[eileendover]

Hi hoping you can help and advise me. I've been waiting to find something T4 ish (for a couple of years now )with a sensible amount of mileage. As I have already mentioned elsewhere I want a vehicle either ready converted or, at the right price, for me to get converted. My hubs isn't in the slightest bit interested in this project - prefering to have less holidays and in luxury so I am having to do all the research myself and lean on the good nature of people that have already been down this route.

Anyway, I've heard of a T4 with silly low mileage for sale. I am told that it has the ramp and adjustments inside for a wheelchair to go into it. My question is this. Is it a very difficult (aka expensive) job to return this vehicle to the base for a conversion? It has a tailgate and is in a very nice colour. I am having a nightmare finding T4s with tailgate and not barn doors and this one ticks so many other boxes.

What do you think? Should I look into it further or should I walk away?

 

[nickc]

Re: How difficult aka expensive?

Hi Eileen,

I don't know much about the wheel chair stuff, but I'm sure it's all dooable. As for the mileage, I saw a van a month or so ago for what I thought was a bit too cheap with the very low miles it had, so I did an HPI check and turned out it'd been it'd had catergory C write off meaning the cost of repairs amounts to more than the vehicle, or something like that. The repairs looked ok from the pics, but if something's been bashed up that bad...

Anyway, all I meant to say was definately go and see the van, ask for the VIN number and you can do a check (I've used used van expert) there and then on the phone for the mileage. I don't suppose anything is certain but it'll help. If the seat is really worn as with the pedals, etc you could be a bit cautious.

I'm looking for a T4 myself ..STILL!!! so these are a few things I'm picking up on the way...

 

[eileendover]

Re: How difficult aka expensive?

Thanks for your answer. I will check it over and will take a mechanic with me of course. It is a bit of a journey to go and view so would like to have some idea if the removing of said equipment is going to cost too much. I feel pretty confident about the mileage however as it belonged to a charity previously and didn't really see much use. They're selling it because some kind soul has donated money for a new one. Mind you my suspicious mind says why replace it when it is OK. Surely a charity could find other things to do with the money? But with all the checks that should show up any anomalies in that area. I just really would like to know that it isn't going to cost me £££KK to remove the equipment. Is it a specialist etc etc.

Anyone else got any idea?

Good luck in your hunts too!!!

 

[edbluejuice]

Re: How difficult aka expensive?

Do you want me to change the thread title Elleen I know there are a few who have done it on here and some even got some cash for the disabled equipment in the back. A thread title such as "Advise on removing wheel chair access" might attract such peeps to your thread.

My feeling would be it would not be to hard assuming it is all un-boltable and the floor pan has not been edited T:.

May be go and see and the van and take some photos of the actual ramps, etc

Maybe try a search for "disabled", "wheelchair" or such like to as I know there is a green van on here which is ex motabilty?

 

[eileendover]

Re: How difficult aka expensive?

Yes please. I struggled with what to title the thread with.

I agree I will just have to go and give it the once over and work out just how much it might involve.

Will keep searching. T:

 

[gaffers101]

Re: How difficult aka expensive?

I was looking at SWB T4 with a wheelchair ramp last year - really good condition and very low miles.
When I spoke to my mechanic who's looked after my cars/vans for years, he advised against it, saying the extra weight of the ramp may have damaged/effected the suspension which could be expensive to put right.

It may be worth getting someone with mechanical know how to give it the once over first.

Good luck with your search. T:

 

[Kelz]

Re: How difficult aka expensive?

We have a few transporters in work with lifts and ramps , they can be taken out quite easy by undoing a few bolts

 

[edbluejuice]

Re: How difficult aka expensive?

Yes please. I struggled with what to title the thread with.

I agree I will just have to go and give it the once over and work out just how much it might involve.

Will keep searching. T:

Little bump to go with the title edit T:

 

[coolflight]

Re: How difficult aka expensive?

My 1995 Caravelle came with a side loading door wheelchair lift, and also had hand throttle operation. The only real problems I found when removing it were some extra holes in the floor where they had drilled through to mount it, and some wiring which needed removing. Also was rather heavy to move but in essence was really easy to get off.

