One of the biggest demands from today’s RV buyers is for rigs that last. After all, a motorhome may be the second-largest purchase a person can make, second only to a home. For some, the solution is an RV built out of a vehicle designed to take huge abuse, like an ambulance. This 2003 Ford E-450 has been turned into a surprisingly nice home on wheels, and it’s backed by one of the greatest diesel truck engines of all time, the Ford 7.3-liter Power Stroke V8.
Retired ambulances make pretty neat compact RVs. Ambulance boxes tend to be extremely hardy, and they already have built-in storage solutions and power, which a lot of do-it-yourself RV builders like. They also get built on durable platforms, which can be even more appealing. I’ve long been a fan of turning old service vehicles into RVs, and ambulances continue to grab my attention, especially when their builders go above and beyond.
I think that statement applies to this 2003 Ford E-450 “ambo” conversion. It looks like an everyday retired ambulance on the outside, but the builder went all-out inside.
Based On A Great Platform
According to a manufacturing plate inside the vehicle, the ambulance body and electronics were made by Life Line Emergency Vehicles. Life Line was founded in 1985 by Jim and Terry Leicher, a father-and-son duo. The pair delivered their first ambulance to the Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Per a press release, the Leichers believed that their attention to detail would make their ambulances stand out against other builders.
Apparently, the success with Sartori was good enough to convince the City of Omaha to buy ambulances from Life Line. Then, in 1988, Life Line became one of the first partners in the Ford ‘Qualified Vehicle Modifier’ program. The company has grown exponentially since then, and today it is known for being completely owned by its employees. It’s great that Life Line is still around! You might even be able to find parts for what few ambulance parts still remain in this rig.
The underlying platform is one we’re a huge fan of, and it’s the Ford E-Series cutaway. In this case, you’re getting an extra beefy 2003 Ford E-450 with a final-year 7.3-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel. I’ve written about these vans before:
In 1991 for the 1992 model year, Ford introduced the fourth-generation Econoline. Its chassis evolved, but for most people, the biggest changes happened inside and out as Ford completely redesigned the Econoline’s body. In brochures, Ford talked up the new Econoline’s chip-resistant paint primer and upgraded weather seals. Ford also said the Club Wagon was more luxurious than before and that the 1992 Econoline itself was “the first totally redesigned vehicle in its class in 17 years.” Ford touted the new Econoline’s more aerodynamic styling and coefficient of drag of 0.39, car-like convenience features, and that it was the only full-size van to offer a standard driver airbag at the time.
Further, Ford said the fourth-generation Econoline was designed specifically with upfits in mind. Engineers gave the fourth-gen vans a centrally located electrical system and central air-conditioning tap-ins so that builders would have an easier time transforming Econolines into different kinds of vans.
Towing was also a huge part of the fourth-generation Econoline. Ford said the frame of the 1992 Econoline was engineered with the use of weight distribution hitches in mind. Early fourth gens were available in E-150, E-250, and E-350 spec as standard vans, while the E-450 and E-550 were geared toward more medium-duty applications. In 2001, Ford phased out the Econoline nameplate, instead embracing the E-Series nameplate, which continues today.
Something fantastic about the E-Series is that they were available with so many of Ford’s greatest engines. Older fourth-gen examples could be had with Ford’s legendary 300 straight-six and the Ford 385 7.5-liter big block V8. You were even able to get these bad boys with Triton V10 engines, and they’re currently available with Ford’s latest Godzilla 7.3-liter gas V8. Honestly, the E-Series has come with more great engines than some pickup trucks.
For some, the greatest variant of the E-Series came with the iconic Power Stroke 7.3-liter diesel V8. We’ve covered these engines extensively, and I recommend clicking here to learn more. Otherwise, what you need to know is that diesel fans love the 7.3 Power Stroke for its extreme durability and simple controls compared to modern diesels. New diesel engines are more responsive, more fuel efficient, cleaner, and more powerful, but for many, the durability of these old mills is worth the downsides.
This “Ambo” RV Build
So, what do you get when you combine one of America’s greatest diesel engines with a durable cutaway chassis and a sturdy ambulance body? A great platform for a custom motorhome.
The seller, who is also the builder, offers this description:
I built this ambulance conversion with full-time van life in mind, but after moving to Colorado, it quickly became my winter ski camper and summer hiking base station. Whether you’re heading out for extended off-grid trips or weekend escapes, this van offers a luxurious, functional, and durable setup.
Comfort was a high priority when designing this build, without sacrificing durability and practicality. Work and eat from the slide-out desk/couch setup, snuggle up for a movie, and shower indoors with the drain-free shower—all after a long day in the backcountry.
On the outside, the motorhome appears to be just a normal decommissioned ambulance. You can even see where its ambulance markings were removed. Based on the phone number that was printed on the side, this ambulance ran for Ambu-Net Inc., a Texas-based company that pairs EMTs with private ambulance companies.
