t5 nsw ex ambulance

[jimmyd]

Well I bit the bullet and bought a T5 2005 Ex Ambo, drove it up to Brissy last weekend from the government auctions in Sydney ( bought it pre auction at a set price ) and I am Loving It !! . It had only 15400 k's on it, so, just want to know if anybody knows where to buy a rock and roll bed. Going to start converting it slowly, not sure if I will keep the mid roof or convert to pop up yet. Thanks for any suggestions !!

[jets]

Sounds like a great buy Jimmy. Looks like the ambulance service has plenty of money to sell with such a low mileage. I would check with your insurance co. before you do any conversion work, some of them may not insure a home conversion. Not sure if you need any engineers cert. if you install rear seating/bed.

[jimmyd]

must admit was a bit amazed myself, they had 10 for sale last weekend, lowest km's was a 4motion with only 14,000 ks on it. The one I orig was after had 25,000 , but sold before I could get my hands on it.

[AndyMac]

Congratulations Jimmy. I had an ex T4 ambo and had it converted by Frontline a few years ago. It was the 4wd and I sold it after a couple of years and made money on it...

I think that you will find it difficult to find a conversion company that is willing to put a pop top on for your without completing the full conversion. That was certainly the case for me when I spoke with most of the Sydney based conversion companies a few months ago. I have just had a bed/seat installed in my T5 by a company in Sydney called Belmore Auto conversion. www.belmoreauto.com.au It is far more practical in my view than the rock and roll bed. It is easier to use, and has the benefit of folding up completely behind the drivers/passenger seat if not being used. Additionally you do not require a separate engineering report which keeps the price down. Good luck with your conversion.

[jimmyd]

Hey thanks Andy, just checked out the site for seats, might give them a call, gave Trakka a call yesterday, and your right, they don't do partial conversion .. and their quote for basic conversion was $25,000...that's more than I paid for the van !! Frontline didn't even bother getting back to me. Looks like I've got a bit of googling ahead of me, thanks again mate

[David Morris]

our home on rubber peirs

Jimmyd I have a bed that hangs up in the roof so I can run my vintage motorcycles under it when we go to rallys .
unload the bikes & drop the bed down pop in the 4 legs pin it at what ever height we want the frame is made from alloy square tubeing & ply over the top & 4'' foam double with about 100mm sniped off the side so it fits up in the high top .
The whole things hangs on 4 ropes that go under the base to a 25mm alloy tube mounted in nylon plate bearings the tube is a winch drum the ropes wind around tube when I poke the crankhandel in the end & wind it up tight into the roof for storage that leaves me 300mm storage space on top for beding pillows & light junk as I left the pidgion holes up in the roof as storage .
I also cut a hole into the false roof over the cab & store heaps of junk up there . with 2 sliding doors we have 2 anexes that slide on tracks a full anex on the left & just an open sided sun shade or pit bay at race meetings for the right side .
works for us dont & cost a lot I will see if i have any pictures ??.
TC

[jimmyd]

Hey Dave, sounds great to me, I like the mid roof and was thinking of something in the lines of what you described. Was even thinking of the 2 annexes !! Besides Trakka recon they can't take the mid roof off as it is factory fitted in Germany, and would probably cost a bomb as well. Pics would be great !! thanks again mate

[Baytown]

Hey Dave.
What sort of bike do you carry? I cart my 1947 Indian Chief around in my T5 (Indian man big time!)

Best wishes.

Ken.

[jimmyd]

well I found a company in Central Coast NSW who will do as much or as little conversion on my van as I want. Tried Trakka, no negotiation, they just told me they will do such and such, and thats $25000 thank you !! Frontline , well I haven't heard a word from them since I got an email from them saying, yes, we can do the conversion. Brett at Macron campers rang me back straight away, and we talked for 30 mins about my conversion. He worked for Trakka for 15 years, so knows what he is talking about, and just told me to make a list of what I want, fax it to him, and he will cost it etc.

[rob64981]

Sounds like a good guy to know!

Does Macron campers have a website?

Where are they based?

Rob

[AndyMac]

I'll second that Jimmy. I spoke with Macron also and they were more than helpful which was refreshing. Website is www.macroncampers.com.au

[jimmyd]

Hi Rob, Macron campers are at 4 mills st Ourimbah, New South Wales, they are on the web just google macron campers . They mainly do custom fitouts for horsefloats, trucks etc. I did ask him about the rib seat/bed you guys have over there, but it's not available here. he suggested the rock and roll bed . My van has two sliding doors and I don't want to block the RHS door off, no probs with him in discussing my own layout. Hope you and your family have a safe and stress free move over here, and as you probably are aware, bring as much stuff for your new van here as you can ! just amazing the choice over there compared to here

[jimmyd]

Yes Andy, very helpful bloke, thanks for supplying the website info

[Code4]

FYI the NSW Ambulance Service does not own the Ambulances. They are leased from Macquarie Bank.

The T5's are not used for general duties in Sydney but are used in rural areas. They are 'turned over' at two years or 100,000km whichever happens first. Yours may have been a city car that was not used by the troops.

The very first T5's were the best. VW must have paid attention to quality control for the new model. The latest T5's, 2008 and later with the grey bull/nudge bar have had a fair percentage of Turbo's blow if held over 150kph for any length of time.

Most have easy long kays from long distance transports but they have all been flogged mercilessly at some stage. Serviceing is regular as are Roo hits.

[jimmyd]

FYI the NSW Ambulance Service does not own the Ambulances. They are leased from Macquarie Bank.

The T5's are not used for general duties in Sydney but are used in rural areas. They are 'turned over' at two years or 100,000km whichever happens first. Yours may have been a city car that was not used by the troops.

The very first T5's were the best. VW must have paid attention to quality control for the new model. The latest T5's, 2008 and later with the grey bull/nudge bar have had a fair percentage of Turbo's blow if held over 150kph for any length of time.

Most have easy long kays from long distance transports but they have all been flogged mercilessly at some stage. Serviceing is regular as are Roo hits.

Thanks for the info Code4, I didn't know they were owned by Macbank !! The only clue I had to were my van was stationed was that the service ( it had only had 1 ) was done at Lane Cove in Sydney. I crawled all over it before buying, it was the only 1 for sale that day that didn't have red dust under the chassis ! 1 bloke I spoke to who works for NSW ambo service told me that it was probably stuck at the back of the garage behind a few other ambo's, so that is why it had such low k's . One thing I have noticed since being converted to a camper is that it is using slightly less fuel, must be the new roof has less wind resistance than mid roof ? J