AmboLander

[FDM2012]

Finally added a driver side window to the house. Took the window and most of the interior trim out of an ambo at local salvage yard, for fab-trimming out the window and the new bed box. Only $75 for the whole pile of stuff. On a previous trip, I scored the turbo off of it for about $75. I have already rebuilt and upgraded the wheel in the one I am currently running, but it almost seemed criminal to no get this other one for a spare....

 

[Abitibi]

Nice move!

Those ambo box can be pretty dark so a few extra windows can't hurt. And airflow!

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[cabnetguy]

What wrecking yard do you go to? I'm not far from you, can't ever find anything good in the yards on my side of the bay.

 

[Bikersmurf]

I’d be lucky to find an ambulance anywhere near where I am… hard enough to find a diesel 7.3. I’ve found one diesel cube van. I considered the hydraulic brake assist, but they wanted so much for the dirty old parts I passed on the idea. If I do it, I’ll pay 30-40% more and get new/rebuilt rather than buy tired looking old parts that may fail soon.

 

[FDM2012]

LKQ. It's rare that they get them, so I try to pounce when I see them there.

What wrecking yard do you go to? I'm not far from you, can't ever find anything good in the yards on my side of the bay.

 

[FDM2012]

At long last, I now have a fan installed. #MaxAirDeluxe

 

[FDM2012]

Scored a Go Rhino bumper for 2 hundy. In my true fashion, it was a little buggered up, but I massaged it to where I am content. It came off of a Police Ram P/U down in West Palm Beach, in which the officer did a Pit Maneuver on some jerkwad that he was chasing. Anyhoos, it's mine now! #WinchSoon

 

[Abitibi]

Saw your post on FB earlier, nice score! Its fun to figure something else than the typical Aluminess for us DIY guys

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[FDM2012]

Yep.

Like you and most others on this site, I want an original and one of a kind rig. Not a cookie cutter.

E="Abitibi, post: 2966962, member: 15552"]
Saw your post on FB earlier, nice score! Its fun to figure something else than the typical Aluminess for us DIY guys

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[/QUOTE]

 

[FDM2012]

Finally got this bumper/winch project wrapped up. Besides fabbing some serious mounts for the frame rails,
I really beefed up the OEM flange welds and the winch plate, and used Grade 8 hardware on pretty much everything that matters.
If pulling hard, along with a snatch block, I will use a bridle and shackles to pull on both hooks.
9ft gives me 20 degrees, which is optimal.

Will soon move back to the rear and do some recovery point stuff there, as well.

 

[FDM2012]

Got the onboard air system finished up, installed a Renogy DC to DC charger, and really beefed up the rear hitch with additional frame mounts and added 2 more receiver tubes for recovery points and/or a bike rack. Kept the compressor to be easily removable/portable, and I have a 5 gallon tank underneath that I can fill, or not fill.

 

[Abitibi]

You did a really good job on the front bumper mounts!

Mine don't looks as good but they are well hidden.

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[FDM2012]

Thx, David.

While building it, I was envisioning being down in a revine or something, and getting cable pulled by a huge winch truck.

I wanted it to be strong enough to handle that. I think I got close. Same for the rear. My Welder/Fabricator Buddy also
thought it should handle a recovery of that sort.

You did a really good job on the front bumper mounts!

Mine don't looks as good but they are well hidden.

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[FDM2012]

Thinking that I am done with most of the Big Ticket projects on #AmboLander, I am circling back around to a few other things before I try and hit the road again after the holidays. (Smoky's anyone? Feb/March-ish....?)
Here is my recovery gear locker. Hopefully, Good Ol' Santy will bring me my 1 1/4'' kinteic rope! lol
One thing that I haven't been able to find, is a legit rope for running through the snatch blocks.
Hoping not to really need all of this stuff too much, but The Boy Scouts taught me to try and always "Be Prepared". (That was the 70's and 80's Boy Scouts......NOT today's version.)
Another thing I am starting, is how to configure my Battery and COMM's (GMRS) Station. It will be packed in there (and ventilated), but that's no big deal....
On bigger group excursions, I will carry my larger GMRS radio box that I built.
How does this compare to your setups?
What am I missing?

 

[Bikersmurf]

I think you’ll need some bigger D ring shackles.

Is your goal self recovery or recovering of others?

For self, your need a 16k+ winch. The general rule of thumb is 1.5x your rigs weight. A good 8k might do it if you’re double lining it, but then you’ll need to get even more complicated if that’s not enough. At least with a 16k, then double line gets you 32k. If 32k won’t do it… then you’re really in trouble.