Threefold converted a 1995 box ambulance with only 50,000 miles into our Camera / Grip Truck. Here is an inside look at how we have it all set up. We renovated the inside and elements of the outside. Installed a lift kit and bigger tires and rims.
And if you are serious about video production, then you’ve invested in a lot of gear. As your arsenal of equipment grows it can become increasingly difficult to haul everything around in the trunk of your four-door sedan. We get it.
Threefold Bites the Bullet
Shortly after founding Threefold, we knew we would need to invest in a Grip Truck/Van. Like most independent film companies, however, we aren’t made of money so we had to do this thing right. After doing a lot of research we decided against the needless cost of a new (or even used) sprinter van, which would have left zero dollars to rig it out properly. So we took a more unconventional route.
Now, this truck didn’t always look this way. In fact, when we first purchased it, you might have expected to see it roll up to the ER (see picture below) at your local hospital. As you can see, pretty much the only thing we kept from this version was the “3FOLD” vanity license plates.
What you’re looking at is a 1995 Ford E-350 Ambulance. Because this vehicle was originally designed to save lives, the build quality of this vehicle is excellent. The compartments, doors, hinges, and other hardware are solid. This build-quality, combined with the bulletproof nature of the 7.3 Powerstroke Diesel gave us the confidence to put in the countless man-hours needed to convert this puppy into the pure-bred working dog we were dreaming of.
The Threefold Make-over
We started by removing all the ambulance decals and orange pinstripe. Over time we would remove and spray paint all the chrome diamond plating with a matte black bed liner coating to further align with our brand. The 3” lift kit and new wheels and tires gave the rig a more aggressive look. Then, we installed wider rear fender flares to accommodate the wider stance of the new wheelset.
There was a discussion about doing a full vinyl wrap of the exterior, but we ended up opting for a more minimal look with an oversized logo on each side. You’ll also notice THREEFOLD mirrored backward on the hood (like an old-school ambulance) so people can read it correctly in their rearview mirror. These few touches significantly changed the exterior aesthetic of the vehicle.
What about the insides?
We lined the floor of the ambulance (or “Ambo” as we’ve nicknamed her) with a commercial rubber flooring. This surface works hard for us, looks great and is easy to clean. We also installed multiple feet of track and rails in the floor and walls for versatile storage and strapping solutions. The shelves are used for pelican cases and milk crates so we can easily modify storage for any production.
We built a custom charging station behind the driver’s seat that keeps us from running out of charged batteries on a shoot. This and other electronics are powered through our 2000w inverter by three on-board batteries and also has an external outlet to plug in a power cord near the driver’s door. We built a designated DIT area that houses a couple of 120v outlets, USB plugs, magnetic tool holder, overhead light, and 2 right angle baby pins for directors’ monitors. There is also a lockable compartment we use to safely stow our built camera on a quick-release plate receiver.
The rear doors open to reveal more gear: C-stands, Combo Stands, 4x4s, 2×3’s, 18×24’s, rags, doorway dolly, props, etc. We get a lot of folks wondering how we get the gear down from the back. No, we don’t have a ramp or Tommy lift. It’s not a perfect system. Usually, we pull C-stands off the cart and leave the cart in the vehicle. If we need all of the stands, we’ll have two guys lower the cart down. Not a big deal.
Threefold Made Her a Head-Turner
It never fails. Every production we’ve been on, someone comments about the truck and how much they love it! She draws long looks from the truck buff as well as the marketing lady. Truly, this ambo has something everyone can appreciate. The only complaint we have is the relative lack of comfort in the cab. If you’re riding in the truck for more than 3-4 hrs., it can be a bit cramped and loud… but we’ve grown accustomed to its quirks over the years.
Here are the basic details of Threefold’s Grip Truck:
- 1995 Ford E-350 Box Truck (RWD dually)
- 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel Engine
- 50,000k miles (when purchased in 2016)
- 3” lift kit with upgraded wheels (Fuel Off-Road) and 35” tires (Fuel Gripper A/T)
- New rear axle gearing for larger wheel set and improved MPG
- All lighting converted to LED (interior/exterior)
- Addition of two exterior light bars for rear cargo doors
- Implementation of new outlets with existing electrical + 2000w converter
- Custom roof compartment
- Holds 6’, 8’ and 10’ speed rail, square tube and dolly track
- Spare Tire box + drone launch/landing pad
- Former life as a rural, small-town ambulance (for 20 years)
Scrolled to the video?
So you scrolled to reach the video first. You’re our kinda guy/gal! Check out our overview video of Threefold’s Custom Grip Truck
Watch How Threefold Converted an Ambulance into a Camera Grip Truck
Thanks for spending some time with us! But, like most things in life, it’s not what you have (i.e. grip truck) that counts… it’s what you do with it that really matters. P.S. Big thanks to indieactivity for the opportunity to share our experience with you!
About Threefold
We believe creating great video goes hand-in-hand with delivering an exceptional experience for all those we work with. We’ve found the best work is done when it’s carried from start to finish: pre-production, production, and post-production. So much so, it’s why we chose our name. We’re experts at taking your project from idea, to story, to capture, to edit, to music, to color, all the way to your screen.
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