Dodge B3500 wheelchair van

[AltTransBikes]

New here and just introduced myself. Doing some research on the van I just picked up and I luckily came across this site which seems like my kind of people, a savvy lot on the subject of living vans and assimilating them into the social fabric.<br><br>B3500 5.9L 4 sp auto, 78K miles, 10 passenger with Braun lift and walk-up entry door, former senior services van. No one in my group uses a wheelchair but it came with the rig. What to do, what to do? Just looking for some feedback on this, vehicle type, engine, chassis, etc. anything you'd care to mention.<br><br><br>

 

[Lostinspace]

Welcome to our group.<br><br>OBTW&nbsp; I have van lust for your rig.&nbsp; You do realize that you can build a perfectly great Class B out your Van?<br><br>Lots of good info on here and also the Yahoo van group.<br><br>Edited mispelled word

 

[AltTransBikes]

You do realize that you can build a perfectly great Class B out your Van?

<br><br>Thanks, I'm all ears!<br><br>For starters I'm in a bit of a quandary what to do with the lift? It works well but is a big, heavy thing if it's not needed.

 

[Les H]

You can see if you can donate the wheelchair lift. The electrical cables to those things are THICK, plenty strong enough to charge a couple house batteries. That will be a nice rig. Glad you are here and enjoy it!

 

[stude53]

Hey ATB,<br>You may be able to sell it to a elderly transport co. in your area as a spare lift&nbsp;assembly for their vans.<br><br>Bob

 

[AltTransBikes]

&nbsp; Les H.\_ <br>stude53/&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks, looks like I'll sell trade barter gift the thing. In one way it's kinda too bad to chuck a nifty piece of equipment, against my nature, always wanted a lift gate on my other trucks <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">.

 

[LowTech]

We do use the one on our `92 E350 metro bus as a bit of a liftgate, and a porch. We kept it first because we were making a Wchair accessible camper.

 

[MrNoodly]

Maybe keep the lift at least temporarily while you refit the rest of the van for living. If it doesn't take up too much room, then you could keep it

 

[coultergeist]

Hi. Welcome to the group. I have a very similar van. It was also a handicap patient hauler. I didn't know what to do with the lift in mine either. I tried to sell it or give it away, but nobody wanted it. Turned out to be a good thing. I ended up removing the lift itself, but I kept the steel frame it rotates in. It really helped a lot with the build. I used it to support the kitchen area and some of the cabinets. I recommend you keep the frame. It really made a sturdy installation much easier. I have a thread under the Share Your Conversion area if you'd like to check it out. I will be glad to share anything that might help.

Patrick