Why not more hitop handicap conversions?

[awilder]

Wondering why I don’t see more conversions of this type of vehicle. Maybe there’s something I’m missing. The height appeals and you could probably sell the lift.
This one is a 2007 Ford econoline e350 with 41k for 8k.

 

[bullfrog]

I used to work in school transportation and those were special orders that we used until they became cost prohibitive to maintain. Many short trips with lots of starts and stops almost always in town taxing the electrical system with the lift as well. Many early cold morning starts, lots of suspension, brake repairs as the lift put a lot of weight on the passenger side as well as increasing uneven brake wear. In my opinion to light of a chassis for the job. I usually was able to keep them on the road 100,000 to 150,000 miles but it was a pain. Most died due to the cost of suspension repairs and maintaining the electricals Most smart school systems went to a short version of the larger bus but it was easier to get drivers for this version so they continued to produce them. There were a few systems that used the longer single rear wheel vans that carried 15 or so passengers but after a few deaths due to high speed rollovers they were outlawed so manufactures fook out a row of seats to get rid of inventory then started producing these.

 

[awilder]

That about covers it, thanks Bullfrog!