HEALTHY HOME
I transformed an ambulance into a cosy home – it’s much better than living in a house… my decor is insane
The adventurer laid out the reasons he'll never go back
A MAN has transformed an old ambulance into an incredible home on wheels and now travels the world.
Content creator CJ Gray, 34, made the daring move after he grew sick of his monotonous daily routine.
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To switch things up, he nabbed an "end of life ambulance", spruced it up and embarked on an epic trip across Europe.
“I bought the ambulance from a private medical firm who used it for events and training I believe,” CJ, from Coventry, told .
“I was only looking for normal panel vans at the time, but then more eccentric ideas started flowing and before I knew it I was on eBay looking at ambulances.
“When I went to view it, none of the electrics in the rear worked properly so I viewed it in the torchlight, but I knew it was 'my van' instantly.
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“The van was only ever used for training, but I still see it as a noble van, so I make sure it has a bloody good retirement.”
Currently living it up in Portugal, CJ's new life has seen him explore the sights in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
The intrepid explorer has forked out £4,000 on renovations so far, but he isn't done yet.
He continued: “This van has never been finished since I got it – there are always new things going in and changes/improvements being made.
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“The beauty of buying an ambulance was how much [stuff] was already fitted for me, for the money I paid for it.
“I got an insulated box-bodied van with double glazed windows, side and rear-hinged doors, large external lockers, a diesel heater, aircon, a 2000w inverter and all of the mains wiring ran to plug sockets, interior lighting, 12v electrics ran in every wall.
“Most were for medical equipment but those ports were cut off and USBs, lighting or some other accessory were added in their place.
“Most of the interior furniture has been kept, just cleaned, some areas reassembled for different uses.
“The furniture is insanely well built but modular, aluminium frames with clinical lined Ply inserts, so it was really easy to rework.”
Incredible renovation
To make the motor more homely, CJ fixed the electrical system, put a new coat of paint on the interior walls, laid down some flooring, and chucked in a sofa bed and bathroom area.
“The only ambulance things left are for show really, some switch panels, the odd label in cupboards, a mudflap that still says ambulance," he said.
“Other than that it's fully transitioned into a home on wheels.”
He managed to keep costs down, and estimates he spent £3,000 on electrical items, as well as £1,000 on mechanical work and decor.
He said: “One of my favourite parts is that I can run a gaming laptop and TV.
“I'm not sure many people can claim to have played Grand Theft Auto Online on top of a stormy mountain or at the bottom of a quarry.”
CJ has now been living in the ambulance for six years, and he has no plans of returning to his previous gaff.
He added: “I really don’t miss living in a house, many things seem alien to me now, like too many rooms!
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“Winter in van life can be tough, but that is all really.
“I hope to carry on this life full term for as long as I can.”
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