Military RV conversion?

[Mangyhyena]

I was looking at used military vehicles for sale, because they're just darn cool, and saw a few ambulances, some of them pretty old. Made me wonder if anyone here has converted one to an RV. Seems like a good idea, though I might be overlooking something, like gas mileage.

Also, is there some other military vehicle that would work for RV conversion better than a military ambulance?

Feel free to post pics of some military vehicle you like for an RV conversion, just for kicks.

 

[Dirty_Jeeper]

One of the multi fuel motors in a military vehicle would be great after the initial cost. A friend has a Deuce and half which has been shortened and an axle removed so it's just a Deuce now. It has the multi fuel engine. It is set up to run on used motor oil. He drives it regularly and has never had to purchase fuel. He has a centrifuge to prepare his old oil as fuel.  He collects it from neighbors, shops etc.

 

[Mangyhyena]

He should start an oil change business! Folks would pay him to fill up his gas tank with their old oil.

 

[blars]

There was a military truck converted to an RV near the RTR, someone had gone out of their way to keep the military look.&nbsp; Pictures etc in the seen on the road secion iirc.&nbsp; Depending on the vehicle, it may be difficult to get it licenced for road use.<br><br><br>

 

[LowTech]

It's pretty easy to get it lic'd. Cali has some issues but Elise's M109 is just reg'd as a motorhome. We also use UMO as fuel.<br>&nbsp;I've got mine reg'd in the `Zona and there it's nothing more than a BIG pick-up.<br><br>&nbsp;We've put more than 5K miles (on each) in the last year plus. Often taking both on long trips w/ M105 trailers behind both of them.<br><br>&nbsp;Have seen the amb turned into campers as well but we like BIG trucks <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>&nbsp;We've got a build thread here, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pbase.com/lowtech9/she_beast">She Beast</a> , we done more work (it'll take years <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> ) I've just not posted new stuff in awhile.<br>

 

[Mangyhyena]

It's pretty easy to get it lic'd. Cali has some issues but Elise's M109 is just reg'd as a motorhome. We also use UMO as fuel.  I've got mine reg'd in the `Zona and there it's nothing more than a BIG pick-up.  We've put more than 5K miles (on each) in the last year plus. Often taking both on long trips w/ M105 trailers behind both of them.  Have seen the amb turned into campers as well but we like BIG trucks  We've got a build thread here, She Beast , we done more work (it'll take years ) I've just not posted new stuff in awhile.

That is all kinds of aweaome!!!! Exactly what I had in mind when I started this thread.

 

[LivinEZ]

<P>A tracked personnel carrier has went through my mind on more than a few occasions.&nbsp; My thoughts are something that can go over/through just about any terrain, have enough muscle to carry whatever you need&nbsp;and have enough space for 2 or so people to be able to live.</P>

 

[LowTech]

&nbsp;&nbsp; We haven't had any problems w/ ANY terrain, . . . just need the right tires.<br>The more muscle your mech monster has the more it eats. You really just want enough to not stress the engine, all the rest is gearing. Our rigs have really low horse power, something like 170 horse . . . so they don't eat THAT bad <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; Which is good being that we tend to run w/ two of them . . . and a couple trailers.<br><br>

 

[karl]

LT- really enjoyed your pics.<br>nice toys, really like She Beast,<br>the early 70's E van brought back memories with it's no nonsense look too... <br>Wee bit 'o envy here.....<br><br>

 

[lampliter]

Those old deuce and&nbsp; a halfs (60's) would go anywhere---they&nbsp; even had auto 6 wheel drive; it would kick in when the wheels spun at a cert<b>ain rpm</b>&nbsp; I used to haul troops in the back--it would be easy to convert to a live-in.<br>

 

[LowTech]

LT- really enjoyed your pics.<br>nice toys, really like She Beast,<br>the early 70's E van brought back memories with it's no nonsense look too... <br>Wee bit 'o envy here.....<br><br>

