This Man Travels Around the World in a Tricked Out Ambulance Van
Ian Dow was not having good luck.
After his fiancé broke off their engagement, Dow tried to buy a Sprinter van to travel around. The sale fell through.
And then Dow crashed his motorcycle.
That night, laying on his couch, Dow searched eBay for an ambulance vehicle. He located one, contacted the seller, flew to Missouri, and paid $2,800 for it. The 33-year-old then spent four months turning the ambulance van into one of the world’s coolest mobile homes.
"I built a rack over the cab to hold my spare tires and my dingy,” Dow told the Daily Mail. “Inside I've added a foldout table, a cedar-lined closet with self-closing drawers, and a swivel on the passenger seat so it can flip around.”
There’s also room for a bed, a kitchenette, a pantry, a refrigerator, and several ukuleles.
But the pièce de résistance is a rooftop hangout, complete with Astroturf and an extendable umbrella.
Since completing the ambulance overhaul, Dow has traveled to seven countries in the van with his friend, Dylan, and his dog, Dino. They drove south through Baja and took the ferry to mainland Mexico.
Related: This Photogenic Ex-Marine Is Traveling the World in a Campervan
They then worked their way down the Pacific coastline, surfing and fishing. They’ve driven through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and are currently in Costa Rica.
Dow also travels with his motorcycle, and can drive off from the campsite to explore more whenever he wants. Dow insists that he is able to survive on very little and can work odd jobs to support himself.
“I have been on the move for 10 years now, and haven't had a steady job the whole time,” Dow told ABC News. “I once was an art director on a film, a set designer and fabricator, an artist manager, music producer, graphic designer, painter. Life on the road is surprisingly cheap and I manage to survive with very little funds.”
Dow plans to travel around in the van for at least another six months.
Ian Dow was not having good luck.
After his fiancé broke off their engagement, Dow tried to buy a Sprinter van to travel around. The sale fell through.
And then Dow crashed his motorcycle.
That night, laying on his couch, Dow searched eBay for an ambulance vehicle. He located one, contacted the seller, flew to Missouri, and paid $2,800 for it. The 33-year-old then spent four months turning the ambulance van into one of the world’s coolest mobile homes.
"I built a rack over the cab to hold my spare tires and my dingy,” Dow told the Daily Mail. “Inside I've added a foldout table, a cedar-lined closet with self-closing drawers, and a swivel on the passenger seat so it can flip around.”
There’s also room for a bed, a kitchenette, a pantry, a refrigerator, and several ukuleles.
But the pièce de résistance is a rooftop hangout, complete with Astroturf and an extendable umbrella.
Since completing the ambulance overhaul, Dow has traveled to seven countries in the van with his friend, Dylan, and his dog, Dino. They drove south through Baja and took the ferry to mainland Mexico.
Related: This Photogenic Ex-Marine Is Traveling the World in a Campervan
They then worked their way down the Pacific coastline, surfing and fishing. They’ve driven through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and are currently in Costa Rica.
Dow also travels with his motorcycle, and can drive off from the campsite to explore more whenever he wants. Dow insists that he is able to survive on very little and can work odd jobs to support himself.
“I have been on the move for 10 years now, and haven't had a steady job the whole time,” Dow told ABC News. “I once was an art director on a film, a set designer and fabricator, an artist manager, music producer, graphic designer, painter. Life on the road is surprisingly cheap and I manage to survive with very little funds.”
Dow plans to travel around in the van for at least another six months.
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