My new E-350 Extended van

[coultergeist]

I have been looking for a long time for a bigger van to convert.  I finally found what I was looking for a few days ago.  It is an E-350 extended medical transport van for wheelchair patients.  I talked to the man who is selling it today and we came to an agreement on price and paying for it.  It will take me a couple of weeks to completely pay for it, but I think it will be more than worth it. 

 

[coultergeist]

I am really looking forward to getting started on the build in a few weeks.  The wheel chair lift will have to come out and so will most of the seats.  Once those things are removed, the cargo area will measure about 12 feet by 6 feet by almost 7 feet tall.  It is a ludicrous amount of room.  If anybody has any ideas about how to best use the space, I would really appreciate any and all input. 

 

[Stillwater]

Wow! That's crazy big! I look forward to build pics.

 

[coultergeist]

I have been in a GMC Safari that I converted for a while now.  Compared to that, this thing is huge.  It felt weird being able to just walk in and stand up the whole time when I was looking at it today.  I can't pick it up and start working on it until I make the other payment on it in a few weeks.  Mostly trying to figure out now what all I want to do to it so I can get started just as soon as I have it.  With so much room, it is hard to know where to start.  I welcome any and all ideas about what others think would be a good setup.

 

[LucidPhotographer]

Looks like a fun project. You could possibly sell the chair lift to get some of your money back if its in good shape and operational. Im curious what the MPGs will be with that top on it like that.

 

[gp]

As for gas mileage, my van is very similar -- an E350 extended length with a 2 ft high top. My best guess is that I get around 9 mpg in city and 13.5 highway. Not bad for all the room, and way better than an RV. And the headroom... priceless!

 

[coultergeist]

I'm really excited about getting started.  I have a million things I'd love to do to it.  Time, common sense, and finances will be what ultimately prevails, but there is so much I'd like to do.  It was in fleet service.  The person I'm buying it from said it averaged about 12 to 14 mpg.  My Safari only gets just a little better than that and if I added a trailer to get all the stowage space that I would have with just this van, the gas mileage would probably be worse than on the E350.  I will probably list the wheelchair lift and see if anybody would like to buy it.  I hate to just take it to the salvage yard.  I'd rather somebody put it to good use.  I got a really good deal on it.  They were having trouble selling it locally because nobody wanted a top that was that high.  They had reduced their asking price several times because of that before I found it.  Ended up agreeing on $1500.  It already has the upgraded 135 amp alternator in it.  Transmission was replaced two years ago.  Motor was rebuilt a couple of years before that.  It is a 1992, but it has been very well maintained.  Front and rear A/C works well.  Rear windows were already tinted with mirror tint to help keep it cooler inside.  Heavy gauge power cables are already ran to the back for the lift that will be removed.  It should be a pretty straight forward build with all of that already taken care of for me.  You can't see it in the picture, but there is a bench seat behind the driver's seat that folds flat against the wall when not being used.  I will probably keep that seat in and remove all of the rest of them and use the anchor points to mount all the cabinets and such. 

 

[LucidPhotographer]

If you cant sell the lift, you could always donate it to someone that needs it. I cant give any advice on how to build the insides as I have not done one myself yet but there is plenty of info on here and other sites that will give you ideas that you can add to and make it how you want it. GP and coultergeist, what engines do your vans have?

 

[gp]

Mine is a 5.4 L V8.

 

[blkjak]

glad that you can stand up inside; nice van, blkjak ....

 

[gypsydreamer]

edited

 

[peacetara]

I have a 1999 E-350, but mine has a shorter top (i.e. a normal sized 4' inside).&nbsp; I'd love a taller inside like you found!&nbsp; But the inside dimensions are otherwise the same 6' wide by 12' long.<br /><br />So mine came with the driver's side having metal shelving about 8' long from right behind the drivers seat back.&nbsp; I have kept that in so far, and has made organizing super nice!&nbsp; pretty much everything I own is on those shelves.<br /><br />I am tall, so I am thinking about having a bed from the back door and along passenger side 6'. It will but up against the shelving for a part of it.&nbsp; Across the back would be better if you could make it work for you.<br /><br />The metal shelving is very ugly, but I don't have any idea what I'd replace it with, nor do I have any funds to replace it, so for now it stays, because it is super functional.&nbsp; There are pictures and stuff in <a href="/post/peacetaras-1999-Ford-E350-Diesel-Extended-Van.-6016959">my post here</a>.<br /><br />Not sure that will help much, but I'm very curious what your thoughts are!&nbsp; I've been living in mine for about a month now.

