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.
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
Birds of passage 
Wow, what a tremendous project for the interior! Hope you get a responsible shipper and that you and this van arrive safely in Cartagena.
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Hey Josh, Letty here from Rhys Vineyards. So impressed with your birding mobile, and what a fun adventure. Head about Birds of Passage from Jeff so decided to check it out. Glad to see you’re doing what you love.
Letty
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