Removing Handicap Lifts

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Matt71

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How difficult is it to remove a handicap lift from a van, and what do you do with it afterwards? 

I have a bit of time available to pick the van I want and I've determined that a high top is my primary practical requirement.
The bulk of the vans I've seen with high tops are conversion vans which I suspect are a lot of work to strip out if you want to customize them. However, I have seen a few nice shuttle type vans that have high tops, but they are usually equipped with a handicap lift which I don't really want or need.

Anyone have any experience removing these?
How much work is it compared to stripping down a conversion van like an Econoline?
 
They're hard to remove because they're very heavy. I 've been quoted from $1000 to $2000 dollars to have one removed. With no guarantee to your electrical system. As far as I can tell no one wants to buy them and no one wants to accept them as a donation.

YMMV
 
I saw one recently that looked like it didn't take up much space and was pretty new looking. I tried to come up with useful reasons to keep it installed, like using it as a porch or as a cooking platform or table for playing cards or something like that. Ever seen someone try that?
 
Donate it. If you don't need the money for it there are always organizations and individuals also who can't afford a lift.Possible tax deduction also. Check with shops that install van lifts,Goodwill or just post on Craigslist.
 
I have one of those. We left it in so that it could be used by others in a rental situation.

I do feel like it could be removed pretty easy, other than the weight. Even that could be handled w/ a rented engine hoist. There are many dif kinds but ours has 4 main bolts through the floor w/ reinforcing under. Disconnecting the elec would be easy if you trace the lines back.
W/ all that said I have designed a shelf system that could be built onto the lift that folded into a floor when it was laid down. I haven't done it, just designed it, so no pics ;) My lift is also very dif from what Karen & Tony have in their rig.

I will say that if I was not going to rent it out sometimes to people that would use the lift I'd pull it. I lose about 4' of build space on that side.
 
Matt,
Removing the lift isn't hard if you're handy, it is a bit messy in most cases, the crud builds up.  If resale isn't high on your list of needs then you can take it in small pieces with just disassembly.  I've pull a couple and the more intact you leave them the easier they are to sell, but the heavier and more awkward they are to handle.

As a one man job I'd figure two days of medium work.  A good set of wrenches and a socket set as a minimum, air and an impact wrench make things much nicer.

Corky
 
Many wheelchair equipped vans have dropped floors, which can drastically reduce ground clearance, though they can give a bit more headroom. A co-worker bought a Dodge 2005 Grand Caravan like mine, but it had a TEN inch dropped floor! I wouldn't have believed my van had ten inches of space to use! It's already low. Hers also has the automatic lowering and raising ramp, an extra complexity if one needed to strip it for living in. Or, some camper might like that ramp!
Wheelchair vans can be tough to sell though. Her old Toyota minivan with rear wheelchair area (no ramp) took her a year to sell, after she bought the GC. The market is small in our area. The buyers ended up from another state.
 
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