Pm 1speed as he is in Florida and might be able to check out the van for you..
I have the 6.0L Ford and they are detuned for the vans and don't have the issues the truck motors do.
Also you can check sportsmobileforum.com for anyone near the van who can check it out for you.
Wheelchair lifts can be had used for a few grand and new under $7k...I am working a deal that would mean changing the lift we are running in the Disabled Explorers WAVE (Wheelchair Accessible Van for Expeditions)...depending on if you can wait a bit.
I would say $35k is high unless it has a built out interior of some kind.
Also the Quigley front end is not as tough at the Sportsmobile West coversion or others that are out there...depending on the wheeling you will do.
Does the van have a drivers transfer seat? Do you need one?
Is it already setup up with hand controls you can use?
You mention the VA so you have some options for outfiting a non-accessible van if you find one right?
Are you looking to camp in the van?
Yeah I know alot of questions...but I have learned it is easier to ask them up front and get lots of info vs giving you advice based on assumptions.
Looking forward to learning more!
Hi Lance...
The van I spoke of is in Georgia just NW of Atlanta, and is at a conversion company. After speaking with the Owner, it has a dropped floor from the rear Queen bed up to engine cover and including the pass seating area. So no pass seat. I assume the chair sits there and is strapped down. Driver seat is not set up to swivel ect. Either way I now think it is way High priced as well.
So I will continue the search. Even looking at 2wd, to convert later. Also yes the VA will help out some, I have used my vehicle accessibility deal on my first van, but "big red" is long gone. Also, yes I will camp with it to some degree, and will do some wheeling with it as well. The FJ is my baby and I wheel it pretty hard for an IFS suv, but there are limits to it's ability. Like towing an expo trailer... I cant do the RTT, so I am limited there.
I see the ultimate setup as, nice 4wd van with power to pull the FJ on a trailer for my moderate wheeling trips, or put the 4 runner on for the hardcore stuff. Then I can also put an expo trailer of some sort on the van when I decide to hit the back-country for extended visits.
I have my annual "lube,oil,finger" visit at the VA in Tampa next month, and will be looking at an 02 E350, 2wd with the 7.3 and only 36k miles for $17
Thinking a convert to 4X is what about 10k???
I am in NO hurry... so I don't remember, what lift did you go with in the van? and why are you changing it out already
Martin "BirdMan"