4x4 f350 ambulance camper (PureAdventureMobile)

[mitchbenoit]

My name is Mitch from California, and I'm kinda new to this site; I have been coming here a lot lately, looking at other cool ambulances and ideas to convert mine. In the past, I had a old chevy motorhome, as well as a 21' weekend warrior toy box trailer; unfortunately, I always felt that they were built rather cheap and unreliable, so started my search. I started finding these really cool ambulances and seeing how well they are well-built, diesel, and can come in 4x4. I ended up finding this 2001 f350 Ambo in Colorado, factory 4x4 with the 7.3l for 6k so I jumped on it. My girlfriend and I decided to fly out, buy it, and drive it back. It was quite the journey but ended up going perfect. I'm really excited to fix her up and take her out! I haven't done much to her yet. As for now, I want to get a nice foldout bed, small lift and some good size tires, have it registered through dmv as a motorhome and clean it up little. Any ideas on the project would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

-Mitch

 

[Export]

Looks good Mitch. More pictures please, then l suspect all kinds of suggestions are likely to come your way. Tell us more the direction you're looking for. If you want a sink, shower, toilet, solar,... what type of travels/outings are you looking to make? I'm curious and interested in these ambulance builds too, so...I'm looking forward to your postings and the responses.
Good wishes! (Don't forget...more pictures!)

 

[mitchbenoit]

Thanks!! yeah the plan is to eventually build it like most that do these as a poor mans earth roamer. I just purchased a smashed 26' toy hauler to build a tiny home with (another project) so i have a few things from that i think would work well in the Ambo. Here is a pic of the beds i am planning on installing in there. they also fold out to seating.



also i am working on a small kitchen setup for now so i can atleast register this thing as motorhome and not have to pay the weight fee etc.

 

[mitchbenoit]

I havnt really even thought about wiring etc. but do most people just rip out what they are not going to use? There are so many wires! i don't even know where to begin! lol

 

[tgreening]

My opinion on the tires.... I like things to be in proportion. I hate seeing lifted trucks with dinky-*** tires on them. I hate seeing trucks with tires so huge they have to have a 24" lift to get the wheel wells above the tires cause there's no way in hell the tire would fit in the wheel well.

With proportion in mind, these are big boxy looking rigs, so go big or go home on the tires. To me 37" are starting to look like they belong and that's where I'd start.

Your wallet is sooo going to hate you for buying this thing. They're like a black hole for money.

 

[mitchbenoit]

I hear ya! tgreening that is my plan is well, if all goes well i will post up some pics of the wheels and tires i want for it. I have been looking around and some keep the dually rears but a lot do single. Is there any downfall to single as long as the tires are up for the heavy weight?

I can tell my wallet is going to hurt lol

 

[tgreening]

The biggest downfall I can see is you have to space them out or then end up recessed way back in the wheel well.

 

[mitchbenoit]

The biggest downfall I can see is you have to space them out or then end up recessed way back in the wheel well.

Yeah i agree, I am looking at heavy duty dually wheels and just running the outside one in the rear? and of course regular in the front.

 

[mitchbenoit]

Was able to test fit the sink and electric stove, anybody know what else is needed to have dmv register something like this as a rv? I know a bed, sink, and stove but is an electric one ok?

 

[tgreening]

Yeah i agree, I am looking at heavy duty dually wheels and just running the outside one in the rear? and of course regular in the front.

Not sure I'd do that. Dually rims are usually for a pretty narrow tire and they have a massive backspace/offset. Just running the outside single would put a pretty heavy load on the wheel bearings back there.

Couple realistic things to do.....

Run a regular rim out back with a wider tire and a bit of spacer to punch them out a bit more. Lose the front dually adapters so you can run the same rim/tire combo up front.


Keep the dually setup and go for the tallest narrowest tires you can find so you can put a spacer between the rear rims so the tires don't rub each other. I believe if you stick to about a 35" tire you can find something narrow enough to keep the spacer reasonable. Go over 35" and choices become extremely limited to almost non-existent.

I really wanted to keep my duals, but I also really wanted a true 37" tire, and those two just wouldn't coexist in any practical way with the axle I had, so singles it became.

 

[mitchbenoit]

thanks tgreeing, do you have an Ambo?

i think that is a really good idea, i just really don't like the dual wheel idea and i hear if you actually use it for offroad at all, it could cause some problems with rocks getting stuck in there etc. I actually got some wheels and tires for it and got the lift which is just a drop bracket kit.





41's same tires on the earth roamers, on a 20" beadlock wheel

 

[mitchbenoit]

Got a lot done this weekend, got the old bench ripped out and installed the seats that fold into a bed and also can be up against the wall as well.







Also started working on the 5" drop down lift.

 

[mitchbenoit]

 

[pappawheely]

Beast! I like it.

 

[mitchbenoit]

Thanks pappawheely!!!