| Author | Message | ||
| Gary Belonga (Mb53)
Registered Member Username: Mb53 Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.115.180.27 Rating: N/A |
Hi: I'm in the process of selecting a coach and looking at a couple of MCI 9 with wheelchair lift. And was wondering if anyone has done one of these with a lift. What to lookout for or any other suggestions. Also looking at MCI 102AW3. Thanks Gary | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1053 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Where's the lift on the MC-9? Is it in the middle or rear of the coach? Big hole cut in the side at floor level, or entry at baggage bay height? Many of the early lift-equipped 9s were actual aftermarket retrofits, as opposed to OEM installations. Lots suffered from structural problems from poor engineering (read: none). Be wary of aftermarket units. The later model 102A3 has better suspension, as well as six additional inches of width in the interior. Does it, too, have a lift? FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Gary Belonga (Mb53)
Registered Member Username: Mb53 Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.115.167.200 Rating: N/A |
Both bus's have the lift mounted in the middle. MCI 9 has the lift mounted at side of coach area above center baggage area. The coach is listed here in the buses for sale and claims it is oem. The 102aw3 has the lift mounted in double doors in the center baggage area. Not sure if that one is oem or not. Its listed on sawyer bus sales website. Thanks for your reply Gary (Message edited by mb53 on October 19, 2006) | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
Registered Member Username: Drdave Post Number: 688 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 67.78.176.54 Rating: N/A |
Some time ago when the rules changed requiring wheelchair lifts there were a lot of lifts installed which weren't exactly done right, This meant that someone cut the bus in half on one side and installed them without strengthening the opening. Just make sure you don't get a bus with a broken back. And make sure it is straight and not sagging in the middle. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1054 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Gary - From my experience in the bus industry, and from the limited photos available, both buses look like OEM installations. The MC-9 was MCI's first attempt at a lift installation that would work in a highway coach. Very scary for the person on the lift in actual operation! The 102 lift was another interesting application by MCI. Because of the "scary" feeling on the outside, this lift is actually inside the coach. Wheelchair passenger rolls up a ramp into the coach's baggage bay, turns the chair to face forward, then the lift can be operated. Similar to an elevator. Because they're early production lifts, both are problematic. Today's are far more dependable. Do you need a coach with a lift? FWIW & HTH. . . | ||
| Gary Belonga (Mb53)
Registered Member Username: Mb53 Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.115.167.200 Rating: N/A |
At the present I dont need a lift. But according to doctor within the next 4 or 5 years I will. Wife was wanting me to look into getting a bus with a lift so we wouldnt have to worry about it later. But after reading the responses so far I think we will just consintrate on a bus and look into mounting on of those stair lifts that have a chair and you just sit down and ride it to the top. Would be probably easier to adapt something like that. Thanks to everyone who has offered their views. I really appreciate the advice. Gary | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1055 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Gary - Aha - a man that's doing his homework!! Good for you! Here's another thought to assist your shell search: Look for a later-model RTS transit with a front door lift made by Lift-U. These lifts, especially those built from 1990-on, are VERY dependable. They've become the workhorse of the transit industry, installed by virtually every manufacturer. Early RTS units had the lift at the rear door, which most busnuts who convert them close off, to better utilize the interior space. The original rear-door RTS lift works really well, but is maintenance-intensive (mostly lubrication & adjustments). Although a transit bus can be a different challenge to convert compared to a highway coach, the problems are not insurmountable. Geoff and Pete are two frequent board members who have outstanding examples of what can be done with the RTS. The Gillig Phantom is another transit that is an excellent lift-equipped coach for consideration. Altho not as "stylish" as the RTS, Gillig's use of off-the-shelf running gear components opens up a vast array of possibilities not available to the RTS crowd. Gilligs are also built like a tank, especially when compared to other brands (except the RTS). Not too sure how one of those moving chair lifts that you mentioned might be adapted to a coach, especially with the heavy sedan door of an MCI not opening fully. (They only open about 70 - 80 degrees, not a full 90.) Would take some "yanqui engineering", that's for sure! FWIW & HTH. . . | ||
| Gary Belonga (Mb53)
Registered Member Username: Mb53 Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.115.148.219 Rating: N/A |