Your only real clues to the home within are the awning on the left side of the ambulance box and the shore power plugs on the left side of the unit. Otherwise, the real magic happens when you open the door.
We’re given this list of features as commentary on what you’re looking at:
3600Wh of new LiFePO4 batteries – A brand-new lithium battery bank.
Inverter Upgraded – Improved energy output to 3000W.
Instant Electric Hot Water System – Replaced the propane setup for a more reliable electric system.
Fully Off-Grid Capable – 300W Solar, 3600Wh battery bank, 3000W inverter, 480W DC-DC alternator charging, and shore power hookup.
Water System – 40 gal fresh & grey water tanks, on-demand hot water, DC pump, and indoor shower (hot & cold).
Cassette Toilet – No black water, no hassle, reliable in cold weather.
Kitchenette – Sink (hot & cold), large fridge/freezer, storage, and cooking space.
Roof Rack & Exterior Storage – Securely store all your ski gear in a lockable external box & strap your surfboard to the roof.
Comfortable Sleeping Setup – Full-size bed with ventilation, plus a couch extension for guests up to 6’6″.
Shore Power Input – Charge up when parked at a hookup.
Always-On Rear Camera – Functions as a rearview mirror replacement for full visibility.
Apple CarPlay / Android Auto Head Unit – Modern connectivity for navigation & music.
Onboard Air Compressor – Cab-mounted switch for easy tire adjustments.
Speakers in Rear Living Area – Integrated with head unit for immersive sound.
Awning – Provides shade (limited life left).
The build also comes with a lot of recent maintenance, including a new windshield, a new air-conditioner, an electric vacuum system, new sway bar end links, a new oil cooler, a new steering system, a new fuel pump, and more. The engine’s also had some work done, including a new turbocharger and a tuner device that lets you add more power when you want it. I’ve driven a 7.3-liter E-Series with one of these tuners before.
You can drive around with the engine set to make its stock 210 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque, or you can choose one of 14 levels to add in a little more power. Now, I will warn that in my experience, the E-Series platform sometimes freaks out when you play around with instant tunes. In one instance, I watched as a van’s check engine light flash as the ECU apparently had no idea what was going on, and the transmission shifted hard under the mountain of power. So, I wouldn’t go nuts with the tuner. A lot of the 7.3 owners I know choose one of the lower levels for just a mild increase in power.
What I’m most impressed by is that interior. A lot of ambo builds use the body’s factory cabinetry and seating. This cuts down on build time and cost. But in this case, the builder gutted the entire ambulance body, starting almost from scratch. I love how the coach has a real shower, real holding tanks, and a kitchen that you would expect to see in a real RV. A lot of ambulance RVs require you to shower outside, which sucks if the weather isn’t great or if you’re not comfortable getting naked in nature.
I also like how the passthrough has been retained, so you can move between the cab and the living unit without leaving the vehicle. There are other neat touches, too, like the wood panels on the ceiling. That wasn’t necessary, but it helps make the coach feel more like a home than an ambulance with home goods stuffed into it.
My nitpicks here are relatively few. While I like the full kitchen, I would have liked to see a black stove and sink to match the black refrigerator. It may also be the camera or my eyes, but the cabinets and the counter seem to be ever so slightly different blues. Then again, I thought my obviously orange scooter was yellow, so maybe my eyes are getting a bit “sus” nowadays.
Pricy, But Is It Worth It?
That stuff aside, I think this build is pretty neat! It’s subtle on the outside and really nice on the inside.
The next question is whether all of it is worth $55,500. That’s a hard one to answer. On one hand, that interior looks great! The work done in there appears to be pretty good, and it looks like it could have even left a factory in Indiana as a motorhome. The platform is also rock-solid and should last for many more years.
On the other hand, it’s still a two-decade-old ambulance with 191,000 miles. $55,000 can also buy you a new tiny Class C motorhome with a warranty. In this case, I think I’m going to say that it’ll probably be the right price for the right person. The RV is also in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is a great place to take it for a test run, too.
Regardless of all of that, I think this thing is pretty neat. I love it when people repurpose old vehicles. It’s a fascinating form of upcycling and keeps usable machines out of the scrapyard. So, I hope to see more fantastic builds from people who want to go their own way.
Something thats crossed my mind with something like this that might work with it, is if you took a pop top trailer and mounted it to the roof of the box, with a hatch way inside to go to the roof mounted pop top.
Could sleep even more people or make the box your everything but sleeper and the pop top as your bedroom.
Would have tons of room, wouldnt add that much weight to it as it is, and still be fairly compact.
