Ambulance conversion?

[napamikey]

I cruise the local auctions and found an ambulance based on a 1997 freightliner FL-60 with only 133,000 miles with 7500 hours.

Almost bought but hesitated and it went for about $7,500 after factoring in taxes and buyers premium.  It has a mechanical cummins engine, Allison trany, air brakes, etc.  I started up and every worked including lights and sirens.  It had an inverter, HVAC for the back, all the bells and whistles.  I'm guessing it would be small, but could hook up a trailer as well.  The only issue may be weight just under 14,000 lbs, but the chassis could handle fine I'm guessing.

How crazy is this?


https://1stcapitolauction.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=650&aid=77214&lid=19725517

Mike

[TomC]

Ambulence bodies are typically built really well. While it is a bit small, would make a good toterhome. Good Luck, TomC

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

I was an EMT for a while in my previous life and I once considered the exact same thing.  With the more rugged chassis, the extra alternator, being built to handle almost any environment, the extra road clearance and the optional winch gives it an edge up on other types of RV conversions if you like to get off the beaten path.  Also if it has 4WD as many of them do you will be able to go where other RVers cannot go.  Many also come with automatic tire chains which deploy with the push of a button. This is handy if you travel north of the Mason Dixon line in the winter.  

But an Ambulance body would be a bit cozy inside for RVing and the ride a bit stiff.   It would have less interior space than a class "B" RV such as a Roadtrek 190 which I used to own.  The Roadtrek had enough room for one or two people to travel in for up to a two week trip, if you like cooking and living outdoors during the day which I have done many times, this is doable.  Ambulance bodies also have many very useable outside compartments as well which is great, but the problem there is, the side compartments take away a lot of your interior space so you will end up with only about a 5' wide interior space from which to start building your cabinets and install other appliances which would leave you very little room for the walkway.

However if you are considering an ambulance for its durability, why not go one step up and run with the Big Dogs and convert a fire truck into a motorhome and build something similar to the Drako which is a "beautiful" coach.

To see Drako, Goggle "Youtube RV Crazy Drako" to see this interesting RV conversion.

Another option I see for sale on that same page is a Cherry Picker bucket truck.  If you converted the basket on the Cherry Picker to a slightly larger platform you could fit a couple of lawn chairs and still have room for an ice chest full of Budwiser and you could rise above the rest of the crowd for a much better view of what is going on around you.

https://1stcapitolauction.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=650&aid=77214&lid=19725478&title=1998-CHEVROLET-3500-BUCKET-TRUCK---NON-COMPLIANT

So why not just buy both and put the Cherry Picker lift on your Fire Engine conversion and have the best of both worlds.

However, bottom line, as any bus conversion owner will tell you, nothing rides like a bus conversion. If you are planning on spending a lot of time inside of your RV and want to have plenty of room to move around and don't want to feel any bumps in the road, and want to carry all of your creature comforts with you that you are used to having at home, and have visitors over, there is nothing like a bus conversion.  

Also with a bus conversion, you have three or more luggage compartments on each side of the bus under the living space which generally go all the way across the width of the bus so you can even store your snow skies.  In these compartments, where your water tanks and genset would go, you still have plenty of space where you can carry more than you would ever need to travel full-time and still be under 10,000 lbs. GVW, which gives you that extra level of safety.

Gary

[lvmci]

Hi All, is this where class "C"s came from? Maybe you could put an accordian hallway between the ambulance and a trailer, like a city bus or train cars! Lvmci...

[dukegrad98]

Hi All, is this where class "C"s came from? Maybe you could put an accordian hallway between the ambulance and a trailer, like a city bus or train cars! Lvmci...

Who hasn't fantasized about owning a converted bendy-bus at some point or another???

Cheers, John

[TomC]

AT least in California, a 60ft bendy bus comes in to classifications. If the engine is in the front section, then it is a bus pulling a trailer and legal on truck routes (like the Prevost 60). If the engine is in the rear, then it is a full bus and not legal outside city limits-or outside bus route. Do figure. Good Luck, TomC

[dukegrad98]

Pardon the thread diversion, and despite my woes with other projects, but if I ever see a good-running Prevost 60 bendy-bus within a reasonable distance from me at anything like a low shell cost, I'd probably buy it just for the giggles.  Plenty of room to park it at the ranch, though I don't know how you'd ever find a place for it at an RV park.  If you ever see one, make my life miserable by posting a link!  They're even more interesting than those double-decker Neoplans you see once in a blue moon.

Fantasies, fantasies.

Cheers, John

[TomC]

There are plenty of RV parks that will accept a 60ft motorhome. A 40ft fifth wheel with a crew cab pulling it is around 60ft-and the RV parks make pull throughs for those. Good Luck, TomC

[HB of CJ]

Looks like off hand that somebody actually knew what they were doing purchasing EMC equipment.  Your choice could be in excellent condition or it could be on its last breath and only fit for recycling or anything in between.  Totally depends upon many different factors not in your control.

You may have a vehicle that can be pretty much rebuilt and go another lifetime...as a very cool smaller well engineered RV.  But, how do you know?  Ya gotta practically have an inside spy why would know all about the service life and maintenance schedule of that cool ambulance.

Strange things happen with public agencies.  Sometimes surplus equipment is a hanger queen fit just for scrap.  But, sometimes, perfectly good running equipment is kept in perfect condition, but then to be somehow declared surplus and auctioned off for a song for little money.

If it is fit for rebuild and if you buy it, then consider that after market soft suspensions abound, (pun intended) for settling down the ride.  Or...it may already have air bag assist?  About the only thing I can think of MIGHT be tight road gearing.  Can you get that 6th gear back?

Finally, these types of big ALS EMS ambulances may be frequently available.  They were too good and spendy.  Most FDs now are going to very cheap throw a way smaller stuff.  Another good one may come along.  Do not pay too much.  Try the direct agency auctions.  Just over scrap price?

Yep....I bought my 1974 Crown Supercoach 10 wheeler for only $3000.  It had a 6 month old 1000 mile employed current CA CHP school bus inspection tag.  A very difficult mechanical inspection.  The coach only needed new tires.  My point is other good choices will come along.  HB of CJ (old coot) retired FF, PM, RN.