Jlcanterbury
Member
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2021
- Posts
- 21
The time has come to sell my self-converted ambulance camper. I acquired this vehicle in December 2019 after a very long search for the right platform to build a capable off grid camper. I don't need to go over the merits of an ambulance box on this forum, but it was an obvious choice for me. An incredibly high quality aluminum box mounted onto a solid E350 4x4 van with the 7.3l diesel.
I started the conversion project in 2020 (I had some time off around then, don't remember why). I have traveled in, upgraded, and optimized the vehicle since then. The current version represents my ideal off-grid camper setup. Lightweight, relatively small at under 20' total length, incredibly capable on all terrain, and with ample storage and payload capacity. Hot water, shower, fridge, stove top, A/C, kitchen table, and a convertible couch/bed complete the interior build and turn this ambulance into a comfortable dwelling unit that can go almost anywhere.
Details:
7.3l PSD 175k miles
Quigley 4x4 Conversion
Automatic Transmission
Wheeled Coach Ambulance Box
265/75r16 BFG Ko2 Tires mounted on 16" steel OEM rims- near new condition (6 new BFG tires, plus a full size spare in the rear box)
Dimensions:
under 8' wide
under 20' length
under 9' tall
(small sizing means it is within nearly all size restrictions placed on larger RVs, campers, etc.)
Rear box interior dimensions: 134" long, 87" wide
68" interior height in rear box. 78" interior standing height at kitchen/shower cutout
138" Wheel Base
9,500lb curb weight
Camper Build Components:
Dometic Fridge Freezer Combo 12v Stainless Steel
Kuuma Hot Water tank with heat exchange looped into coolant system. 6 gallons on demand hot water, heated by driving.
Sureflow 12v water Pump, in-line Expansion tank
20 gallon fresh water tank + 6 gallon hot water tank + Extra water storage
Dometic 2 burger propane Stove Top
Stainless Steel Sink
Stainless Steel Faucet, with hot/cold tap/sprayer. (also used as shower head)
6 gallon gray water tank directly under sink.
2x 12v Vent Fans in top rear of box for effective air movement, switched to panel.
Diesel heater installed into exterior box and vented into living area. independent diesel fuel tank. (Can also be plumbed into main diesel tank)
Shower:
Custom stainless steel shower pan fabricated and installed to create convertible shower space in front of sink.
The original ambulance floor was cut out to increase shower/kitchen standing area height.
Custom wood drain made from durable IPE hardwood
Magnet snap-in shower curtain closure system
Adjustable shower head, sink head used for shower
Convertible bed/couch:
Custom convertible bed with slide-out frame. 3 available modes, Couch, daybed, or queen bed.
3 storage bins fit under couch.
Custom couch cushions made with 6” foam and custom sewn canvas covers.
Fold up dining table.
Custom curtains and window insulating covers in matching natural canvas.
Custom headliner in matching natural canvas.
3-zone interior LED lighting.
120v AC Unit installed, and vented out of the upper ambulance box
Power System:
400ah reserve battery capacity
3,000w pure sine wave inverter, and additional 1050 watt pure sine wave inverter
Bluetti AC300 + B300 Modular expandable lithium battery system
The decision with this build was to leave the original ambulance power system intact, with additional camper build components being separated to their own fuse box and switch panel.
The existing ambulance electrical system is proven, high quality, and well documented .
The shortcoming for off-grid camper use, however, is that ambulance systems are designed to operate under engine idle, or plugged into 120v shore power. The lead-acid battery system does not like to be drawn-down and discharged. So, we use the lithium battery pack to ALWAYS keep the lead-acid batteries at their correct voltage, and to directly power auxiliary components.
Power draw is placed on the lithium pack that is designed for continuous deep draws and recharging with a long lifespan of those cycles.
The lithium pack can be charged by solar, fast alternator charge, or by looping into ambulance inverter.
The additional lithium provides redundancy, protects the starting and house batteries, and provides 300ah or more of additional capacity.
Additional Features:
Backup camera with front and rear facing cameras.
Pass-through from front cab to rear box, with sliding access door.
Lots of interior storage (multiple side cabinets, kitchen pantry/cupboard, vanity cabinet w/mirror, plus 3 storage totes under couch/bed)
Lots of locking exterior storage. Supplies, tools, gear, or additional build components.
High quality build materials.
Ambulance box is all aluminum so it will never rust.
The aluminum box itself is solid, utilitarian, lightweight, and built to a higher standard than any RV builder (IMO).
Entire roof is one continuous sheet of aluminum, no seams or holes (other than originally installed ambo antenna hole). No leaks!
Fully insulated box. Very comfortable in all seasons, very quiet inside when closed up.
Nearly all additional build components used baltic birch plywood or high density fiberboard. (all waterproof).
Waterproof laminate flooring.
