From Freightliner ambulance to RV - we hope!
- Thread starter rossvtaylor
- Start date
RiderBloke
Observer
It could be for wheelchairs, but since the word 'Neonatal' refers to newborn children, I'm thinking more along these lines...
Keep looking, who knows you might find a winch or hydraulic lift cylinder under there.
Could that mechanism, if it were there, lift a 500lb motorcycle into the vehicle? When & if I get one of these trucks I want to be able to put my BMW F800GT in there instead of in the TT Toy Hauler.
Might as well dream big!
patoz
Expedition Leader
A standard stretcher is rated to hold at least 500 lbs.
A bariatric stretcher is rated to hold at least 700 lbs.
In both cases, a lift would have to be able to lift the patient safe working load limit (SWL), plus the weight of the stretcher itself which may be up to 100 lbs. itself, plus a safety factor, so I would guess the limit on the lift would have to be at least 800 - 1000 lbs.
This one has a SWL of 400 kg or 882 lbs. - http://www.passengerliftservices.co...mbulance-and-pts-lifts/inboard-stretcher-lift
Here is a bariatric lift with a SWL of 1,300 lbs. - http://macsliftgate.com/macsambulancelifts.html
A bariatric stretcher is rated to hold at least 700 lbs.
In both cases, a lift would have to be able to lift the patient safe working load limit (SWL), plus the weight of the stretcher itself which may be up to 100 lbs. itself, plus a safety factor, so I would guess the limit on the lift would have to be at least 800 - 1000 lbs.
This one has a SWL of 400 kg or 882 lbs. - http://www.passengerliftservices.co...mbulance-and-pts-lifts/inboard-stretcher-lift
Here is a bariatric lift with a SWL of 1,300 lbs. - http://macsliftgate.com/macsambulancelifts.html
rlrenz
Explorer
Remember when we were all young and a lot dumber than we are now? We didn't need any fork lift - we just grabbed on and lifted.
And that's why I keep telling the young'uns that your body will talk to you as you get older, except the conversations NEVER start with "Good Morning"
patoz
Expedition Leader
So very true!!
rossvtaylor
Adventurer
Well, the Expo gave us lots of great ideas and it was nice to see Ozrockrat and some other very-helpful forum members there. The downside of the Expo is that it gave us lots of great ideas! So, now, it looks like we're going to have an indoor shower and toilet in our plans. It's good to know that now, so we can plan appropriately. We're still going to make the interior minimally livable for now, and live with it for a bit before making any serious changes. But, it was helpful to see what can be done in other units.
Regarding the beastly Westerbeke diesel generator, we're going to list that for sale locally. It's just way to big, loud, and heavy. Replacing it with a smaller unit will free up significant space back there. The Westerbeke is a great unit and is rated for continuous duty. But it's more than we need or want. We can use the same wiring for the new, smaller unit, and selling the diesel will be a positive net $ deal.
Regarding the beastly Westerbeke diesel generator, we're going to list that for sale locally. It's just way to big, loud, and heavy. Replacing it with a smaller unit will free up significant space back there. The Westerbeke is a great unit and is rated for continuous duty. But it's more than we need or want. We can use the same wiring for the new, smaller unit, and selling the diesel will be a positive net $ deal.
patoz
Expedition Leader
I pretty much agree with you on the generator, and I probably would have done the same. Unless you specifically need 220VAC, or that much current for something, it's definitely overkill for a medium size RV. I'm planning on using a Honda EU3000i that I have in mine, which will give me 120VAC @ 30A and it should be more than adequate for my needs. I'll be able to run it on gasoline or propane or both, and once it's installed in a compartment you won't even be able to hear it running.
If you don't sell the Westerbeke, you could always install it next to your house in an enclosure, and use it as an emergency standby generator.
If you don't sell the Westerbeke, you could always install it next to your house in an enclosure, and use it as an emergency standby generator.
patoz
Expedition Leader
Ross, I just got your 'care package', and those are a couple of really nice coffee mugs! They will definitely go in my camper when it's completed (or sooner), and the stickers will go on there somewhere also.
I should be able to get your lenses headed back your way tomorrow.
Thanks...
~ Pat
rossvtaylor
Adventurer
Fixing the driver's seat
First, thanks Patoz!
The passenger seat was in good shape, but the Bostrom T910 driver's seat needed a new hydraulic dampener (shock) and seat bottom foam. I replaced both, last night. The shock's pretty straightforward - just two bolts. The seat foam, though, was a bit more complicated. There are two nuts to remove from studs underneath the seat, near the rear, and two bolts (one on each side) in the seat bottom pivot flanges. One faces you, just behind the air control housing, and the other's on the opposite side. Once removed, I peeled open all the little metal rings (we used to call them hog rings) that hold the cover on the seat bottom. I saved and re-used them. As you can see, the original foam was torn and decomposing on the side which got the most pressure and abuse. It all went back together nicely.
The new shock was about $60-65 bucks, as was the seat bottom foam.
First, thanks Patoz!
The passenger seat was in good shape, but the Bostrom T910 driver's seat needed a new hydraulic dampener (shock) and seat bottom foam. I replaced both, last night. The shock's pretty straightforward - just two bolts. The seat foam, though, was a bit more complicated. There are two nuts to remove from studs underneath the seat, near the rear, and two bolts (one on each side) in the seat bottom pivot flanges. One faces you, just behind the air control housing, and the other's on the opposite side. Once removed, I peeled open all the little metal rings (we used to call them hog rings) that hold the cover on the seat bottom. I saved and re-used them. As you can see, the original foam was torn and decomposing on the side which got the most pressure and abuse. It all went back together nicely.
The new shock was about $60-65 bucks, as was the seat bottom foam.
rlrenz
Explorer
Let me guess why you are thinking about removing the Westerbeke - NOISE!
120 volt generators show up as an option on ambulances, but one manufacturer, Frazer, powers their ambulances solely with a generator instead of using vehicle-supplied 12 volts, extra batteries, and an inverter. I believe that they are the only manufacturer to do so.
They use a 5.5 kW Onan/Cummins gasoline generator instead of a diesel generator, even on their diesel ambulances. Their literature states the reason is less noise.
They use a straightforward installation - a large opening for air, plus a simple hole for exhaust.
120 volt generators show up as an option on ambulances, but one manufacturer, Frazer, powers their ambulances solely with a generator instead of using vehicle-supplied 12 volts, extra batteries, and an inverter. I believe that they are the only manufacturer to do so.
They use a 5.5 kW Onan/Cummins gasoline generator instead of a diesel generator, even on their diesel ambulances. Their literature states the reason is less noise.
They use a straightforward installation - a large opening for air, plus a simple hole for exhaust.
rossvtaylor
Adventurer
Well, definitely that! And weight/space, too. I'm not actually sure we need a generator at all, for our uses. The only reason we'd need it is for AC when we don't have shore power or aren't running the engine. I'd love to free up that space. And get rid of 800 pounds of iron. And, as you pointed out, be able to run quietly when we do need more AC than the inverter system can provide. The Westerbeke is a continuous-rated beast... but it's not quiet.
We saw a similar Onan at the Expo and the owner loves it. That's definitely an option. Thanks for the input and the photo of how they exhausted that.