Ambulance Camper/ Expedition Rig Conversion FAQ
- Thread starter flightcancled
- Start date
flightcancled
Explorer
It has been a struggle that refuses to end. Frankly I am shocked I made the two big drives I did completely without incident before all hell broke loose (Boston to NYC to Albany, then Albany to Syracuse). We went to take it for the alignment (final step) this week only to have a brake malfunction. Next thing you know I am ordering front calipers for both sides. For those keeping score that is a total replacement of every part in the front, rear and emergency brake system apart from pedals and some hard line. Tranny is back up, all fluids are new, all the moving parts up front have been gone through, all new tires (1" size bump), so as of now we are done after we torch off my rear shocks and align it. I may go ahead and redo the air-ride, but that won't keep me off the road.
Looking forward I'm saving and surfing interwebs for the parts I need to build out the kitchenette over the winter, and then an outdoor BBQ tailgate-ish system over the summer. Some time next summer I will make a final decision on the tail bob. If I build a storage compartment under the bed I will make up for the loss of space in the cabinets. Then it's time for twin dirt bikes on the back!
To answer the question:
IIRC the "Rhino Ambo" (Someone correct me if I am wrong here) singled the rear and added a spacer, then had a catastophic axle failure. Not sure if there was a specific incident that caused it, but the talk was that putting all the weight that far out caused the axle to bend and snap. "Belefonte" got singled recently, so far so good! I haven't really spent a lot of time looking into it, but there have been a few in depth conversations on it. One of the main issues you will find is how to compensate with spacers, and find a tire that can support all the weight.
Looking forward I'm saving and surfing interwebs for the parts I need to build out the kitchenette over the winter, and then an outdoor BBQ tailgate-ish system over the summer. Some time next summer I will make a final decision on the tail bob. If I build a storage compartment under the bed I will make up for the loss of space in the cabinets. Then it's time for twin dirt bikes on the back!
To answer the question:
IIRC the "Rhino Ambo" (Someone correct me if I am wrong here) singled the rear and added a spacer, then had a catastophic axle failure. Not sure if there was a specific incident that caused it, but the talk was that putting all the weight that far out caused the axle to bend and snap. "Belefonte" got singled recently, so far so good! I haven't really spent a lot of time looking into it, but there have been a few in depth conversations on it. One of the main issues you will find is how to compensate with spacers, and find a tire that can support all the weight.
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huskyhauler
Adventurer
I've been brainstorming on an outdoor cook station for some time. I currently have an oven/stove top combo that quickly sets up in the opened, outside cargo compartment on the passenger side. Attached are photos of my current setup. It works really well with a small table beside it as a cook station.
I also picked up a marine grill that I'm looking to install, I just haven't figured out where to stow it yet. A couple of ideas I have are to mount it using a folding TV mount, or to have it hook onto the inside of the opened compartment door.
ujoint
Supporting Sponsor
I'm pretty sure the spacers were not on it when the axle failed. In the recent pics you can see how far in the tire & wheel sits.
cjken
Explorer
Yea. I think Chris said there were no spacers the rims were very thick giving the appearance is less hub sticking out.
I think it was more a lack of maintenance issue.
My front wheel Bering was a similar issue. I had no idea how old the grease was and possibly some water intrusion before I got it. I think I let it got so bad because I couldn't hear it going bad with all the noise from the tires.
I think it was more a lack of maintenance issue.
My front wheel Bering was a similar issue. I had no idea how old the grease was and possibly some water intrusion before I got it. I think I let it got so bad because I couldn't hear it going bad with all the noise from the tires.
flightcancled
Explorer
That is slick! I was looking at putting one of those on the inside, then just a cooktop outside. Loving the little tray shelf on the right. Where is your propane stored? The rear compartments are usually the right size for a tank or two, but the idea of being rear ended then having a tank explode keeps me up at night.
Have you looked at the mirror flush mounts? Two of those would probably work.
cjken
Explorer
I singled mine out in stages.
Starting with keeping the dually hubs and running h1 rims which have 7" backspacing. This required 2.5" spacers on the rear to get the tires out enough to clear the box wheel wells.
Recently I fully singled it out by getting some "regular" 17" rims. Loosing the rear spacers and swapping the front DRW hubs for SRW hubs. I downsized tires to 35" 12.5 r17.
Much like Ozrockrat did except I did not go to 19.5 rims and tires, because we have a lot of sand here and I wanted to retain the ability to air down a bit.
For me I think this is the correct combo.
Most of these trucks spend a good deal of time on the road. This combo is very street able, but retains the ability to air down for soft sand. I have not had the new tires in snow, but imagine they should work well.
Keep in mind mine is not as heavy as the wide box long wheelbase ambos out there.
Some of those may be pushing the limits weight wise singled out and loaded. At least with standard rims and tires. Ozrockrat got around this by running a heavier truck tire and rim to handle the extra weight.
So there are many things to consider and all options are a compromise in one way or another. You just have to find the compromise that best fits your needs.
Here are the hubs I swapped and my current setup.
Starting with keeping the dually hubs and running h1 rims which have 7" backspacing. This required 2.5" spacers on the rear to get the tires out enough to clear the box wheel wells.
Recently I fully singled it out by getting some "regular" 17" rims. Loosing the rear spacers and swapping the front DRW hubs for SRW hubs. I downsized tires to 35" 12.5 r17.
Much like Ozrockrat did except I did not go to 19.5 rims and tires, because we have a lot of sand here and I wanted to retain the ability to air down a bit.
For me I think this is the correct combo.
Most of these trucks spend a good deal of time on the road. This combo is very street able, but retains the ability to air down for soft sand. I have not had the new tires in snow, but imagine they should work well.
Keep in mind mine is not as heavy as the wide box long wheelbase ambos out there.
Some of those may be pushing the limits weight wise singled out and loaded. At least with standard rims and tires. Ozrockrat got around this by running a heavier truck tire and rim to handle the extra weight.
So there are many things to consider and all options are a compromise in one way or another. You just have to find the compromise that best fits your needs.
Here are the hubs I swapped and my current setup.
rlrenz
Explorer
An ambulance dealer told me that the problem is a combination of road salt plus parking an ambulance in a heated fire house where things are always washed down. With the trench drains that are commonly used, the vehicles are parked directly over water. His recommendation was to totally replace the lines when a fire truck or ambulance are about 10 years old.
Ah. My Marine Corp roommate was from Long Island. Massa..Massa... A mass of pea quads, or something like that. Good dude, rip.
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
Cross posted from the O'Billy build thread, talking about how ambo's might be abused in service;
"It all depends on who owns the ambulance in the US. If it's a private rig or used as a hospital or AMR style transport it'll see a tighter maintenance budget, a lot of idle time, fast, cold starts and balls-to-the-wall driving. If it's owned by a fire department it'll see less idle time, a regulated maintenance budget and schedule, and easier driving."
"It all depends on who owns the ambulance in the US. If it's a private rig or used as a hospital or AMR style transport it'll see a tighter maintenance budget, a lot of idle time, fast, cold starts and balls-to-the-wall driving. If it's owned by a fire department it'll see less idle time, a regulated maintenance budget and schedule, and easier driving."
mk216v
Der Chef der Fahrzeuge
More pics of your M/M module swap?
Length of module? What length was your original module?
And you're 138"WB or 158"?
