We checked into an Airbnb in Tanawa, a short ten-minute drive from the Bushtracker Factory at Kunda Park. Our visit was to have our plans for our new 18' mid-width van drawn up and to inform them of any additional features we wanted beyond the standard inclusions. It's our third new Bushtracker, so the whole process took just under two hours to finalise the plan, add any extras, and select interior colours. Mind you, we had already downloaded copies of plans from the Bushtracker website, where you can cut and paste templates to suit your needs.
This van will differ considerably from our previous Bushtrackers. It will feature both interior and exterior enhancements that allow us to spend even more time off the grid.
Instead of the standard Simplicity Suspension, we've opted for the Load Sharing Coil Suspension for a more comfortable ride.
Cladding will now be made of fibreglass, and instead of checker plate, we are using the Dominator coat on a flat surface beneath the van's rub line, which Bushtracker is renowned for.
The 600 Ah lithium batteries and 1,080 watts of solar power enable us to eliminate gas cooking. Instead, we'll have a Panasonic 31L 1000W Inverter microwave with a flatbed design that steams, bakes, grills, and microwaves. The baking and grilling functions are comparable to those of a traditional oven, with a temperature range of 30°C to 230°c. Hotplates will be dual induction, and the E-pro 3000W inverter will easily power these appliances.
Instead of the standard Simplicity Suspension, we've opted for the Load Sharing Coil Suspension for a more comfortable ride.
Cladding will now be made of fibreglass, and instead of checker plate, we are using the Dominator coat on a flat surface beneath the van's rub line, which Bushtracker is renowned for.
The 600 Ah lithium batteries and 1,080 watts of solar power enable us to eliminate gas cooking. Instead, we'll have a Panasonic 31L 1000W Inverter microwave with a flatbed design that steams, bakes, grills, and microwaves. The baking and grilling functions are comparable to those of a traditional oven, with a temperature range of 30°C to 230°c. Hotplates will be dual induction, and the E-pro 3000W inverter will easily power these appliances.
On our first van, we installed a combined shower and toilet, and we have decided to keep the same setup in this van. We find that dedicating the entire back of the van to separate facilities is just a waste of space, and how much time do you actually spend there anyway?
We are also replacing the traditional Thetford toilet. A Nature's Head composting toilet will be installed in its place. We have several friends who have these fitted in their vans, and they rave about how fantastic they are. Solids and liquids are separated, with solids needing to be emptied roughly every four weeks or longer, and the liquids can be easily emptied whenever needed, using a container that holds 10 litres.
The Carefree awning is the current electric awning being fitted. We weren't overly impressed with this and have decided to install a Thule electric one instead. This particular awning reminded us of our own A&E awning on our first van, with its protective cover when not in use. The Thule goes a step further, having the awning fully enclosed in its own canister.
So it's now just over three months before the pickup, which will pass quickly considering it's been seven months since we paid our deposit.
