Blog 47 Project Mercedes Ambulance, With some tips on How to go about it, if you have the time and money

KeefH Web Designs
Nov 15, 2021
2 min read

Updated: May 23

By keef & annie, Sep 23 2012 02:01PM Project Mercedes Ambulance

Hi, have you thought of creating your own motor home. Thanks to our lovely friend Vin in France for the idea!

Dive into Project Mercedes Ambulance — the quirky, ambitious motorhome conversion that turned an ex‑ambulance into a touring classic. This blog follows the rebuild, the challenges, the fixes and the fun of transforming a hardworking emergency vehicle into a unique home‑on‑wheels. Perfect for readers who love DIY motorhome projects, retro vans, clever upgrades and real‑world restoration stories. These 'old' Mercedes ambulance are cheap, well looked after and ideal (in our view) for a very personal conversion job. If only we didn't have our lovely van we would consider it. Let us know how you get on, maybe we could come and photograph the final job and feature it here on the blog and / or on our facebook page. Bit like 'Grand Designs Motorhome' *smile*

We saw a Mercedes conversion at the Don Amott's campsite in Lincolnshire, plus there is one featured on Blog 52, it is copied below as well to save you searching, kind eh? 😉

HERE'S HOW TO GO ABOUT IT

Converting a retired Mercedes ambulance into a fully usable motorhome is a rewarding project, but it works best when approached methodically. The first step is assessing the base vehicle: check the engine, brakes, suspension, electrics and any remaining emergency‑service fittings. Ambulances are usually well maintained, but they often have high idle hours, so a mechanical once‑over is essential before you start designing your layout.

Once the vehicle is sound, strip out the interior. Ambulances come with specialist cabinets, wiring looms, oxygen mounts and partitions that need removing to create a blank canvas. As you clear the space, plan your layout around the existing structure — the high roof, wide rear doors and strong floor mounts are all advantages. Sketch where you want the bed, seating, kitchen, storage and washroom, keeping weight distribution and access in mind.

Insulation and soundproofing come next. Ambulances are partly insulated, but not to motorhome standards. Adding proper insulation, vapour barriers and lining boards will make the van warmer, quieter and more efficient. After that, tackle the electrical system. You’ll likely need to replace the original wiring with a leisure setup: a split‑charge system or DC‑DC charger, leisure batteries, solar panels, LED lighting and a safe 12V/230V distribution board.

Plumbing follows a similar logic. Decide whether you want onboard water tanks, a simple pump system, a sink, a shower or just basic washing facilities. Fit these before building furniture so pipes and cables can be hidden cleanly. Then construct your units — lightweight plywood is the standard choice — and secure everything to the vehicle’s structural points.

Finally, finish with flooring, upholstery, curtains, heating and any personal touches that make the space feel like home. A Mercedes ambulance offers a solid, tall, well‑built base, and with careful planning you can transform it into a distinctive, practical motorhome that’s built to last.