 

[coultergeist]

This one was a wheel chair patient hauler, so there aren't any shelves of any kind in it.&nbsp; There is a bench seat behind the passenger seat that can fold up against the wall when it isn't being used.&nbsp; I will probably keep that.&nbsp; I want the interior to be as open and easy to move around in as possible while having a great deal of storage space and functionality.&nbsp; I think what I am leaning towards is to have cabinetry / shelving along the passenger side.&nbsp; I will have the sink by the side door so water is easy to load and unload.&nbsp; I am thinking about having the bed on the&nbsp;driver's side behind where the bench seat folds up.&nbsp; I would like it to fold against the wall too.&nbsp; The van is tall enough that there should be plenty of room for that.&nbsp;

 

[peacetara]

Sounds like a good plan!&nbsp; If it was my van, I'd keep the wheelchair (WC) lift, but then I have friends in WC's and I used to be in one, so WC accessibility is important to me.<br /><br />Maybe just add on to the bench seat you want to keep and turn it into a bed?

 

[Les H]

Coultergeist, nice find at a good price! Too bad the cables to the back have to go, or do they? while looking at your pics, i saw on the passenger side front door, an extended step. Great for elderly or disabked passengers, but very low if you plann to boondock in some out of the way places. And its a crud catcher that is harder to keep clean underneath. i would want to remove it. Same mpg as the bus, but you have 2 extra feet of room than I do (shower space!!) Keep us posted , and keep the pics comming!

 

[coultergeist]

Thanks LES H, I may be able to keep the cables for the lift.&nbsp; Will have to wait and see if they're sufficient or if they need to be a bigger gauge.&nbsp; <br /><br />I'm not super fond of the extended step either.&nbsp; That may end up getting cut off in the end.&nbsp; That door is actually a school bus type door.&nbsp; There is no front passenger side seat.&nbsp; <br /><br />A shower was the first thing I thought of when I saw how tall it was too.&nbsp; That and having enough floor space to afford it.&nbsp; I think I have a pretty good idea on how to make it happen.&nbsp; The area behind the front seat where the lift is now is going to be a multi-use space.&nbsp; The bench seat folds down when I need to use it and stores against the wall when not needed.&nbsp; It is also walk space.&nbsp; There are two poles that go all the way up to the roof on either side of the walkway.&nbsp; The roof is seven feet above floor level.&nbsp; That gives me over a foot above my head of clearance.&nbsp; I will build a square frame and attach it to the poles.&nbsp; Shower curtain will hang from that.&nbsp; I will have a basin I stand in to shower.&nbsp; When not needed shower curtain and basin get stowed away.&nbsp; It always sounds great until you try to build it.&nbsp; Will see how it turns out.

 

[Ballenxj]

WOW! That high top is "huge!" <br />

&nbsp; If anybody has any ideas about how to best use the space, I would really appreciate any and all input.&nbsp;

<br />After removing everything and you are down to blank walls, floor, etc, insulate the heck out of it. When you do, make discrete marks to show where you can attach things later. Think paneling, cabinets, etc. <br />Can't wait to see your progress. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> <br />-Bruce

 

[coultergeist]

I will hopefully be able to pick it up in a few days. Really looking forward to getting started. I will start on insulation first. The floors are already covered in plywood and sealed really well. The plywood should provide some insulating value. I would rather not remove it as I would just be putting more right back in to level the floor. Does anybody have any suggestions on a good really thin insulation for the floor. I will likely cover it with laminate wood flooring.

 

[stude53]

Since it is well sealed, You might put down a thin layer of cork sheeting and then do your interlocking wood flooring. Cushion, no squeaks, and some insulation value.<br /><br />Bob

 

[Seraphim]

Look forward to seeing photos of your build.