If you’re reading this right now, chances are you’ve just gotten started in the process of looking for a used ambulance. Most of the time used ambulances are purchased by ambulance companies and ran with their intended purpose. But you can be looking to turn one into a tiny home, a mobile work space or a camper. How could you resist? The appeal of a used ambulance is clear. Prebuilt storage, easily accessible parts and a growing community of adventurers doing the same thing. Used ambulances make a fantastic conversion starting point, but how do you even get started? What is important to know as someone who doesn’t have experience with used ambulances? I hope that this article helps answer most of your starting questions, however if you have more don’t hesitate to call us and ask away!

So, how do you get started? First of all, you want to list out your needs for your potential used ambulance conversion. Do you need 4×4? What about mileage? If you plan on doing a lot of cross country driving you may need a lower mileage unit than someone who wants to go to there local camp space. What about head room needs and general storage space?

First, let’s talk about mileage.

This is one of the most common questions I receive from people looking to do there first ambulance conversion. How many miles is a lot of miles on a used ambulance? The answer is that it depends on the engine and chassis. One famous engine in used ambulances for all the wrong reasons is Fords 6.0L engine. These units can be found all over the web at the moment as there are a ton of them being taken out of service. This engine has been known to be terrible in a lot of regards. Just this year we had one at only 80k miles blow while going under 5 mph leaving our shop. While that is not typical, these engines have made a reputation for themselves of being unreliable. At the time of writing this, we have a couple of these units on the lot that have absolutely no problems with over 150k miles. The truth is that you need to understand what you’re getting yourself into. We won’t be going over every potential engine that you can find in a used ambulance, but knowing the history and trends of a motor will give you a good idea of what you’re getting yourself into. If you’re mechanically savvy, a Ford 6.0L unit might be an incredible way of getting a unit for cheap. If you’re not, you can expect to be spending a lot of money in your local mechanic shop whenever the unit needs maintenance. Ford also has a V10 gas motor that we are seeing in more and more of the used market. Some of our customers can run this motor consistently into the 300k 400k mile range. Now, these units still need service and are not perfect by any means, but correct care can lead to a long life for them. Figure out what your mileage needs are and go from there based on your demands on the unit.

Sizing

Used ambulances for conversions can come in an array of sizes. Here is a monster of a truck that we sold to be turned into a camper. Then there is this unit that was sold to become a work truck! Figuring out your needs is essential in trying to decide how big of a unit you need. Most commonly, we see units with a either 68″ or 72″ headroom inside the module. This difference may decide whether or not you can stand inside or if you will have to hunch over whenever you need to move around! With this said, there are an endless amount of different headrooms in different units. It’s crucial you know whether or not you need to stand inside of your rig before you start shopping. This will eliminate a lot of options if you do.

The length, width and height of units vary quite a bit depending on the chassis and the module used. Depending on your budget, you may elect for a used ambulance with adjustable rear suspension, allowing you to lower it when you need to fit under a certain height!

4×4 or not?

Here is a bit of a touchy subject when discussing units for a conversion. Some people believe that the only way to go is a 4×4 rig, without exception. I believe the answer is that it depends on your needs and wants. 4×4’s will run you significantly more money than the same rig without it. 4×4’s tend to ride higher than non 4×4 rigs, so if you are shorter or prefer a lower ride, that may be something to take into consideration. On the other end of the equation if you are looking to put big wheels on your conversion and want to avoid a lift kit, a 4×4 may be the way to go as well. At the end of the day, not everyone needs it. Deciding if it is a must have for you is extremely important before you start your search for a used ambulance.

Great, but how do I actually purchase a used ambulance?

If you are at the point where you know what you are looking for and are ready to start your search, you can begin with a simple google search for used ambulances for sale. Some people prefer to buy there used ambulance from a dealer like us because of the work and repairs we do on vehicles. Others prefer buying from other people selling rigs directly in the hopes to find a great deal.

If you decide to work with us, we have trained emergency vehicle mechanics and technicians on site that will go over the unit and answer any questions that you might have. You can demo any unit on the lot with someone on our team virtually or in person. When the time has come and you have found your perfect rig, our team can help you with the DMV process and get you all the paperwork you need to get your vehicle registered. We try to make the process as easy as possible!

If we don’t have a unit that fits your needs, feel free to let us know and we can try to put you in contact with someone who does.

We hope that you have found this article helpful. Someone on our team would love to help you if you have any additional questions or are looking for any advice. You can reach us at (315) 579-2959 or help@usedambulances.com.