New Canadian Ambo build

[Abitibi]

Hey all!

I'm helping out my best buddy build another ambo-camper. This one is being build "on-demand" for a new owner that specified how she wants the interior designed and a bunch of other special requests. It's a 2003, 7.3 with custom leafs springs at the front (in-house) and full custom interior. Dually replaced with SRW, 4.10 gears running on 35's. The 7.3 was pulled out and given a face lift with upgraded turbo, fuel bowl delete, veggie conversion and a whole bunch more. It will be used for full time living in both cold and hot weather. The interior was completely gutted from it's previous life service and replaced with cedar interior, full shower, compost toilet, extra windows, no permanent indoor cooking and all the basic requirements normally found in a good little home on wheels.

All the aluminum studs/ribs were spaced with small strips of wood to stop heat/cold transfer and also adds extra insulation with a small void gap between the insulation and the interior walls. There will be a decent size bed at the back (53"x76") with ample storage.

Anyway, here's some pictures as we go along with the build, if you're like me pictures are more interesting than reading forever!

Cheers
David

 

[iggi]

Great stuff! Looking forward to seeing more. Interesting that they are keeping the factory floor. Is that a house window in the side?

 

[Abitibi]

We kept the original floor as it's already insulated from factory with a mix of rigid foam and two layers of 3/4" plywood.

Yes, just a basic house window! Don't think I've seen it before...We're trying it out to see how it works out but I cant see why not.

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[iggi]

Any gains in headroom with stripping out the ceiling lights and all that stuff?

 

[Abitibi]

Any gains in headroom with stripping out the ceiling lights and all that stuff?

Very little and the marginal gain gets offset by the new thicker wood ceiling. In my ambo I did all I could to maximize interior height. For this one it's not an issue as the future owner is pretty short. She should still have a couple extra free inches above her head!

 

[mobydick 11]

Great looking build . Did you use ceder for the framing ? I am starting a SpaceKap build right after the new year . I am going to use ceder 2x2 to fir out the walls . my reason are its a little lighter and rot resistant . what are your thoughts ?

 

[Abitibi]

Great looking build . Did you use ceder for the framing ? I am starting a SpaceKap build right after the new year . I am going to use ceder 2x2 to fir out the walls . my reason are its a little lighter and rot resistant . what are your thoughts ?

Yes, 2"x1" cedar to fir out the walls and for that exact reason, rot/mold resistant.

 

[Abitibi]

Here's a few more pictures from when we took the engine out for a performance and practical (fuel bowl delete) updates... and the transformation of 2wd to 4wd. And a picture of what it used to look like inside.

Sorry for the picture quality and the "play" icon dead center, the phone was set on micro-movies instead of pictures so I had to take snapshots of the original pictures.

 

[iggi]

That's a serious amount of work! Easier doing this the 2nd time around for you? Same 4x4 system as your ambulance?

 

[Abitibi]

And s few exterior ones. Very similar to mine but the small passenger side compartment is different, larger and at the rear corner.

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[Abitibi]

That's a serious amount of work! Easier doing this the 2nd time around for you? Same 4x4 system as your ambulance?

My buddy Laurentiu is doing most of the work and I'm helping out on the interior and some other aspects of the build. It is for sure easier 2nd time around but different challenges.

The 4x4 on mine is from Agile Offroad. This one is a home built, straight axle D60 with custom built leaf brackets and all. Tires aren't mounted yet (those on the pics are temporary) and it's already way taller than mine. It will be a monster once on 35's (or larger as there's space for it).

 

[iggi]

I don't have that right rear door either. Would have been a nice option.

 

[Abitibi]

I don't mind the previous style closer to the side door, that's where I put my propane and compressor. The larger one on the corner should come handy though.

400W of panels, should do the trick!

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[Bikersmurf]

Don’t toss any of the smoked cabinet doors, I’ll gladly take them off your hands. Let me know if he has Crestline ambulance spare parts.

 

[Abitibi]

Don’t toss any of the smoked cabinet doors, I’ll gladly take them off your hands. Let me know if he has Crestline ambulance spare parts.

I'm heading over today and will check if he saved them or not...