AmboVan Restarted
- Thread starter hobietony
- Start date
hobietony
Explorer
And, from the shameless self-pimping department, I have a few threads in the 'for sale' section - Some van parts, some camping stuff, and the kitchen sink.
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http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...s-7-3-idle-control-unit-from-diesel-ambulance
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/104392-(2)-BFG-KM2-285-75-16E
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/104510-Coleman-9400-Base-Camp-Propane-Stove-NIB
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Check em out!
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http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...s-7-3-idle-control-unit-from-diesel-ambulance
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/104392-(2)-BFG-KM2-285-75-16E
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/104510-Coleman-9400-Base-Camp-Propane-Stove-NIB
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Check em out!
ambocamper99
New member
99 e350 ambo project
I just want to thank you for all your postings about the ambulance camper.
My wife and I are hip-deep in a similar conversion. Ours is a 99 e350 Wheeled Coach. I wanted the weight down and design flexibility on the interior so ALL the interior cabinetry came out. We may go 4x4 eventually, especially because we're just a few miles from the folks at Ujoint. But this is plenty spendy so far and the thinking is, when we're in the southeast, we'll never need 4x4. And, when we're out west, we'll have our motorcycles and bicycles on the back and kayaks on top so will not be inclined towards the real rough stuff. That's what the DRZ400 and xt225 are for. We'll see. The 4x4 is a cool conversion. Probably will go for a locking conversion for the Dana 60 dually rear. Looks pretty ************ anyway with 235/86/16 BFG TA's.
Interior roof will be white FRP panels. Balance of interior will be 1/8 ABS haircell panels stiffened with foam and stringers. 20mm 80/20 style framing used for flexible mounting. Removed over 1200 lbs of cabinetry.
Basic layout is:
shower/porta-potty share space in left rear compartment with sliding door interior entry and exterior access through compartment door. Great for coming back dirty from a ride. Bottom of compartment will be gray water tank with floor of shower fabbed from white corian. Toggle floor drain with no p-trap. Heat exchanger will give free hot water when engine is running. Will hang a portable LP hot water heater on side up truck for camped supply. 20 gallon plastic fresh water tank will mount under frame. Will carry jerry cans for extra.
Instead, old inline exhaust fan will be turned on to vent compartment through the g-water tank when in use. Kitchen sink will have p-trap, though we'll see if it gets sucked dry.
Simple 5k btu window ac unit mounted in the top of the right rear compartment, dumping heat into that compartment which will be vented (fan blown if necessary). We'll see how well it works. Very low power and no hole in the roof. I'm out 100 bucks and some light fab work if I end up needing a roof unit.
Bought but haven't mounted a 4.4 cubic foot dorm frig from Lowe's. Our thinking is to run it on max while on the road, then turn it way down while parked. Not sure if this is the best choice, but it can go in later as it'll mount at right front next to cab passage.
Planning on custom jack-knife bed on right side (full size) fabbed out of 1x2x1/8 6061 tubing.
I'll try to do some more posts as we get further along. Any and all comments and recommendations welcome, but would love input on awnings and inverters.
It's a beast of a truck. 118k miles on 7.3 PS. Wheeled Coach is built like a tank.
I just want to thank you for all your postings about the ambulance camper.
My wife and I are hip-deep in a similar conversion. Ours is a 99 e350 Wheeled Coach. I wanted the weight down and design flexibility on the interior so ALL the interior cabinetry came out. We may go 4x4 eventually, especially because we're just a few miles from the folks at Ujoint. But this is plenty spendy so far and the thinking is, when we're in the southeast, we'll never need 4x4. And, when we're out west, we'll have our motorcycles and bicycles on the back and kayaks on top so will not be inclined towards the real rough stuff. That's what the DRZ400 and xt225 are for. We'll see. The 4x4 is a cool conversion. Probably will go for a locking conversion for the Dana 60 dually rear. Looks pretty ************ anyway with 235/86/16 BFG TA's.
Interior roof will be white FRP panels. Balance of interior will be 1/8 ABS haircell panels stiffened with foam and stringers. 20mm 80/20 style framing used for flexible mounting. Removed over 1200 lbs of cabinetry.
Basic layout is:
shower/porta-potty share space in left rear compartment with sliding door interior entry and exterior access through compartment door. Great for coming back dirty from a ride. Bottom of compartment will be gray water tank with floor of shower fabbed from white corian. Toggle floor drain with no p-trap. Heat exchanger will give free hot water when engine is running. Will hang a portable LP hot water heater on side up truck for camped supply. 20 gallon plastic fresh water tank will mount under frame. Will carry jerry cans for extra.
Instead, old inline exhaust fan will be turned on to vent compartment through the g-water tank when in use. Kitchen sink will have p-trap, though we'll see if it gets sucked dry.
Simple 5k btu window ac unit mounted in the top of the right rear compartment, dumping heat into that compartment which will be vented (fan blown if necessary). We'll see how well it works. Very low power and no hole in the roof. I'm out 100 bucks and some light fab work if I end up needing a roof unit.
Bought but haven't mounted a 4.4 cubic foot dorm frig from Lowe's. Our thinking is to run it on max while on the road, then turn it way down while parked. Not sure if this is the best choice, but it can go in later as it'll mount at right front next to cab passage.
