Seeking advice- ambulance vs. truck camper vs. van

yetidogs · May 2, 2021

[font=Inter, -apple-system, system-ui,]Hi all,[/font]

[font=Inter, -apple-system, system-ui,]Seeking advice on vehicular homes—truck campers, vans, or ambulances.[/font]

[font=Inter, -apple-system, system-ui,]I split time between Colorado and Vermont, every 3-4 months. It's hard to find apartments for such short time periods, so I'm looking toward portable homes. With these climates, I will need to stay warm. I will need a kitchen and bathroom (toilet + shower). I am a videographer and will need to charge a lot of batteries and a computer.[/font]

[font=Inter, -apple-system, system-ui,]I have no mechanical, plumbing, or electrical skills/experience. I do have experience building furniture. I can drive manual.[/font]

[font=Inter, -apple-system, system-ui,]Before I get to searching for deals, I want to know exactly what I’m looking for. I have a maximum budget of $35K— conversion and all.[/font]

[font=Inter, -apple-system, system-ui,]If I go the truck + camper route, I will want a Dodge Ram 2500, year 1994-2002 (2nd Gen Cummins). They are durable and reliable. I would also want a non-slideout camper, but I don’t know anything about the brands/models. What is the best truck camper under $15,000?[/font]

[font=Inter, -apple-system, system-ui,]On the ambulance and van side, I know nothing. I am cautious about leaning that way, as they will require conversions, but I know once converted they have their benefits. [/font]

[font=Inter, -apple-system, system-ui,]What model van is best? I want a solid engine, not something that will break down often. Diesel? Ram ProMaster looks like a solid choice. [/font]

[font=Inter, -apple-system, system-ui,]Ambulances… not a clue. I am biased toward Cummins engines, and I’ve seen some Ram 4500 Ambulances that look beautiful. What ambulance models do you recommend?[/font]

[font=Inter, -apple-system, system-ui,]Overall, which route would you recommend? Would love to hear the internet’s advice.[/font]

[font=Inter, -apple-system, system-ui,]Other concerns: MPG, insulation, storage, height (low bridges in VT), drivability/maneuverability (tight winding roads, high speed high ways, etc.).[/font]

bullfrog · May 2, 2021

It sounds like you will be in snow so I would want a 3/4 4x4 pickup truck. Since you have some skills and want a mounted camper I would spend most of my money on the truck and build a foam insulation topper which again is great for cold climates. See tnttt.com the foamies thread and search for truck campers and toppers. Even with todays inflated prices you should be able to build a dandy shell for less than $1,500 and get the heater and appliances for around $3,500 new, less if you can source some used parts. So say $6,000 for the topper, $14,000 for the truck and an emergency/repair/solar and generator fund of $15,000 sounds pretty good to me. You will be earning that $15,000 by building your own topper and learning some new skills but you will end up with a much better equipped and easier to repair camper. You might take a look at expandable lift top toppers so lower road heights can be obtained, basically a box with a lift top. using the tail gate in the down position can increase your floor space.

highdesertranger · May 2, 2021

I would also recommend a 4x4 truck but I would also say to use a travel trailer. That way you don't have to break camp(pack everything up) every time you want to drive somewhere. Believe me not being able to easily drive somewhere is a pain in the ass. Highdesertranger

Ravella and X · May 2, 2021

I do always wonder why people limit their vehicle options to exclude travel trailers.

There are 4-season molded fiberglass trailers. I believe that both Bigfoot and Oliver make them. However, I wintered in Michigan in my Scamp and lived to tell the tale (which includes lots of slow cooking pots of yummy stuff on the stove to help with heat).

Dingfelder · May 11, 2021

By my reading it seems few RV's and trailers are winter-proofed.

The more I find out about ambulances, the more I like them. Two inches of insulation on the doors/outside, no-nonsense already-built cabinets galore. Only thing is, the electrical is everywhere and complicated, with phantom/ghost draws all over the place, and a center console that is extremely bulky and impedes mobility. Also, diesel is bound to be legislated out in the U.S. the same way it has been in Germany, for instance, which has massive junkyards of perfectly good late-model diesel cars rotting because they got taxed out of existence.

PlethoraOfGuns · May 12, 2021

Promasters are not known for their reliability, especially the fwd versions. Ambulances are very well built but are scary because of their ridiculous electrical systems. But with a differential locker they will do fine in the snow. But if you need 4wd, you just gotta get a pickup then. I'd just get a manual Cummins powered step van, throw a locker in that and call it a day. But I'm biased on that one!

Ian McK · May 13, 2021

Ambulances have their advantages, but most are hi mileage, too low to stand up in, expensive to purchase, and of course require full mods to camperize. Another similar option is a cube van, tall enough to stand up in, but again must be modified for living in. These modifications can be fun but can also can be challenging and time-consuming. Perhaps your best bet is to just buy an old Class C motorhome which is already kitted out for living/camping in. We bought ours for a few thousand dollars, and although we have had to do some repairs it is already optimized for space, has a stove and fridge, has hot water, and a furnace. 1970s-1980s Class Cs are often moderately-low mileage and sometimes have rebuilt engines and trannies in them.