I am sure to have forgotten some details in this listing. Lots of time, energy, money, and excitement have gone into this build process. I'm proud of the result, and while the camper build certainly is not perfect, I think it's a high quality build at a good value.
I am asking $49k for the vehicle.
Located in Bend, Oregon.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
I started the conversion project in 2020 (I had some time off around then, don't remember why). I have traveled in, upgraded, and optimized the vehicle since then. The current version represents my ideal off-grid camper setup. Lightweight, relatively small at under 20' total length, incredibly capable on all terrain, and with ample storage and payload capacity. Hot water, shower, fridge, stove top, A/C, kitchen table, and a convertible couch/bed complete the interior build and turn this ambulance into a comfortable dwelling unit that can go almost anywhere.
Details:
7.3l PSD 175k miles
Quigley 4x4 Conversion
Automatic Transmission
Wheeled Coach Ambulance Box
265/75r16 BFG Ko2 Tires mounted on 16" steel OEM rims- near new condition (6 new BFG tires, plus a full size spare in the rear box)
Dimensions:
under 8' wide
under 20' length
under 9' tall
(small sizing means it is within nearly all size restrictions placed on larger RVs, campers, etc.)
Rear box interior dimensions: 134" long, 87" wide
68" interior height in rear box. 78" interior standing height at kitchen/shower cutout
138" Wheel Base
9,500lb curb weight
Camper Build Components:
Dometic Fridge Freezer Combo 12v Stainless Steel
Kuuma Hot Water tank with heat exchange looped into coolant system. 6 gallons on demand hot water, heated by driving.
Sureflow 12v water Pump, in-line Expansion tank
20 gallon fresh water tank + 6 gallon hot water tank + Extra water storage
Dometic 2 burger propane Stove Top
Stainless Steel Sink
Stainless Steel Faucet, with hot/cold tap/sprayer. (also used as shower head)
6 gallon gray water tank directly under sink.
2x 12v Vent Fans in top rear of box for effective air movement, switched to panel.
Diesel heater installed into exterior box and vented into living area. independent diesel fuel tank. (Can also be plumbed into main diesel tank)
Shower:
Custom stainless steel shower pan fabricated and installed to create convertible shower space in front of sink.
The original ambulance floor was cut out to increase shower/kitchen standing area height.
Custom wood drain made from durable IPE hardwood
Magnet snap-in shower curtain closure system
Adjustable shower head, sink head used for shower
Convertible bed/couch:
Custom convertible bed with slide-out frame. 3 available modes, Couch, daybed, or queen bed.
3 storage bins fit under couch.
Custom couch cushions made with 6” foam and custom sewn canvas covers.
Fold up dining table.
Custom curtains and window insulating covers in matching natural canvas.
Custom headliner in matching natural canvas.
3-zone interior LED lighting.
120v AC Unit installed, and vented out of the upper ambulance box
Power System:
400ah reserve battery capacity
3,000w pure sine wave inverter, and additional 1050 watt pure sine wave inverter
Bluetti AC300 + B300 Modular expandable lithium battery system
The decision with this build was to leave the original ambulance power system intact, with additional camper build components being separated to their own fuse box and switch panel.
The existing ambulance electrical system is proven, high quality, and well documented .
The shortcoming for off-grid camper use, however, is that ambulance systems are designed to operate under engine idle, or plugged into 120v shore power. The lead-acid battery system does not like to be drawn-down and discharged. So, we use the lithium battery pack to ALWAYS keep the lead-acid batteries at their correct voltage, and to directly power auxiliary components.
Power draw is placed on the lithium pack that is designed for continuous deep draws and recharging with a long lifespan of those cycles.
The lithium pack can be charged by solar, fast alternator charge, or by looping into ambulance inverter.
The additional lithium provides redundancy, protects the starting and house batteries, and provides 300ah or more of additional capacity.
Additional Features:
Backup camera with front and rear facing cameras.
Pass-through from front cab to rear box, with sliding access door.
Lots of interior storage (multiple side cabinets, kitchen pantry/cupboard, vanity cabinet w/mirror, plus 3 storage totes under couch/bed)
Lots of locking exterior storage. Supplies, tools, gear, or additional build components.
High quality build materials.
Ambulance box is all aluminum so it will never rust.
The aluminum box itself is solid, utilitarian, lightweight, and built to a higher standard than any RV builder (IMO).
Entire roof is one continuous sheet of aluminum, no seams or holes (other than originally installed ambo antenna hole). No leaks!
Fully insulated box. Very comfortable in all seasons, very quiet inside when closed up.
Nearly all additional build components used baltic birch plywood or high density fiberboard. (all waterproof).
Waterproof laminate flooring.
I am sure to have forgotten some details in this listing. Lots of time, energy, money, and excitement have gone into this build process. I'm proud of the result, and while the camper build certainly is not perfect, I think it's a high quality build at a good value.
I am asking $49k for the vehicle.
Located in Bend, Oregon.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
