Wheel Chair Access

[Silver Caravelle]

Folks,

For some time I have been exploring various options for wheelchair access in the Multivan. Up till now, wheelchair was going to sit where left middle seat and picnic table are located.

I checked things out further late yesterday and the solution is not going to be workable.

1. When the wheel chair located in the middle of the VW, there is no room for manoeuvrability.

2. The manual telescopic ramps will prove to be cumbersome - more so than I expected.

My thinking now is towards a rear access approach with an internal hoist. If I go down this path, I would like to retain the middle two seats and remove the rear bench, but replace on one side (and obtain from somewhere) a individual Multivan captain seat as per the other seats. This would provide 5 seats in total plus the wheel chair. All this will require more investigation and off course dollars!

Has anybody had any experience with replacing the rear bench seat with a single captains seat (s). Some of T5 Executives had this arrangement, but I am not sure if the tracking is the same with the Comfortline.

Thanks,

Scott

[coastie]

A friend has a comfortline multivan with a load on ramp and hoist that raises and then slides into the rear of the van. There is no room for an additional captains chair beside the hoist rig. They do have the two single captains chairs in the middle of the van but there isn't the room in the rear. The wheelchair is a fully motorised one and is quite large. The hoist/ramp is about 1.2m wide internally.

[Silver Caravelle]

http://www.jubileeauto.net/vwcaravellelowimpact.htm

http://www.jubileeauto.net/VWPlans/pdf6.pdf

Coastie,

Many thanks.

Here's links to what I was thinking. See UK site above for Jubileeauto.

Also see K-Series Rear Hoist from Norden.

http://www.norden.com.au/index.php?s...26&pageID=3233

Even if it was achievable, it may be difficult to procure an extra captain seat. Perhaps this seat can still move forward enough to allow for the k-series to sit inside the tailgate area - consume some of the 'boot' space.

Regards,

Scott

[rearrange]

My Mum could only be mobilised in a wheelchair for many years. At that time my favourite taxi was a VW T4 with electric side ramp. I used to try to order this one over other access taxis whenever I could. There were a couple of things in particular that we liked. One was that the ramp, when closed, was under the floor so it was quiet. Whereas most of the rear fold up types (internal) would rattle while driving along. The other thing about this arrangement was that the wheelchair passenger wasn't stuck at the back of the vehicle feeling like they were in the luggage compartment. It simply felt more inclusive.

I wish you all the best with it. Cheers, Stewart.

[Silver Caravelle]

Hi Stewart,

I appreciate your response.

I met with Norden (supplier) and the school OT yesterday and we have decided with the rear hoist subject to some funding availability.

For ten years I have been researching this for my disabled son (now 11). I was always keen on the under floor hoist arrangement and for the reasons you mentioned. And that was when I had a T4. But I could never get past the complexity and cost.

There are also some limitations as there are with the other solutions:

1. Hoist has no clearance when opening out on the nature strip the curb blocks it.
2. About 30K thankyou very much for a very extensive under floor modification...and more so for a T5.
3. I would still have to do away with all the middle captains seats in order to turn the wheelchair once inside the vehicle.

So it was back to the drawing board with a rear Ricon or Braun internal hoist and of course the floor mounted restraints.

I suppose at least with two other boys my oldest son will not feel quite as remote in the back, and the Multivan is a little cosier than a basic commercial van.

In terms of cost, about 10K and is reversible reasonably easy.

So the upshot is keep the middle seats (and picnic table) and remove the rear bench and procure an extra matching captain seat for the rear next to where the wheelchair will be positioned. In the interim I might have to put up with moving the bench to the middle and use one of the existing captain's seats at the rear. This is not ideal though because the bench is not easily folded down or slideable for access to third row.

Does anybody have any leads on where to get hold of another a matching captains chair? I would imagine they are very expensive. They are also very very heavy! Do you think it is something the dealers might have in their stash?

Thank you,

Scott

[rob64981]

Scott,

Would you be interested in a second hand lift for your van?

I ask this because in the UK the disabled people get a van etc on what they called care allowance.

