WATCH JOYFUL VANS BLUEBIRD VIDEO 🙂
The Bluebird – SOLD
The Bluebird is a 2017 High Top Mercedes Sprinter 2500 with a 144″ wheel base and 10,000 miles on her. Fully insulated to keep the heat in during the winter and out in the summer, her youth and her 36 month/36k miles of warranty guarantee she will be with you for many adventures. The RV Queen bed in back is large, and can sleep two people and a dog comfortably. The kitchen is set up for collaborative cooking, with lots of counter space, running water, propane stove, and a 45 quart fridge. The driver and passenger seats swivel around to meet a dining table, and blackout curtains insure that light stays inside at night for a private, stealthy evening parked anywhere.
The curtains double as insulation, filled with Thinsulate (it’s what is in your Patagonia puffy jacket), so that the heat stays in when you want it and out when you don’t. The Fan-Tastic Fan and sliding kitchen window offer unrivaled airflow in or out, so that you stay just the right temperature as you sleep through the night (or hot desert day!).
If it is cold outside, the diesel heater control panel is within reach of the bed, and in 15 minutes will have you toasty warm. The heater is located under the passenger seat, and draws fuel from the main tank under the van. If you like, you can set the timer to turn the heater on at set times, so the van is warm when you wake up and when you return after skiing.
When you are in bed, all of your clothing fits just above your feet. Symmetrical cubbies allow clothing for two to remain organized and easy to find.
If you need a bathroom, there is a toilet stowed away. Pull out the waste drawer in the kitchen, and you will see trash, then recycling, and then a portable toilet. It contains the smell, and is easy to dump into a standard toilet when one is available.
In back, the “garage” under the bed is 36 inches high, with a bike bay wide enough for two. Just remove the front wheel, and play a little Tetris with your skis in the ski locker (190 cm skis? No problem! 200 cm skis? Maybe you need to upgrade…). Next to the bike bay, two 4 foot deep divided drawers give you ample storage for all your accompanying gear, and next to those even more cubbies let you really pack it all in.
The ladder on the back gives you access to the aerodynamic roof rack, as well as the 200 W of solar panels in case you need to brush off the snow.
A little about power…
Speaking of solar, your power is brought to you by Goal Zero, and wow can they deliver. The two 100W Boulder solar panels charge the Yeti 1250 Generator. That’s 1250 Wh, enough to power a generic household 100 W bulb for 12.5 hours, or enough to power the 1.5 W LED lights in the van for much, much longer.
The nifty thing about this generator is that is has plugs for AC 120 V, DC 12 V, and 5 V USB. The display also shows your input and output power so you always know what to expect. In case you need to power up on a cloudy day, you can plug into shore power at 120 V or into the van’s primary battery at 12 V as you drive.
For your personal lighting needs, you have plenty of options… The main lights are good for full illumination, but you can opt for a kitchen light, a bedtime reading light, and also LED strip party lights. These last ones can change color, and can even dance to your music.
Let’s Get Specific…
Here are some of the specific items built into the Bluebird:
Exterior
Rear door ladder
Yakima Aluminum 70 inches Aero Bar Roof Rack and 42 inch Tracks
Back up camera
Door Stop to keep door half way open when needed
Kitchen
Whynter 45 quart Portable Freezer or Refrigerator
Atwood Stainless Steel 2 Burner Propane Stove with Regulator
5 Gal Propane Tank Storage with outside ventilation in case of leak
Stainless steel undercount sink with electric pump coming from 6 Gal fresh water tank and emptying into 6 Gal gray water tank
Replacement 6 Gal fresh water tank, for longer travel
Power
Goal Zero Yeti 1250 (generator, inverter, and battery in one reliable and self regulating beast) with 3 USB outlets, 3 AC outlets, 1 12V DC car socket outlet, and more
200w Solar on roof
Sleeping
RV Queen 5inch Memory Foam Mattress with 5 year warranty, 60in X 72in
Heat/Cool
Fan-Tastic Fan
Eberspacher Diesel Heater with High Altitude kit, control timer, and temperature sensor
Storage
Cabinets & cubbies over bed (great for clothing)
Cabinets over kitchen (great for food and dishes/cups)
L Shaped small cubbies along kitchen counter
Large corner cubbies under kitchen
Larger cabinets under kitchen counter
3 drawers in kitchen
Waste drawer
Hidden storage compartments with locks
Cubbies in sliding door for even smaller things
Cubbies in back doors for gear
4 foot long and 16 inch deep gear drawers
Standing ski space for 3 or 4 pairs
Garage for 2 bikes
Custom bulkhead shelf over driver/passenger chairs
Table holder next to Fridge
Electronics cubby above Goal Zero Yeti
Other
Driver and passenger seat swivel
Chalkboard on sliding door
Blue Stain / Pine Beetle Kill tongue and groove ceiling
Refurbished wood for cabinets
Blackout Thinsulate Curtains
Portable toilet
Joyful Vans 