Some Expense Spared

Some expense spared and absolutely no corners cut. I’d say the interior is 99.9% done! We’re still waiting on a couple things to show up but if we had to leave today.. we absolutely could.

As I’ve said a million times, this was my first go at building anything like what you see here. We’ve done what we could to make the best and squeeze the most use out of our small space. We’re excited about these small details and realize that most of you will never get to see them. We can’t let that happen and decided to spotlight some features in our interior build!

The Kitchen

We began the kitchen build with nothing more than a faint idea of how we wanted it to look and function. We built the base cabinet and screwed down a sheet of hardboard as a temporary countertop which we ran with for quite a while (you can see it here). If I’m honest, building drawers and cutting up a perfectly good butcher block was a bit intimidating and for a bit, I buried my head in the sand and pretended like they weren’t pending items on the to-do list. When I finally got around to it, it proved to be a fairly easy and forgiving job.

After some stress, lots of measurements, and some happy accidents we ended up with what you see here. These photos show some of the modularity our kitchen offers. The counter cut out can be used to cover the sink, creating a very nice sized countertop and (happy accident) also fits perfectly on our top drawer creating an awesome L shape extension to the kitchen. The countertop originally extended all the way out to the right and up against the cabinet. We decided to cut it and use the piece as a dining table.

We have a Lagun table mount arriving soon and will be installing one base on our toilet/seat (see below) which will allow us to once again have a countertop that extends all the way to the cabinet. A second base will be installed on our garage access door (see below) and the Lagun mount will serve as a dining table or a U shaped kitchen counter in that configuration.

Side Bench

Here you have our fold out side bench in “bench mode, “small Elliot mode”, and “bigger Elliot mode”. In bench mode this will comfortably seat someone and we’ve re-installed some original seatbelts for a safe and legal ride. We’re still working on seat and back cushions for this but it is fully functional as is.

This bench folds out and the backrest turns into legs to support the bench in bed mode. We have slats that will cover the storage space of the bench and we intend on using the 3” high density seat and back cushions as bed cushions. The expectation is that this will serve as Elliot’s bed.. however, the reality is most likely that he’s just going to jump in bed with us rendering this engineering feat pointless.

We still wanted access to the fridge if Elliot was sleeping and we needed food, so we took that into consideration when building. We then realized the fridge could serve as an extension to the bed so we made sure the height of the fold out bed matched the height of the fridge. It took a few tries and some adjustments but we got it. A third cushion will be used to make this a larger bed once Elliot get’s bigger or it can be used to accommodate a small guest.

CLOSET / PANTRY

Though we have large overhead cabinets at the foot of our bed, storage is king and having a two year old son that comes with his own set of needs and belongings drove us to use 2/3’s of this space as a closet. The left side is currently being used to hang bulky items and we’ve built in a shoe cubby on the floor. Dedicating this much space to hanging jackets is a bit of a sacrifice and if it proves to be an inefficient use of space, we can easily add some L track and cut out some additional shelves to get better use of the space.

This cabinet has access from both the interior and exterior so we decided to use it as an indoor/outdoor pantry since our cooking takes place in both settings. I re-purposed some track that came with the ambulance and installed some 1/2” boards as adjustable shelving. We can add and adjust as necessary and though the primary function is to hold food, it can also accommodate every day use items such as dog food & bowls, camp chairs, camp table, and an outdoor rug.

TOILET / SEAT

As simple as this may appear, it took some creativity to make this happen. We knew we needed a toilet and the Nature’s Head is the top of the line choice. It’s awesome, it is also quite large. For the longest time, it was the first thing you saw when you opened the door. Hiding it was a must and we also knew we needed quick and easy access to it both for use and service.

After considering a few options, we ended up building a two part box that also serves as another seat with seatbelt. The lid of the box hinges up against the electrical cabinet on the right. We went with an L shape design for the lid and did that so the face of the box wasn’t digging into our legs when using the toilet. The lip on the lid is small enough so that it doesn’t get in your way and large enough to hang some hooks on it to hold sunglasses, keys, or whatever you need holding when doing the deed.

