| Author | Message | ||
| Teresa (Happycamperbrat)
Registered Member Username: Happycamperbrat Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 173.25.102.183 Rating: N/A |
With my son now being in a wheelchair, the health of my mom, my daughter's disability and who knows what the future holds for me........... I really NEED the wheelchair lift. But I got issues with placement of tanks, batteries, awning, etc. sooooo I am bound and determined to move that wheelchair lift to the 3rd member and keep it functioning. Additionally the large columns should be redisigned so that the hydrolics are either below floor or in a box attached to the wall. The switches to make it work should be both in the coach and outside the door in a locked insert. The system has to be redisigned to operate with the coach engine on or off. In planning my floor design, I am going to have to do this before I can do the conversion. This is waaayyyyy above my knowledge and I would have to learn some new talents (which I dont mind if I can learn them right away). PM me with names, numbers and prices. Thank you! | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 572 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 173.88.224.114  Rating: N/A |
If'n you hire rednecks, you'll get a big hinge, air struts powered by a recycled Miller Laht keg, and a sticker next to the actuating buttons that sez "Before operating, turn to the crowd and say "Hey, y'all, watch this s**t!" DAMHIK But seriously, if you have an existing lift and all the parts are there to be moved, you're about 80% the way there already. Dunno where you are but any good vehicle fab shop should be able to knock that out for you quickly. (And you're right, the underlying structure is going to have to be strong enough and aligned properly enough to live with some pretty extreme forces for years but with a little experienced workmanship, that's not a problem.) | ||
| Teresa (Happycamperbrat)
Registered Member Username: Happycamperbrat Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 173.25.102.183 Rating: N/A |
Im in the Mojave Desert lol in other words "the oven" or the "surface of the sun"! I have a 1983 RTS 40 footer. Yes my lift works good! But because of the body design I have been told that the new opening in the 3rd member would have to be braced underneath, the sides and the roof. I've been told that 2"x2" steel cross bracing should do it. Rednecks Rock!!!! | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 573 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 75.118.43.51 Rating: N/A |
Yeah, the term "nearby" might have to be modified a bit to match a good service provider for your location but you shouldn't have a lot of trouble. If your RTS is like my friend Gary Throneberry's, the bracing will not be complicated (a fairly big job but not complicated). He's posted photos of the underfloor bins he's put in, all done with added welded-in bracing -- maybe you can find them on this website. Also, Pete Papas in FL has lots of knowledge on RTS's. But like I said, if you have all the parts there for a lift, it should be straightforward. Gary closed in his stock entry door (in front of the right wheel) and reinstalled a custom-made door with steps further back*. It's also done with welded in supports so maybe the photos of that will help you, too. And I'd think "out of the box" - maybe you can move your lift to a different location and site other items around it; don't immediately assume the first place that comes to mind is the best one. I'm guessing you'll have the lift and also an "ordinary" entrance - if so, the people who use the ordinary door won't mind a few more steps around and can handle it easily. Good luck, Teresa! (* That allow him to have a full-width driver/ passenger cab right across the front of the vehicle. The "shotgun" passenger seat is parallel to and same height as driver. Works out nicely for him but you may have other priorities.) (Message edited by oonrahnjay on July 19, 2010) | ||
| les marston (Les_marston)
Registered Member Username: Les_marston Post Number: 88 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 68.151.225.213 Rating: N/A |
you might want to talk to Gary at B&B coach in Las vegas. I had him do some major structural work on our MCI 102 D3 Very good job and I felt very reasonable, plus being in Vegas he is not to far from you. Good luck Les | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1702 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.195.124.20  Rating: N/A |
Teresa - Just an FYI: "3rd member" usually refers to the rear differential/axle of a vehicle. It's the "3rd member" of the powertrain: engine > transmission > rear axle. Some folk might get a little confused and begin to think that you're trying to move the lift to the axle! Does your RTS have the rear door or front door lift? Originally, only rear-door lifts were available, but later production had a front door option. Which do you have? FWIW & HTH. . .  PS: Me thinks Fresno's matching temps w/ Ridgecrest these last few days!! | ||
| Teresa (Happycamperbrat)
Registered Member Username: Happycamperbrat Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 173.25.102.183 Rating: N/A |
