My latest project...

I thought that maybe someone on here would be interested in my latest project.

I wanted a bigger tow vehicle for pulling my 28 foot enclosed car trailer.
I thought about a Class A R/V Motorhome but I didn't really want to deal with driving a 30+ foot Class A motorhome with trailer that's 30+ feet long also.

I liked the idea of R/V-Toterhome type of rig.

In July I picked up a 1994 International 4700LP Ambulance that I'm working on converting to an R/V.
It's got a DT408 Turbo diesel engine (6.7 liter) and an Allison automatic transmission.

This thing is only 24 feet long which make it only 4 feet longer then my 99 Ram 2500 Ext Cab long bed.

Since then I've been slowly removing all the Ambulance/Emergency Vehicle stuff that was left on it.
It's got front and rear a/c and heat.
It's got a 5000 watt inverter on it already.
It's wired for an outside 110 volt supply line.

The state of Missouri has a list of 6 things that they like on a vehicle titled and an R/V.
They require at least 4 out of the 6 things on the vehicle.

One thing that kinda sucks is that I only put 8 foot tall garage doors on my new garage and this thing is about 8 foot 6 inches tall.
I didn't think that I'd have something taller than 8 feet tall that I would want to put in the garage.

I talked to the garage door company, they said it would be spring before they could install any door if I ordered it now, that's the crazy waay the world is now.

Pretty cool

Nice. What's the GVW? Do you need a CDL or medical card?

I think once converted to an RV no special license is needed

thought those make a nice rig with all the built in compartments

Correct, and insurance for an R/V is way cheaper than for an International 4700LP truck.

The box is all welded aluminum too so I see it as way stronger than most motorhome, at least the older ones where the skin is attached to a wood framework.

The Max GVW is rated at 23,000 lbs IIRC what it said on one of the tags in the door jam.

I already have my CDL, had it for over 25 years.

Interesting.

What are the six things that make it an RV?

Dennis

Illinoise has the same RV laws, 4 out of 6 things must be present to make it an RV. My Ram 2500 has had RV plates on it since I bought it new in 2015 and my last truck did for 10 years and have never been pulled over. After my garage burned down I had an 18'x9' door installed in case I got stupid and bought something like yours...LOL...

IL defines a RV as "recreational vehicle is defined as "Every camping trailer, motor home, mini-motor home, travel trailer, truck camper or van camper used primarily for recreational purposes and not used commercially nor owned by a commercial business" (625 ILCS 5/1-169). A motor home, mini-motor home, or van camper displaying Recreational Vehicle (RV) license plates must contain at least four of the following six equipment items: 1) a cooking facility with an on-board fuel source; 2) a gas or electric refrigerator; 3) a toilet with exterior evacuation; 4) a heating or air conditioning system with an on-board power or fuel source separate from the vehicle engine; 5) a drinkable water supply system that includes at least a sink, a faucet, and a water tank with a an exterior service supply connection; 6) a 110-15 volt electric power supply. If a van does not meet the RV equipment requirements, the applicant should purchase either passenger or B-truck license plates, depending on the design and use of the vehicle (625 ILCS 5/1-145.01)."

I do have the following equipment to take with me when camping:
A two burner portable stove with propane.
A toilet that hooks to the hitch and has a curtain around it with a bowl underneath.
A heating system that runs off the 12 volt to 110 volt converter which accounts for two of the items.
I also have a water bag that goes on top of the camper shell that has a hose to a plastic sink that can be mounted on the camper shell.

What Missouri requires.

A recreational vehicle (RV) or motor home is a motor vehicle designed or modified to be used for temporary housing quarters, which includes sleeping and eating facilities. The temporary housing quarters must:

• Be permanently attached to a motor vehicle;

• Contain permanently installed independent life support systems which meet the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards (the guidelines can be purchased from the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Safety); and

• Provide at least four of the following facilities:

o Cooking, refrigeration, or ice box;

o Self-contained toilet;

o Heating, air conditioning, or both;

o A portable water supply system which includes a faucet and sink; and

o Separate 110-125 volt electrical power, LP gas supply, or both.


From what other's have said on the skoolies forums (converted school busses),
a simple cooler is okay rather than a refrigerator.

One of the 5 gallon bucket with a seat kit toilets is acceptable. Not sure I'm even wooried about that one since mainly the vehicle is for at the racetrack where they have toilets.

I took off the emergency vehicle light bar and cleaned it up and got everything working on it.
I figure that I'll sell it to try to recoup some $$$.
I put a video of it on youtube, hopefully it works.

Great idea!

I wanted more towing capacity in our motorhome when we bought one, but found the medium duty "Super C" chassis motorhomes just out of our price range. Ended up with an E450 with V10, and it can do what I need to do for now. But it cannot tow the enclosed trailer I would like to eventually have.

A lot of the F550 super c's can't tow, the CCC is nearly maxed out on all of them and they can't handle a 10K trailer or anything close (some can only handle 1350lbs!). The are now building some on the F600 chassis that can tow better. Just mentioning this here because A LOT of guys bought them to tow race cars and find out the hard way they can't.

Yeah, that why I choose to go this route, it has plenty of towing capacity for my 10,000 lb enclosed trailer.

I wanted something heavier that my 2500 V-10 truck.
It pulls it okay, but I hate when semis blow past me and everything kinda sways.
Even if I don't notice them coming up on the left, when I feel everything being sucked to the left I know that they're passing the trailer.
It's amazing what air flow/air currents coming off them can do to something that large as my truck and trailer.

Also pretty good actually.

That is ultra cool, I had to polity school a state trooper maybe 15 years ago on why I didnt need to wear a seat belt in my small RV. I pointed out things mentioned and also the underside propane tank, ect.... I did it in a polite and he admitted he would have to bone up and just let me go on my way. But I was correct and had done my homework.