<br>&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks.&nbsp;&nbsp; We don't much think of them as "toys", being as how we live in them <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br>I do love those 1 ton E's, mostly the `69-`70 years before they made the grill ugly&nbsp; . . . IMHO <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> Right now that one is resting while I dial in the big trucks.<br>

 

[LowTech]

Those old deuce and&nbsp; a halfs (60's) would go anywhere---they&nbsp; even had auto 6 wheel drive; it would kick in when the wheels spun at a cert<b>ain rpm</b>&nbsp; I used to haul troops in the back--it would be easy to convert to a live-in.<br>

<br><br>That one in the photo looks like it could be Canadian, based on the roof rack &amp; the style of singled wheels. It's also got some kind of wall extensions making it taller, prob for more head room.<br>&nbsp;They did have that auto-engage front axle for awhile, then they switched to an air activated transfer case. Ours, from the `70's, have that. 6 wheel engagement on the fly <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp; no need to wait until we are starting to get stuck.<br><br>&nbsp;The shop vans, like the Elise's "She Beast", are easier to convert than a stock cargo-bed like mine. I'm one of those that would rather have a trailer and be able to use the "little Draggin' " for work related things.<br>&nbsp;This is the little hard-top trailer I'm converting for me <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br>

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;Ex-army (often Belgian) Unimogs are beasts. They go for something around $10,000 here in B.C., last I heard.<br>

 

[LowTech]

&nbsp;They are beasts, but not what I would call cheap. We've got about that into our deuce (spent almost as much on custom rims and over-size tires as we paid for it) and it's livable. I can also stand up in ours and I don't think that you can in a mog box. You can put a dif box on the back but then you're talking even more money.<br>&nbsp;Right now stock M109's (our deuce style) or going for less than 5K, and parts are easy in the states. <br>

 

[LowTech]

&nbsp;I do know of at least 3 Mogs close around here. <br>&nbsp;A lot of people seem to prefer their Deuces bobbed, . . . not really sure why. It does NOT handle better off-road that way (IMHO), it only makes it 3' shorter, 20' instead of 23' (makes a 12x8 box into a 9x8 and you have to build your own box), and as far as the fuel cost . . . my other rig, a `70 E300 only gets around 10mpg w/ a camp trailer on it. These are getting about 8+mpg on pavement (w/ the 12x8 live-in box) and will burn most anything. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; When the gas burners are abandoned on the side of the road I'll be stopping to drain out all the vital fluids . . . and use most of them for fuel <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If I'm in town my mtn bike does just fine.<br><br><br>

 

[Wild_E]

Like this.<br>

<div>That was the Canadian version called an MLVW - Multi Logistics Vehicle Wheeled, the older Deuce and a half kicked it but in every way except fuel efficiency. &nbsp;I was trained on both of them.</div><div><br></div><div>The 5 Ton, was the same as the US version and did not change during the MLVW time, and is still in service although being fazed out right now. They all had the front axle diff locs in the cab with a deep reduction gearing as well.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I would rather have the old Deuce and A Half, but would take an MLVW. We had similar tops on them for the various uses that you have converted to live in. Nice Love the looks and versitility, very nice.&nbsp;</div>

 

[rattlesnake joe]

<p><img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"><img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"><img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif">The very best off road vehicle that is also street legal is the Pinzgauer 710.&nbsp; It has the capability of a Unimog but is light and fast, with hauling power galore.&nbsp; They are also cheap to buy at around $14,000.&nbsp; Made for the worlds military in the 1970's.&nbsp; They look similar to a VW Van but they are so rugged they never brake and they go places you would swear is impossible to go.&nbsp; The ground clearance is like 20" as the Pental axels are up high like the Unimog.&nbsp; AND in Arizona there are businesses that sell and service them.&nbsp; Plus you can still get parts because they made millions of these go anywhere vehicles.&nbsp; Only drawback is the loud noise inside the cab.&nbsp; So you should dampen the sounds with insulation.&nbsp; Also their top speed is only about 55 mph.&nbsp; But maybe they can be souped up and made to go on our 75mph super highways.&nbsp; Get on You Tube and be amazed at what they can do.&nbsp; </p>

