Freightliner ambulance conversion project.

[rlrenz]

Thanks for the info about wheel centering guides -I never knew there was such a thing. I'll get a set (plus a geared lug wrench) from Amazon when I get ready to mount my tires on the aluminum rims.

My aluminum rims are a tomorrow project - I traded with MNtal to get his old rims, but since I'm keeping the same tires I already have, I'm going to store the rims until I'm ready for them.

 

[Herbie]

That's awesome. Reminds me of the episode of Top Gear where the gang left an ancient car parked in front of the hotel in Monte Carlo because it was so unconventional none of the valets could move it.

Think you made the right call on parking, though.

 

[guidolyons]

The valet couldn't get it in between the lines? Well, at least he didn't run over any cars.

 

[rossvtaylor]

That's awesome and funny, Oz! Kara laughed out loud at this...

And, from this angle, we see your solar panel. Did you use Z feet mounts or something else? Do you leave it flat or tilt? We just ordered our solar stuff and are picking it up today, but we didn't get mounts yet. I'm thinking "leave it flat and add extra panel surface area to make up for the inefficiency" might be our plan... so knowing how yours is working would help us there.

 

[rlrenz]

Lets see - is this a different spin on "drive into Vegas in a $30,000 Caddy, and leave in a $300,000 bus"?

"Drive into Vegas in a $250,000 ambulance and leave in a ??"

Have fun, but limit your losses to maybe dropping a quarter or so.

 

[Ozrockrat]

That's awesome and funny, Oz! Kara laughed out loud at this...

And, from this angle, we see your solar panel. Did you use Z feet mounts or something else? Do you leave it flat or tilt? We just ordered our solar stuff and are picking it up today, but we didn't get mounts yet. I'm thinking "leave it flat and add extra panel surface area to make up for the inefficiency" might be our plan... so knowing how yours is working would help us there.

I used unistrut racks and made some mounts (basically Z mounts). Watch out for the pitch in the roof. It is actually about 3" higher in the middle. Also I just left them flat. I only have 290W through a cheap 20A MPPT controller. (OK so I cheated and figured it was only going to be 240 - 250 W by the time it hit the controller). Works fine though I am considering another 2 or 3 panels and more batteries to give me an hour or so of AC time if needed (in case we take the dog and have to leave her in the rig).

For your mounting stuff I would really consider the 8020 aluminum. Bolt it down with rivnuts and sikaflex. Then you have a the flexibility to add anything that you feel like. I just happened to stumble on some stainless unistrut at the right price so that's what I used.

 

[Ozrockrat]

The valet couldn't get it in between the lines? Well, at least he didn't run over any cars.

Yeah he did better than a buddy of mine when he picked up his military truck (M-1078). Leaving from the same hotel he sort of clipped the little black car that was hiding on his off side. Didn't even know about it until I called him and told him about my visit from the security guys. Look how far back on the spot the wanker had parked and it was right up close to the truck (which took every bit of the parking space plus some). I wonder what they were doing that they needed to be that hidden?? The owner never came forward even though we left our contact details with the security and hotel staff.

 

[rossvtaylor]

Thanks, Oz. That 8020 is a great idea and I really like the idea of being flexible... but, my experience with that stuff (from production line set-up in the factory) was that it is quite spendy. I'll definitely look into that. Safe and fun travels to you.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

How is the new trans working out?

 

[scooter421]

Love the duck out of water, an awesome picture! There is never any difficulty finding them in a parking lot, even in a crowded one!

 

[Ozrockrat]

How is the new trans working out?

Slicker than snot on a doorknob.

It's sort of like that saying "I didn't know he drank until I saw him sober".

I didn't know my Tranny was shifting harshly until I drove the rebuilt one.

 

[Ozrockrat]

Just back from LA. Interestingly I did actually check my mileage on this run (1 tank only because I am a lazy bugger). 9.6 mpg with a combination of LA stop start traffic and freeway running. 70 mph on the freeway but no running the AC (because it doesn't bloody work). This was all with my 600 lb bike and 500 lb rack on the back.

This rig does ride well either in the washboard gravel roads or on the freeways. The biggest surprise was the concrete freeways (I10 from Palm Springs into LA) have lumpy expansion joints. At some speeds this caused a harmonic that had me humping down the road. Worse that anything in Baja.

 

[Ozrockrat]

After getting some handy info and recharging my cab AC it is finally working, well sort of working. Very low airflow so I have ordered an anemometer and will check and see what it is actually delivering. Bob also pointed me in the direction of running the module AC and leaving the door open. I have not been concerned about the module AC as we will probably remove it all when we install the shower/loo setup. Plus with the condenser sitting so low originally (under the module near the door) it is prone to getting covered in crap and damaged.

So I headed out into the sunset (literally waited until the sun started to set and it cooled off a little) and started fault finding the module AC. First off I checked all the fuses and relays were in place, good. The I wanted to check power to the thermostat. That's where the plan unfolded. I searched high and low and cannot find a thermostat. So being that I am supposed to be well trained having 2 trades (electrical and heavy equipment) I rattled my brain cells and searched again. It shouldn't be rocket science to find a thermostat, I mean its gotta be somewhere either in the air supply (return air ducting) or in the module where it can be adjusted. Nope 1 1/2 hours I called the search off.

Then being a typical male I finally broke out the wiring diagrams to see if there was a hint in there anywhere as to where it might be. Luckily for the ego wallet there is absolutely nothing in the wiring diagrams for a thermostat in the module AC circuit. (mind you I could of saved myself at least an hour in the heat if I checked the diagrams first).

So all you Ambo or AC guys out there. Is it realistic to think that this unit is manufactured with no AC thermostat. It is from Miami and it does have module AC switches in both the module and the cab.

I am now very perplexed and have another 2+ hours of effort into this truck with no return. (actually I think my useful effort to wasted effort ratio is about 50:50 on this rig). Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[bobrenz]

In my opinion, you have to have a thermostat. Otherwise, the unit couldn't comply with the kkk-A-1822 standard.

Do you have a conventional switch/relay system, or a touch panel system? Temperature control is part of a digital touch panel system, but a switch/relay system will have a separate thermostat. The 'stat has to be where the attendant can find it and adjust it, so it usually is placed near all the module light switches.

A mechanical 'stat handles both heating and cooling. It only has 3 terminals -- 12 volt in, 12 volt to the heating relays, and 12 volt to the cooling relays.

Most ambulances use Hoseline vacuum controlled water valves on the heater lines to the module ac system. You should have a small vacuum pump very close to the heater/evaporator in the module. That pump runs when the 'stat calls for heat. You may be able to trace the power line to the vacuum pump back to the heat relay, and from there back to the thermostat. Usually, ac and heat wiring is light blue. If you'd like, I can send you some heater photos showing some of the wiring, but you have to have a thermostat!

Somewhere-

 

[Ozrockrat]

Switch and relays setup. I do know where the vac pump and control valves are. I will start my Sherlocking there tomorrow.