A man has transformed an old ambulance into an incredible home on wheels and now spends his days playing videos games while travelling the world.
CJ Gray, a content creator, was drawn towards life on the road after realising he was sick of the same everyday routine, feeling like he was stuck in a rut.
Deciding he had nothing to lose, he bought an ‘end of life ambulance’, planning to convert the rig and travel around Europe on a nine-month trip.
Little did he know, it would be for the rest of his life.
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“I bought the ambulance from a private medical firm who used it for events and training I believe,” the 34-year-old, from Coventry, England, told What’sTheJam.com.
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“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.
“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.”
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The van is still a work in progress, but so far CJ has spent £4,000 on renovations.
He said: “This van has never been finished since I got it – there are always new things going in and changes/improvements being made.
“The beauty of buying an ambulance was how much [stuff] was already fitted for me, for the money I paid for it.
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“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.”
Making the van feel more like home, he fixed the electrical system, painted the interior walls, wrapped cupboard doors, laid down flooring, and added a sofa bed and water tank, as well as a bathroom area.
He said: “The only ambulance things left are for show really, some switch panels, the odd label in cupboards, a mudflap that still says ambulance.
“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.
He added: “I really don’t miss living in a house, many things seem alien to me now, like too many rooms!
“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.”
So far he has travelled to England, Scotland, Wales, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
Currently, in Portugal, he plans to travel the entire coastline on his next journey.
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