Am I crazy for liking this?

Marjorie Suddard wrote: Good, keep it coming. I know I'd regret it. But... lights! Lockers! Diesel!

Not laughing at you... laughing WITH you!

Although... their's was way more badass...

The 'want' is strong with these. I've spent a lot of time planning one for myself. I went with a wheelchair van for my Motovan instead though. For right now, it fits my needs the best.

I'll just leave these here...

Personally, other than the larger International/Freightliner models, I like the 'F' Series over the 'E' Series. More room in the cab.

2000 F-350 for 8K:

NMNA:

http://chillicothe.craigslist.org/cto/4880981316.html

C&D Cannonball Run stalled project:

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/cto/4870469744.html

Marjorie Suddard wrote: Good, keep it coming. I know I'd regret it. But... lights! Lockers! Diesel!

Try unseeing that.

Did someone say Gurney Flap Ambulance?

We tow the late model with a 7.3 turbo Ford ambulance. Good- Lots of little storage compartments, aero is good with an enclosed trailer, since the van body is pretty much the same size as the trailer, suspension is up to the task. Bad, ambulance stuff adds a bunch of electrical and access complexity for service, leaving no room in this case for an intercooler, which means the extra weight you are carrying gets a bit sluggish sometimes.

You could always go with this Cadillac Ambulance.

Knowing the van it would replace and seeing Gary up and down the east coast, fuel mileage would be my biggest concern. And due to the size and weight, you will see little, if any (and possibly less) MPG savings with a diesel with higher $/gal costs. If you think his current fuel bill is bad... Gary and Tim may be spooning on that gurney at Carlisle since there may not be enough left in the travel budget for a hotel room.

Since Tim has been going on about old M-B's lately in CMS, how about this?

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2015/02/19/hemmings-find-of-the-day-1969-mercedes-benz-l408-g-auxiliary-fire-truck/?refer=news

I've been tempted to go buy this just so I can do laps around our property with the lights and sirens on. I've also been tempted to buy an ambulance in the past and convert to camper, dirtbike hauler, etc (keeping lights of course), so either you are not crazy or we both are (probably the latter). http://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/4845455368.html

Question for all you nut jobs:

Why is an ambulance a better support vehicle than a KUV?

I have a KUV- I wouldn't trade it for anything. Designed for hauling capacity, and tool storage and access.

We have had a lot of conversations about ambulances (and box trucks, school buses, and motorhomes), and it seems to me they are all a compromise.

Why not something built from the ground up for the task?

Is it just the lights and sirens?? Lol!

Had an ex-ambulance for a while as a camper. Cheap to operate and thebest part was no leaks like typcial older class C motorhomes can get. This was it:

As the kid got older and we got 2 dogs, it was too small for us, so we sold it and moved to something bigger. But it was good while we had it.

Ian F wrote: Since Tim has been going on about old M-B's lately in CMS, how about this? http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2015/02/19/hemmings-find-of-the-day-1969-mercedes-benz-l408-g-auxiliary-fire-truck/?refer=news

That's beautiful.

In reply to Marjorie Suddard:

You asked us for the downside.

There are some upside advantages. I think the biggest (possible) is brand visibility.

Those things are eye catching. Very much so. Especially if you leave the lights and siren. It's a freaking rolling billboard.

The most important question is probably a marketing one.

If your company was called "Racecar Doctor", it would be a slam dunk. Since the company is called "Grassroots Motorsports" (or Classic Motorsports, Motorsports Marketing, etc), I could make the case for a cleanly retired repurposed vehicle, and it would be really nice if it was a classic.

I think YOU need to make the marketing judgement. Is it an asset to the people you are trying to impress at these events to be seen driving an old ambulance, or a detriment?

On this forum, obvious asset. But if the people whose eye you are trying to catch at the events are corporate sponsors, maybe yes, maybe no. You would need to compare the professional image against that of a clean white van with a nice logo on it.

No one knows your audience better than you.

I had a 7.3L powerstroke motivated one that I used to tow an open trailer and rallycar for 2 years. The lockable storage for tools and spares can't be matched. I put a set of 19.5" Rickson wheels with a set of 245/70R19.5 Hankook DH01s on it and it would tackle anything asked of it.

In reply to captdownshift:

Why is that better than a KUV?

I picked mine up for $3800, spent $400 in converting a dual bunk in the back and $450 on maintenance items, scored the wheels and tires via sponsors. I'm not saying a KUV isn't a bad option, but they aren't as plentiful (locally at least) and the added height of the ambulance box made the dual bunk possible. Potable heat and cold water and adding a range top made things nice as well.

SVreX wrote: In reply to Marjorie Suddard: You asked us for the downside. There are some upside advantages. I think the biggest (possible) is brand visibility. Those things are eye catching. Very much so. Especially if you leave the lights and siren. It's a freaking rolling billboard. The most important question is probably a marketing one. If your company was called "Racecar Doctor", it would be a slam dunk. Since the company is called "Grassroots Motorsports" (or Classic Motorsports, Motorsports Marketing, etc), I could make the case for a cleanly retired repurposed vehicle, and it would be really nice if it was a classic. I think YOU need to make the marketing judgement. Is it an asset to the people you are trying to impress at these events to be seen driving an old ambulance, or a detriment? On this forum, obvious asset. But if the people whose eye you are trying to catch at the events are corporate sponsors, maybe yes, maybe no. You would need to compare the professional image against that of a clean white van with a nice logo on it. No one knows your audience better than you.

Thanks for the thought you've obviously put into your replies.

Yeah, I am considering all of the above, but I think it's only to justify lights and a siren. And gurney goes up! Gurney goes down! Up! Down!

Margie

In reply to captdownshift:

Price point I understand. I've seen some cheap ambulances. But the ones being discussed here are $10k or $15k or more. I bought my KUV for $8500.

I also understand availability.

I dont understand headroom. My KUV is taller than most of the ambulances I have seen, and it's not a high top.

If it's a matter of "it's what I could find at this price point, and I did the best I could", then OK, I get it.

But I am not clear on why to hunt one down (with the inherent compromises), when there may be a perfectly good KUV at a given price point.

In reply to Marjorie Suddard:

Cool, then I fully support it!

Okay I love acronym's but can't figure out KUV???

It is technically "Knapheide Utility Vehicle", but that is a brand name. It is used to refer to an industrial style walk-in tool body on a cutaway van chassis.

http://www.knapheide.com/products/kuv-bodies/

7.3L powerstroke ambulance is definitely on the 'overnight/expedition/tow vehicle' list when I get berkeley you money...

This should be done in the interest of a well rounded vehicular vocabulary. The only way to tell if you are truly mad is to cross the line and see if you are comfortable in your new surroundings

In reply to SVreX:

OK, I definitely look at those too.

Petrolburner's high van is a definite one to consider.