Ambulance Camper/ Expedition Rig Conversion FAQ

[camperulance]

Gents
Dose anyone have got an electrical and operation manual for type 1 ford F350 2008
Wheeled couch if so please I need it urgently

You can reach out to wheeled coach for the original electrical diagrams and such for your specific ambulance. I have a 2007 F350 wheeled coach, and never would have been able to figure it out without the diagrams they provided.

 

[alhattaa]

You can reach out to wheeled coach for the original electrical diagrams and such for your specific ambulance. I have a 2007 F350 wheeled coach, and never would have been able to figure it out without the diagrams they provided.

Can you share it with me please

 

[Bikersmurf]

Gents
Dose anyone have got an electrical and operation manual for type 1 ford F350 2008
Wheeled couch if so please I need it urgently

I have a wiring diagrams for a Crestline Ambo... but not others.

What are you trying to sort out?

I found videos online for Crestlines features design to explain how things worked to Ambulance crews. Don't know what other suppliers may have posted.

 

[werdstrave]

Hey ya'll,

I'm about to embark on an ambulance search/build and had a few questions for you minimod owners since information modifying them on the internet seems to be pretty scarce.

- For those who have done the Ujoint minimod 4x4 conversion, it seems like most minimods, if not all, came with a SRW axle. Do you know what rear axle is typically stock from the factory on these?

- Has anyone swapped the rear out for something else or just kept it with the conversion? I have a 2005 Sterling 10.5 from an abandoned van build and am curious if it could swap that in with the Ujoint kit no problem. I know Chris from Ujoint approves of the Sterling 10.5 in the vans but not sure about these minimod ambulances.

- Is the main difference between the minimod and a standard ambulance box the width or the length also?

- Were minimods only made for the 138" wheel base and not the 158" wheel base?

- Gas vs. Diesel. It seems like some came with the 6.8L V10. Any experience and comments going gas? They seem to be a good deal lighter than the standard ambulance boxes.

Thanks ya'll! I'm excited to get going on this project. If I missed any of these answer on this/other forums, please point me to them. I should be on most of the big ones.

 

[Bikersmurf]

Width is narrower. Singles on rear axle. I believe short wheelbase only.

They are very similar to the Crestline New Era I have. It’s a couple inches wider and has Dual rear wheels though.

I’d probably go with gas after 2003 with a PSD.

I’m very happy with my ‘97 diesel. It has been very reliable and low maintenance.

 

[iggi]

Hey ya'll,

I'm about to embark on an ambulance search/build and had a few questions for you minimod owners since information modifying them on the internet seems to be pretty scarce.

- For those who have done the Ujoint minimod 4x4 conversion, it seems like most minimods, if not all, came with a SRW axle. Do you know what rear axle is typically stock from the factory on these?

- Has anyone swapped the rear out for something else or just kept it with the conversion? I have a 2005 Sterling 10.5 from an abandoned van build and am curious if it could swap that in with the Ujoint kit no problem. I know Chris from Ujoint approves of the Sterling 10.5 in the vans but not sure about these minimod ambulances.

- Is the main difference between the minimod and a standard ambulance box the width or the length also?

- Were minimods only made for the 138" wheel base and not the 158" wheel base?

- Gas vs. Diesel. It seems like some came with the 6.8L V10. Any experience and comments going gas? They seem to be a good deal lighter than the standard ambulance boxes.

Thanks ya'll! I'm excited to get going on this project. If I missed any of these answer on this/other forums, please point me to them. I should be on most of the big ones.

Gas vs diesel depends a lot on how much you drive and how big of tires you plan to go/if you'll be towing.
Due to some life changes I've driven far less than I expected per year. I calculated out the costs of my 6.0 Powerstroke vs if I'd had the V10 Gas engine. Based on less than 5000 miles per year and paying Canadian prices for fuel, plus the difference in maintenance and project repair costs... I was at least $5 grand underwater.

 

[mallthus]

Hey ya'll,

- Gas vs. Diesel. It seems like some came with the 6.8L V10. Any experience and comments going gas? They seem to be a good deal lighter than the standard ambulance boxes.

As others have said, lots of variables. But consider where you intend to go as well as how far and how big you’re planning to go wheel/tire wise.

