Birding Mobile

After spending 14 months on the road in a Toyota Tacoma we decided we needed an upgrade if we were going to continue through South America. Especially after spending more nights than we would like to remember cooking on the tailgate in the rain with hundreds of mosquitoes who were also trying to get some dinner. Choosing a new vehicle after we finished birding in Central America seemed like a logical idea since we would have to ship a vehicle to Colombia no matter what we did. So we decided to head back home and prepare a new and improved birding mobile and ship our new vehicle to Colombia to start part two of our expedition in South America.

We purchased a 1996 4×4 Ford e350 7.3 l diesel van and have spent the last 7 months turning a bare metal box into a deluxe camper van. For those of you interested in build details click on the links below for more detailed information (we are behind on filling in detailed info but if you have questions send us a note). For the rest of you here’s a photo album of the van from start to finish.

• Pop-top and window install
• Insulating and soundproofing
• Walls and floors
• Furniture
• Plumbing
• Electrical and solar
• Propane
• Kitchen
• 4×4 upgrades
• Extras
• Upgrade fuel capacity
• Mechanical stuff

 

The bare bones van before we did any work

The van before we started working on it

The Pop-top installed by Sportsmobile

Dynamat

Closed cell foam along the ribs to take up space

Installing the mass loaded vinyl

Molded custom fit carpet for the front floor area

Carpeting in the front of the van

Carpet trim around the base of the walls

We stuffed insulation in all of the gaps and spaces

Josh installing the closed cell foam over the other insulation.

Closed cell foam installed on walls

Komatex wall

Komatex walls with vinyl covering areas that will be exposed

Getting ready to install the flooring

Floor install

Josh getting ready to weld

The bed frame made out of aluminum

Installing the cabinets

The floor with mass loaded vinyl underneath

The cabinets with lock boxes that run along the bed

The kitchen counter

The kitchen counter with our Eno stove and sink

Cabinets with lock boxes that run along the bed

Custom door with pockets

Interior wall and window

New tires and fender flares

Swivel passenger’s seat

Kitchen and seat storage bag

Our lounge chair for relaxing in the evenings. This chair is actually pretty great and provides good back support while sitting on the bed.

We tried to make use of every possible space.

Kitchen pantry

Handmade center console

Plumbing and water filtration system. The sink drains out the van and the pressured part of the plumbing all sits in a drain pan in case of leaks that also drains out the van. The shower hose hooks up to the yellow lever.

Cubbies and clothing storage

Camping out in style at Joshua Tree National Park

Hand-made shovel mount

Our house

The kitchen complete with a fridge and freezer! Yes we can make Ice!

Our full-time bed. We sacrificed some space but we hate rearranging things every morning and night so we opted for a full time bed.

Gluing down the solar panels with sika

The solar display and backup camera screen

Off-road lights

Painting the pop-top with Raptor liner

Installing the solar panels (From Starlight Solar)

Solar controller and remote inverter switch

Our kitchen with a bar sink and a eno marine stove

The house electronic system. Don’t ask me about all those wire’s, Josh will have to explain.

Painting the pop-top with Raptor liner

Our 200AH of LiFePo (Lithium-Ion) batteries, the brand is GBS, we purchased them from Starlight Solar in Yuma, AZ.

Command central

Sliding magnetic mosquito screen for the side bar doors

Fill line for the water tank

Water tank and command central

28-gallon water tank braced and bolted to the floor of the van