Removing a wheelchair ramp and installing a tow bar

[animalraw]

Hello All,
I'm looking at purchasing a Wheelchair Access Vehicle and removing the wheelchair ramp. The original wheelchair conversion involved lowering the floor and the installation of the ramp. I believe that part of the bumper has been cut away for this installation.
Has anyone dealt with this issue before/installed a tow bar to a van in this state?
Is it possible!?
Thanks in advance,
Adam

 

[Steved55]

I am I the process of converting a dropped floor wav back to standard. If it's the same as mine, you will not be able to fit a standard tow bar as is, as the drop down part of the rear valance goes where the tow bar would be and the fixing holes through the chassis to bolt the tow bar in place are cloaked by the sides of the wheelchair ramp. Post some pics of what yours looks like

 

[animalraw]

Thanks so much for your reply - it sounds like we’re on about the same type of WAV. I haven’t bought it yet (was hoping to today though!) and the ability to fit a tow bar is a deal breaker. My thoughts are if it was possible to fit a non-standard one with the help from a specialist or whether it was a complete outright no?

 

[Paynewright]

The tow bar frame usually bolts into the two chassis rails running front to back at the outer edges of the floor. I’d check these are in tact as a starter.

Basically a flat bar of the tow bar is inserted down the rail and bolted through holes on the inside vertical side of the box IYSWIM.

 

[Steved55]

Are you planning on retaining the ramp for its intended use? Is so I would say it's impossible to fit a towbar as it would have to be below the rear floor which is already quite low. I'm cutting the ramp out of mine and welding in a floor from a breakers - this is a very time consuming job but it has exposed the holes in the sides of the chassis rails where a standard tow bar fits as Payneright says. Will post some pics if you interested

 

[Paynewright]

Are you planning on retaining the ramp for its intended use? Is so I would say it's impossible to fit a towbar as it would have to be below the rear floor which is already quite low. I'm cutting the ramp out of mine and welding in a floor from a breakers - this is a very time consuming job but it has exposed the holes in the sides of the chassis rails where a standard tow bar fits as Payneright says. Will post some pics if you interested

I’d like to see pics - always interested in peoples project journeys and I think it would be a useful reference piece for anyone else considering this route.

If you have the time a few pics and notes would be interesting.

 

[animalraw]

Hello All, thanks for the replies, attached is the type of modified van we were looking at. I was intending to remove the ramp and return it to original state to then fit a tow bar, but I sent the photo to a tow bar specialist this morning and was informed that there would be no way of doing so. Oh well! Back to the hunt for a base van

 

[WinFreak]

Hello All, thanks for the replies, attached is the type of modified van we were looking at. I was intending to remove the ramp and return it to original state to then fit a tow bar, but I sent the photo to a tow bar specialist this morning and was informed that there would be no way of doing so. Oh well! Back to the hunt for a base van

View attachment 143727

That looks ideal for putting a motorbike in the back!

 

[Skyliner33]

That looks ideal for putting a motorbike in the back!

Thats just what i was thinking

 

[Steved55]

That looks a very similar set up to mine - do you have a link to the sale ad just for interest? I've added a few pics of starting to chop out the ramp - I've bought a complete floor from a breakers and will weld back in sections

 

[Paynewright]

I’ve been watching a few of the Salvage Rebuilds UK vids on youtube. They buy a few copart insurance write offs and their work is pretty thorough. It usually involves lots of spot weld drilling, few tweaks on the jig and fitting up the new panels.

I guess the difficult bit on the van is getting the cross braces back in.

Ian

 

[Steved55]

yes - fortunately can still see where the originals were cut out

 

[animalraw]

Hey Steved55, this is what we were looking at: Used Volkswagen Caravelle 2.5 Tdi Auto WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE WAV 5 Doors MPV for sale in Blackpool, Lancashire - Pickering Motor Company
Found and purchased another easier WAV to work with now and the transformation process has already begun!

 

[Steved55]

That's great news. Removing the ramp is not for the faint hearted! Show us what you've got then!

 

[animalraw]

Picked up this 2008 2.5 DSG tdi on Saturday - looked after like a dream and drives like a rocket!

 

[Steved55]

That looks an easier conversion. Keep us updated on progress

 

[snowdrop]

That looks an easier conversion. Keep us updated on progress

Just wondered if theres any updates for this older thread?
Has anyone left the dropped floor as it is and used the space for other things?

 

[Stirling]

Just wondered if theres any updates for this older thread?
Has anyone left the dropped floor as it is and used the space for other things?

Yes - I removed the ramp and left the dropped floor in place, I insulated it and installed 2 leisure batteries, solar controller, smart split charge unit, isolator switches for the charger, isolator and cut off for the solar, every circuit fused and trip switches fitted, last part left to do is fit the mains power. I made a lid so when the tailgate is open you can't see it, but hinges up. I fitted a RIB seat/bed and bolted the bar that usually goes under the van to either side of the dropped floor then bolted the seat to this plus 4 additional bolts and plates through the van floor at the front of the bed and one on either side at the rear of the bed. False floor fitted with sound deadening and insulation. This all works well but now the pop top is fitted the rear passengers can't be over 6ft tall! as with the roof bed the curve of the roof is no longer there!

 

[Ross2701]

Yes - I removed the ramp and left the dropped floor in place, I insulated it and installed 2 leisure batteries, solar controller, smart split charge unit, isolator switches for the charger, isolator and cut off for the solar, every circuit fused and trip switches fitted, last part left to do is fit the mains power. I made a lid so when the tailgate is open you can't see it, but hinges up. I fitted a RIB seat/bed and bolted the bar that usually goes under the van to either side of the dropped floor then bolted the seat to this plus 4 additional bolts and plates through the van floor at the front of the bed and one on either side at the rear of the bed. False floor fitted with sound deadening and insulation. This all works well but now the pop top is fitted the rear passengers can't be over 6ft tall! as with the roof bed the curve of the roof is no longer there!

Any photos of this please?
Much appreciated

 

[Stirling]

Hi
Here you go, not finished yet but almost there you go, kept the rear AC too so back is cool for the dogs when travelling