 

[LowTech]

<p><img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><img src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">The very best off road vehicle that is also street legal is . . .</p><p>They are also cheap to buy at around $14,000.</p>

<br><br>That is definitely an opinion <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">&nbsp; , not sure that is cheap. We have less than that into our M109, have a 12x8 (stand up height) living space, do just fine cruising the roads at 52mph, and sometimes doing things like this . . .<br>&nbsp; <br>

 

[rattlesnake joe]

<p>It is my opinion you'll run out of fuel and have a big house that can't be moved.&nbsp; But the concept is good.&nbsp; Just too much bulk and weight.&nbsp; For me it's better to pull a small house behind me using the tow vehicle Pinzgauer 710K to explore areas where the M109 can't go.&nbsp; There will come a time&nbsp;when fuel will be so precious that only a few will be able to move around on their small motorcycles.&nbsp; So maybe if you put a couple of Honda CT 90 on it, you'll have an escape pod to keep on moving.&nbsp;&nbsp;Something to think about...&nbsp;</p>

 

[LowTech]

I've thought about this kind of stuff for the last 32 years of living in vehicles, most of my life. You do have some good points about fuel getting more costly, that's one of the reasons for the choice we made.<br>&nbsp;Those Honda 90's, along w/ quads, any 2 stroke engine, and loads of 4 stroke engines all require gasoline . . . a very "clean" fuel that requires processing, a lot of processing. The engines in our rigs are "based" on the Diesel engine (which was originally built to run on veg based fuels), and then modified by the military to run on things even dirtier than that. They are quite happy running on lamp oil, kero, tranny fluid (ATF), motor oil, gear oil/gasoline mix, as well as veg oil or anything that I can buy from a pump at the station.<br>&nbsp;So when fuel (gasoline) is a precious thing and people have given up driving their SUV's, vans, cars, etc. every bit of fluid left in them will be of use to us. All lubricating fluids can be used as fuel, the coolant I'll run through a solar still and take the water back (I do spend a lot of time in the desert <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> ) .<br><br>&nbsp;I suspect that those that are only able to use their Honda 90's will be happy to trade me something to move/ transport all the stuff that they are no longer able to move around, building supplies, water, etc. Some will be using some form of draft animal, but our "Beast"&nbsp; we can put to sleep and NOT feed until we need it again. <br><br>&nbsp;I also understand the desire to have a trailer style of home (I do that w/ my cargo-bedded version of the same truck . . . yes we do run two trucks on most of our trips), and be able to use the truck for other things while leaving your camp in one place. Tow rating on the Pinz 710K is only 5,000. We can haul that in the bed cross country, double that on a "real" road, or tow the 10,000 behind. We are also aware that all these ratings are "low" compared to what it could really do.<br><br>&nbsp;Our "run around the town", or "escape pods" are a couple mtn bikes. Which we also do long overlanding trips on. No extra fuel need there, just what we need for us to keep going.<br><br>So yes, . . . we have chosen to live w/ an elephant instead of a lap dog, but even as a elephant it's still only 23' long and 11' high. Not much difference from a truck w/ a slide-in camper, a box truck, or a little class C, Only we go where they can not. I agree that "Scouting Rigs" (as I call them <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> ) have there place and are great to have along .<br><br>&nbsp;I have experienced those other forms of Live-on / Live-in rigs, bicycles, motorcycles, a car (only one), vans, and stealth trailers. Right now these Big Beasties suit our lifestyle (almost full timing), our limited funds both self employed , the type of places we want to go, and available resources.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;If you ever want to do a long, slow trip acting as a scout we'd be happy to have you come along.<br>