My '03 E150 Chateau is having a 6" floor drop installed so I can drive it from my wheelchair, and they sent me pics of the progress...I cant wait...that'll be $44,000 worth of work, equipment and electronics when it's finally finished.

 

Your pictures are interesting and may be useful to someone else trying to describe a part shown in the pictures. Maybe you can post them in your Gallery for future reference.

Gene

 

Good idea, I'll do that,

 

Very interesting photos. The put a whole new perspective on the things.

 

I have much higher resolution versions of them if anyone wants.

 

New pics!

 

Good looking job so far. I have a 91 Club Wagon with a 4 inche dropped floor. I too drive from my chair.

 

Those are pretty slick pics!

It doesn't look like they had to move very much under the body, if anything.

Thanks for posting thoses.

 

Please educate me on this whole undertaking. Performing this much works clearly costs a lot of money, I think you said $44,000. Was that in addition to the van sticker price? Are these they only options that you have. Does no auto manufacturer offer a different type of vehicle that would fit your needs? This is not meant to be mean so please don't take it that way. It just looks like your getting a completely custom vehicle and the cost alone would kill me.

Does a roof raising net the same as a roof lowering? And if not, why not? Is the driver's seat finally removed when done? Sorry if this is too many questions.

 

Yes, that's in addition to the cost of the van. I purchased the van used over a year ago with 15k mi for $18k.

There are other options like these, but I didn't want a minivan, and this was actually cheaper. Why? Because the NJ DVR paid every cent of the $44k. They'd help adapt a van, but not buy one. Who knows why.

A raised roof allows for more headroom, but does nothing for eye level. I can't drive from my chair if my knees hit the steering wheel and my head is above the windshield....a dropped floor makes it all possible.

I didn't get a raised roof in addition because I simply didn't need one.

The drivers seat and rear captains chairs will be removed. That seat you see there isn't even mine...I guess its for testing.

I will enter the van by a lift in the side doors, and drive right up to the wheel...the chair automatically locks into one of these.

The original drivers seat will be bolted onto a wheeled platform and can be locked into the Ez-Lock to allow for a regular driver.

I'll keep you guys updated as I recieve additional photos.

 

Crab,
Didn't they have to install a body lift during this process, to allow for clearance of the underbody items?
If so, how much of a body lift did they install?

Patrick

 

Yep, body was lifted. The floor was dropped 6", and I believe the lift was 3" or 4".

The vehicle really looks weird afterwards.

I'm looking for some affordable (yes, despite having such work done, I'm poor) 20" Harley F150 wheels to make everything in the wells look a little less lonely.

Is the lug pattern the same btw?

 

Cool pics. I have some knowledge of vans converted for chair use. A good friend from high school had a E150 converted for chair use. He didn't get a raised roof or have the floor dropped and his biggest compliant was how close his head was to the roof when he was driving.

I'd say a dropped floor is the best option as it will keep the sight-line through the windshield closer to a standard position (depending on your chair). A raised roof may help with headroom, but won't help at all with the sight-line. Also, every raised-roof conversions I've ever seen still has rather low headroom above the driver, so the trim would need to be custom.

Keep us posted!

 

Crab the 93 - 05 truck wheel lug pattern is the same.

 

That's cool.

Unfortunately, Ford did a "Ford" type trick in '97 with the F-150s.
In '97 it changed to metric 135mm 5 lug, old ones were 5.5"(139.7mm) 5 lug
05s are 6 lug metric.

The E150 vans are still 5 on 5.5"
Ebay usually has the new 16" E150 rims which are pretty good looking.

-Jackson-