Today will be my last day of SBSD, as Mark has returned from getting his water pump swapped. I’m sure you’ll be happy to get rid of me and all the cars I find interesting. I get the sense that many of you wish I’d included a “neither” option on many of my choices.
Jason has a cheap truck. David has a cheap truck. I want a cheap truck, but living in the Northeast means that many of my choices are barely choices at all. Take yesterday’s SBSD, which pitted two similar F-150s in similar spec with identical powertrains. The open question was: How much is a truck with unknown rust problems worth? What’s the who-knows premium?
It turns out that most of you were willing to chance it, assuming that maybe two-in-the-bush outweighs one in the bed:
The answer most of you seemed to come to, though, was that if you want something that can move a family and also tow something, then perhaps what you really want is a Yukon/Suburban/Expedition/Excursion.
When Mark first mentioned that he was going to roll his body into the shop, I volunteered to do SBSD and joked that I would do ambulances. That joke got a little less funny as the week went on, but yesterday Mark chided me in Slack for chickening out, so today is all about meat wagons. Specifically, I’m looking for a truck with good bones that could make a nice basis for an ambulance-to-RV conversion.
1998 Ford E350 Ambulance – $15,999 (OBO)
Engine/drivetrain: 7.3-liter Powerstroke Diesel, RWD
Location:Â Cedar, Minnesota
Odometer reading: 39,000
Operational status:Â Runs and drives well
If you’re going to build an RV out of an ambulance, something low miles and diesel seems like a good place to start. I’ve always appreciated how almost happy these E-Series Ford vans look. This smile is almost a little dopey on account of the inwaard-pointing flashing lights, but not in a bad way.
According to the seller, this bus started life as an ambulance but was converted into a SWAT team van, which explains the matte black paint. It was “owned by the government,” though it’s not clear which government that was. Burkina Faso? In terms of being converted into an RV this particular model has some advantages, including a shore power hookup, backup camera, front/rear heat, cruise control, and a master kill switch.
The owner says the original plan was to turn it into an RV, but they’re too tall for the back part. This person has benefited from a life of extended height and reach, but that comes with its own shortcomings. Their loss is your gain. In addition to the built-in features, this E350 comes with a 7.3-liter PowerStroke diesel (though if it’s tied to the E40D or 4R100 transmission is unclear).
It’s also quite low mileage for a service vehicle.
2011 Ram 3500 Ambulance – $11,999 (OBO)
Engine/drivetrain: 5.7-liter Hemi V8, RWD
Location:Â Houston, Texas
Odometer reading: 191,037
Operational status:Â Runs and drives well
Here’s a more modern and, in some ways, more attractive model. This Heavy Duty RAM looks great, and seems like it’s been well-maintained. It has over 191,000 miles on it, which means that it defintiely has been used for regular duty.
I think there’s probably a moral quandry when it comes to buying a vehicle that could be used by a smaller fire or EMS department as a rig, but at mileage this high I think this particular vehicle has put in its time and is ready to start collecting its pension as an RV. Just look at the dogs! The dogs are ready for a trip.
This is another vehicle where the transmission choice is a little vague, though I’m guessing the Hemi V8 puts power down through the 545RFE five-speed. Please let me know if I’m wrong. Other than it being “well-maintained” there aren’t a lot of details. That, combined with the miles, means that it’s a little cheaper than the Ford.
This one seems like it’ll need a bit more work to transition into an RV, and it lacks a full pass-through from the cabin to the rear, which I think is a key feature of one of these vehicles.
Here are two good potential choices for a future RV build, though each with their own advantages. Do you want something newer, but more used? Or something older that’s barely been driven?
Top photo: eBay Motors
Gimme the low miles Powerstroke. I’m going to have to stoop to walk through the rear section in either one.
One advantage the E series does have over the RAM- the 392 DOES NOT TAKE WELL to idling. More idle hours- new cam and lifters time (or new engine sometimes is probably a cheaper option IN SOME CASES).
The IDI has no MDS, just a stout diesel engine. Yes, things will break as its old, but it is still a great option, if you don’t want RAM electronics (this tradesman doesn’t have any, but still). Unless you are going offroad, I don’t know how much better the RAM would be (including the idle hours time).
I would go E series in this case.
Well I guess it’s Ford Friday.
1. I’m familiar with the 7.3. I have maintained a truck with a 7.3 for over 10 years. And I like them.
2. If it really was a swat team van, I enjoy government vehicles that were repurposed/sold to a different government organization. I had a Crown Vic Police Interceptor that was painted red because it was sold to a rural fire department nearby after the city was done using it as a police car.
Having just this week purchased an ambulance (1981), I’m glad you didn’t chicken out!
Tough one. The van is definitely a bamblance but 7.3 even though it’s a dog will run forever. If the Dodge had a cumins no question. Id try to get a Horton body just because they are build like tanks. I don’t think either of those are. I think look for a cumins or a cheaper Ford with a 7.3 or a bulletproofed 6.0.
Seems like a lot of y’all got a taste for rusted out heaps after those 2 F150s
RAM! This was so easy…an ugly Fix Or Repair Daily/Found On Road Dead in rusty Minnesota vs an awesome RAM in non-rusty TX? I’ll turn that beauty into an amazing RV and have a ton of fun w/ it. HEMI V8 for the win!
I prefer the Ford, but that black paint has way too much “Government sponsored abductions” vibe. Maybe a nice green or blue will cover it?
Can I put the box of the RAM ambulance on the Ford? No?
Two things you want in an RV is reliability, and serviceability. A lot of the vintage RVs I’ve seen are really fucking cool, but I’d hate to break down 1,000 miles from home and have to find obscure parts.
That shouldn’t be an issue with either of these. But if I’m buying something to take me all over the country, I’d prefer low miles. Yeah the Ford is older, but parts should be cheap and just about anywhere should be able to work on it, should you find yourself broken down somewhere. So the Ford for me.
Was all in on the Ram till I realized there’s no pass through. Kind of a dealbreaker for RV use.
Ford wins, I guess. I’m not a diesel fanboi, and low miles or not, it’s still close to 30 years old. And being from Minnesota it’s likely to be in rough shape underneath. I probably wouldn’t choose THIS particular Ford.
Disputed zone?
Don’t you mean “tallcomings”? <rimshot>
You spelled Bambulance wrong.
But yeah this choice is so easy, the not even broken in 7.3 takes the win by a mile. Plus it is in a much better vehicle.
Ram because if all else fails you can scrap the box and put a pickup bed in it.
Not that you should, Matt. New York has a rolling 25-year emissions exemption. Buy David’s J-10 and drive it home, make content from it!
Neither – I just want the cute doggos.
Especially the one with shades on! 🙂
Taking the Ferd. It’s a bit pricey, but the low mileage, the diesel and the passthrough make it way better for RV duty than the Ram. I have trouble imagining that a Hemi doing ambulance duty for 190k miles has a lot of life left in it.
Idle hours matter too. The 7.3 PS is stouter than the HEMI (gas vs diesel, yes its unfair) for HD use.
Low idle hour 392s can reach into the 300k-400k mile range easily. I just don’t know if this one will if it has been idled excessively, otherwise I will have to add an emergency hellcat oil pump too.