Pando

About the area: Pando the campervan is located in Edinburgh in the picturesque area of Stockbridge. Dean Village is just a short walk away from where the van is parked and there is a stunning view of the Edinburgh skyline. There is easy access out of the city if you’re heading up to the Scottish Highlands, Islands or taking on the classic Scottish road trip - the NC500. Description of Beds: Pando can sleep two adults very comfortably. There is a fixed bed (123 cm wide and 168 cm long) that pulls out to a king size bed (168cm wide and 189.7cm long), which can also be set up to sleep two adults and 1 child. Plus a bed created from the two seats that pull together to form a single bed that is 49 cm wide and 168 cm long - perfect for little ones. Description of Seating: There are three belted seats in the front cab, including the driver all with head rests. The main living area can comfortably accommodate two adults in two large fixed seats, with one wide enough to seat a child alongside. The van does not have isofix, but it can take a non-isofix rear-facing car seat. This can be supplied as an optional extra if needed. Description of Electrical Setup: Pando is all set up for off-grid park-ups along with an electrical hook-up for use at campsites. It has a 260Ah leisure battery that is hooked up to 350w solar panels along with a split charger so no matter if you are parked for a few days or driving each day, the battery is always being charged. It has a 1000w Inverter with two double mains plug sockets in the living area that both have USB C and USB A charging points built in. There are also 12v USB C and USB A charge points in each of the bed boxes so your electrical items can be charging next to you in bed. The inverter will automatically detect if the van has been plugged into a mains hook-up and will switch off the 1000w limit for the duration the van is hooked up. Parking: The van is parked on a road that has free parking. However, there is no guarantee there will be spaces near the van, there are a few free parking roads nearby if not. Hirers will have to leave their car parked at their own risk as it is on a main public road. Kitchen Facilities: Pando is well stocked with everything you could need to cook up a great feast. It has two built-in gas hobs that you can use with the Tefal 13-piece stainless steel pan set, along with the stainless steel whistling kettle and coffee percolator. There are also chopping boards and kitchen utensils provided. It has all the table wear for 4 people, 4 enamel mugs, 4 melamine bowls, side plates, dinner plates and cutlery for 4. There are also 2 lovely plastic wine glasses, 2 small and 2 large plastic water glasses. These can be made up to 4 upon request. There is also a plastic water jug that goes with the glasses. There is a 57-litre fridge freezer and large plumbed-in sink with a built-in hot and cold hose tap. It will also come with Smol washing up liquid and kitchen cleaner. Bathroom Facilities: Pando has a 10L hot water boiler that is powered by gas when off grid or via mains when hooked up and plumbed into the kitchen hose tap and outdoor shower. There is a 21-litre chemical porta potty stored under one of the seats inside the van. There is an outside water inlet that must only be filled with drinking water as it is hooked up to the 57-litre fresh water wheel arch tank. The sink is plumbed into a 57-litre underslung waste water tank. Audio Equipment: Pando has pioneer head unit in the cab. Type of Heating: There is a 5kw Diesel heater that heats the main living area. Pet Information: Pando is pet-friendly, but due to the van being a MWB, it is limited to one dog. However if there is a request for two, we may be willing to make allowances from time to time depending on the size of the dogs. Conversion Story: Pando started his life as a BT fleet van, but little did we know that once upon a time, it had a big yellow cherry picker in it. We were shocked to discover on stripping out the old wooden cladding in the back that underneath and in the roof, there were very large, badly patched holes. This didn't stop us from our dreams of converting Pando into a cosy camper it just created a hurdle to overcome. Thankfully Luke, my partner is a fabricator and carpenter who is a dab hand at welding so was able to weld Pando back to health in order for us to continue the conversion. This is one of the reasons why Pando has a rather large skylight as we had to cut a fair bit of the roof away but it’s now one of our favourite features. Pando has been carefully designed, built and executed by myself and my partner. We both love the outdoors so have put a lot of thought into how we wanted Pando to feel and function in order to be a cosy, comfortable living space after a day of adventuring outside. About the Owner: Luke and I have always loved the outdoors and have done a fair bit of wild camping. However, after a day of hiking, cycling, or whatever outdoor activity was undertaken, having to find a spot and put up a tent was starting to take a toll. This is where we thought a van would be a perfect solution. We both knew we wanted to convert the van ourselves as we had all the skills needed. It was a steep learning curve but one we really enjoyed. A few friends recommended Quirky to us, and here we are! Extra Information: Pando has three layers of insulation along with a heater so is perfect for winter adventures. I am an avid snowboarder, so wanted the van to be as cosy as possible in the winter but also cool in the summer. All the opening windows in the living area have fly netting built in so you can open a window without having pesky bugs enter. We have used a cork flooring in the van to ensure it is warm and comfy under feet, perfect for when the hiking boots come off. The blinds are made using insulation and thermal black out material to ensure that the heat stays in and the light can be blocked out during the long summer days. Pando belongs on the open road, so is not Ulez compliant. We have never found this to be an issue but it is something to bear in mind when planning your trip.