My ambulance conversion

[ceurieusneus]

In 2016 I converted a 4 berth ambulance in a 2 berth camper.
I post the interior pictures, maybe some of my idees are useful to someone else

We did not want a bathroom, takes to much space...
What we wanted: no gas on board, sleeping in separate beds, cooking electric, easy acces from the driving compartment, a PP easy accesible at night, lots of stowage room, easy acces to the space under the beds, some safety at night.

[ceurieusneus]

The door between drivers and leisure compartment, also locks the kitchen

[ceurieusneus]

The kitchen part

[ceurieusneus]

Easy to acces cup boards.... everything to please the missus

[ceurieusneus]

Easy acces slides under the beds

[ceurieusneus]

The waltzing table
Just where we want it to stand

[ceurieusneus]

Forgot to tell...
There must be the possibility to fry...Flemish (not French!) fries without hook up !

The trailer with toilet and shower, also for the transport of the 125cc is the project for 2017!

Technical
leisure batteries 435AH, battery loader 40/80A, Converter 230Volt 1500 Watt.
12 volt fridge 230 volt deep fryer, kettel, induction plate and micro wave
Self supporting for 2 days (summer) without driving. without ruining the battery's.
Eberspacher diesel 4KW heating system
More to come!

[BigMonty]

Like it

[axxez]

Wow, that's very well thought and done! How do the lights look like and do you charge the batteries by solar-power?

[ceurieusneus]

We kept the interior white, as it should carry more to the resemblance as a ambulance.
I re used metal from the stretchers for the frames of the bed and cup boards.
I re used the original lights (4) just refitted with LED bulbs. Two extra tube lights scarcely used as to greedy on electricity...( lights + convertor ).

I was for a while tempted to put solar panels on the trailer... On top of the ambulance there is the problem of the carport.
Changed my (solar) mind as to expensive for the gain in power. Daily consumption 24 hours totaling around 100KW. (summer)
Now I charge the leisure battery's with the alternator...ca 2.5 hours driving...to restore daily consumption.
When hooked up use of battery charger. In the future 2.5KW generator in the trailer.

[axxez]

What kind of alternator are you using? Stock 70A??

[ceurieusneus]

In replacing the alternator I was limited in choice by the vacuum pomp (brakes)
The biggest I could find that fits was 95A I bought it (after marked) for less than 110 €.
For what its worth, to my knowledge...
The battery bank (leisure) is so greedy, (Amps loading) that as safety matter for the alternator, I unload the battery's not below 50%.
My 50% rule keeps the load current acceptable and increases the lifespan of the battery bank... €€€... ££££...$$$$

[axxez]

I went for a cheap 95A alternator as well, but that one broke and I replaced it with an expensive Bosch one not to have problems anymore. Breaks are important and I would not like problems caused by the vacuum-pump of that cheap devices..
How did you switch those batteries? A "Bank" with 435Ah sounds to me like 4x batteries put directly in a row. If they are all the same size, age and brand this might be ok. And how is that connected to the alternator? Seperated from the car-battery? Or just in a row with the car battery, maybe cutted by the ignition-switch. That might destroy the batteries btw in a long term.. Would mean you connect a 435Ah "batterie" with a lets say 70-100Ah battery of different age together. Not good!

[axxez]

Actually I do have a manual switch to load the alternator and my second battery as well, in case I am not using the solar power. I try to use it not very often to prevent those problems with the batteries. On my old Transit a few times I bought 2 new batteries that got destroyed after some time because of this problem..
A battery-isolator like this would be the perfect device, if you want a pro solution:
http://www.lima-shop.de/site/media/cont ... /2-240.pdf

[ceurieusneus]

I went for a cheap 95A alternator as well, but that one broke and I replaced it with an expensive Bosch one not to have problems anymore. Breaks are important and I would not like problems caused by the vacuum-pump of that cheap devices..
How did you switch those batteries? A "Bank" with 435Ah sounds to me like 4x batteries put directly in a row. If they are all the same size, age and brand this might be ok. And how is that connected to the alternator? Seperated from the car-battery? Or just in a row with the car battery, maybe cutted by the ignition-switch. That might destroy the batteries btw in a long term.. Would mean you connect a 435Ah "batterie" with a lets say 70-100Ah battery of different age together. Not good!

Well, lets hope for the best, I carry the old 70A alternator with me...just in case...
If it breaks down, I will have to go for the "real" thing