterwards.

You really can’t mention the carpeting as a positive, the California finish is a big plus. As we all know, the negative with the California is the price! It’s also the reason why there are many converters out there.

I learnt a new thing about the Cali at 39:55… though sleep-walking would be awkward, sleep-eating is just a doddle! 😉 On a more serious note, having rented an identical Cali at the end of the summer season, I can confirm that the bed, cupboards etc are as squeaky and awkward to move about as in this video, tiny shelf supports fell out easily and the shelves themselves look as if someone just grabbed the first thin flat piece of material, cut it to shape without finishing the edges and bunged it in. Jerba all the way for me!

Another great Video from (Steve) I thinks that's his name. It shows that the California's are not as invincible as people think they are, especially with the unbelievable price tag they have!!!!!

If only this was available in New Zealand...

As a Cali owner, I could have listed you 5 real weaknesses of the Cali that you've overlooked. I guess non of you are regular readers of the Cali forum? Instead, I think you've only succeeded in making potential Jerba Customers aware of the Cali. I like what you do, and this was a difficult ask. I think you should have left it alone.

Hi I’m a California owner and I also follow your great channel I was disappointed your so desperate to promote your lovely vans that you have to criticise the California you also failed to mention the California will hold its value far better than your conversions cheers Neil

Please sell these awesome campers to America.

I love the digital dash in my Passat but not having that is a small price to pay. Jerba's build quality is way better than the California. When spending this amount of cash on a VW Camper, you want it right and to the spec you want. Jerba all the way.

Why is the video lighting so bad in the Cali but excellent in the Jerba, that's in poor taste.

You offer a very good selection BUT I feel all you want to do is to Sell the new conversion vans and owner full conversion and I know every one has got to make a living . I’ve ask for a j pod conversion but you say you don’t do this any more but we all can’t just use our vans for camping I use mine for work so the j pod works for me and probably a lot of other people you are a excellent company. But I still think you are for getting the little man. Rey Terry h

The inability to not move the seats, ie on rails, is a total deal breaker.

I would go Jerba...

The only problem is that neither of them are electric. My problem is that I have to go to Enfield once a week and I have no intention of putting £12.50 into the pocket of a certain Mr Kahn!!

Convertor biased video... 🤔

Take off shoes when in a campervan

Waiting for an apology no need to criticise your competitors tut tut

The door is only on the wrong side if you like camping in laybys. Also people can park the the oter way round or walk through the van and get out the passenger door. So is the sliding door on the wrong side in germany? No, it isnt is it. Also with the cali kitchen where it is you get more adjustment in the driver seat. Like jerba there is a reason they like to compare to vw californias its because they are the best. I paid less for my ocean than i could get any conversion for. Built in tables and chairs, factory roof. I dont ned to go on

Jerba 10 California 0

Aluminium professionally built in, a factory build an awesome build, with smooth edge's on all kitchen units, easily sits 4 people with front seats turned (Cali Ocean) vs. Plywood (Jerba) bespoke hmm, looks a bit like a cheap B&Q flat pack jobby (pointy edges) to me vs a tryed and tested professional build (smooth). Which sounds hardwearing and better in the long run to you? plywood crack (Jerba) or tough aluminium? (Cali) California Ocean sliding cabinet doors and bucket fridge are much more stylish and less likely to open if you hit a large pothole or something, (cabinet doors, storage doors and wardrobe doors work brilliantly unless you're a numpty), also If any imaginable California part breaks the replacement parts are all available easily online, from many sellers in abundance because its a factory built item (no need to contact and get lots of extra charges, unlike your so called bespoke flat pack jobby).There's no such thing as a nice looking stick on carpet in a campervan if you ask me (Cali brilliantly beautiful moulded plastic pillars) Can't say I like curtains either. Cali blinds are brilliant, stylish and keep light out well, never even need cleaning and provide total privacy, no carpet on side panels, just brilliantly moulded tough, hardwearing plastic parts. (replacement parts easily available online) California vans look factory built because they are, that's why they are sort after, usually sell out fast and keep there value. (Unlike Jerba) There's also a hell of a lot of especially designed accessories available from manufacturers and companies like Campervantastic, Bandrap, Kampa etc. etc. etc. That make great storage solutions, beautiful seat covers (a much larger set of options than Jerba), cheap ones shown on your (Jerba demo Cali), everything you could ever imagine, much of which will specifically fit a Cali. I'm not knocking Jerba but this seemed a pretty biest video to me. I looked for a long while before I got my California, did a lot of research, and looked many different campers including second hand Jerba campervans. California vans are the winners for me personally by a long stretch. Hated the bit about the side water tank entrance, they don't leak! You overfilled it! Stop trying to misslead people, you Numpty! The California is much more refined in almost every way! California rear speakers are actually really in the rear and above your head! (where they should be) Unlike the Jerba, by your side low down! Better sound in a Cali! You compare 2 Jerba vans vs. California Ocean, but you don't even mention California Grand. You can fit solar panels to a California roof, your wrong! Get your facts right! Love the California heritage as well, a truly awesome campervan! The clear winner! I'm not knocking Jerba, but I don't think it's even in the same league as a California for over all quality and build and it's prices should reflect that. California's keep there value better because there awesome! Seems a bit sad and desperate that you had to compare them with a very biest misleading video, anyone who knows what to look out for will see that the California is by a long stretch the true winner! Jerba should be a budget option! Shame on you for such a misleading video, you never should have compared them in the first place. The California is in a totally different league! etc. etc. etc. I could go on and on and on.

One of the most biased reviews Ive seen. Purposely engineered to highlight the negatives of the California v the positives of the Jerba, as a sale tool which endeavours to paint an unbalanced picture that the Jerba is the better vehicle. The video does not highlight the positives of the California v the negatives of the Jerba. Such as the extended 5yr factory warranty on the whole vehicle available for the California, vast dealer network, superior build quality and the various ingenious design features such as the external chairs stored in the tailgate, external table in sliding door, the cleaver way the internal table folds and neatly stores away, sliding rear bench, the larger and better quality pop roof, rear air conditioning, built in inverter, superior lighting, better spring system in roof bed, the ability to control everything from the touch screen panel at the front of the vehicle, the neat way in which the water tank is moulded to include the gas bottle and I could go on. He fails to identify the many limitations of a third party conversion of which there are many. Very unbalanced!

So cheesy with the sliding doors wrong in two separate shots. And even worse, the overfilled water tank. You do know someone knew it was overfilled as there is no way to do that without knowing. The non movable bench is a reason not to buy Jerba. The Cali is a workhorse on vacation AND at home. Try moving house with a Jerba. Camera work. So, don’t use autofocus or have someone verify the shot. Or simply reshoot. Keep the lens equal on both vans. Don’t fisheye Jerba more than Cali…