The Campbulance: Converting the Old Into A Vehicle for Adventure

Myles Hartman said the van life called his name for the past several years. Now, he and his girlfriend Jasmine Canady are finally taking the leap. 

The appeal of “van life” has been growing over the past several years as people purchase school buses and the like to turn into campers or mobile homes. 

While most people opt for a van or bus to convert into a camper, Hartman and Canady went for a set of wheels that’s slightly more on the fringe. 

Hartman said that converting an ambulance into a camper is more convenient than other types of vans. Ambulances come with lights, electrical hookups, and plenty of compartments for storage.

“It’s easier than I thought it was going to be,” Canady said.

When Canady began dating Hartman more than a year ago, she knew she would be signing up for a few outdoor adventures. But after several camping trips where she woke up covered in slugs (yes, slugs), she knew they would need to find a compromise. 

“I really enjoy being able to stay in a nice enclosed space,” Canady said. “This way we can go out in nature and have fun, and I get my benefits and he gets his benefits.”

Hartman is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys being on the go. The campbulance allows him to have even more flexibility to travel.

“Now we have more freedom,” Hartman said. “We can stay outside in nature, in the exact location we want to be.”

If you want to learn more about the growing campbulance movement, check out the ambulance conversion owners group on Facebook.

Catherine Hoffman covers community and culture for Kansas City PBS in cooperation with Report for America.