AmericaOverland
Explorer
Wait... That's right. The front grille says it all. I knew it looked familiar, but I couldn't place it.
Thanks!
Stephanie
The Ute & Intro _ E350
- Thread starter naterry
- Start date
Wait... That's right. The front grille says it all. I knew it looked familiar, but I couldn't place it.
Thanks!
Stephanie
johnson4x4
Observer
I like this idea, but I asume thats where the gas tank is on these vans?
Rigs looking GREAT! keep it up.
Adventurerider
Adventurer
Top
Naterry,
I love this conversion and I assure you that if what you decide to do is to go with some sort of "pop Top" then Derek from Colorado Camper Van can make something totally custom for a very reasonable price/time frame. This would be my first stop/call/visit is to Derek! I also like the floor idea but I think it would be a major handful, but then again what do I know.
Nate, I know your one hell of a fab/builder yourself but I've used Derek in the past to assist me (that's me watching and Derek building) do a few things on our van, let just say, he's one great guy with Crazy MAD SKILLS, besides this, he's super easy to work with, an has beyond reasonable prices!
Good luck and which ever way you decide to go & please keep the forum posting with pictures & updates!!
Cheers
Naterry,
I love this conversion and I assure you that if what you decide to do is to go with some sort of "pop Top" then Derek from Colorado Camper Van can make something totally custom for a very reasonable price/time frame. This would be my first stop/call/visit is to Derek! I also like the floor idea but I think it would be a major handful, but then again what do I know.
Nate, I know your one hell of a fab/builder yourself but I've used Derek in the past to assist me (that's me watching and Derek building) do a few things on our van, let just say, he's one great guy with Crazy MAD SKILLS, besides this, he's super easy to work with, an has beyond reasonable prices!
Good luck and which ever way you decide to go & please keep the forum posting with pictures & updates!!
Cheers
naterry
13 Cheeseburgers
I need to get out of these airports, but it seems like the only time I have lately to post.. I know, excuses, excuses..
You're awesome Jack! I'll be checking it out for sure. I could see attaching the turtle shell to the underside of a roof rack/party deck that is raised and lowered. I'm going to design the deck for 4 fat guys, a cooler, and a BBQ! :sombrero:
Cheers!
It's tight under the floor. There's 3/8" Pergo, then 3/4" plywood sub floor, a sealer sheet of AL, then the structural members that support the box and mount to the frame rails. Using the space would be an involved endeavor including a complete redesign of the load path for the box..
Cheers!
Thank you and I'll definitely keep it in mind. I tend to be a little stingy with my engineering and design. Nothing against Derek's work, it looks very nice. I might give him a coll for help with the canvas because I definitely need assistance there!
You're awesome Jack! I'll be checking it out for sure. I could see attaching the turtle shell to the underside of a roof rack/party deck that is raised and lowered. I'm going to design the deck for 4 fat guys, a cooler, and a BBQ! :sombrero:
Cheers!
It's tight under the floor. There's 3/8" Pergo, then 3/4" plywood sub floor, a sealer sheet of AL, then the structural members that support the box and mount to the frame rails. Using the space would be an involved endeavor including a complete redesign of the load path for the box..
Cheers!
Thank you and I'll definitely keep it in mind. I tend to be a little stingy with my engineering and design. Nothing against Derek's work, it looks very nice. I might give him a coll for help with the canvas because I definitely need assistance there!
taylorRichie
Adventurer
WOW! WOW!
A mini uni for a fraction of a fraction of the cost
Very very very nice...
Very inspiring. I was actually looking at ambulances, before I saw this build... and now if the right one comes a long… I'll be broke... Only concern is doing the 4WD conversion. How much did all of the components set you back for that? and is it a weld on setup or a bolt on setup?
Very nice!
A mini uni for a fraction of a fraction of the cost
Very very very nice...Very inspiring. I was actually looking at ambulances, before I saw this build... and now if the right one comes a long… I'll be broke... Only concern is doing the 4WD conversion. How much did all of the components set you back for that? and is it a weld on setup or a bolt on setup?
Very nice!
Harald Hansen
Explorer
I'm having a bad case of "ambulance lust" every time I look at your thread. Now to the classifieds!
BaseCamp
Observer
Base Camp Expedition Vehicle
I just wanted to jump in and thank you for all of the inspiration. We at Base Camp, a backpack company based out of Colorado, have been working on putting together an Expedition Vehicle for us/our athletes to use as a promotional vehicle when heading to the Yukon, AK, Etc for filming and what not, and this is perfect! I am currently looking for one of the mini mod e350 ambi's, which is what I'm sure you've got, the box is smaller on a mini mod rather than the full on type III. We are on a huge time constraint to get this thing up and running for the rest of the winter, so we are starting it as a prerunner with a 6" lift done by Jflame Customs in Wisconsin, then this summer or fall we'll convert it to 4wd. I'm doing it in Wisconsin because my talus exploded skiing so season is over, and in Wisconsin is a big Garage with free labor from my many mechanic/carpenter friends that live where I grew. I have a drawing here, that shows the rear end, it has a very similar angled cut to yours, though it would cut into the actual cab. The part that it is cutting into is the storage under the bed, so its not like I'm cutting away something extremly important. We plan to cut the existing rear doors and use them basically as windows or an escape hatch. It should look more like a uni like this, plus there would be alittle more room to throw a dizzy generator and compressor for airbags if I cut this a little more. Let me know your thoughts on the cut, as well as the rack on the roof of the driver area. Everything is drawn around the specs I could find. I love how horribly unprofessional the picture looks, but you get the idea.
