The DrewMobile Wheelchair Van

[DjDrewDigital]

Last year I sold my Jeep because it was getting too hard to get into and moved up to a van. I thought I'd be cool to share some pictures. With a bed in the back, I figure it'll be great for overlanding.

I just put some bigger tires on it - 285/75/16 - so hopefully I can drive on the beaches in Mexico. It's not 4wd yet, but one day it will be.

The wheelchair conversion added a 2" body lift to make room for the 6" lowered floor. Then a Vangater lift was installed. The nice thing about the Vangater is that it folds up when in the stowed position.

The seats are on pedestals and can easily be removed if I want to drive from my powerchair.

I added an auxiliary battery under the back seat with a Hellroaring Battery Isolator/Combiner to power a 12v cooler and my respirator at night. It really comes in handy for jump starting myself because the lift draws a lot of power and the main battery often goes dead.

Also made a kitchen box that mounts on the back next to the spare tire to carry my stove and dishes.

Next step is to put a winch on the front and install a ham radio....

 

[BirdMan]

Looks good with the 285's. How does it ride with the body lift?
And do you know what the floor to ground distance is ?
I'm looking at a lift like that as well. I love the fact that there isn't a second post right behind the pass seat, limiting the ability to recline the seat.

 

[ujoint]

Super nice van, I love those factory wheels. So clean!

 

[DjDrewDigital]

@Birdman - No complaints on the body lift. Looks much better. Still had to cut the wheel well and fold the body back to make the tires fit. The floor to ground height with the lowered floor and 285 tires is 25". The base of the lift is 4" above the floor so the available travel is maxed out 29". See picture below. Are you going to put in a lowered floor? If you do tell them not to extend the floor into the driver side wheel well. It'll get in the way of the bigger tires.

If I do a 4" suspension lift I think I can get about 2" extra travel because the angle of the platform goes down a bit and then I can make up for for the rest by blocking up the bottom.

@Chris- Thanks! I've been eying your conversion for a while now!!

 

[1leglance]

Looks great Drew!
Floor to ground clearance is the big hassle when it comes to lift.
I really like the lift you are using and just wish it was possible to get a longer arm setup or something.
Great build and keep us posted

 

[RocKrawler]

Nice setup - I'm wondering how much easier engine & drivetrain maintenance would be with a 2" body lift, being able to have more room around everything under the hood & chassis?

 

[ujoint]

@Chris- Thanks! I've been eying your conversion for a while now!!

Awesome. Let me know if I can help ya out----

Nice setup - I'm wondering how much easier engine & drivetrain maintenance would be with a 2" body lift, being able to have more room around everything under the hood & chassis?

I certainly makes swapping shocks easier!

 

[loren85022]

Bed?

Drew, Can you post a photo of the bed? Does it also crank up into a couch? Is that a custom fit transfer board I see on the floor beside the driver's seat?

 

[RocKrawler]

I really like the lift you are using and just wish it was possible to get a longer arm setup or something.

Camburg makes a long travel setup for the E Series vans, but since it stays 2WD it doesnt provide any extra traction, just travel for non-driven wheels.

 

[DjDrewDigital]

Drew, Can you post a photo of the bed? Does it also crank up into a couch? Is that a custom fit transfer board I see on the floor beside the driver's seat?

Yeah I made a platform about 5" high between the seats so I can pull my chair up, plop my feet down, and swing over to the drivers seat.

Here's a pic of the sofa bed. It's not that big, but just long enough for me. I'm only 5'4" and my feet are touching the window sill on one side and my head is against the other window sill. And it's also pretty cozy for 2.

Camburg makes a long travel setup for the E Series vans, but since it stays 2WD it doesnt provide any extra traction, just travel for non-driven wheels.

That's a sweet suspension kit! I like the long travel. First I need to make sure 2wd will take me to the places I want to go. I have a suspicion it won't do though...

 

[loren85022]

. . . . . Here's a pic of the sofa bed. It's not that big, but just long enough for me. I'm only 5'4" and my feet are touching the window sill on one side and my head is against the other window sill. And it's also pretty cozy for 2....

You'll love Mexico. Lots of senoritas under 5'4" available :sombrero:

 

[Errant]

It looks good, Drew

 

[DjDrewDigital]

You'll love Mexico. Lots of senoritas under 5'4" available :sombrero:

LOL! Can't wait to go!!

 

[BirdMan]

@Birdman - Are you going to put in a lowered floor? If you do tell them not to extend the floor into the driver side wheel well. It'll get in the way of the bigger tires.

I use a manual chair, T-8 para, so I really dont need the drop floor. Plus I have seen a few dropped floor vans after a few years of use, lots of potential for rust where the cutting and welding happened. I am now eyeballing the new "slide away" from ricon. Another inovative single post platform lift. Not sure of floor to ground capabilities on that one yet.

 

[DjDrewDigital]

I took the van off-road for the first time on the Cleghorn Ridge Trail over the weekend with my friend Mike. The trail starts in the desert and climbs the San Bernardino Mountains to Silverwood Lake. The van performed great. I was armed with wood ramps and tow straps and a shovel in case I got stuck but didn't need any of that. I was able to make it up some pretty steep hills. I even went into a soft sandy wash and tried to get stuck. It didn't sink, but did have a little trouble. Next time I'll have to air down more for the sand. I was only at 30 psi.

Here are some pics: