What is a CaliHeat?
The CaliHeat-50 allows you to channel warm air from your vehicle's existing auxiliary heater specifically into the sleeping area of your pop-up roof. The system consists of a matching auxiliary heater adapter for the vehicle's air outlet, a flexible warm-air hose, and a bayonet connector at the upper end of the hose.
The CaliHeat-50 was designed specifically for use with 50°Nord sleeping boards. However, thanks to various bayonet adapters, it can also be used in many pop-up roofs independently of the sleeping board.
Which CaliHeat fits your vehicle? What are the differences between the various connectors? And which accessories are useful?
In this guide, we answer the most important questions regarding selection, assembly, and use.
CaliHeat Standard or CaliHeat-50 – what is the difference?
1. What is the difference between a standard CaliHeat and a CaliHeat-50?
The most important difference lies in the connection option at the upper end of the hose and the associated flexibility.
Standard CaliHeat
The standard CaliHeat features a simple clamp or magnetic adapter at the upper end of the hose. This is used to attach the warm-air hose in front of or into the access opening of the pop-up roof to guide warm air from the vehicle's auxiliary heater upwards.
The standard CaliHeat is the more affordable version, but it is not offered directly by 50°Nord.
CaliHeat-50
The CaliHeat-50 was designed specifically for use with 50°Nord sleeping boards. It generally features a bayonet connector at the upper end of the hose, which enables a direct connection to the sleeping board. The bayonet connector offers an additional advantage: the CaliHeat-50 can be flexibly combined with various head pieces.
All corresponding head pieces are available with a bayonet connector. This means, for example, that you can use a clamp, rope, or magnetic adapter on the CaliHeat-50 without having to modify the existing hose connection.
2. Can I convert a standard CaliHeat into a CaliHeat-50?
Yes. To do this, the existing head piece of the standard CaliHeat is replaced with a matching bayonet ring. Afterwards, the hose can be connected to the bayonet connector of the 50°Nord sleeping board with a twisting motion.
Conversely, you can equip a CaliHeat-50 with other head pieces at any time without having to modify it beforehand. Thanks to the bayonet connector, different head pieces can be attached and swapped quickly with a simple twisting motion.
At 50°Nord, we only offer the CaliHeat-50.
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Which CaliHeat-50 fits my vehicle?
3. For which vehicles is the CaliHeat-50 available?
The CaliHeat-50 is available for various campervans with pop-up roofs and existing air-based auxiliary heaters.
These include, among others:
• VW California T5, T6 and T6.1 with auxiliary heater outlet in the B-pillar
• VW California T7 Beach with a corresponding auxiliary heater outlet in the C-pillar
• Mercedes Marco Polo and corresponding campers based on the Vito or V-Class from model year 2014 with a matching outlet on the driver's seat console.
• Other campervans with suitable auxiliary heater outlets from Eberspächer or Webasto
The CaliHeat-50 can also be used in vehicles with retrofitted pop-up roofs, provided a suitable auxiliary heater outlet and a suitable mounting option in the roof are present.
Therefore, it is not just the vehicle model and year of manufacture that are decisive, but above all the vehicle's auxiliary heater outlet.
4. How do I find out which CaliHeat-50 I need?
Only the auxiliary heater outlet needs to be determined
First, you must determine where your auxiliary heater's warm-air outlet is located and what shape it has. There are matching CaliHeat-50 connectors for each of the different outlet variants.
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5. Which CaliHeat-50 fits the VW California T5, T6 or T6.1?
In these California models, the auxiliary heater outlet is generally located in the B-pillar next to the passenger seat. The corresponding CaliHeat-50 connector is attached directly to the outlet grille.
When you select your VW California in the vehicle selection, the matching CaliHeat-50 model will be displayed automatically.
6. Which CaliHeat-50 fits the VW California T7?
For the VW California T7 Beach, there is a separate CaliHeat-50 version that is matched to the corresponding auxiliary heater outlet in the C-pillar.
Important: For the VW California T7 Ocean or Coast (with fitted cabinets), a separate CaliHeat variant will be available from the end of 2026. This differs significantly from the Beach variant.
The two T7 variants are not interchangeable.
It is important to select the correct VW California T7 model here.
You can select the right variant in the article CaliHeat for VW California T7.
Which CaliHeat-50 fits the Mercedes Marco Polo?
