Point Five Ambo Build
- Thread starter patoz
- Start date
Hehe. My guys cook EVERYTHING on their jobs. Steak, eggs bacon and hash browns, burgers, you name it they cook it. Most of the stuff they weld on is preheated to 700 degree +, so heat is definitely no problem.
patoz
Expedition Leader
Yesterday evening, I met Eric (Another AMBO Rig.....) here in Pensacola, who was on his way from South FL to TX, and was bringing me some parts from a junkyard ambulance that is almost identical to mine.
As he was giving me a quick tour of the inside of his rig, he commented on the pictures and showed me his Big Buddy Heater. It was sitting on the floor right below the Action Station and I was standing in the side doorway when he lit it off. I could feel the heat 4' away without the fan on, and even before it had heated up and was burning evenly, so there is no doubt in my mind about it being sufficient for heating my ambo/camper. Tom, the comment you made about it 'running you out of there' is pretty accurate. I will be getting one of those, along with a hose and connector to use it with the larger bottles.
Eric, it was great meeting you and getting a look at your rig and the work you've done to it firsthand! Be safe and enjoy your trip. And again, thank you for the parts, I know you went out of your way to get them for me. Getting that slide out battery tray will save me a great deal of work and expense, and it being an exact match to the one I already have is just icing on the cake!
As he was giving me a quick tour of the inside of his rig, he commented on the pictures and showed me his Big Buddy Heater. It was sitting on the floor right below the Action Station and I was standing in the side doorway when he lit it off. I could feel the heat 4' away without the fan on, and even before it had heated up and was burning evenly, so there is no doubt in my mind about it being sufficient for heating my ambo/camper. Tom, the comment you made about it 'running you out of there' is pretty accurate. I will be getting one of those, along with a hose and connector to use it with the larger bottles.
Eric, it was great meeting you and getting a look at your rig and the work you've done to it firsthand! Be safe and enjoy your trip. And again, thank you for the parts, I know you went out of your way to get them for me. Getting that slide out battery tray will save me a great deal of work and expense, and it being an exact match to the one I already have is just icing on the cake!
Coachgeo
Explorer
Maybe Buddy has redesigned them but, my Budy heater got all mucked up using a big bottle. Finaly found out your suppose to have an add on scrubber valve/filter (or whatever it is) you screw into where the camp bottle goes THEN you add their's or any other generic pigtail to run off a full-size propane bottle. I've not yet cleaned mine. There is supposidly some specific way to clean one out. This removes the contaiminant that a big bottle puts into the heaters that make them worthless.
This was hmmm. 7 years ago.. so maybe they have redesigned them by now?
This was hmmm. 7 years ago.. so maybe they have redesigned them by now?
I don't think they e redesigned anything. I think I bought mine a year or so ago and it was in the instructions to run a filter right off the big tanks if you're using those. My first trip out I used a big tank but this last trip I just used those little 1 pounders that fit inside. Those are supposed to be good for like 8 hrs continuous or something, it will hold two of them internally, and I could never run the thing more than 10 minutes or so before having to crank it down. Even then it wouldn't run long overall before I had to shut it down, and I never left it running over night. I figure on using the 1 pounders as a rule, but I have the hose/filter combo to run off my bulk tank in an emergency.
patoz
Expedition Leader
Tom, do they have any kind of thermostat, or is it just on/off with a flame height adjustment?
Considering I live in Florida, and the lowest (planned) temperature I would probably be camping in is around 35°- 40° or so, I'm wondering if this heater is overkill. Maybe the smaller unit would be more suitable instead.
Considering I live in Florida, and the lowest (planned) temperature I would probably be camping in is around 35°- 40° or so, I'm wondering if this heater is overkill. Maybe the smaller unit would be more suitable instead.
wingysataday
Adventurer
this is taking forever! j/k I was hoping after looking at 50 pages I would see the final results.
patoz
Expedition Leader
Things have been on hold this summer due to some health issues, but I'm hoping to get back to work on it soon.
Even though I don't have any pictures of anything major to post, I have been doing little things and sourcing and buying parts and components for it.
RiderBloke
Observer
Merry Christmas to all you great ambulance builders. It's great to learn from your work. And yes, I'm enjoying FL too. And streaming a recent cricket match to make it a real Aussie Christmas. 
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RiderBloke
Observer
There are a few really great builders on here, and the rest of us just have more 'trial and error' time invested...
Where in Florida are you?
I'm in Dade City building with Habitat as a Care-a-Vanner. We live in our RVs (hence my interest in an ambulance/tool truck) in Rozar Ct. I'll be here until the end of March. You can see the spot on Maps & Google Earth/Maps. Mine is the second down from the building in the row along the street. I ride a BMW and like to around so I can visit different places, incl Avery's Truck & Bus sales to look at suitable vehicles. I have yet to get as far down as Island Classic Autos.
Drop in if your up/down this way.
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