NO LONGER FOR SALE: 1998 Ford E350 Disaster Relief Vehicle Ambulance 7.3 Powerstroke 44k miles

KlutchInd

Member
If you're looking to build your ultimate expo rig, this is one of the best blank slate trucks out there. It's a 1998 Red Cross disaster relief vehicle (still has the cross on the roof) that I bought in Texas. Basically an ambo with a big box, big back doors and without all the ambo stuff. When I got it it had just over 20k miles. I've been driving it for the last three years and absolutely love it. It now has over 44k miles so just like they always say "it's not even broke in yet!" I'd keep it but we're going to move up to something bigger with a plan to spend a year or so on the road.

The truck is in really great shape overall. Coming from the south is has no rust, the underside is extremely clean. I've only driven it one time in the snow on a trip this spring and a noreaster headed up the coast and there was no way to avoid it. BTW the trip was 3500 miles and didn't have a single problem with the truck.

The cab has the essentials, ac and crank windows. AC and heat work great, as do all the dash lights and gauges. It does have cruise control and it works well. I replaced the am/fm with a double din Kenwood touchscreen with bluetooth and video in and two 6x9 door speakers. It's got the typical ambo gauges and switches on a panel. Everything works besides the fog lights (they were old and yellow so I pulled them off and haven't replaced yet). The pa speaker had been removed but I replaced it so it's got a working crowd horn and pa mic. There is a power cutoff switch under the driver seat for the box. Behind the passenger seat is a Vanner inverter, although as far as I can tell its only wired to shore power.

The box is perfect as it has only a couple cabinets so you can build it out with ease. The box interior dimensions are 7' 6" wide by 12' 6" long and ceiling height is 6' 3". It's got lots of L-track which is what I've used to strap things tight. There are 2 overhead cabinets on the right side with doors that slide up into the cabinet so you can leave them open for access. It has a fluorescent light underneath it and three more in the ceiling all controlled by switches on the dash panel. There are switches in the rear but they don't seam to work. There is an exhaust fan that works. The entire floor and up a few inches all around is diamond plate with four drain holes, one in each corner. There is a cabinet just behind and above the passenger seat and another next to the spare tire (accessed from outside). Above this is the rear heat/ac unit that works well (as long as the truck is running, uses motor coolant). The only modification I made was to build a bed platform. It's a simple box with plywood bed that hinges up for access and also hinges out to a double.

Outside the box there are a couple cabinets. The spare tire cabinet is just behind the driver door. On the passenger side there is a cabinet down low for storage. I use it to carry a floor jack, tire iron, wood blocks, etc. On each side is a slide out drawer for two batteries. Two for the truck and two for the house. Since owning it I've replaced all four. I also replaced all six tires. Four on the trip home from picking it up in Texas and two more just after. The cheap chinese ones on the truck must not have liked sitting and then getting abused on the highway for hours because two of them let go before I made it out of Mississippi. Now I've got four Goodyears on the rear and two Michelins on the front. Front have another 10-15k miles left in them. Rears have lots of tread left.

The outside of the truck has a few scratches and piece of broken trim, all there when I bought it. The only thing of any concern body wise is on the edge of the drivers door. There was always a spot that looked like maybe it was bad body work. It finally cracked but not sure what's underneath, bad bondo, rust maybe. All the box doors are keyed alike and I have three sets. The fuel filler has a separate key.

I've been changing the oil every 5k with Rotella T and the fuel filter ever 10k or sometimes when I do the oil. Other than batteries and tires that's it. The one and only mechanical issue I've had with the truck came up this spring. A couple months ago it started leaking fuel when idling more that a few minutes. I did some asking around to diesel mechanic friends and they said likely its the fuel filter housing that is leaking. I took the doghouse off and it's coming down the back of the motor out of the valley area. So I'm going to order the seal repair kit and see if that does the trick. I have not found that it leaks while driving as the under side of the truck is dry after a long drive. I just did a 535 mile round trip to Maine got my best mileage to date, 12.7 mpg. With somewhat heavy footed driving it will get 10 mpg. Lighter on the gas and you're up in 11-12 area.

I'm somewhat reluctant to sell it because I looked for this type of rig for a long time. But here she goes.

$19,500

I'm located in Lake Placid NY and will consider delivery or partial delivery if the deal is right. I'm not interested in financing it for someone and taking payments. Cash in hand.
 

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Last edited:

KlutchInd

Member
More pics taken today.
 

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KlutchInd

Member
More pics
 

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KlutchInd

Member
More pics
 

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KlutchInd

Member
Aaaand some more. I took the pic of the rear lights to remind me that just before my last trip the little toggle switch on the driver side rear cargo light broke off. I believe it got corroded and when I went to flip it it broke off. Should have lubed it. When box power is on the cargo lights come on whenever a box door (any of them) get opened. There is also a warning light on the dash panel if a door is open. I should also mention that all exterior scene lights work. Two cargo on the rear (one needs a new toggle), two scene on the left and two scene on the right.
 

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Last edited:

KlutchInd

Member
Forgot to add pics of the bed.
 

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KlutchInd

Member
The overall height is just over 9'.

However, we have changed our plans. In an effort to spend as little on our living as possible we're keeping it and bought a travel trailer to tow. We were going the pickup and 5th wheel route but I really wanted to keep the truck. And new diesels are crazy expensive so considering its paid for the cheapest route was to install a hitch and buy a travel trailer. Of course just hooking on was too boring. We've got the trailer almost completely gutted minus the bathroom and fridge. New flooring and paint and kitchen cabinets/microwave/stove will be going in soon. We hope to document some of our build and travels if anyone wants to follow along on ig we're @ourparalleladventures, me @klutchindustries and her @mountain46
 

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