Repurposed for recreation.
There are many camper designs that go beyond the ordinary. There have been many vans, pickups, and trucks that were transformed into home away from home. There are many creative and affordable conversions that can be done.
The overlander of today fits into the second category. Canadian couple Nick and Reychel gave the ambulance a second chance by making it a budget camper. According to the couple, it took three months to convert the Chevy express ambulance into an affordable mobile home. The total cost of the conversion came to about $12,000. If you add the van’s purchase price, it would have been around $12,000 A campervan is an affordable option if you look at the cost of new ones.
What are the living conditions in the repurposed ambulance? Nick acknowledges that the ambulance doesn’t have much headroom because the box at its back is only six feet high. There is no shower or water supply onboard. It’s not perfect, but it’s still a comfortable place to stay.
If you’ve ever worked with ambulances, Nick and Reychel did an excellent job renovating the interior. Because of the limited space, Reychel and Nick had to design storage solutions that would fit in their small space. The couch can double as a wardrobe for clothes and the shelves are narrow to maximize space. A pair of solar panels keeps the van’s living facilities running.
The couple lived for ten months in the decommissioned ambulance about a year ago. In the past few years, the ambulance has also traveled to the US multiple times. It reached the West Coast and the Pacific Northwest. The Youtube channel documented the journey and shared their experiences, as well as highlights of the lows and highs of budget van life. You might also find inspiration from their build.