Planning on custom jack-knife bed on right side (full size) fabbed out of 1x2x1/8 6061 tubing.
I'll try to do some more posts as we get further along. Any and all comments and recommendations welcome, but would love input on awnings and inverters.
It's a beast of a truck. 118k miles on 7.3 PS. Wheeled Coach is built like a tank.
), then you're not high jacking Hobietony's one and we all get to benefit from your ideas! Looking forward to your progress!
hobietony
Explorer
So, yeah, nothing new on the van. BUT, so my internet friends don't think I've been slacking (after those 5 days in Puerto Penasco, that is...) a couple of pictures of what I've been working on instead...
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Double stack rig for my Boat trailer - Heading out to Nationals in Galveston in October, and trying to hit a couple California regattas - Double the boats on a trailer, half the gas $, plus a fun project
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Gate for a neighbor, actually a paying job
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Back to work on the van this weekend, I promise!
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Double stack rig for my Boat trailer - Heading out to Nationals in Galveston in October, and trying to hit a couple California regattas - Double the boats on a trailer, half the gas $, plus a fun project
-
Gate for a neighbor, actually a paying job
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Back to work on the van this weekend, I promise!
hobietony
Explorer
No pictures, so it didn't happen. Plus, anything that happened between my bouts of sh!$$%^g and vomiting from my undercooked Mexico scallops is sort of lost in the wash anyway. I'll still take the payment though... See you in a week!
hobietony
Explorer
Expo Prep...
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Steps for rack and roof access
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Someone stated in another thread here that they got a 150* drop in EGTs from wrapping the downpipe, cheap enough, I gave it a try
No change for me, I guess your mileage will vary
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In fact, that discussion got me to research EGTs a bit more, I thought I was running fine for the last two years, turns out that my exhaust guy mounted the probe AFTER the turbo, I didn't know any better at the time. Moved the probe to the exhaust manifold, um yeah, I have a problem - need to turn that tune down a bit!
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After the rack went on, got some wind noise/droning in the ceiling, not surprising since the headliner was out, just one layer of bare metal - very annoying when driving, needed to put it back together before I got on the road again.
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Ceiling insulated, bituthene-type roofing as poor-mans dynamat, and a layer of blue foam insulation as an additional sound measure.
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The blue stuff kinda sticks to things when sanded
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Much better
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Ready for the road now...
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Steps for rack and roof access
-
Someone stated in another thread here that they got a 150* drop in EGTs from wrapping the downpipe, cheap enough, I gave it a try
No change for me, I guess your mileage will vary
-
In fact, that discussion got me to research EGTs a bit more, I thought I was running fine for the last two years, turns out that my exhaust guy mounted the probe AFTER the turbo, I didn't know any better at the time. Moved the probe to the exhaust manifold, um yeah, I have a problem - need to turn that tune down a bit!
-
After the rack went on, got some wind noise/droning in the ceiling, not surprising since the headliner was out, just one layer of bare metal - very annoying when driving, needed to put it back together before I got on the road again.
-
Ceiling insulated, bituthene-type roofing as poor-mans dynamat, and a layer of blue foam insulation as an additional sound measure.
-
The blue stuff kinda sticks to things when sanded
-
Much better
Ready for the road now...
hobietony
Explorer
And, a few randoms from Expo
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Ambo Central. Oxrockrat in the brown one, along with a posse of Aussie motorbike folks. Abitibi was camped right behind the motorhome, I'm sure he appreciated the periodic generator use
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This guy is selling because "My wife hates it with a passion" - I liked his seats, maybe an option for the misery seats in my van
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Rowdy Mogs
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Pretty Mogs
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On the other end of the spectrum, parked adjacent to the pretty mogs...
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too bad we can't get tall pizza cutters like this
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Those Camel Rovers need some more stuff hanging off of them
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The bronco bronco
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Some other random shots
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Another ambo, this one has been to Belize and back
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I'll dig through a few more a little later, probably lots more elsewhere on the forum...
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Ambo Central. Oxrockrat in the brown one, along with a posse of Aussie motorbike folks. Abitibi was camped right behind the motorhome, I'm sure he appreciated the periodic generator use
-
This guy is selling because "My wife hates it with a passion" - I liked his seats, maybe an option for the misery seats in my van
-
Rowdy Mogs
-
Pretty Mogs
-
On the other end of the spectrum, parked adjacent to the pretty mogs...
-
too bad we can't get tall pizza cutters like this
-
Those Camel Rovers need some more stuff hanging off of them
-
The bronco bronco
-
Some other random shots
-
Another ambo, this one has been to Belize and back
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I'll dig through a few more a little later, probably lots more elsewhere on the forum...
hobietony
Explorer
Pretty good video from May 17 from a guy who posts as Area52 - Captures the feel pretty well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEYDRR2x0Uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEYDRR2x0Uk
VanIsle_Greg
I think I need a bigger truck!
Looks like a good time.
Skooter_Built
Observer
Where did you get those fold down steps from?
hobietony
Explorer
Don't remember exact place but I did an image search for 'folding firetruck steps', and went from there. Several options available.
weissisright
New member
Update quick, before I go insane.