For the Mercedes Marco Polo and corresponding campers based on the Vito or V-Class from model year 2014, there is a special CaliHeat-50 version.
The connector for the auxiliary heater is magnetically attached to the seat base under the driver's seat. In the pop-up roof, the hose can be connected directly to a suitable 50°Nord sleeping board.
Alternatively, a matching head piece with a bayonet connector can be used, for example, a rope adapter for attachment to a suitable strap or anchor point.
7. Can I also use the CaliHeat-50 in other campervans?
Yes. For vehicles with suitable auxiliary heater outlets from Eberspächer or Webasto, additional connector variants are available.
These include:
• EB60: for matching Eberspächer outlets with 60 mm
• EB90: for matching Eberspächer outlets with 75 or 90 mm
• WB60: for matching Webasto outlets with 60 mm
With these variants, a base plate is attached to the outlet nozzle. The CaliHeat-50 hose can then be connected magnetically.
Before ordering, you should compare the design and dimensions of the existing outlet with the specifications of the respective connector variant.
Photo to follow
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What connection and mounting options are available?
8. What is the purpose of the bayonet connector on the CaliHeat-50?
The bayonet connector is the central connecting element of the CaliHeat-50.
It enables the direct connection of the warm-air hose to a 50°Nord sleeping board with a bayonet connector.
In addition, different head pieces with a matching bayonet adapter can be used without having to modify the hose. The connection is locked by plugging it in and performing a short twisting motion. To release it, the bayonet lock is turned in the opposite direction. This allows you to use the CaliHeat-50 in different ways depending on the vehicle, pop-up roof, and personal needs.
9. What is the purpose of the CaliHeat clamp adapter?
The clamp adapter is suitable for original VW California pop-up roofs of the T5, T6, T6.1, or T7 series with a shutter or sliding hatch in the access opening. The clamp adapter is inserted into the existing groove of the shutter and clamped in place.
Matching head pieces with a bayonet connector for T5 to T6.1 and T7 are available for the CaliHeat-50.
You can select your vehicle and the desired adapter directly in the article "CaliHeat-50 Bayonet Accessories".
10. What is the purpose of the CaliHeat rope adapter?
The rope adapter is intended for pop-up roofs where suitable eyelets, straps, loops, or handles are available for attachment.
It features a rope attachment with a carabiner. This can be hooked directly into an anchor point or fastened using the rope. In a VW California T5 or T6, for example, an eyelet of the child safety net can be used. In the Mercedes Marco Polo, the bed safety strap is used, among other things. Matching head pieces with a bayonet connector for T5 to T6.1 and T7 are available for the CaliHeat-50.
You can select the desired adapter directly in the article "CaliHeat-50 Bayonet Accessories".
11. What is the purpose of the CaliHeat magnetic adapter?
The magnetic adapter provides a mounting option for pop-up roofs that have a suitable smooth surface, for example, pop-up roofs from SCA, REIMO, or others.
Two self-adhesive metal discs are attached to the roof once. Afterwards, the adapter can be attached magnetically and removed again.
ATTENTION! The metal discs should be applied at room temperature so that the adhesive bond adheres reliably.
You can select the desired adapter directly in the article "CaliHeat-50 Bayonet Accessories".
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How is the CaliHeat-50 installed and used?
12. Is drilling required for the installation of the CaliHeat-50?
No drilling on the vehicle is required for standard installation of the CaliHeat-50.
The vehicle-specific connectors are clipped on, hooked in, or attached magnetically, depending on the version. The mounting in the pop-up roof is done directly at the bayonet connector of the 50°Nord sleeping board.
For the magnetic variant, only the self-adhesive metal discs need to be attached once.
For certain Eberspächer and Webasto connectors, the base plate can also be secured with screws. Here, the installation instructions of the respective connector variant must be observed.
13. How is the CaliHeat-50 used?
Installation is carried out in a few steps:
- Attach the matching lower CaliHeat-50 connector to the auxiliary heater outlet.
- Connect the upper hose end to the bayonet connector of the 50°Nord sleeping board or a suitable head piece and lock it with a short twisting motion.
- Check whether the connections are seated correctly and that the hose runs without unnecessarily tight bends.
- Start the auxiliary heater.
14. How long does the installation take?
For the clamp and rope variants, elaborate initial assembly is usually not required. The connectors can be attached and released within a few seconds with a little practice.
