[Archived]

Hello DKO,

I have never seen a mid-door Prevost. Do you also have a front door? It’s hard to tell in the picture as the front is cut off.

Thanks for sharing.

MM.

[Don]

The original owner ordered the bus from Prevost like he wanted it and then shopped the conversion before settling on Vantare as I understand the paper work that came with the bus. One of the things he specified was the mid-door.

It does have a front door but the front door has no inside steps. It does have a nice storage are down below floor level and then access to the coach above the floor. I just recently posted about wanting to add steps to the front door. It is a project on my future to do list.

The mid-door makes it interesting. My bays are configured quite a bit differently because of it and none of that is for the better as far as I can tell. The one big positive about it was the fact that nobody wanted the mid-door so the bus sat on the lot until it was cheap for the vintage, mileage and condition.

Davy

[Peter]

DKO, thanks, I read your other site.

I was just wondering why would you want to change to the front door now? It makes a nice emergency exit I guess.

If you make steps in the front, would you keep the mid door?

MM.

[Corey]

There is one reason I would like the front steps installed. I would like to explore the possibility of removing the mid steps and building a lift for my adult handicapped daughter that travels with us. None of the stock lifts or even the modified lifts I have found work on my bus for various reasons without major and costly modifications to the bus.

A lift could be built in the space where the mid steps are now. If built properly it should be able to lift her in her manual chair or as she is standing. I have an engineer friend working on designing a simple mechanical lift with off the shelf parts that would be easily sourced on the road. All of it is in the research stage right now.

A bonus reason is that I may be able to access some things in that bay that are inaccessable now. With the steps gone I could install a removable panel.

Davy

[Brian]

Davy,

Not trying to hijack the thread here. You might want to begina new thread on lifts. I saw a custom lift that was pretty clever. Basically it was a large threaded rod installed just inside the left side of the front door. It had a custom bracket for a quick release seat and a remote control. The seat could freely swing with the person in the chair. When lowered, the gentlemen that owned the coach could transfer from his wheelchair to the lift chair. He could then raise the chair such that he could transfer on the stepwell slide where his narrow wheelchair was positioned. The key benefits of this lift is first and foremost it was practically impossible for the system to ever fail in such a way that he would quickly drop thanks to the screw drive. It also provide for full door width access to other passengers. This gentlemen was the sole operator of the coach. He used the standard coach seat, although moved slightly. The coach was 100% hand operated. He owned and operated this coach for well over a dozen years when I met hime at Prevost-Jacksonville.

[Archived]

DKO..

I know that Newell coach has built numerous coaches with a lift in the mid entry way… you might just check out how they do it?

I hope you find a usable solution for your daughter.

Diane

[Davy]

Thanks for the information.

We have found companies that will build custom lifts but with major modifications to the bus. IF we put in a lift we want to do it with as little modifications as possible.

Davy

[Sid]

Davy

I would suggest you contact the converters. I would guess each has experience in installing systems to accomodate special needs. We saw our first center door handicap access on a conversion in the very early 90’s so I am sure the systems and designs are already available.

[Archived]

Sometime back I had a conversation with a gentleman at Indianapolis Motor Speedway who worked for the Hulman-George family. One of his jobs was driving a motor coach for them. If my memory is accurage, it was a Marathon, I think a Prevost that has a wheel chair lift installed for family matriach Mary Hulman who used a wheel chair often. Hope this information helps you.