The face of the box is actually a door that swings open providing access to the solid and liquid containers on the toilet. As mentioned above, the face of the box will have one Lagun table mount base installed on it. This will allow us to complete our counter top when the extra space is needed.

The end result provides a table mount and functional seat which requires a simple two step process that allows us to easily pull and service the toilet.

GARAGE ACCESS

Last and definitely not least is our little garage access door. We wanted to have some separation between the living and storage space beneath the bed. We also didn’t want to seal it off completely. We decided to install a small access door which really cleaned up the look and allows us the ability to transport longer items such as lumber or skis.

The access door will also have a Lagun table mount base installed on it. This will be primarily used to hold our table for the dining room configuration. One person can sit on the fold out bench and the other on the fridge. This mounting location will also allow us to create a U shape kitchen set up which I feel we will prefer over a longer countertop.

THINGS TO COME

We still have a few tricks up our sleeves before we call this finished:

1) You may have noticed we do not have a backsplash. That is partly due to me being very picky about the look and design of it. It seems like so much wasted space so we’ve decided to install some pegboard from IKEA that we were using at Elliot’s diaper changing station when we still owned our home. This will allow us to hang cooking utensils, toothbrushes, photos… pretty much anything. We already have the board and simply need to cut it to size for install.

2) The bed platform is made out of (3) pieces with the center piece being about 5” wide. The center piece will be fixed and will not move. The outside pieces will hinge up with butterfly hinges and we will be able to lock them in place. We want to go this route so that we have access to our garage space without having to go outside (rainy days in mind) AND we can also shove as much junk as possible and slam the lid down.

Locking them in place will allow us to set the bed in “couch mode” facing inside or outside. This is a nice option to have for travel days if someone wants to ride in leisure. Couch mode facing outward will be a nice way to soak in the scenery on any given day and if we ever encounter a drive-in movie theatre…. need I say more?

A Cold Start

The point of this story is to serve one purpose… and that is to document further proof that I don’t know what I’m doing!

To be frank, the ambo is the first diesel vehicle I own and I’m quickly being introduced to all the nuances it comes with.

During out trip to Utah, we linked up with Caleb (@calebwallace) his brother Sam (@samrwallace) and dad Rob (@gngrrob) in Bryce Canyon National Park and spent the afternoon soaking in some amazing views of Bryce Canyon (more of that to come).

We drove through the park until the sun began to set and with the brisk evening fast approaching, decided to hunker down and spend the night just outside the park. We checked the weather forecast and quickly determined this would be the coldest night we’ve spent in the ambo so far, 15-17 degrees.

 
IMG_7181.jpg
IMG_7276.jpg
IMG_7277.jpg
IMG_7297.jpg

Here is where my ignorance kicks in. Though I’m aware that cold starts on the 7.3 can be an issue.. up to this point I had absolutely no clue that diesel has a cloud, pour, and gel point. The latter being at, you guessed it, 15-17 degrees.

Queue the morning sun, here I go deciding to start the ambo to get it warmed up prior to hitting the road and… no dice. I wasn’t surprised at first since, as mentioned above, I’m aware that cold starts can be a problem. I sat in the driver’s seat for quite a while trying everything I could think of to get it started.

I cycled the glow plugs various times (to the point of draining the batteries), tried heating the engine bay with a propane heater, and resorted to hooking up to another vehicle with some jumper cables and testing battery voltage with a multimeter, all with no luck. At that point I knew it couldn’t be “spark” or air, so it had to be fuel. I feared that my glow plugs had called it quits in which case we would not be going anywhere any time soon.

Luckily for me, Randy (@pvtmule) who was heading down from Oregon and was under an hour away from us, just happens to be a very experienced diesel owner and was able to provided some major pro tips, do’s, and don’ts. Armed with this new info Sam acted like a true legend and drove to the nearest auto store to pick up what we needed as I got to taking some things apart in the engine bay. Shout-out to Caleb for getting a fire going and finding some time to capture some photos of me working on the rig.

Upon Sam’s return and a little brainstorming, dismantling, and a can of starter fluid later, we got the ambo running to my extreme relief. For the small price of $7 and one eyebrow, we were back on the road headed towards good times!

