Ambulance Conversion: Full-Time Home with Incredible Storage and Space

Ambulance Conversion Overview

• 🚑 Cheri purchased a 2003 Ford F450 ambulance with 75,000 miles for $10,000 from an online auction.
• 🏠 She has been living in it full-time since April of the previous year, having driven approximately 20,000 miles.
• 💡 The conversion prioritizes simplicity and functionality, retaining much of the original ambulance design while adding essential living amenities.

Interior Design and Layout

• 🛏️ A custom bed, built with plywood and 2x4s, converts into a bench or couch, accommodating a full-size twin bed and space for her dog.
• 📦 Significant storage is integrated underneath the bed, allowing Cheri to keep all her necessities organized.
• 📏 The interior offers ample standing room and counter space, with the ability to move the stove for a more functional cooking area.

Utilities and Systems

• 🔥 A diesel heater provides warmth, controlled remotely, and a fan with an automatic mode ensures comfort for her dog when she's away.
• 🍳 Cooking is done using a portable stove moved to an open counter space, utilizing an Instant Pot and a toaster oven.
• ⚡ A Bluetti power system, including an AC200L, is charged via a 200-watt portable solar panel and a DCDC converter while driving, providing power for outlets and a 12-volt electrical panel.
• 💧 Water is managed with a two-gallon jug for drinking and cooking, refilled from six-liter jugs stored inside and in an external compartment.

External Storage and Features

• 🧳 The ambulance boasts numerous external compartments, ideal for storing items like an inflatable paddleboard, scooter, tools, and emergency supplies.
• 🧺 A built-in laundry chute provides a convenient way to manage laundry without cluttering the living space.
• 🔋 Starter batteries are managed with a shut-off switch for long parking periods and can be charged directly from the Bluetti system.

Lifestyle and Advice

• 🚀 Cheri encourages others to embrace the lifestyle, highlighting the freedom, community, and expanded life experiences it offers.
• 🗺️ The ability to move with the seasons is a key advantage, eliminating the need for air conditioning as she can simply relocate.
• 🏞️ Hobbies like hiking, paddleboarding, knitting, and reading keep her engaged, with the outdoors serving as an extension of her living space.