To be honest I wouldn't shy away from one that has been kitted out with all the disabled access equipment, you could even sell the access kit and make enough for a few nice mods!

 

[flatpack]

My T4 velle had a lift in it. Needed the garage's hoist to get it out but hasn't affected the suspension as far as I can see with 90K with the lift.

As long as it has a standard floor you should be ok just a few extra holes when you unbolt everything.

If it is a side door lift then you may have a custom fuel tank and exhaust hiding under the van.

 

[Rooster]

Hi My T4 had a rear ramp, part of the bumper has been cut away and the floor sloped to make the ramp with a folding extension to the ground and a pump to lower the rear suspension.. The rear back pannel of the van dropes down to make an extended ramp. Anyway, the point is because of the way the floor was dropped I was unable to get a T4 towbar to fit so i went to Armitage Trailers in Ferrybridge (South Yorkshire) They make bespoke towbars for camper vans and they made one for me with a detachable tow ball. they did a lovely job. My spare wheel now sits inside the van on rear sloping floor.. Hope this helps

 

[eileendover]

Hmmm this seems to swerve between uh oh trouble walk away to no problems go for it. I spoke to a friend of a friend last night who said they do all sorts of choppping about to put these things on. I was also reading about how the exhaust has to be redirected to accommodate them and other issues. I think I will have time to pop over tomorrow and take a look at it. But to be honest I'm not sure what I am looking out for. Hopefully hubs will come with me but he isn't knowledgeable about these lifts either. Found out it's a Ricoh make (none the wiser though).

Most of the photos I have read have the lift at the side this one is a sloping kind of ramp thing going into the back. Isn't it a problem when you're working hard all week and only have weekends to drive and see these things. And why is it all the ones worth looking at are "up north"?

Thanks for advice so for. Keep it coming T:

 

[edbluejuice]

Take lots of photos and post 'em up then we can help more T: T:

I really think this is going to depend on the the nature of the lift. Some I have seen are just bolt on which = easy (seen these on vans mainly T. Some I have seen they have cut the floor pan, bumper, re routed the exhaust, etc = very hard! (these however have been on people carriers.

 

[GazHow]

Depends on type of conversion and ramp/lift.

I have just started zoerk on a Versa conversion. Itr had 2 fixed seats on the drivers side, unwin rails running the whole length oon the passenger side and a fold out ramp.

Not that hard to take out, more fildy really. 48 bolts holding in the rails, and about 20 holding in the seats. Almost finished the strip out, nothing more than spanners, socket set, jack and a lot of patience.

If you look at the link below (latest build), you will see the ramp. If it is like this, it is only held in with 7 bolts.

Cheers

 

[yoyoninjaboy]

Ill second gazs answers. My dads had the same ramp. More bolts in the rails than the van. Got £100 for the ramp aswell

 

[cooperwood]

I don't think it is difficult to remove a wheelchair ramp form the van,because these ramps are adjustable and can be remove easily.I have a wheelchair accessible van and some time my daughter remove wheelchair ramp when she want to go outside.

 

[cooperwood]

I don't think it is difficult to remove a wheelchair ramp form the van,because these ramps are adjustable and can be remove easily.I

have a wheelchair accessible van and some time my daughter remove wheelchair ramp when she want to go outside.

 

[DonHoaglin]

My bus had a rear wheelchair ramp and part of the ramp also acted as the securing lock when in the upright position. So I used the angle grinder to cut it just above the lock, took 3 mins or so. Simples. Put some U shaped edging along the cut to make it safe.

The ramp space inside makes for extra storage!!! Win win.

 

[Y11PEA]

Just done it on my own over a weekend, does it have electronic barns doors?

 

[Alastairarm]

I have a rare folding ramp on my new van, however, when I close the door you can see that the ramp makes up for some of the closure as it’s a cut away floor. That’s being said I feel if I take out the ramp completely I’ll be left with a rectangle hole in the back of my van (drafty). I was wondering if anyone knows if I can put something in to make up for that missing space or whether it would just be easier to grind the ramp off leaving enough ram to block the hole?