For the magnetic variant, the self-adhesive metal discs must be attached first. This preparation is only required once and takes a few minutes. After that, the magnetic adapter can also be attached and removed with just one hand movement.
15. Do I need an auxiliary heater for the CaliHeat-50?
Yes. The CaliHeat-50 does not generate any heat itself.
It guides warm air from an already existing air-based auxiliary heater from the lower vehicle interior into the pop-up roof. A functioning and compatible auxiliary heater is therefore a prerequisite for use.
16. Can the CaliHeat-50 remain installed while driving?
The CaliHeat-50 is intended for use while stationary.
Before starting the journey, the CaliHeat-50 must be removed and stowed away safely.
Since the connections are clamped, hooked, magnetically attached, or connected via a bayonet lock depending on the version, disassembly is possible without tools.
17. Can I combine the CaliHeat-50 with the 50°Nord sleeping board?
Yes. That is exactly what the CaliHeat-50 was developed for.
The warm-air hose is attached from below to the bayonet connector of the sleeping board. This channels the warm air directly into the sleeping area of the pop-up roof. On the top of the sleeping board, a matching fan holder with a fan can also be attached to increase air throughput. The bayonet connections are each locked with a short twisting motion.
18. Can I convert a standard CaliHeat to a CaliHeat-50?
Yes. An existing standard CaliHeat can be converted to the bayonet connection of the CaliHeat-50. To do this, only the existing upper head piece is replaced with the 50°Nord bayonet ring. To do this, the hose clamp must be loosened. The adapter can then be removed from the hose and replaced by the bayonet ring. Afterwards, the hose can be connected directly to the bayonet connector of the 50° Nord sleeping board.
19. Can I also use my CaliHeat-50 without a sleeping board?
Yes. The CaliHeat-50 is not limited to use with a sleeping board.
Thanks to the bayonet connector, you can use various matching head pieces, for example, a clamp, rope, or magnetic adapter. The head pieces are simply attached to the existing bayonet connector and can be changed again at any time. This allows you to use your CaliHeat-50 flexibly, even with changed usage or a different pop-up roof construction.
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What accessories are there for the CaliHeat-50?
20. Do I need an additional fan for the CaliHeat-50?
Not necessarily. Whether an additional fan makes sense depends, among other things, on the length and routing of the warm-air hose. With the shortest and most direct hose routing possible, the warm air can often reach the pop-up roof without additional support.
However, if the hose is longer or has to overcome several tight bends, flow losses can occur. An additional fan can then help to increase air throughput and transport the warm air better into the upper sleeping area.
In general, the fan is also a useful addition outside of sleep mode. If, for example, you want to dry wet clothes or towels, the fan can ensure that the warm air reaches exactly where it is needed in sufficient quantities.
21. Which fan fits in the CaliHeat fan holder?
The CaliHeat fan holder is intended for fans with maximum outer dimensions of 120 × 120 × 30 mm. The fan is inserted into the designated holder. The fan holder can then be attached to the upper CaliHeat outlet or the sleeping board.
NOTE!
For legal reasons, the fan itself is not directly part of the scope of delivery of the fan holder. It must be ordered separately and installed yourself to make it a fully functional device. However, installation takes only a few minutes.
23. Can I attach the fan directly to the sleeping board?
The CaliHeat-50 fan holder features a bayonet ring that can be connected directly to the top of the sleeping board. The heating air hose is connected to the underside of the sleeping board. The fan holder sits on the top and transports the air directly into the sleeping area.
Both connections are locked by pushing them on and performing a short twisting motion.
If you would like to use the fan holder without a sleeping board, e.g., for drying clothes or for directing warm air into an awning or rear tent, you can simply remove the bayonet ring and attach the fan holder directly onto the upper bayonet ring of the hose.
24. Can I reorder the CaliHeat-50 hose or individual adapters?
Yes. Various spare parts and accessory components are available individually for the CaliHeat-50.
You can find all individual components as spare parts in our spare parts warehouse.
25. Can I also convert the CaliHeat-50 for another vehicle?
This is generally possible if a suitable bottom connection is available for the new vehicle. The existing hose and the upper bayonet system can continue to be used, provided they are compatible with the new installation situation. The attachment in the pop-up roof can also be adapted by changing the head piece.
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At 50°Nord, you receive exclusively the CaliHeat-50, which was developed specifically for our sleeping boards and can also be used independently thanks to interchangeable head pieces.
