New Van

[Michigan]

I got a new van or should I say a small bus. It was a 15 passenger van that now has 4 captain seats and 2 wheelchair tie downs but the best thing in the whole world is it has a rear lift with a remote control and automatic doors. No more looking for parking places to put a side lift down. Now any parking place works. Now if I can just get used to backing that bus out of the parking places after driving a mini van for the last 7 years.

 

[mamajoan]

HURRAY and CONGRATULATIONS!!

The rear lift shall make parking much easier.. beware of cra*y parking lot drivers who don't watch where they are going....

You will also enjoy the remote control and electric doors.. they are a nice accessory to have.

Happy motoring!

 

[Nanajo1]

Great news! Enjoy! Let us know if there are any concerns with the rear entry. I've never known anyone who had one.

 

[SueM in MN]

Congratulations.
One of the families in my DD's dance class has a rear entry minivan, but I don't know anyone with a bus!!!
Hope you get used to driving it quickly.

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by Michigan
I got a new van or should I say a small bus. It was a 15 passenger van that now has 4 captain seats and 2 wheelchair tie downs but the best thing in the whole world is it has a rear lift with a remote control and automatic doors. No more looking for parking places to put a side lift down. Now any parking place works. Now if I can just get used to backing that bus out of the parking places after driving a mini van for the last 7 years.

You will get used to backing it in no time We have a huge Ford Econoline van which we purchased with the hopes of putting a rear lift in. Haven't gotten the lift yet but are working on it now. What kind of lift (manufacturer) did you get?

Tori

 

[faeflora]

Congrats on the new van. The rear lift is so much better than looking for van spaces. Enjoy it.

 

[Michigan]

Hi Tori

The van is a Ford E-350 Super Duty. I wanted a Ricon Clearway lift but because the ground to van heght is 31" and the max on the lift is 31" in the event I was parked on uneven pavement the lift wouldn't go all the way down so I have a Ricon S-Series. It's the lift they use on a bus or paratransit. The only thing I don't like about that lift is as a safety feature because it's used for commercial use it's a seat belt that has to be hooked before the lift will work. I let the belt out as far as it will go and the girls are lifting it over their heads right now but when it gets warmer I might just cut the belt off with it hooked to over ride that feature.

 

[SueM in MN]

They have that seatbelt thing on the lift on the bus DD takes to school. It is a bother for the driver. It's always in the way and DD has alsmost gotten hit by it severl times when it was unlatched.