I was thinking that as long as I'm able to step up into the bus inside the door then I could just sit down on seat and have it raise me up to top and get in to regular wheelchair. But I do see what your talking about with the door not opening up past 80 degrees. I had talked to wife about an easier and less expense way to get into the bus by hiring a couple blonde bombshells to carry me into the bus but she brought up the downside to that. Its that I wouldnt be able to afford the medical bills after I meet her at the top of stairs. Something about rving could be a hazardous hobby that way. I will look at the transit bus's. Thanks for the suggestion. Gary | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 261 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.90.27.168 Rating: N/A |
If you sit down on the bottom step, & back up & use your arms to lift you to the next step,none of the above would be necessary,...........also, if you hide the blondes in the closet,you have insentive to get up there | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 929 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 70.55.230.68 Rating: N/A |
Hello Gary. Those 102A3 with the lift inside the coach are really neat. I have met a couple using one as a conversion and it works very well for them. If I needed one, that is the one I would get. This opinion is based on having experience with both transit front and rear door lifts as well as the current offerings from Prevost and MCI. The internal one doesn't require as much clear space, and the person riding isn't stuck out there in the elements, or being a spectacle. Reliability is more a function of the care the unit receives than the manufacturer. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1059 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Buswarrior's comments reminds me that there was a couple at Jack's Party in Arcadia back in 2003/4 that had a 102AW3. I'd forgotten about that. They were VERY happy with it, and Mama had designed their floorplan around it due to her needs in a wheelchair. Golden Gate Transit, based across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, ran about 20-25 of these "internal lift" MCIs. Not sure if they have any left in service, but will check with a busnut friend who still works for them and see. In the meantime, Gary, see if you can get the VIN off that 102AW3. . . HTH, | ||
| Gary Belonga (Mb53)
Registered Member Username: Mb53 Post Number: 5 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.115.130.3 Rating: N/A |
At this time I dont have a vin#. I'm going to do some more research on what kind of floorspace I loose versus the two different styles of lifts. I'm not real keen on the hi outside lift. But that might be enough of a dread to keep me going not to have to give in to this darn degenerative arthritus. Thanks Gary | ||
| Dallas (Dal300)
Registered Member Username: Dal300 Post Number: 132 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 172.128.78.12 Rating: N/A |
Just as a point of information, NCbob over on another BBS has an MC5A and a wife who has had a stroke. He has told me about working on a design to replace the steps with an "elevator" which would allow the coach to keep it's original look and still allow a person to use a wheel chair or be ambulatory at their convenience. I don't know any of the details, but it's a neat idea. Dallas | ||
| Perry & Jeanne Blanch (Perryaw3)
Registered Member Username: Perryaw3 Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 24.43.81.139 Rating: N/A |
Hi Gary, We're the couple from Jack's party in 03/04 with the 102aw3. Been wintering in Texas an Mexico lately so havn't been back to Florida (a tough choice...miss going to Jack's but the Fl Keys are just too expensive now !) The internal lift has worked well, we added an electric hydralic pump for campground use so you don't have to start the bus each time you want to go out or in. The factory 102aw3 has a greatly reinforced frame (at the cost of some in bay storage height) and the extra 6" come in very handy for turning around in a power wheelchair. Sealing the floor "elevator" and side doors can be problematic. A dusty road trip can mean a bunch of inside dusting. Cold weather could make sealing against heat loss a consideration also. The lift is also designed to be run by an operator while the wheelchair user rides the lift...so best be good to mama as she'll have the controls! | ||
| Gary Belonga (Mb53)
Registered Member Username: Mb53 Post Number: 6 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.115.129.177 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Perryaw3 for your input. I sent you an email. I have a suggestion for the dust getting in that might sound silly but it may help. I used to haul meat when I drove semi. And everytime you would go in or out of the freezers they had the long sheets of plastic that overlapped each other. Maybe some how adapting them in a shorter version over the interior of the side doors might help cut down some of the dust getting in. You could part them when going in or out then let them hang down to catch some of the dust. Maybe. just a thought but since I havent looked over this coach I may be totally wrong. | ||
| Gary Belonga (Mb53)
Registered Member Username: Mb53 Post Number: 7 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 71.115.147.248 Rating: N/A |
We have decided to go with the outside lift. After looking at a few dealer websites that had some pics showing the inside and outside lifts we decided that since we are not going to require the lift right off that we could better use the floor space with an outside lift. I wont have any problem with being in the air when I have to use it. Now I have till spring to find a 102aw3 with the outside lift. The one that we seen on a website was already sold so will have to wait and see if another one comes available. Thanks for everyones input on this. Think spring! Gary |