About the area: Pinewood lives in the borough of Millbrook on the outskirts of Southampton parked on a quiet residential street just a 5 minute drive to the m27. From the m27 it’s just a 15 minute drive west to the New Forest National Park, a further 20 minutes to Bournemouth and even further west is the Jurassic Coast, 40 minutes eastbound will take you to Portsmouth or the South Downs National Park. South we have the Isle of Wight and north up 20 minutes up the m3 is Winchester. There is also some historical sites close by like Stone Henge which is a great place to park for the nigh on the byway right next to the henge or Alfred’s Tower which is about 30 minutes west from Stone Henge Description of Beds: Pinewood is built for couples but with 3 belts up front it would be a shame not to use the full potential so there is a possibility of a 3rd smaller camper up to 1.6 metres tall. with a fold up mattress that goes on the garage when not being used the mattress can fold into a comfy chair, ready for day use too. The main bed is a flip up full sized double with a thick memory foam mattress, the bed is super comfortable and has around 145cm from wall to wall and a length of 190cm perfect for tall people. Description of Seating: Three belted seats in the front (including driver) all with headrests, the driver seat has a fold down armrest. In the living area there is a central sofa bench with an angled back support and cushions. It’s possible to fit a clip on table in front of the bench which is stowed on the rear door. Opposite is a fixed double bench which has a removable section which can slide forward to sit at the table or can be removed to be swapped for a sofe cushion chair which folds out to a mattress. For the warm summer’s days there is two captain chairs and a fold out table in the garage which can be set up outside to enjoy the fresh air. Description of Electrical Setup: The electric set up is very impressive with 375 watts of solar charging and a massive 700 watt charger which charges off the engine while driving you can enjoy off grid camping without sacrifice.
The 400 ah battery capacity powers a 10l hot water cylinder and pump so washing up and showering is not a problem. It also powers a two ventilation fans, a fridge with a small freezer compartment a smart tv lots of lights and 12v outlets for usb and usbc for phone and device charging it also has multiple cigarette lighter points for powering 12v appliances. Also it includes a huge 3000w inverter charger that charges the batteries when plugged in to EHU. The inverter is used to power the induction hob, microwave and toasters as well as multiple plugs socket for personal appliances. The battery capacity could last up to 1 week parked up off grid and can last indefinitely if driving regularly. Parking: Pinewood lives on a residential street with parking available and no restrictions. It is possible to leave your car where pinewood lives. Kitchen Facilities: Pinewood is equipped with all the necessary items needed for preparing delicious food at every stop. Items include plates, bowls, cups, cutlery and knives, travel flasks for hot drinks suitable for hiking or drinking and a camping kettle to boil water. Also chopping boards posts for cooking in and frying pan too Bathroom Facilities: Pinewood has a shower/toilet enclosure with an extractor fan to remove steam or smells. The mixer shower has hot water powered by a 12v/230v 10 litre hot water cylinder and the main water tank holds 120 litres of fresh drinking water. The chemical toilet holds 12l of waste and 15 litres of flushing capacity and is also supplied with toilet liner bags if you prefer to dispose of solid waste immediately. Audio Equipment: Up front in the cab is a decent sound system with Bluetooth connectivity for hands free or streaming. In the living area is a portable 12v radio/bluetooth speaker that’s charges off 12v Type of Heating: Pinewood is fully equipped with a remote controlled diesel heater that can be switched on and off from the comfort of the bed via a small remote. Also there is a ventilation fans above the bed for the warmer nights and a big ventilation fan in the main living area which also has a remote control Pet Information: I myself am a dog lover and I understand dogs are part of the family so a camping trip with out our most loved members would not be the same. Although I don’t currently own a dog i would allow 2 small well behaved dogs and 1 medium size dog but I don’t think it’s suitable for large dogs. Conversion Story: Pinewood started life as a mobile mechanics van this was appealing to me as i would assume it would have been well maintained. A conversion takes a lot of time and money so a good base is very important. Since the conversion pinewood has been very reliable and travelled a 7000 mile journey around Scandinavia for 9 weeks in the early stages of the conversion, this gave me the insights of how the conversion would need to be finished to allow the best comfort and camping experience on every adventure.