Hi Guys and gals! I just got back from a visit to Ryno Mobility, where they are very busy putting the wheelchair acess conversion into my new Ram 3500. The photos don't show a lot of detail at this point because I could not get too close and there was a lot going on with my truck when I was there. In fact there were four guys in there working!

I saw on on electrical, one welding, one cutting the floor out, and the owner (Edward Pic) with very dirty hands. As you can see from the photos, they have everything they are not modding covered for protection.

The 4" body lift is huge! I'll have to put steps on for the wife or she is going to be forced to grow up.

They think that the truck will be done before the 15th of April. It will then be trucked up to my home in Illinois. We will be leaving Florida next week and I'm not sure I'll get another chance to visit Ryno again, but if I do I'll give you all another update.

Be well all,
Larry

 

Wow. Congrats on the new truck. I had no idea on the work involved in a wheelchair conversion. That is coolness on a massive scale.

 

Didn't know they could do that on a pickup, thats great. There is a guy near me I saw who got a folding chair out from cab then got himself out into chair and then reverse again. Was amazed. They should make a factory option with lift gate and rear of cab entry. Enjoy your truck.

 

Hi Shonne,

The total package is quite a deal. They also have to change the drive line to a split driveshaft in order to clear everything. I'm a little leary of that part, but the owner of the company is a off roader and he assures me that it will handle anything - I will test it.

The floor of the backseat area will be dropped 6" in order to give me the headroom I need and the transmission hump will be completely flattened. The drivers seat will have a new base that will power rearward further than stock and rotate 90 degrees - that will allow me to transfer from my chair to the seat - rotate back into place, start the engine and away we go. Fun

 

But where would I put my Fifth Wheel Hitch???

Signed - "picks on guys who can walk"

 

Wow! That is some serious modification.

 

LOL, it sticks like glue that damned mad hat. I hope his wooden leg gets termites.

 

Im a telling......



Larry,

Glad to see everything is moving along!

 

What kinda tires to go with the 4 inch lift ?

 

Just stock for now. The bank account will have to recover before any more changes can happen. I have been looking (shhhh! don't tell the wife!!)

My main worry is towing - I have no idea how the lift might affect that ability. Blake and many others have proven that these trucks can tow great,I just don't want to mess that up. I tow a lot.

 

with a 4" bodylift, pulling a 5th wheel is out of the question. insurance won't cover it nor would I want that kind of flex. having a bodylift on my last truck, it was nothing but problems. I am sure this company has it pinned down to stiffen it up more than the avg off the shelf bodylift.

 

Nice to see they seem to care about your truck too!!

 

I'd like to know why you say insurance won't cover it? I've not gotten any neg feedback from my company about the lift. IL may be different than NM too.

 

just was told by an adjuster (friend of mine) that works for an insurance company that they would not cover a bodylifted truck pulling a 5th or a goose because of the flex and lack of structural support between the bed and frame and not having the capability of being truely secure. not saying that the company doing your bodylift is doing anything wrong. I would just make sure with your insurance company before hitchin it up

 

I'd probably go with a custom flatbed personally. It can eat up some of the body lift.

You would probably be ahead or near even by selling that drw mega bed.


I'd also go to a 19.50 wheel and taller tires.


You can sell what you currently have, I bet someone would buy those dodge aluminum wheels pretty quick.

I'd also put some type of running board on it to hide the frame so it's less obvious.





Just bouncing some ideas out there.