 
IMG_7273.jpg
IMG_7294.jpg
IMG_7282.jpg
IMG_7291.jpg

Lessons Learned:

  • Diesel gels at 15-17 degrees

  • Use an additive or preferably a block heater if possible in sub 20 degree weather because not all towns winterize their diesel

  • Allowing your engine to idle over night will keep warm fuel circulating into your tank

  • A full tank helps prevent gelling

  • Always carry a can of starter fluid

  • Traveling with others is a safety pro

So… there’s that. Hopefully it helps someone or at least provides a decent laugh at my expense. The more you know!

Pros & Cons

We’re often asked why we chose an ambulance and it’s a fair question to ask. There are tons of options out there and when researching and trying to find the best fit for us, we stumbled across the ambulance community. I wouldn’t be lying if I said I had never considered this as a viable option but the more I looked into it, the more it made sense.

I’ve put this together to share some advantages and disadvantages to converting an ambulance. Check it out and hopefully this helps you on your journey.

IMG_5237 (1).jpg

ADVANTAGES:

There are so many advantages that it’s difficult to find a place to begin. We’ll start with the exterior storage and work our way inside.

As you may already know or certainly heard, every nook and cranny is valuable in a rig. One major draw was how ambulances come with a huge amount of exterior storage cabinets. Ours had (4).. (3) of which were floor to ceiling cabinets with adjustable shelving. The compartment behind the driver seat is a vented cabinet that was used to house the oxygen tank. This cabinet is perfect for propane if you choose to go that route like we did.

You can’t talk about ambulances without mentioning the box construction. These things are built to government standards and are designed to handle rollovers while maintaining structural integrity (you can watch a video of it here). Safety is a huge concern, specially with a little one, this one alone is worth it.

There are a few additional exterior features which are major pros like scene lights all around for 360 degree lighting, a large roof strong enough to walk on with enough room for more solar than you’ll ever need, and heavy duty lockable latches on all doors.

IMG_6955.JPG

On the interior, you will find extremely well built cabinets, overhead lighting, 12v outlets throughout, and most ambos also come with an inverter/charger and house batteries. You’ll also find that they come with rear AC & heat. Our wasn’t functioning but we decided to leave it in case we want to get it going further down the road.

The width of the ambulance allows for a side to side bed if that’s important to you. Our ambo is considered a mini mod, which is the smallest box you can get, and we fit a full size mattress no problem. We would’ve gone with a queen if it didn’t take up the extra 5 inches width wise.

Last but definitely not least, the difference in cost of an ambulance vs a sprinter or even an E Series Sportsmobile is substantial and cannot be overlooked. We lucked out and found one on the east coast that had already been converted to 4x4. This is a hot item now a days and we’re very happy to have it. Major pro.

 

Now for some DISADVANTAGES:

Nothing is perfect and there are some features which may be considered as disadvantages to some. We’ll maintain the trend and begin on the exterior and work our way in.

The only con I see regarding the exterior are the decals! Depending on your state, the local departments may be required to strip anything that makes it look like an ambulance. I’ve seen some departments do a great job and others do the bare minimum. Removing decals is a huge topic in groups and forums. Expect to spend a lot of time cleaning this up.

If I had to choose a second exterior con, it would be lenses. Some states don’t allow for certain color lenses like red or blue. This is easily resolved with a can of lens tint. I’ve seen some cut aluminum squares to eliminate lenses all together. A final option would be to replace them with clears however this can get expensive. With that said, you may get lucky and find someone giving them away in a group or forum.

IMG_5248.jpg
Elec 1.jpg

Now onto the interior: All ambulances are unique, there are multiple box manufacturers and to add a second layer, all boxes were built to local department needs so not all have the same layout or features. This may present a challenge when researching or asking for advice in groups and forums when trying to rework the interior.

Though interiors come “pre-furnished” there is a lot of wasted space in the way these are built. If you choose to gut and start from scratch, you will encounter miles and miles of wiring throughout. Sorting through the electrical has absolutely been the most daunting task. Some box manufacturers are no longer in business so the chance of attaining wiring schematics is close to slim at best.