After so many miles are when they are three years old the vans come up for sale.
Quite a lot of these vans are bought to turn in to camper vans etc.

I personally know a couple of people who quite regularly remove the ramps and all there bits.

I was thinking you might be able to ship one out here on a boat for a lot less than you would pay in OZ.

I will contact them and see if they have anything in the back of the shed or anything coming up.

Rob

[rearrange]

Hi Scott

I'm actually glad you are planning on leaving the Multivan's picnic table and captain chairs. They are a great design. As for an extra captains chair, try your local dealer spare parts department. If they tell you that VW Australia won't let them order them or the cost is ridiculous, try Dan Lancaster at Wrexham Volkswagen in the UK (d.lancaster@wrexhamvw.co.uk). Dan was a huge help in sourcing Sportline options for my Caddy that VW dealers in Australia didn't want to know about.

If luck is on your side, you might find one through a wreckers ... I'll keep my fingers crossed, send out good vibes, and keep my eyes open for you on this one.

A matching Captains Chair would see your whole family travelling in style ... and that fabulous picnic table could stay

[Silver Caravelle]

Scott,

Would you be interested in a second hand lift for your van?

I ask this because in the UK the disabled people get a van etc on what they called care allowance.

After so many miles are when they are three years old the vans come up for sale.
Quite a lot of these vans are bought to turn in to camper vans etc.

I personally know a couple of people who quite regularly remove the ramps and all there bits.

I was thinking you might be able to ship one out here on a boat for a lot less than you would pay in OZ.

I will contact them and see if they have anything in the back of the shed or anything coming up.

Rob

Hi Rob,

Thanks indeed for the suggestion and the offer. I am able obtain funding in Victoria for a new hoist and would reuse it in a future vehicle. Also it is more straight forward to terms of comply with local Australia Design Rules for certification.

Thanks again.

Scott

[Silver Caravelle]

Hi Scott

I'm actually glad you are planning on leaving the Multivan's picnic table and captain chairs. They are a great design. As for an extra captains chair, try your local dealer spare parts department. If they tell you that VW Australia won't let them order them or the cost is ridiculous, try Dan Lancaster at Wrexham Volkswagen in the UK (d.lancaster@wrexhamvw.co.uk). Dan was a huge help in sourcing Sportline options for my Caddy that VW dealers in Australia didn't want to know about.

If luck is on your side, you might find one through a wreckers ... I'll keep my fingers crossed, send out good vibes, and keep my eyes open for you on this one.

A matching Captains Chair would see your whole family travelling in style ... and that fabulous picnic table could stay

Hi Stewart,

Thanks again.

Yes I think permanently moving the rear bench forward to the middle will not be too practical in terms of access to the third row but may suffice for a short while.

I have started making inquiries regarding the extra captains seat. Will be challenging cost and availability wise. Could be in the vicinity of 3k from a dealer either in non assembled part form ( or assembled form if still available - given new models off the assembly line). I am also looking at availability from directly overseas (UK). Local wreckers is unlikely for newish vehicle....well nothing so far!

Also thanks for the UK contact Dan Lancaster. I will definately email Dan.

Also emailed Exploria in the UK, awaiting a reply.

http://www.exploria-online.co.uk/styling/styling.html

Keep you posted.

Best Regards,

Scott

[Sunny43.5]

Hi all I know this is late info but it may help others who browse this link . We have two disabled children and have had a T4 first and now a
T5 in both vans we fitted them out with two original VW front bucket seats from wreckers mounted on their original risers . Seats were fitted to ADR regs with new belts etc , both were fitted to RH side in line behind drivers side seat . tracks were fitted to floor and we used a Van Ramp system from Prairie View Industries in the US , they are available from Roland Priestly here in Australia Side door van ramps. . This is a very simple and economic way of getting wheel chairs into a van without the high cost of other lift systems . the best part is it only takes half an hour to fit and can be easily removed if selling the van . The ramp takes up only a tiny amount of space right at the rear tailgate on the inside and doesnt block the rear view and weighs only a about 10kg hell of a lot better than the weight of hoist or hydraulic lifts etc . sunny