I am totally familiar with Gary's RTS!! It was his design that convinced me this could be done. I spoke with him quite abit about it some time ago though and he insists this is not a project I can do myself. He says that he went to welding school for 3 years and had help from several other welders to do his (and he didnt even do the electrical or the wheelchair, all he did was close the wheelchair door and then open another door in the 3rd member). Pete has always been awesome and provided me with lots of advice and help and has a really really really nice RTS too!! This is a picture of my RTS with both the front and back door (which has the wheelchair lift) open http://s495.photobucket.com/albums/rr315/happycamperbrat/?action=view¤t=vacation2010 027.jpg I would need to redesign the inner workings of the wheelchair lift as well such as: I want it to work independent of the doors and kneeling system and to be functional with the coach engine on or off. The 2 doors I want on hinges (but Im pretty sure I can do that myself). I will close in the 6th member (where the wheelchair door is now) by myself after the lift is removed from there. The RTS is designed in modules 5 feet long, there are 8 in mine. The 3rd member is directly behind the front tires. The 1st module has the front door, the 2nd has the front tires, the 3rd has nothing, the 4th has nothing in the photo except the fuel tank door if you can see it, the 5th has nothing, the 6th has the wheelchair door, the 7th has the rear tires, and the 8th has the engine below with the factory AC above it. | ||
| gary throneberry (Garhawk)
Registered Member Username: Garhawk Post Number: 38 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 68.119.108.178 Rating: N/A |
Hi Teresa, Perhaps I was a mite harsh in my comments to you previously in suggesting that the wheelchair lift re-positioning would be beyond your capabilities. That suggestion was made however, after your confession that you had no welding and metal working experience nor, equipment or facility to perform such a task and, that funds were limited. I sincerely hope that my straight-forward advise to you was not offensive - it certainly was not given in that vein. Since that exhcange was made on one of the RTS Boards, let me take another stab at it for the benefit of those on this Board who most probably didn't read our conversation and, who can contribute as per their knowledge and experience. (For clarification Bruce, Teresa's reference to a "member" is one five foot long pre-fabricated section of the bus. Her coach has eight such modules with the wheelchair lift contained in the sixth and, the entrance door in the first.) Teresa: All the sections of your RTS are not equal. Each module was designed and built to contain, support, and carry a different load, i.e., fuel tank, battery compartment, entrance, etc., and, the wheelchair lift. The lift is attached to the roof, side studs, floor, bulkheads and undercarriage bracing. It is primarily of stainless steel and attached to mostly the same material - tough stuff, heavy and expensive. The lift is operated by air, electricity and, hydraulics - all intertwined, complicated, and prone to failure. (Number one on the transit company's maintenance list.) Having removed the lift from my RTS, I can tell you that it is quite a project in itself, with no effort made to salvage the unit. Without beating this horse any further, it just seems to me that with your family's need for the lift, your limited facilities and budget, the more prudent route would be to design around the lift at its present position. Ask for Pete's help (and others knowledegable) in re-designing the operational perimeters of the air, electricals and hydraulics, to fit your personal needs. If you feel leaving the lift in its present position is not optional for you there is one other thought coming to mind. How about closing off the wheelchair lift in section six and have a mobility provider install a personal lift system from scratch in your desired location? No where in my mind is there doubt that it would be a better, more manageable system at less expense than the monster with which you're now dealing. If you believe I have any information which could be of value, please don't hesitate to call. | ||
| Tim Brandt (Timb)
Registered Member Username: Timb Post Number: 546 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.165.176.62  Rating: |
Not to dampen your enthusiasm but if you really want to use your bus I would urge you to find a way to fit the other RV related parts (tanks awning etc) in a different location rather than relo the lift. That is not going to be a simple change and if it works where it is don't fix what isn't broke. Tanks can be placed under cabinets, beds etc. You will get a lot more use out of your bus the simpler you keep the build. Just my two cents. | ||
| Teresa (Happycamperbrat)
Registered Member Username: Happycamperbrat Post Number: 4 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 173.25.102.183 Rating: N/A |