Standing height is another thing to consider. There are boxes out there with 6ft standing height but not all have this feature. Ours is about 5’7”, not ideal but we got a 4x4 rig so that was our tradeoff.

 

This last one is by far the biggest issue I’ve seen affect most ambo owners and that is insurance. Some insurance companies won’t touch an ambulance. You may have to register it as an RV in order to get insured. From what I understand, this varies from state to state so I suggest looking into it if you’re considering an ambo for yourself.

I’m sure I’m missing both pros and cons so I’ll make sure to update if I think of something else. Overall, I’m glad we went this route. It fits our needs very well and I hope this provided some insight into the ambo world if it’s an option you’re considering.

Joshua Tree

Last month brought us to Joshua Tree National Park.

We’re fortunate to have this pretty close by and even though we’re definitely mountains > desert kind of people, I really appreciate all this environment has to offer. The fact that it wasn’t a billion degrees outside really helped too.

We drove in pretty late on a Friday night and decided to stay on some public land and explore some areas we hadn’t before. Though we weren’t very far off the highway, it felt as if we had the world to ourselves.

The following morning, we began our usual routine. Kelsey made some coffee and started breakfast, I got Elliot ready for the day and we went on our morning “hike” to do some exploring. I really enjoy watching Elliot exercise his curiosity. I like to walk away from him to see what he does, how he overcomes obstacles, and how he get’s distracted by rocks and sticks. These morning “hikes” are cherished.

 
IMG_6425 (1).jpg
IMG_6527.jpg
IMG_6481.jpg

After breakfast, we loaded up, cleaned up some trash left by previous visitors and headed into Joshua Tree National Park. We entered through the less popular south entrance and really took our time driving through the park and stopping wherever something caught our eyes.

We knocked out a few trails on this trip. We achieved our goal of exploring new areas and gaining a greater appreciation for this landscape.

I’d glad places like these exist. I’m glad my son gets to experience them.. and I hope one day, if he decides he wants a family of his own, that he’s proud and able to make similar memories with them.

IMG_6555.jpg
IMG_6541 (1).jpg
IMG_6543 (1).jpg
IMG_6549.jpg
IMG_6545.jpg
IMG_6578 (1).jpg

We're moving on...

 

In summary, we’ve sold everything and will be spending one year on the road, living out of the ambo, traveling around the country, and giving our son a year of our time with zero interruptions.

There are various reasons and motivations for doing so. All of which I question constantly.

I’ve found it useful to repeatedly answer the same three questions: Who’s it for? What’s it for? What Is The Change We Want To See?

Question 1 - Who’s it for? Such a simple question which requires a heavy answer.

We’re doing this for our son, ourselves, and for anyone who has ever said, “Some day..”

 
IMG_6213.jpg
IMG_6201.jpg

Questions 2 - What’s it for?

For Our Son - We’re doing this to expose him to as much as we possibly can. I want to tell him good stories about himself and the world he lives in. I want enjoy every second before it’s gone. His world will be full of possibilities vs limitations. Courage vs fear.

For Ourselves - To test ourselves and to grow. To allow an opportunity to build a life that has all we need and none of what we don’t. As a man.. to test what I’m made of and to go on an adventure.

The “Some Day” Crowd - To hopefully encourage them to take a step towards “some day”. To show the truth of what that path looks like. To prove that nobody is holding you back… other than you of course.

 

Question 3 - What Is The Change We Want To See? If we’re honest.. We want to see those around us prosper. We want to see happiness on peoples faces, not fear. With so much bad being shoved in our faces.. We want to see some good. We want to surround ourselves with those who are going after it with no excuses and we hope to bring you all along with us.

We’ve realized there are many ways to live a life and we’ve been fortunate to have lived an amazing one so far. With that said, simply knowing there are other options out there… we just have to find out for ourselves.

We’d like to tell more stories. We’d like to share more lessons. We must own the ability of instructing our son to chase his dreams and we must have confidence in our knowledge of what that looks like.

If that’s something you’re into, then we hope you stick around. We hope we’re successful and we hope you’re encouraged to do the same.

 
IMG_6223.jpg