If your travel will extend beyond North America (ie driving to Argentina), diesel becomes much more attractive due to cost/availability.

Less talked about, but probably more applicable, is where within North America you intend to travel and what time of year.

Almost every diesel ambulance you find will have a modern turbo diesel. That turbo can make a huge impact in performance at altitude. For instance, a Triton V-10 loses about 50 horsepower (vs rated) in Denver and is 100 horsepower down in Breckenridge. The turbo offsets these losses by maintaining a constant (higher) air pressure in the engine so your turbo diesel doesn’t lose power at altitude.

The “when” part of equation involves temperatures. The good news is that single most efficient way to heat an ambulance is with a diesel heater. With a diesel heater on a diesel powered vehicle, you can plumb that heater directly into the vehicle fuel tank and essentially never run out of fuel. The bad news is that diesel doesn’t like to be cold. In cold climates, #2 diesel is usually blended with kerosene to prevent it turning to jelly (#2 gels around 17°, kerosene gels at -40°). This isn’t a problem in 99.9% of the places you might go, but if you’re planning a winter trip up the Dempster, it’s something to be aware of.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Bikersmurf]

My ‘97 cost us $1000 USD to buy… I’ve never seen another roadworthy Ambulance (Gas or Diesel) for anywhere near that price.
Based on my experience I’d recommend diesel if you can get a 7.3… and gas for newer models. Newer diesels are money pits. Not only are they more expensive to buy, they’re also stupid expensive to maintain.

 

[Krangmang]

Just found this part of the forum, thought I would drop this in here. Is there a way to move a thread?

2003 F550 No Limit

I really enjoy the planning, building, and fabrication process. I also really like the outdoors. I saw this as a good way to incorporate those two things into one project. My background in off road travel was previously limited to truck camping, which was great for me, but wouldn't get the wife...

expeditionportal.com

 

[fatmab]

Hi everybody and thanks for the great thread. After about a year and a half searching, I Just picked up a 96 Wheeled Coach mini mod with a 7.3.

Question about the floor... What's under the plywood? I don't want to loose any more headroom but I want to insulate the floor. Wondering if I could or should pull up what looks to be 3/4" ply and put 1" polyiso covered with 1/2" ply?

 

[Bikersmurf]

Hi everybody and thanks for the great thread. After about a year and a half searching, I Just picked up a 96 Wheeled Coach mini mod with a 7.3.

Question about the floor... What's under the plywood? I don't want to loose any more headroom but I want to insulate the floor. Wondering if I could or should pull up what looks to be 3/4" ply and put 1" polyiso covered with 1/2" ply?

Hopefully someone with a wheeled coach will chime in.

Crestline has 1/2” foam between the “joists” & 5/8” over it. It also has sheet of aluminum underneath the floor.

 

[fatmab]

Hopefully someone with a wheeled coach will chime in.

Crestline has 1/2” foam between the “joists” & 5/8” over it. It also has sheet of aluminum underneath the floor.

Thanks for the reply. I haven’t pulled up the plywood yet but it does not fill in wider than the wheel wells. By the wheel wells I can see down to aluminum so I don’t think there is any other material under that ply.

I feel like my plan of 1” polyiso and 1/2” ply should work but not 100% sure if it will be rigid enough. The aluminum sheet doesn’t look real thick…

 

[Bikersmurf]

Thanks for the reply. I haven’t pulled up the plywood yet but it does not fill in wider than the wheel wells. By the wheel wells I can see down to aluminum so I don’t think there is any other material under that ply.

I feel like my plan of 1” polyiso and 1/2” ply should work but not 100% sure if it will be rigid enough. The aluminum sheet doesn’t look real thick…

Residential flooring is 5/8” and 16” on centre. How does that compare to what you have?

 

[fatmab]

Residential flooring is 5/8” and 16” on centre. How does that compare to what you have?

The spacing isn’t equal. Varies between 13.25” and 15.5”. I only measured 1 span at 15.5”.

 

[Bikersmurf]

The spacing isn’t equal. Varies between 13.25” and 15.5”. I only measured 1 span at 15.5”.

Crestline spacing is variable also.

If in doubt use 1/2” Baltic birch or similar. It is much stronger for any given thickness.