Thinking about converting and ambulance to an RV

[Halmfamily]

I have been wanting a "mobile man cave" as the wife calls it for awhile, something to boondock in the NF with. I want Something tough but not too big and have been looking at used ambulances on MDT chassis. Prices are very reasonable, $10000 for a 2005 with a 16' box and full service records. Most have 200000 plus miles.

My question is am I crazy to use the rig for an RV. They seem very tough, perfect size for an RV and already have battery banks and inverters. I'm thinking for less than $20000 I can have fully customized RV ready for anything.

So, what does the masses think? Give me your ideas, good or bad. Any other vehicles you could recommend.

Thanks for the insight.

[coolmom42]

Go on over to cheaprvliving.com. Lots of specific info on "ambo" conversions and general DIY conversions there.

[moebedick]

I ran an ambulance service for fifteen years and bought and sold one hundred plus trucks. I wouldn't consider converting one for use as a camper.When we were done with a truck,despite consistent maintenance, it was tired. No machine on the road,including police vehicles,has a harder life. Find a good B or C and restore it. It will be much less work and much more reliable.

[GordonThree]

midnightsadie wrote:
true they have a lot of miles on them. I worked for a hospital for 30yrs and they sit in the lot at idle for hundreds of hrs.I.d just find me a good class C and go use it tomorrow, than be sinking money into a money pit that I can,t use till I get it done.

X2

[midnightsadie]

true they have a lot of miles on them. I worked for a hospital for 30yrs and they sit in the lot at idle for hundreds of hrs.I.d just find me a good class C and go use it tomorrow, than be sinking money into a money pit that I can,t use till I get it done.

[The_Owl]

Having driven ambulances, I would not want to take a 2wd one too far off a solid road. The MDT versions are usually pretty rough riding. I would recommend finding one that has an all metal box rather than a metal skinned plywood box. Some of them do have “house” batteries and an inverter, ours do. A lot of the miles will be hard miles and a private ambulance company rather than a fire department will have a lot of engine idle hours as they often don’t have a station to work out of. Most surplus ambulances are surplused at the end of their life so definitely do your research. There are a few public surplus auction sites that you can use. Govdeals.com probably has the best selection.
We actually just sold an ambulance that the buyer is converting to a dirt bike camper. Good luck with your project.

[Isaac-1]

If I were going to do it I would look for one of those quad cab MDT chassis rescue ambulances, preferably with 4 (6?) wheel drive and make it into an exploration RV.

[Lwiddis]

Too much money for 200k miles. Since your are interested in USFS etc camping what is the ground clearance and is there room underneath for fresh, grey and black tanks?

[Ivylog]

Yes, they are one of the best bargains out there. I bought one on a Freightliner FL60 chassis and started to use it as a TV for a Airstream trailer as my 4 wheeler would fit through the double rear doors but it was not a crew cab so I resold it for twice what I paid. Not sure you need a MDT as many are on E 350 or 450 chassis, like this one. Adding plumbing will be a challenge.

[loggenrock]

They won't have a true battery bank. Usually dual chassis batteries, but often large capacity alternators. "Beat on" doesn't begin to describe them... But...I have seen some 4wd ones converted for beach camping/surf fishing. Wouldn't consider taking one cross country...

[gbopp]

Google Ambulance RV Conversions. And, as said above, check Youtube.
Many others have the same idea.
I think it's a good platform to convert.

[GordonThree]

There's a few on YouTube, of course, what isn't.

10g seems a lot for something that's been beaten on it's entire life.

I work with first responder equipment, service records are one thing but abuse is not documented as well.

Don't count on any of the technology installed to be at all useful. Battery bank especially. Come to think of it, rigs I've seen don't have much battery anyway. They have belt drive generators that supply 110 ac.

A lot of the cabinets are nice, and like you suspect sturdy. How many have you been inside, they're not roomy like a moving van.

How about a short bus Schoolie... That looks like fun to me 🙂

[Tiger4x4RV]

I've seen several of these on YouTube, so you are apparently not the only one who thinks they make good RV's. Search around there and you'll see details on their conversions.