[AbiliTrax]

This will be the planet's most used and most wheelchair accessible vehicle People and companies seeking options for accessibility will only have to wait days for a Transit to become wheelchair accessible not months like the predecessors.

Generous door heights on the side and rear doors along with the vertical interior side walls make this chassis a home run for transportation and flexibility.

coming soon!!!

 

[mogulman]

I posted this last month:

http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/ford-transit-general-discussion/1241-handicap-van.html

I think this plus a UVL lift has real potential. I am estimating around $50K. The other option is 2015 MV-1. It will have the same Ford 3.7L/6 speed transmission. It is also around $50K.

 

[AbiliTrax]

The MV-1 sad to say has many deficiencies, like no air bags for passengers and no realistic backup system for the ramp not to mention the high probability of the company not being in existence again.
You know remarketing the Transit will be much much easier when its time to trade/sell a larger market will likely want to purchase these used.

Food for thought

 

[ted]

Since these will have Wheelchair Accessibility, is it possible that Ford could be seeing fleet sales from transit services?

 

[mogulman]

MV-1 plan to offer a front passenger seat and airbag in the 2015 model. They offer a rear backup camera option. They need to offer a rear AC option. Now that AM General owns it I am not overly concern about them going out of business. I think it should be priced around $40K not $50K. If it was priced at $40K it would get most of the handicap van market.

 

[mogulman]

What I would really like to see a more generalized handicap version of the Transit Connect. It would need to have a ramp built into the floor and with a wide opening to allow a wheelchair to role in. The wheelchair could be either secured in the back or in the front passenger area when the seat is removed. I imagine it could sell for around $35,000. Ford would take over the handicap vehicle market.

 

[ted]

What I would really like to see a more generalized handicap version of the Transit Connect. It would need to have a ramp built into the floor and with a wide opening to allow a wheelchair to role in. The wheelchair could be either secured in the back or in the front passenger area when the seat is removed. I imagine it could sell for around $35,000. Ford would take over the handicap vehicle market.

A take over is something I doubt, it's already heavily saturated already, not sure what else they can do to really stand out with this, but it will be interesting to see how things work out in the end.

 

[mogulman]

The problem with the minvan conversion solution is you buy a minivan and then spend over $25,000 to tear it up and lower the floor and put in a ramp. It is plagued with reliability and serviceability issues. The MV-1 is a good first attempt at a solution but it is huge and heavy. Even with a Ford 3.7L/6 speed transmission it won't get good gas mileage. Also, it is expensive and has a limited dealer network. A slightly modified Transit Connect would be an ideal solution. It would need to be a little taller and have a wide side entrance. It would make an ideal Taxi/Paratransit vehicle. I am handicapped and have been following this for a while. They have some rear entry taxis that I use on occasion but that is cramped and only works for short trips. Also, it is a $15,000- $20,000 conversion. Using it in a busy downtown street is a nightmare. I was scared some car was going to hit me as I navigated street traffic to get in.

If Ford could keep the price around $35,000 they would obliterate the current offerings.

 

[ted]

Had to google the MV-1 and it's one ugly looking vehicle, but it seems like it gets the job done

 

[mogulman]

I agree, it is not the best looking vehicle but very functional. Another plus for the Transit Connect handicap van. The only issue is the market is about 10,000 units a year but the market is growing as the population ages.

 

[carryon]

The problem with the minvan conversion solution is you buy a minivan and then spend over $25,000 to tear it up and lower the floor and put in a ramp. It is plagued with reliability and serviceability issues. The MV-1 is a good first attempt at a solution but it is huge and heavy. Even with a Ford 3.7L/6 speed transmission it won't get good gas mileage. Also, it is expensive and has a limited dealer network. A slightly modified Transit Connect would be an ideal solution. It would need to be a little taller and have a wide side entrance. It would make an ideal Taxi/Paratransit vehicle. I am handicapped and have been following this for a while. They have some rear entry taxis that I use on occasion but that is cramped and only works for short trips. Also, it is a $15,000- $20,000 conversion. Using it in a busy downtown street is a nightmare. I was scared some car was going to hit me as I navigated street traffic to get in.

