Campervan Conversion
From Ambulance to Adventure Mobile
From December 2018 through July 2019, I converted a 1998 Ford E350 7.3L PowerStroke Ambulance into a camper van. Why? To create an affordable, personalized RV for the plethora of weekend camping excursions I undertake during the summer and fall months. Throughout the project, I practice several useful skills, including project management, brainstorming techniques, carpentry, electrical wiring, and soft goods creation.
Initial requirements included:
Sleeps 2 people comfortably
Enough storage space for all required outdoor equipment (including one bike)
Insulated with temperature management
Finished by Summer 2019
Total cost <$14,000
The project was broken down into nine major milestones as followed:
Removing Interior and cleaning
Sealing any cracks/leaks in the body walls
Flooring
Side Walls
Installing the Fan, Solar Panels, and patching the ambulance light holes
Interior Ceiling
Interior Carpentry
Soft Good / Final Touches
Painting of exterior fiberglass roofing
The Design: The conversion consisted of a twin-size bed/couch that can be extended in a full-size mattress. There is a large storage space under the bed for all required camping and outdoor equipment. There is enough room between the bed and rear doors to fit a single mountain bike. The kitchenette has a removable propane stove/oven and a small sink operated by a foot pump. The cabinetry across the bed contains a fold-down table, a mini closet to hang clothes, and several cubbies for additional storage of emergency vehicle equipment. There is a roof fan and window coverings for temperature management and solar panels, which are used to power the fan, interior recessed lighting, and all electronics. The total conversion (including vehicle purchase and registration) totaled $12,500, $1,500 under the maximum budget.