Gary I really NEVER took your advice or opinion to be critical NEVER!!! Several things have changed for me though since we last had our discussion about this. Really, I have thought about designing around it being just where it is now but I am wanting to put in a shower either across the isle from where it is now or where it is now. The shower needs to have a sloped floor with only a rubber strip to keep water in and going down the drain (this will allow for a wheelchair to go into the shower. Additionally the people in my family are tall and the shower head would go into the middle portion of the bus where there is more headroom....... this of course prevents the lift staying where it is and the columns are real big and bulky as well. | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 574 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 75.185.151.211 Rating: N/A |
Yes, Teresa, after reading the other comments, it seems to me that their advice for keeping what you've already got may be the best. Are there any operational problems with using the lift as it is (any lack of compatibility with wheelchair you're using, etc.)? My bus is *so* different from anyone else's that I'm permanently living in the land of living with what I have -- and that's not so bad. "Living with what you have" may be the out-of-the-box thinking that I was referring to above. (What I love about this board -- the people who know the most are often the nicest and most helpful!) | ||
| Teresa (Happycamperbrat)
Registered Member Username: Happycamperbrat Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 173.25.102.183 Rating: N/A |
Well the way it is right now is a real problem with the future floor plan. I would even have to give up a 5'x8' space simply to allow the wheelchair room to manuever the big columns in the isle and get on the bus. Additionally my holding tanks wont be able to drain where they should for a camp ground and I will probably have to give up a set of bunk beds in the back that we need for sleeping, or give up having a closet in the back or give up my on the road air (which I have other plans for that area if/when I ever do need to pull it out). Keeping it where it is really complicates matters. Some people in another forum are suggesting I look into other types of wheelchair lifts and I sure would be open to using another type that folded up into stairs when not lifting a chair.... | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1885 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.91.143.197  Rating: N/A |
The RTS we have in Big Transit here, the lift is in the rear doors, and folds up to become the rear stairs for the ambulatory passengers. Quite a trick device! If there is absolutely any way to re-design around the existing lift, it is way easier/cheaper to keep a stock install working, than starting out from scratch with something obscure or one-off. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 528 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.3.170 Rating: N/A |
Get rid of the road air. I know it seems valuable but you can not use it when camping and you WILL need rooftop airs. Roof airs and a good genset will do the job and give you the A/C space as well as saving you huge money on A/C repairs and providing 120 volt power. The A/C is the single most troublesome thing in a bus. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1703 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.195.124.20 Rating: N/A |
Teresa - Oh, you meant "3rd module" on your RTS, not the rear axle! | ||
| thomas flocks (Taflocks)
Registered Member Username: Taflocks Post Number: 298 Registered: 9-2009 Posted From: 74.76.246.165 Rating: |
my 4106 has a lift that goes right into the bathroom in front of the toilet, it has worked for 3 different handicapped owners without any problems. for the roll in shower i went and got a pool noodle and sliced it in half, lengthwise. then i wrapped it in shower pan liner [$5] at the orange store, glued it together with special cement and then siliconed it right to the shower threshold. the chair rolls right over it with ease and i saved $75 over what the mobility store wanted for something not as good. | ||
| Teresa (Happycamperbrat)
Registered Member Username: Happycamperbrat Post Number: 6 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 173.25.102.183 Rating: N/A |
Yup! My 3rd module lol As for the Air...... I would like the space up there (but I would use it for other things like battery box, etc.) I have struggled with pulling it out. My bus came from the Ca coast and used to run Hwy 17 between Santa Cruz and San Fransisco. The area that it ran the hwy on is really a mild climate year around. There would have only been a very few days a year the air conditioner or climate control were even used. It currently runs PERFECT and is soooooo nice in the heat of the Mojave Desert that I really dont think it would be super smart to pull it out until it actually breaks. And I really do want to keep the same lift, I am just wanting to move it and redesign it so that it can be operated even if the bus is off or the wheelchaired person can make it operate from outside to get in the coach.... | ||
| thomas flocks (Taflocks)
Registered Member Username: Taflocks Post Number: 299 Registered: 9-2009 Posted From: 74.76.246.165 Rating: N/A |
mine has 2 switches on the outside and a key switch to turn it off and on. very easy to run. it is a direct connect to the run bats with a heavy duty cut off and a hand control inside. it also has a switch for up and down on the handrail |
