This Monstrous 4x4 Ambulance Is a Big-Budget Camper Packed With Ingenious Features

Meet Tom and his self-converted tiny home on wheels. What we have here is a 2009 4x4 Chevy Kodiak C4500 sporting a Duramax 6.6-liter turbo-diesel engine paired with an Allison automatic transmission. Tom says it gets about 12 MPG (19.6 L/100km).

After all the additions and upgrades, the total weight amounted to a hefty 18,000 lb. (8,165 kg). To support this weight, Tom replaced the ambulance's original duallies and installed huge 31-inch Continental MPT81 tires.

This base vehicle used to be an ambulance in Yellowstone National Park – so, as you can expect, it's ready to go off the beaten path. Tom spent $44,000 (€41,379) to get his hands on it when its odometer read a mere 14,000 miles (22,531 km).

Tom then invested around $70,000 - $80,000 (€65,830 - €75,235) into the conversion, bringing the total price to about $120,000 (€112,853). That's a pretty hefty sum for a conversion, but Tom didn't hold back on installing the features that matched his needs. Sure, you can build an ambulance for a mere $7,000 (€6,583), like this one, but it will be nowhere as practical and comfortable as this rig.

But why would you choose an ambulance for a camper conversion? Well, long story short, they offer a ton of storage space, they're meant to last, and they're quite cheap to buy (depending on the exact model). If you want to delve deeper into the topic, check out my article about why ambulances and skoolies are worthy camper van alternatives.

So, let's take a closer look at this rig, starting with its exterior. As I mentioned above, one perk of ambulances is the numerous storage compartments inside and out. Tom uses them to store all sorts of gear, tools, and more. Furthermore, one compartment holds the rig's power system. Its highlights are 400 Ah batteries, a 3,000 W inverter/charger, and an MPPT charge controller connected to 1,300 W solar panels on the roof.

Another exterior compartment houses the camper's water heater (which can be heated electrically or via the engine) and a three-stage water filtration system. It allows Tom to get water from pretty much any source, as he can filter it himself. By the way, the total water capacity of this camper is 70 gallons (265 liters).

Open the ambulance's two rear doors, and you'll find the garage. It's quite spacious, as Tom managed to fit two bikes and other personal belongings.

You can't really adventure without being prepared for adversities. Part of the preparation each adventurer must do is find a spot to fit a spare wheel. Usually, this is at the rear on a carrier, underneath the vehicle, or in an exterior compartment. Tom chose a different solution: store it on the roof.

But how do you get it down? Not by brute strength, of course, unless you want to mess up your back. In Tom's case, he came up with a clever solution. With the help of a specialized company, he built a custom rack that enables him to lower the tire using two small electronically operated winches.

That's it for the exterior, so let's step inside through the door on the passenger side. Tom removed a significant part of the interior to make room for his living space vision.

The kitchen features a dual-burner induction stove, a small sink with a cabinet underneath, a microwave, a garbage chute, two sizeable drawers, and a dual-zone fridge/freezer. One cool and useful feature is a slide-out drying rack that helps keep the sink uncluttered.

The pantry area is separate from the rest of the kitchen. It's on the right, just as you enter the ambulance, where the original gear cabinet used to be. It's quite sizeable, consisting of multiple drawers next to a huge slide-out part.

Let's move toward the front of the ambulance, next to the door that leads into the driver's cabin. This is where you'll discover the bathroom, which is split into two parts.

The one on the driver's side of the interior is comprised of multiple storage spots, a shower, and a tiny sink. However, if you want to take a shower, you'll have to close two doors, basically enclosing yourself in this space, hang a curtain, and lift the floor panel to reveal a shower pan. On the opposite side, Tom devised a space with a Nature's Head composting toilet.

Next, we have the living room, which is located across from the kitchen. It has two swivel tables and a spacious couch with two drawers underneath: one is used for storage, while the other can be pulled out to serve as a step/footrest. Furthermore, in case you need to seat more people, a wood frame can be pulled out from underneath the frame to serve as an extra seating option.

And finally, we have the bedroom, located at the very rear of the rig. It features a full-size bedroom and a wall-mounted, 9,000 BTU mini-split unit. Above, you'll notice a large skylight positioned perfectly to stargaze from the comfort of your bed.

Although most people could probably make do with a full-size bed, it's always nicer when you have more sleeping space. So, Tom came up with a straightforward and efficient solution – he can extend the panel the mattress is sitting on and thus create a queen-size bed in just a few seconds.

All in all, Tom managed to create a fantastic tiny home on wheels. Yes, I know, it cost more than most people would be willing to invest in a camper. However, it's got everything you need to head deep into the wilderness worry-free, including proper utility systems, a comfortable layout, and something most people couldn't travel without: an interior bathroom.