Had to give up on the Sportsmobile so maybe an ambulance???

[Ozrockrat]

Ok I had to pass on getting Basecamp's sports mobile due to the HOA demons giving me trouble about my pop top . So that got me thinking (always a risky move) How about converting an ambulance. I should be able to make that a bit more stealthy and they have a ton of room.

So I have searched the forum and seen the ones in progress here and I have a couple of questions from those with ambo experience ( ah what the heck I will take any ideas, comment from anyone. I have thick skin )

I want to be able to seat 3 comfortably with good vision (4 year old grandchild) and 4 in a pinch. With 4 I am ok with seating them at the back but it must have windows and forward facing.

Now has anyone seen a suitable middle seat for the cab of 97 - 2002 vans that they would be ok with putting childrens car seat (and their child) in?

Another option was to open up the divider between the can and the box and put a removable seat in the middle position that swivels and slides back into the cab area when parked. Do you see any problems or have other ideas?

Ambo converters is it possible to open the divider between the cab and the box up for better pass through / vision?

I was also thinking that a gaucho on the side with a single bunk hinged from the wall above it would cover 90% of our requirements for sleeping. I do like the idea that Jay has on the Ecoroamer with the inlaws bed that folds out from the side. Has anyone seen anything like that available for sale?

I think this is a floor plan from one of the ones I am interested in!

 

[alaskaboy]

HOA demons

Now wait a second, HOA won't allow a sportsmobile, but you think they will allow an ambulance? Just how stealthy do think you can get with this thing. It had better be pretty stealthy the day it arrives or it will be a non-starter. Are the regs stating GVW, occupational, or body style restrictions?

These HOA questions always remind of the X-Files episode about the bossy association with the monster enforcer. Pretty weird, I know.

 

[nely]

Ya.... I dont see an ambulance being any stealthier than a 3" tall fiberglass pop-top. I dont get it though. To me a sportsmobile is the stealthiest camper van. WTH is with the HOA!!

Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

 

[greg mgm]

A 4x4 ambulance seems like an awesome way to go. I assume they are built tough and high quality... But, talk to your HOA before you do anything!

 

[TroySmith80]

Does the HOA really have any authority? Some do, some don't. There are, in theory, rules about my neighborhood too. But, the actuall association has kind of lapsed and doesn't really exist anymore, so there's nobody to enforce the rules... so there are no rules... sort of.

At least that's what i've been told. I'm looking at an EB with a cruiser style top right now... we'll see what happens. The neighbors will not be thrilled i'm sure. I wish i hadn't bought where i did, but hindsight and all that.

I've got to think an ambo conversion would be far more of an eyesore than a pop top on a van body. (to those of us who don't consider these vehicles things of beauty, lol) Camper vans are kind of like dual-sport bikes, the uglier the better.

 

[Ozrockrat]

Ah the HOA

The letter just stated "RV". And they do allow work vehicles such as HVAC guys pickup and service body. Anyway I am off to see them tomorrow with the registration and insurance on the poptop which both specify "Van" .And I can also show them it has no stove or toilet which I think exempts it for being an "RV". The definition of an RV as far as I know must contain four out of the following items.
Toilet, stove, fridge, ac/heat 110v, water storage, propane system.
If I pull the port a potti out and don't tell them about the Starcool I can scrape that in (no propane or stove in my van).

But the one I was going to get off Basecamp would never of been able to get away with that. Luckily I got the letter this week and not next week after I picked the other one up.

But apart from that I can throw a couple of "Specialist Area Transport" decals on it. Hopefully they will not know that "specialist area" is my way of saying "go bush"

 

[r_w]

Extra seats in a E van--stock second row buckets/bench from a minivan if you can fab the mounting points. Walk around a U-pick salvage yard and find some that are close enough color and have mounts you are comfortable with. Many are inset in the floor so they are flush when not installed, easy quick release. Critical part is the seat belts. I don't know of a tumble seat with integrated seatbelts. If there was such a beast, it would be perfect.

 

[Ozrockrat]

Yahoo a win sort of

Thanks for the input guys.

HOA wouldn't budge on the poptop being an RV . But I did get them to agree that it was OK to have an E350 based Special Access Vehicle (and they are sending the written confirmation). :wings:

And I think I have found an ambo to fill the spot. More news to follow when it is all signed sealed and waiting on delivery.

It also looks like I will be selling my Sportsmobile poptop after OVEX11.

 

[carcrafter22]

I think you've made the right choice. We love our ambulance conversion. We just got our camera back from repair so I'll try and post some pics up tomorrow. We spent a few bucks and painted the whole thing charcoal grey to get rid of the ambulance look well that and with the help of a 6" ujoint kit and 35's will go a long way. The ambulance has way more room than we could have ever hoped to have in a regular van even with a poptop.

 

[alaskaboy]

When one door closes, another opens... so it goes.

Good luck on the Ambo.