Advice on converting a hiace ambulance

sovietpop

It's over a year since my beloved bongo was stolen and burnt out , I've been looking every day for a replacement but haven't found it yet. I was looking for something small, another bongo, a transit, a vw - but all the ones I've seem on done deal seem very old.

There is a hiace ambulance that looks promising but I'd have to convert it and change the registerstion. While I can handle the paperwork, I'm not sure I can the conversion. I've found companies that do vw (expensive!) and transits - but hiace conversions seem rare. Is there a reason for this? Are there companies who could do a basic conversion for me? Do ambulances raise red flags in terms of conversions?

crabbypaddy

sovietpop wrote: »

but hiace conversions seem rare. Is there a reason for this?

I'd say for every euro you put into a t4/t5 van you'd probably get add 3 euro in value to the converted van. Plus the conversions have been done to death converters can just look online for ideas and there are tons of plans / readymade design, ready made parts, customisation parts available.

If you're talking about the hiace 'powervan' 99-10?, amazingly reliable maybe a bushing every 100k miles. Back suspension can be a bit soft but ambulance probably already has reinforced suspension.

They curve in a lot towards the top, imo high roof always looks a bit like a top hat stuck on top of them and because they have a lifting tailgate theres a scoop out of the back of the high roof to accommodate that which always looks a bit naff. Then there the historical association with travellers (although judging by balinasloe the primastar is the new hiace) now which believe me is alive and well I once brought a wedding cake to the clarion hotel in kinsale in a hiace when the manager saw the cake coming out of the back of a hiace he almost had a panic attack

sovietpop

We'd the same experience when we rocked up to the Cliff Hotel for lunch in our Bongo. :-)

Thanks for the feedback. I guess we'll just ring around and see if there is anyone who is interested in doing the conversion. #excited

sovietpop

Just been to have a look. It's a 2002 hiace which currently has 8 seats, so more a minibus with room for a wheelchair than an ambulance with a bed. Our current concern is the roof height. We measured and the interior is 1.7 - shy of the needed 1.8 but it has a false interior roof. We need to check that if we get that removed, it'll give us the regulation height. nervous.

Benbecul97

You could try these guys http://www.vanderlust.com/campervan-conversions/

aujopimur

Being a bus means VRT has been paid, which is a bonus.

sovietpop

It's only taxed upto the end of this month, vrt - I thought we would have to pay VRT at 13.3% to get it re-registered as a camper? I am wrong ?

spaceHopper

I've a jap import camper, it's the old shape, 91. I love it but it's getting a bit old and rusty now.

I posted links to jap campers in this thread, http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=96617704 it will give you idea's for layout. It it were me I'd put money into good pars like crash rated seats which add value or can be take to the next van.

sovietpop

thanks! Put a deposit it, because yolo. :-)

Alkers

Investigate insurance before you buy!

sovietpop

Wise advice. We've talked to Dolman's and our car insurance company and made sure it is 1.8m high. We also were previously insured with the Motor Caravan Club, so think we could also go back there.

Alkers

sovietpop wrote:

Wise advice. We've talked to Dolman's and our car insurance company and made sure it is 1.8m high. We also were previously insured with the Motor Caravan Club, so think we could also go back there.

I think I recall seeing an exclusion for ex ambulances from some insurers.

crabbypaddy

Simona1986 wrote: »

I think I recall seeing an exclusion for ex ambulances from some insurers.

Yeah its says it in the dolmen camper documentation, but my friend had an ex ambulance insured with them for years. You would always convert it to commercial first.

sovietpop

It's not an ambulance as in a vehicle with a bed and equipment, its an ambulance as in a minibus for bringing day patients to a day hospital, iykwim.

Benbecul97

sovietpop wrote: »

iykwim.

huh!

magentis

Benbecul97 wrote: »

huh!

If you know what i mean

Benbecul97

magentis wrote: »

If you know what i mean

Jeez, some of these abbreviations drive me nuts!:eek: It's as quick to type it out!:D

sovietpop

Apologies for my Internet laziness.

Thanks for the link spacehopper, it's great!

Now we have to find someone to do a conversion. Has anyone any experience with Ceide campers?

Fwiw

Benbecul97

Sir Liamalot wrote: »

Fwiw

Forgot Where I Was?? :O You couldn't have picked a better example of why not to use text shorthand!!:D

It's an embedded link.

Benbecul97

Sir Liamalot wrote: »

It's an embedded link.

I know, and that's one of the meanings!