Recent content by rlrenz

  1. rlrenz

    Propane Tank Heater Blankets?

    Years ago, we had some winter projects in an unheatedbuilding. We had an approx 250,000 BTU jet heater fed from a full 100# bottle. At 10F, we couldn't keep it running until we moved the bottle to about 10 ft in front of the heater so it caught some of the heat. That was all it took -- just a...
  2. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    The air bag jack does a lot, but since its made from three stacked air bags, it does the most lifting with the largest air bag. Ligting the entire front end meant stopping to block things every 2 inches or so. Definitely faster than anything else I have, though. Even so, I'm thinking about...
  3. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    I admit it -- I'm Hi-Shy. Heights and me do not get along well (ladders of any kind/height). Standing on a 10 ft ladder to change out side lights meant one hand on the ladder, one hand on the new light, one hand holding the new screw, and one hand turning the screwdriver meant that I was not a...
  4. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    That's an interesting idea -- but if I did that, and someone tripped the alarm, I could have 10 warning lights flashing at once. Probably would be pretty easy to see, particularly since my Tecniq lights are rated for emergency vehicle use, and definitely bright!
  5. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    Maybe I'm nuts, but I wanted to keep the exterior warning lights --but stealthy. I removed all the existing halogen lights, and replaced them with Tecniq K90 LED warning and scene lights. Clear lens, but amber lights. I was originally going to use the truck as a "Communications Facility" for the...
  6. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    I used my air bag jack to give a little more room for a creeper - supported the front end with stacked 2x10x18" lumber under the wheels so I wouldn't have to work between jack stands. I found that the jack lifted the load fairly easily when it was nearly collapsed (maximum air bag diameter)...
  7. rlrenz

    Ambulance Camper/ Expedition Rig Conversion FAQ

    The bulb is actually in a black base that plugs into the white socket. Yours look like 50 watt bulbs were used. Your reflector looks in good condition and should be reusable, but I have no idea which LED bulb can be used -- I replaced my entire fixture with Whelen 900 LED units. You might...
  8. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    Food for thought --- at my age, crawling under the ambulance to just look at something is a real PITA. I tried a mirror, bit still cumbersome. Plan-B came to mind. A $49 rear view camera on a stick. I ordered one from Amazon, and I found it is in focus down to just a few inches. It has white...
  9. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    Look for "CXRCY triple bag air jack 5 ton". I paid $189 for mine. I plan on adding an air pressure gauge to mine so I can see just much a load weighs. The math says it will lift 7900# with 100 PSI air pressure (9800 pounds at its rated 125 PSI), so I can easily figure weights
  10. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    Moving right along..... I finally realized that even though using a jack could be made easier, it would require crawling under the ambubuggy and blocking up the jack if it was short to reach the axle (jacks come in various lengths -- too short, and too tall). I saw this on Amazon, and decided to...
  11. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    I looked at modifying the ram from the HUMMWV into a jack, but found that it was too long to fit under the axles. I remembered that I had an OTC air operated hydraulic pump in the garage, so I bought a 4" stroke ram for $90. End result - a compact, air operated jack. I still have to weld up a...
  12. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    I suddenly realized my batteries were seven years old! Time for four new Group 31 truck batteries. OUCH! Prices have risen - even with the maximum discount I could weasel out of NAPA, they still ran $500. The old ones didn't look bad, but I didn't trust them anymore.
  13. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    If I park it in my garage just right, I can open the front-tipping hood. That's the goal, but I also want to be able to close the garage door. I'd thought about a laser on the ceiling or something equally unique - but installing and adjusting it would be a big PITA. Then, I realized there was...
  14. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    The sink alone makes the countertop worth whatever fiddling will be required for installation
  15. rlrenz

    Buying & Building a Medium Ambulance into an RV – The FAM-BULANCE

    I've been debating countertop material. My choices were Corian, Silestone, butcher block, ceramic tile, Formica, and stainless steel. Butcher block looks good, and is easy to fabricate, but I wasn't happy installing a sink in it, plus seasonable expansion / contraction could lead to...
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