If Ford could keep the price around $35,000 they would obliterate the current offerings.

well lets hope ford gets this right!

 

[ted]

and the fact that it will be used for business for most, how it looks wont matter too much, usually people care more about their personal vehicles.

 

[jbuchan]

Thought I'd chime in and let you know that Nor-Cal Vans will be offering a crash-tested, ADA-Compliant, dropped-floor Transit Connect with a manual rear ramp and seating for 5+1wc. Looking like it will hit the market running around May or June 2014. No pricing as of yet though.

 

[mogulman]

That will work for taxis but is not really good for personal use. I have used rear entry taxis several times and it is ok for short trips but I would never want to travel any distance back there. These conversions usually run around $15,000 to $20,000. That would make it around $40,000 to $45,000. I just wish Ford would design an accessible Transit Connect with side entry. It would make a great taxi, paratransit and personal vehicle.

I am looking at a Ford Transit RWB and medium height and add a lift to it. It would run around $40,000. I wouldn't need to destroy the structural integrity of the Transit Connect. When I ride back there I am always worried about a rear-end collision.

 

[stereopticon]

As a fleet manager for a rural transit provider, I fully expect either a drop-floor rear-ramp or liftgate Transit Wagon (full-size, not Connect) to rule our market in the next few years. For hauling small groups of people with at least one wheelchair passenger, nothing else currently available comes close in terms of design and cost of ownership; existing passenger van offerings have never been well suited, and the MV-1, which has been discussed in this thread, is barely more than a single-serving taxi solution, and a wildly overpriced one for what it delivers.

That being said, I was mildly shocked to call a BraunAbility sales rep recently and mention the upcoming Transit release, only to have them proclaim complete ignorance of it. Sometimes the market is slower to respond than one might expect.

 

[stereopticon]

These pictures show how they do the drop floor ramp van and the rear lift version in the U.K. and Germany, where Ford has been selling versions of the Transit Wagon for the past 20-30 years.

Ramp:
http://www.easier.com/uploads/cache...air-friendly-ford-transit-becomes-taxibus.jpg

Lift:
http://www.termak.ee/wp-content/uploads/ford2.jpg

Hopefully our American accessibility providers will be coming out with their own ADA-compliant versions shortly.

 

[DScruggs]

stereopticon

We should talk offline as well. I am a Fleet Manager for a fleet of 600 Paratransit vans.
Braun has made a business decision to drop out of the Raised Roof Paratransit business with the demise of the E350. Fortunately, I have 120 E350 chassis sitting aside for my FY15 vehicle buy. We do need to nail down a replacement though.

The Transit Connect is completely unacceptable. It is a little toy when the attempt is made to carry 3000-4000 passengers per year and accrue 43,000 miles per year.

Also, with 40% of my non-preventables being adverse struck us from behind I will retire before I EVER allow a rear loading wheelchair van into my fleet. I have heard that Ford has distributed a few 'vehicles in white' to some of the Ford QVM upfitters.

What have you heard?

 

[AbiliTrax]

AbiliTrax offers rear and side lift applications in all full size vans including the Ford Transit, Ram ProMaster, and Mercedes Sprinter. With AbiliTrax installed, all options including seats, lifts, and other accessories can all be added A La Carte to complete your upfit package how you see fit. With our flexible seating, you can easily change your 6+1WC to 4+2WC or any other configurations, easily and on the fly. Please feel free to contact AbiliTrax with any questions or to locate a dealer

AbiliTrax Universal Tiedown Tracking
(800)500-6181

 

[speedlip]

I am fitting a XLT lR Transit 150 Wagon to accept a URV Braun lift . The lift was made for a E series so some adaptive custom work was involved. Should be complete next week.Gas tank and muffler holding me up right now trying for a little more road clearance so changing the muffler and adding 245/75/R16 tires should endup about 6in.A little low but My GT500 Shelby we have lowerd to 5 in

 

[USMC Vet]

speedlip,

Did you look at a Ricon, slideaway? No under vehicle modifications needed. When not in use, the lift folds together and slides to the back of the door opening, leaving the doorway open for use bu others. Good luck, keep us posted.

Semper Fi