Belafonte Reboot....Ambulance to 4x4 Camper Conversion
- Thread starter tgreening
- Start date
Btw, speaking of replacing the battery charger. Are there any recommendations on a specific brand or system other than what's in there, Vanner? I have zero experience with this stuff so I'm open to suggestions.
I don't need to be able to boondock for weeks on end, but it would be nice to be able to power a microwave or tv intermittently over a weekend if I'm someplace where there is no access to shore power.
I don't need to be able to boondock for weeks on end, but it would be nice to be able to power a microwave or tv intermittently over a weekend if I'm someplace where there is no access to shore power.
patoz
Expedition Leader
A modern TV is no problem to run with an inverter, but most microwaves are current hogs. An average home microwave uses 1200 to 1500 watts by itself. Some smaller RV types still use 900 watts. That's a pretty good load on an inverter, especially if anything else is running on it also.
Here is one Inverter/Charger I have looked at, but not recommending yet because I still need to do a lot more research.
http://www.xantrex.com/power-products/inverter-chargers/prosine-2.aspx
Also, this is a very good guide on RV Electrical systems. The guy says it's for novices, but I learned a lot when I read it. It talks about Inverters near the end of it.
http://www.rv-dreams.com/rv-electrical.html
Judging by the picture, I thought the Vanner you had was an Inverter/Charger, but Carl is right and it's just a Charger.
http://www.vinelandautoelectric.com/pdf/Vanner_chargemaster.pdf
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Abitibi
Explorer
Congrats on your new project!
Not sure if this could apply or not but you mentioned single vs duallies earlier and I just came across these tall (36") and narrow tires for sale locally:
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/nvn/ptd/4276970505.html
Personally I prefer singles and ended up buying a full set of 2004 1ton F350 axles for my distant 4x4 conversion.
Good luck with your new toy!
Cheers
Mr. D
Sent from my iPorn using Tapachat HD
Not sure if this could apply or not but you mentioned single vs duallies earlier and I just came across these tall (36") and narrow tires for sale locally:
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/nvn/ptd/4276970505.html
Personally I prefer singles and ended up buying a full set of 2004 1ton F350 axles for my distant 4x4 conversion.
Good luck with your new toy!
Cheers
Mr. D
Sent from my iPorn using Tapachat HD
New to Group
Hi everyone. I can't tell you how THRILLED I am to find all of you!! I've been a member of Ex Portal for about 5 months but never posted before. I'm planning a Pan American trip and was going to buy an Unimog Doka. That deal fell through last minute an thus began my search for another vehicle. I *thought* I was being clever about converting an ambulance into a camper…. ha ha ha. I should have known this group had beaten me to it…. a long time ago.
Anyway. I *think I finally found the right ambulance after searching for months. Unfortunately it has a 6L instead of a 7.3 but it is a 4x4.
In my searches I found this one if anyone is interested. It's in NC. area. "We bought the unit used in 1999. It has been serviced regularly but we do not have it all documented. The heat and a/c work good. It did not come to us with an inverter on it and does not have one on it now. It is wired for one with a quick disconnect plug and control wiring in place. We are a volunteer fire and rescue department and we do not transport, so we are selling this unit to replace it with a four dour 4x4 Ford F350 truck to run squad calls. It is a good unit, we are just downsizing to something that is more practical for us"
Link:
http://www.firetruckmall.com/Availa...97-Medtech--Ford-4x4-Type-I-Ambulance&Id=1291
Look forward to learning a lot about all the Ambu conversions and sharing my plans.. and pains.
Vikki
Hi everyone. I can't tell you how THRILLED I am to find all of you!! I've been a member of Ex Portal for about 5 months but never posted before. I'm planning a Pan American trip and was going to buy an Unimog Doka. That deal fell through last minute an thus began my search for another vehicle. I *thought* I was being clever about converting an ambulance into a camper…. ha ha ha. I should have known this group had beaten me to it…. a long time ago.
Anyway. I *think I finally found the right ambulance after searching for months. Unfortunately it has a 6L instead of a 7.3 but it is a 4x4.
In my searches I found this one if anyone is interested. It's in NC. area. "We bought the unit used in 1999. It has been serviced regularly but we do not have it all documented. The heat and a/c work good. It did not come to us with an inverter on it and does not have one on it now. It is wired for one with a quick disconnect plug and control wiring in place. We are a volunteer fire and rescue department and we do not transport, so we are selling this unit to replace it with a four dour 4x4 Ford F350 truck to run squad calls. It is a good unit, we are just downsizing to something that is more practical for us"
Link:
http://www.firetruckmall.com/Availa...97-Medtech--Ford-4x4-Type-I-Ambulance&Id=1291
Look forward to learning a lot about all the Ambu conversions and sharing my plans.. and pains.
Vikki
hobietony
Explorer
Congrats on your new project!