It can be nicer than a multimillionaire mansion and I’m not touching that with a 39 1/2 foot pole. Its an ambulance. That MF is haunted as hell
A friend who had a hearse for schleping band gear had people ask him about it being haunted. He always said that nobody ever dies in a hearse; that’s what ambulances are for.
I was with you until the shitcase toilet.
It’s steep but they are getting harder to find i guess. I know the 7.3 run forever but they are truly gutless. The ambulance boxes are built really well so there is that. You used to be able to pick up a 7.3 truck with ambulance box for $3k I think they have gone up. Might be better going for a medium duty with the box lots of departments ran them and they are generally better quality just have to watch out for the international and MB diesels. I would take a bulletproofed 6.0 over a 7.3 should be able to find a 6.7ps ambulance for not a ton it doesn’t take too much to turn them to RVs.
$55k? Hard fucking pass.
Yeah the 7.3 was/is great… but if you do have to do work on them (i.e. injectors, which they all need at some point) it’s not fun at all doing that on an E-series.
Also, any upfitted body can have random electrical issues/headaches, squeaks/rattles that will never go away.
Lastly, these diesel ambulances were crazy heavy at curb weight. For example, a diesel super duty (or excursion) of the same vintage would work with the old school hydraulic lift I had in my bay. But the ambo’s were so heavy the lift wouldn’t lift them. Not a deal breaker, but something people trying to buy ambulances might want to be aware of.
If it were a ton cheaper, yeah, great rig. But I’m getting so fucking sick and tired of these flippers of skoolies, ambulances, etc.. asking for new-ish sprinter money.
“bUt iT’s A qUiGley” yeah, great, but it ain’t worth $60k with 250,000 miles on it bro.
That’s 27 months in a modest $2k a month apartment that won’t need regular oil changes.
Haha good point!
my friends are upfitting a van to live in while they go climbing and do digital editing work for money. they are being very smart about what they really need with function over stye.
its not the most absurd lifestyle, but it’s also not great if you just want to be a normal person with a 9-5 job.
I just watched a build review of a VERY similar setup. In this video, though, they made the pass-through larger which allows the front seats to be furniture when parked. I think it makes sense. I just want to know how tall the insides are….if I can’t stand up at a towering not-quite-six-feet I think I would rather just have a van.
I would just buy a van and upfit it how I want instead of buying someone else’s project once they realize how unnecessary that shower was
With an ambulance, and to a lesser degree a school bus, I’m really left wondering how many thousands of idling hours this has on top of the 200k on the odometer.
But at least this guy has been straightforward about the greasy bits. So many ambo and skoolie builds you see on social media completely ignore the mechanical condition of the base vehicle with 150k+ on the clock.
^ this is a great point. Ambulances (when in service) might not accumulate tons of miles, but when I was an EMT they could be idling for hours at a scene, especially in hot summers or cold winters (can’t have patients go in to a too hot or cold ambulance).
This is the case for lots of government/commercial trucks. For instance, a friend of mine was in charge of Verizon’s work truck fleet in the Northeast. When Ram made the big push to offer heavier duty 4500/5500’s, they bought a bunch (hemis, for whatever reason) and he said that even though the odometers on the hemi trucks showed only 40k-60k… they all needed new engines, all of them. Because of the idling needed for PTO’s, lights, etc..
very nice and a great motor. this price is mostly the interior as ambulances far newer are going for 1/2 or less. Still a very nicely done conversion.
Sounds like a perfect vehicle for Captain Chaos
Perfect zombie apocalypse vehicle.
meals on wheels
E-series cut aways are very cramped and loud inside. They’re ok for a run from the local nursing home to the hospital, but I wouldn’t want to do hours of highway miles in one.
If I was getting an ambuRV, I’d hold out for an F-series based one.
I think a wide-angle lens did a lot of heavy lifting, making it seem like a functional space.
I have driven E-series cut away U-Hauls back and forth between NYC and California a few times and was always impressed by how pleasant it was. That may be more of an indication of what I am used to as a daily driver than anything else.
Ambulances and box trucks are the best for conversions. The extra width might not seem like a lot, but it sure does make a difference when you are fighting for every inch. While the height of a box truck is a downside, the benefit is that you can get them in just about any size and platform. They are also great options for a stealth build.
I would for sure take this one over a new RV. RVs are generally built down to a price and it shows in their structure. Ambulances are a more robust box as a starting point.
Id rather just have a large van and be able to use the front seats as seats without going outside.
the shower is neat, but seems like a waste of space if you just get a gym membership
I get that. For any use that would interest me, there wouldn’t be gyms near enough to make that viable. Also, ambulances typically have a pass-through.
I’ve driven a variety of E-series cutaways. My least favorite was powered by a diesel, although I don’t know which.
The build looks great.
I’m baffled.
From the outside I see two rear doors with separate little windows.
From the inside I see a large picture window behind the bed.
What am I missing here?
The picture of the bed is with the doors open.