Abbott
I just wanted to jump in and thank you for all of the inspiration. We at Base Camp, a backpack company based out of Colorado, have been working on putting together an Expedition Vehicle for us/our athletes to use as a promotional vehicle when heading to the Yukon, AK, Etc for filming and what not, and this is perfect! I am currently looking for one of the mini mod e350 ambi's, which is what I'm sure you've got, the box is smaller on a mini mod rather than the full on type III. We are on a huge time constraint to get this thing up and running for the rest of the winter, so we are starting it as a prerunner with a 6" lift done by Jflame Customs in Wisconsin, then this summer or fall we'll convert it to 4wd. I'm doing it in Wisconsin because my talus exploded skiing so season is over
, and in Wisconsin is a big Garage with free labor from my many mechanic/carpenter friends that live where I grew. I have a drawing here, that shows the rear end, it has a very similar angled cut to yours, though it would cut into the actual cab. The part that it is cutting into is the storage under the bed, so its not like I'm cutting away something extremly important. We plan to cut the existing rear doors and use them basically as windows or an escape hatch. It should look more like a uni like this, plus there would be alittle more room to throw a dizzy generator and compressor for airbags if I cut this a little more. Let me know your thoughts on the cut, as well as the rack on the roof of the driver area. Everything is drawn around the specs I could find. I love how horribly unprofessional the picture looks, but you get the idea.Abbott
dsw4x4
Adventurer
Basecamp that will be a cool rig when your done. I am working on building a long travel suspension system for Quiglys but it could easily be adapted to a home built. If your interested that or a poptop on your rig get a hold of me if nothing else you could put one of our TopBunks on the roof instead of a rocket box, that way you will have lockable ski storage that can also sleep two extra adults. When you get back to Colorado look me up and i will see if can help you out.
Derek
Derek
naterry
13 Cheeseburgers
Where did all the time go!?
Apologies for the radio silence.. Things went nuts over the holidays last year and I didn't have a minute free for months. I did get 7 patents filed though! :wings:
-AND- The van finally got some love again with new windows in last weekend! It felt a little "boxy" inside and not all of the existing windows opened. It's better now. We also had a random campsite open up with an hour's notice that was a 20min drive from home. It made for an easy 4th getaway, with a little independence day flare, and lots of foghorns through the night. Pics:
There's something about backing up to a cliff and having a snack with a view:
Crazy free campsite that ended up open:
Cheers everybody!
Apologies for the radio silence.. Things went nuts over the holidays last year and I didn't have a minute free for months. I did get 7 patents filed though! :wings:
-AND- The van finally got some love again with new windows in last weekend! It felt a little "boxy" inside and not all of the existing windows opened. It's better now. We also had a random campsite open up with an hour's notice that was a 20min drive from home. It made for an easy 4th getaway, with a little independence day flare, and lots of foghorns through the night. Pics:
There's something about backing up to a cliff and having a snack with a view:
Crazy free campsite that ended up open:
Cheers everybody!
hdemetrious
Adventurer
I am working on converting an ambulance box. Can you give me some details on how you added those windows?
naterry
13 Cheeseburgers
Sure. Windows are a simple addition.
I purchased the windows through: http://www.evginc.net/
The windows in the doors were replaced with new sliders. It was simply a matter of unscrewing the "locking ring", removing the old windows, and then fitting the new ones.
The windows in the sides require a minor leap of faith because of the hole that has to be cut. I don't know what brand of box you are working with so this may or may not be relevant: My box is a McCoy Miller, which is a welded aluminum box with 1/8" skin (0.125") and 1"x2" extruded rectangular tubing for stiffeners.
The frame design was used in ambulances as well as fire/rescue vehicles so it had a "boxed" section on the passenger side that was intended for window installation. This was not the case on the driver side where I had to cut one stud. This is not a structural concern given how overbuilt the box is (fully welded with studs and cross beams every 24").
I chose the following sequence for installing the windows:
- Remove interior paneling and insulation to expose frame.
- Make cardboard stencil of window "footprint".
- Select window position and scribe inside of aluminum frame using stencil above.
- Drill starter hole, then sawzall out window hole (carefull on the corners (jigsaw would be safer/slower).
- Cut new interior panels (sans window holes)
- Position panels against inside wall, covering window holes.
- From the outside, match-mark paneling to window holes.
- R&R panels, cut window holes, etc.
- Clamp window and panels in position and then fasten the locking ring.
Hope this helps-
N8