Not sure if this could apply or not but you mentioned single vs duallies earlier and I just came across these tall (36") and narrow tires for sale locally:
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/nvn/ptd/4276970505.html
Personally I prefer singles and ended up buying a full set of 2004 1ton F350 axles for my distant 4x4 conversion.
Good luck with your new toy!
Cheers
Mr. D
Sent from my iPorn using Tapachat HD
Be nice if that size was more common/available in the states - I like it
That's nice and all, and as a recently active poster myself welcome aboard, but dont you think you'd be better off starting your own thread to document your search? This is a build thread, and combining the two will kind of muck things up. With that said....
Big advantages to starting with an ambulance over a standard van if you're looking to go the mini camper route. One thing I'd recommend you really look at. The class III with pass through can be a pretty nice feature when you wnat to use it, and very few up the pickup based conversions have it. You "could" add it, but why not start that way in the first place?
Big advantages to starting with an ambulance over a standard van if you're looking to go the mini camper route. One thing I'd recommend you really look at. The class III with pass through can be a pretty nice feature when you wnat to use it, and very few up the pickup based conversions have it. You "could" add it, but why not start that way in the first place?
java
Expedition Leader
Lenses can often be found on ebay cheap. There is an ambulance dismantler that sells all his stock though there. Good place for weird parts too. Im still trying to find lenes for mine. They were all taken off at auction, except the clear scene lights.... And they used a whelen 508 single hole which is like a unicorn it seems.
Yep, nice tires. I have a set in a 40" version on my Mog, but those 36" versions are relative unobtainium down here these days and I can't wrap my head around spending over $2,000 for tires just to get ones that fit, and I most likely couldn't replace in any practical way. If you have no choice I could see it, but I do and odds are I would swap axles before bending over that far for a set of tires.
Don't get me wrong though, I appreciate you presenting the option, it's just one I doubt I'll use. Too expensive and replacement problems loom large.
*edit*. Crap, just noticed. That's $300 a pop, and those are clones for cripes sake!
Abitibi
Explorer
I agree with you on this one as I already have a new set of axles waiting!
Since a lot of people visit these threads to assist them in their own builds (don't we all!) it's nice to include some of the available options that might assist them.
I posted these tires in the general modification section and replied indicate they are available on eBay locally and some users actually prefer them over the originals. Food for thoughts...
Anyway, let's get back on track and looking forward to see your progress!
Cheers
Mr. D
Sent from my iPorn using TapaChat
Since a lot of people visit these threads to assist them in their own builds (don't we all!) it's nice to include some of the available options that might assist them.
I posted these tires in the general modification section and replied indicate they are available on eBay locally and some users actually prefer them over the originals. Food for thoughts...
Anyway, let's get back on track and looking forward to see your progress!
Cheers
Mr. D
Sent from my iPorn using TapaChat
flightcancled
Explorer
Foster coach has the individual panels on their website so you could swap to clear, then gut the thing and slide an offroad bar in. It's a solid bet that parts of the output would be blocked by seams and the array would suffer though. It would draw way too much attention for my taste
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
patoz
Expedition Leader
Hey tgreening, look what I found!
Here is a whole kit on ebay, but this one is sold.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vortec-Cont...=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
And here is a wiring diagram. Apparently, the wiring for the basic model is the same, but the sensing wiring part may be different for different vehicles.
http://jackd.freeshell.org/Horton Ambulance Specifications-Vortec.pdf
I always thought this looked like a cheap aftermarket add-on device, and apparently I was right. It's made by Vortec Corporation, and it looks like they went out of business on 09/19/1983.
http://www.bizapedia.com/in/VORTEC-CORPORATION.html
http://www.thedieselstop.com/archiv...22&page=17&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1.htm
Based on this, Wheeled Coach was installing obsolete parts in the 90's. Since I'm converting my ambulance into a camper trailer, I was hoping to re-install this in my 2004 F250 tow vehicle, but now I don't know if it's even worth it.
Here is a whole kit on ebay, but this one is sold.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vortec-Cont...=&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
And here is a wiring diagram. Apparently, the wiring for the basic model is the same, but the sensing wiring part may be different for different vehicles.
http://jackd.freeshell.org/Horton Ambulance Specifications-Vortec.pdf
I always thought this looked like a cheap aftermarket add-on device, and apparently I was right. It's made by Vortec Corporation, and it looks like they went out of business on 09/19/1983.
http://www.bizapedia.com/in/VORTEC-CORPORATION.html
http://www.thedieselstop.com/archiv...22&page=17&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1.htm
Based on this, Wheeled Coach was installing obsolete parts in the 90's. Since I'm converting my ambulance into a camper trailer, I was hoping to re-install this in my 2004 F250 tow vehicle, but now I don't know if it's even worth it.
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This is awesome information! This should be moved to a tech sticky somewhere. Given that it's obsolete and probably difficult to come up with repair/replacement parts, I'm curious what system the builders are using now, and more importantly what can us guys with Flintstone Technology use as a replacement.