Ambulance camper

[michael mcauliffe]

Hi Folks

Has anyone ever used an Ambulance body to make a camper trailer ?

I was thinking that the Ambulance body would have some bonuses, such as lots of cupboard space, lockable doors and be fully sealed.

I'd be interested to hear from people who have done this project before (comments, pics).

Cheers

Mick

[grazza]

I suppose if you could strip it down and replace all the panels (not hard if you have all the old ones as templates) then you might be able to get rid of the smell.

But the antiseptic might still linger...

I dunno, no experience, purely guessing.

[V.W.Dave]

Hey mate it can be done and has been done. I was the service manager for a dealer that did vans and commercial trucks. My boss would get them from the actions and strip them out and get van extras or erig-i-quip (they are in moorebank and are by far the best) to make them campers. just make sure you insulate the walls with house batts it will help with the road noise and keep the heat/chill in the van. Also most not all ambos have heavy duty springs in them I would suggest you take them out unless your going to really fill it up.

[CaptainPissWreck]

The body off which sort of ambo? Mercedes, of F-series, Commodore?

Just would be concerned of the weight

I often wondered if you could pickup one of those Patrol/Cruiser ambos would make a good camper unit, 4x4, and all

[265grunter]

go and try to move one by hand with a crowbar and then you will see.

[turbo gu]

My guess is he is taking about the old f150 body or a commodore ute one

My guess is that would be one hell of a heavy body. You would want a big towcar as it would be like towing a brick.

[lukes4x4]

i don`t know, but how could you sleep at night in it knowing what has been in there ! yuck. each to there own.

[wombat200]

They don't smell like antiseptic, trust me . If anything, they have a faint fibreglass smell about them - but only the old ones......

The old 4wd F100 / F150's, and newer Patrol & Troop-carrier ambulances make great campers - it's been done plenty of times. They're pretty much gone from Vic now, though - The Ambulance services have got rid of most (all?) of the troopies & there were never that many patrols bought - but the patrol ambulances in particular are excellent vehicles. As for the Fords.... None of the F350's were 4wd & the old F100/150 4wd's have been gone for at least 15 years, probably more....

As for using a bare body on a camper trailer...... Yes, lots of cupboards, etc, and decent roof height, but they ain't light bodies - remember, the last of them were designed to protect crew & occupants in the event of a tip-over event, so are built much stronger then a caravan or trailer is.

Still, it would make for a good conversion, but fifficult to find bodies now - all of the Ambulance services have been using mercedes sprinters for some years now, so there isn't a surplus of bodies getting around...... I havn't seen any of the old GMC vehicles or bodies for sale & they've been out of service for 7-8 years now.....

Rob.

[phippsey]

I saw some F series (or was it GMC) can't remember ex SA and WA for sale recently.

Agree - they are very heavy for a caravan - I know the F250s were right on 4 tonne GVM.

The Landcruiser 'modules' were prone to chassis cracking due to the weight and have a very poor departure angle, not to mention being so top heavy. Ok for dirt roads, but not much else really.

I reckon mate you'd be better off building from stratch or just having a camper trailer ... but could be done if you wanted the novelty value!!

I think in that case the ex-commodore module would suit - as would slide right into a trailer if it was say 8x5 or 10x5?