Pan-American Ambulance adventure

Hello everybody!

(quick video introduction courtisy of ABC news)

My name is Ian Dow.

(picking up my new ambulance in St. Louis)

I purchased this retired ambulance from a charity called "Wings of Hope" last December. With help from my father, the use of his tools and my mom letting me turn her front yard into my shop we started to converted the ambulance into a tiny home on wheels. After 5 months of hard, but fun work she was done and converted into my emergancy adventure machine.

She's been dubbed "El Salvador" (The Savior). When I first pruchased her I was down on my luck and feeling lost. She's put purpose back in my life through the inspiration others have gained from my renovating her and our voyage together. El Salvador and I are now driving south with my dog Dino traveling through the Americas and have currently arrived in Costa Rica, 6,200 miles over 4-1/2 months through 6 countries since departing California.



I share my adventures on social media always doing my best to help anyone with questions about joining the "vanlife" movement. I hadn't had much reach until recently when-



(camping above lake Atitlan, Guatemala)

I posted the picture above of my ambulance parked at lake Atitlan in Guatemala on Reddit.com. To my suprize the post went viral. My photo rose to the top of the front page on reddit.com reaching millions of people with over 100,000 interactions.

Front page of Reddit

I was amazed and flattered by the inspiration people were getting from my passion project. The conversation that ensued was wonderful, a huge Q and A session where I did my best to answer questions and share information about the ambulance, the trip I'm on and the lifestyle I lead. 

(this is my pup Dino, he's also along for the ride)

After mentioning on Reddit that I would be selling my beloved motorcycle for the funds to return north I recieved recommendations on alternative ways to earn some much needed funds. One idea that stuck was to start a gofundme page and direct users I've helped or inspired here in hopes they could drop a dollar in my pocket.

(traveling through Vietnam by motorcycle on a previous trip)

Here I am, I would love to answer anyone's questions about world travel or the vanlife style of living. I've been to 68 countries and traveled just about every way you can while sticking to a tight budget. I hope to raise funds I need to get back north but if funders would like me to keep going I will gladly continue my trip to South America and report back with every bit of information I arrive upon. Honestly, if the funds come in to support a longer journey I will just keep going and return the favor of your donations by creating and sharing as much inspiring travel content as I can.


("surf"fishing in El Salvador [the country] )

Ever since I first set off to explore the world 9 years ago I was hooked. I've now visited 68 countires on my travels! My goal since first experiencing the world has been to intrigue others with my adventures so they could feel more comfortable getting out here and seeing what the world has to offer themselves. The lessons I've learned are endless and have changed my prospective on life. Now that my voice is being heard a little more loudly I would love to continue my journey and share everything I can with fellow like mind explorers and explorers to be.  The more people who are intrigued by trips like mine and go explore for themselves the better. Tolerance and understanding of other cultures is something that needs to be learned in our present. The best way to learn about the world and its beautiful inhabitants is to get out and experience them for ones self.

Amanda- "Ian has been my Ambi-guru for the better portion of the last 8 months. His conversion was the sole inspiration for my (almost) complete [ambulance] renovation. He's always been there to answer all my question and be my biggest motivator. Despite him always being on the road thousands of miles away. This dude is awesome, humble, funny and deserving!" -Amanda @amberlovesadventure

Amanda lives on the east coast and I've never met her. She contacted me through Instagram to talked about her aspirations of living in a van, consideration of an ambulance and the process of converting it. She's just about to hit the road now in her very own ambulance adventure machine. Proud of you Amanda!




This support will keep me and El Salvador on the road for months. I currently spend about $800 a month for me and my dog Dino's survival. My costs will go up tomorrow because a friend that has been traveling with me and splitting fuel costs will leave the trip.  We live well and are happy as can be, but the roads we chose south were not always paved, longer, windier and my fuel demanding than planned. I must admit, I travel by the seat of my pants and have whims to visit difficult or far off places all the time. This is the way I travel and I love it but I've spent more than anticipated finding these roads and funds have been slowly drying up.


(another perfect spot)


$1 buys a day of Dino's food

$2 buys a meal or 5 gallons of water

$5 buys a night of Parking accommodation when no boon dock camping is to be found

$10 pays for (most) days of my existence

The biggest expense for me is diesel

$100 gets me 4-500 miles up or down these long dusty, wet and windy Pan-American roads


(camping on the beach in Baja)


I've recived some wonderful press, an outpouring of support and a ton of great questions about my lifestyle. I love this and am so happy to help peoples travel dreams become more feasible, but
what has helped me out the most in return was receiving 1 donation to help keep me going.  I was asked for my email address by a stranger who then sent me money through PayPal! Wow, I provoked a feeling in someone so strong that they were willing to share their hard earned money with me!
I was amazed when it was offered, I'd moved a person I'd never met. This experience brought me to gofundme to see if others feel the same way. The travel inspiration my donor received by learning of my trip moved him enough to chip in and now he is truly a part of this journy and has opened my eyes to finding ways to keep going.

Press:
abc news story about my trip
Dailymail article
The Sun
The Boston Herald

I would be so incredibly grateful to have your support on this epic journey. I would pay it forward to everyone I come across face to face on the road and over the internet at work or home with information, advice or help.  If you are interested in a life like this then I would be happy to talk to you. I'm not sure if gofundme has a message platform but you can contact me through my Instagram @vanlife_ian_dow_travels  and ask me anything youd like. I dont always have cell service or internet because I'm on the road but I will answer you.

(finishing up work in my parents front yard)

If you would like to see more of my travels and who I am personally, come visit me and say hello on my Instagram  or Facebook 


Thank you so much for reading, I really hope you're having a great day.


-Ian Dow