Shaka

About the area: Shaka was built and is located in Bristol. Located near the owner's carpentry workshop in Fishponds where all the woodwork and stained glass doors were carved. The area is surrounded by excellent spots to explore including the Mendips, Wye Valley Cotswolds, Exmoor and a short drive into Wales and the south coast. Description of Beds: Shaka can sleep 4-5 people across 2 beds. The main bed is a full-size double bed (135 cm x 195 cm) above the cab and comes with 2 reading lights, 2 USB sockets and a window to enjoy the views. The second bed is 100 cm x 200 cm created by lowering the dining table and re-positioning the sofa cushions. This second bed is perfect for kids. Description of Seating: Shaka has 3 belted seats in the front of the van. In the back of the van there are 3 sofas, 2 for the dining area and another which folds away to become the bathroom with a shower basin and composting toilet below. The sofas can accommodate 6 people and have 2 side-facing seatbelts allowing for another 2 passengers if required. Description of Electrical Setup: Shaka has a fully off-grid electrical set-up with high-tech Victron components. The van houses a large Foster Drift 300ah Lithium Ion battery with Bluetooth connectivity. The battery charges both from a 50A B2B charger from the vehicle's alternator and 3 x 185 solar panels giving 555W of solar power from the roof. You should never need to charge up but if you do there is also a shore power hook up which can be connected at campsites. The inverter is 800w and enough to power all the appliances that come with the van including a NutriBullet, Toaster, Kettle etc. If plugged into shore power at a campsite you can run larger appliances. Inside the van, there are 4 x 240v plugs, 4 USB & 2 USB C sockets allowing you to charge all of your devices. There is a large 85L Dometic compressor fridge/freezer to keep all your food and drinks cool while on your adventure. Parking: There is free parking on the surrounding streets which is outside of Bristol Clean Air Zone. Kitchen Facilities: Shaka comes with a fully set-up kitchen including a larger cooker with 3 3-ring burner hobs, an oven and a grill. There is a blender, toaster, kettle, large fridge freezer and a large kitchen sink with hot and cold running water. Shaka comes fully equipped to cater for 4 people with plates, bowls, cups, mugs and everything you need to cook up a feast including pots, pans, utensils and anything you would expect in a kitchen at home. Bathroom Facilities: Shaka comes with a large underslung gas tank which feeds the onboard 10l water boiler. The boiler feeds hot water to the kitchen sink and its internal rainfall shower. The shower basin is hidden within one of the sofas and comes with a shower curtain to create a shower cubical. We have a lovely Trevino composting toilet on board which comes out of a waterproof hatch into the shower basin. Within the bathroom drawer, you will find toilet paper, compost, shower gel, shampoo & conditioner. Audio Equipment: Shaka comes with a beautiful active Yamaha HS7 studio monitor. The Fosi pre-amp gives a warm and rich sound and the Bluetooth function allows easy connectivity. The highest audio quality is very important to the owner. Also available as an additional extra is a turntable and record collection of some of the owner's favourite music from around the world. This can be customised to the hirer's favourite genres upon request. Type of Heating: Shaka has 2 forms of heating available. A standard diesel heater is built into the vehicle which can be set to a temperature and maintained. Shaka also has a built-in log burner and if requested for a small additional fee the owner will provide dried and chopped timber which allows for a beautiful experience. Pet Information: Shaka is pet-friendly and would love to accommodate your pets. Please let the owner know in advance. Conversion Story: I bought Shaka in 2017 from a retired Italian baker who used him to deliver his bread. I then used him for a few years to move audio equipment around the country as my work van. Shaka began his transformation from a white work van to a green camper van in the spring of 2022. Over the course of 2 years, Shaka's woodwork was carved, the electrical system installed, and water tanks welded and by the summer of 2024 was ready for his first photoshoot. The conversion took me 2 years as everything is hand-carved and bespoke. I've built everything myself including the stained glass windows which is his most unique feature. Next summer I plan to build a wood fired hot-tub into his tail-lift.