FIRST TIME OUT E450 Ambulance
- Thread starter PGGRS
- Start date
mitchbenoit
New member
Great Job on this build!! looks great!
PGGRS
Observer
Wow! Been a while since I've been on here. See still no seperate area for ambo's ???
BUSY at work!!! Finally decided to get back to "perfecting my rig"
The goals 1- Extra headroom 2- extra sleeping berth for at least 1 adult 3- enclosed pod to fit at least a mountain bike 4- rack for my kayak
I'm well on my way. If you saw me at Expo you've seen the truck shell up on the roof, done the weekend before! I decided to use a truck shell instead of a conversion van top that would have given me less than a foot of height increase. The biggest problem with cutting a hole in the middle of the roof is the need to reroute all the wiring which runs down the middle of the ceiling. By using an import size shell & offsetting it to the passenger side of the box I can carry my kayak on top of the 9' tall roof of the original box. A conversion top is wider & wouldn't permit an upper bunk. Found another damaged shell at my buddies shop which is now taking shape as the storage pod to the rear. Tossed the crappy truck shell windows & am installing dual pane units that match the ones from my original build. Also a Fantastic Fan. Today was mostly scabbing in fiberglass sheeting to fill the giant holes left from the discarded windows. Insulation & FRP to match the lower area will be next.
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BUSY at work!!! Finally decided to get back to "perfecting my rig"
The goals 1- Extra headroom 2- extra sleeping berth for at least 1 adult 3- enclosed pod to fit at least a mountain bike 4- rack for my kayak
I'm well on my way. If you saw me at Expo you've seen the truck shell up on the roof, done the weekend before! I decided to use a truck shell instead of a conversion van top that would have given me less than a foot of height increase. The biggest problem with cutting a hole in the middle of the roof is the need to reroute all the wiring which runs down the middle of the ceiling. By using an import size shell & offsetting it to the passenger side of the box I can carry my kayak on top of the 9' tall roof of the original box. A conversion top is wider & wouldn't permit an upper bunk. Found another damaged shell at my buddies shop which is now taking shape as the storage pod to the rear. Tossed the crappy truck shell windows & am installing dual pane units that match the ones from my original build. Also a Fantastic Fan. Today was mostly scabbing in fiberglass sheeting to fill the giant holes left from the discarded windows. Insulation & FRP to match the lower area will be next.
,,,,,,The Punisher
Member
That is one of the most awesome inside work on a ambo I have ever seen!!! Your van has me rethinking my 94 ambo build....I don't think I want the bathroom layout you did, but the kitchen is sweet, and bed set up is awesome!
PGGRS
Observer
Thank you, more time & patience than skill. The bathroom & big fridge were my first "musts" Couldn't imagine getting by without those, but many don't. My sometimes girlfriend won't go anywhere without a toilet(explains the "sometimes") I've spent a couple months at a time in it & found it quite liveable. Finally decided to raise the roof. More progress...Painted, windows installed, added a ladder for access to rear(1/2 of a shell) storage "pod". I'll pull the inner window trim off later & use the insulation as a pattern to cut the FRP. Gotta get it cleaned up a bit, heading up to my summer place in Olympia, WA next week & a quick run into BC to bring in another Delica (my other obsession!)
PGGRS
Observer
Sorry, I don't get on here much. Got the rest of the insulation & FRP up on the inside. A little minor trim & some caulk left to do. Finished hinged panel above entry, got a 3 piece folding mattress for the top area on the curb side. A bit tight for a larger person, such as myself, but doable as an extra sleeping position. Will modify a ladder I pulled off a Delica I sold a while ago for access. And a fold up door for the forward storage area. I'll get the trim & cleaning done this week & will have more pics soon.
Also, finally got a dual pane window to replace the original entry door window. Painted it white & modified the trim ring off the original as this Ebay special didn't have one.About an inch taller but the same width, still was a ***** installing. 1/4 " angle around the original in addition to the 1/8" skin. Now all windows in the box & above are dual pane.
To answer ???, 90ish" is inside height now, 22" above the original roof (now the bunk). I used 1 1/2 truck shells & cut up a Braun "Chair Topper" for the front section to smooth things out a bit. It is offset to the curb side so I can carry my kayak to the side of the shells & not be sky high. Used import shells as they're 5' wide, not 6' like domestic size. I had thought of using a hitop off a van (again too wide), but couldn't find one that worked as well as this setup. The rear 1/2 shell is bigger than any roof pod & is accessible from both in & outside. You probably could sleep a kid or two in there if the need arose.
I'll follow up with inside shots soon!
Also, finally got a dual pane window to replace the original entry door window. Painted it white & modified the trim ring off the original as this Ebay special didn't have one.About an inch taller but the same width, still was a ***** installing. 1/4 " angle around the original in addition to the 1/8" skin. Now all windows in the box & above are dual pane.
To answer ???, 90ish" is inside height now, 22" above the original roof (now the bunk). I used 1 1/2 truck shells & cut up a Braun "Chair Topper" for the front section to smooth things out a bit. It is offset to the curb side so I can carry my kayak to the side of the shells & not be sky high. Used import shells as they're 5' wide, not 6' like domestic size. I had thought of using a hitop off a van (again too wide), but couldn't find one that worked as well as this setup. The rear 1/2 shell is bigger than any roof pod & is accessible from both in & outside. You probably could sleep a kid or two in there if the need arose.
I'll follow up with inside shots soon!
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