So the dump truck guy never did call back, I guess when he's ready he'll call. Can't sit around waiting so on to bigger and cleaner jobs.
My part time helper Jeff and I installed a Ferno "Power Flex" powered cot system into a brand new Ford E-350 wheelchair van and I documented the job via photos and a short video in the end.
This cot system enables the user to easily and safely load and unload patients in and out of these vans when someone needs to be "cot transported".
This comes with a very pricey price tag though. This powered cot system retails for roughly $10,000 and then you have the "sold separate" mounting system to have installed before you can even use it for transporting patients.
This is where Tuscarora Dave's comes in.
This is a very tricky installation where flush mount anchors have to be routed, drilled, rust treated and installed as per regulated guidelines.
This is a measure 5 times and cut once type of operation.
It's quite easy to get confused between measuring below the vehicle looking up from the shop floor, and then going inside the van (reversing all the measurements in your mind) to make your marks in which to rout out the holes in the floor for the flush mount installation.
Get your measurements wrong and you could be drilling down into electrical wiring harnesses, fuel lines, brake lines, fuel tank, frame rails etc. There's typically only one perfect place to mount the installation kit and that's completely dependent on the van's floor plan, seating arrangements, customer needs or preferences etc.
You only get one shot at routing these floors for this flush mount installation so you need to be absolutely sure you've thought everything through and measured correctly before you cut. get it wrong and you'll be installing an entire new floor in one of these vans and probably lose the sale too.
Here's the cot.
My system of measurement is a proprietary secret, but that's the first step after considering all the facts and potential pitfalls.
Here's the floor measured up and marked. I mark the floor both with a Sharpie and also with masking tape for added visibility when routing out the floor.
Next up is to rout out the floor for the flush mount hardware receivers.
Next up is to drop in the flush mounts and verify the fit. I cut the hole a bit smaller and then trim as I go until I get a good fit and finish.
Once a good fit is achieved, it's now time to drill out the bolt holes.
You can't just drill and install these flush mounts for a few reasons. The first being rust. If you don't treat the drilled edge of the holes you'll have rusting issues into the future. The second reason is that you'll see the white painted floor through the machined holes in the flush mounts as seen in the above photo where I've verified the fit and placement of the flush mount.
Enter the rubberized undercoating.
Next up is to verify and purchase the correct length mounting bolts, heavy fender washers and nylock nuts to safely bolt in the flush mounts. I use 3/8" hardened, high strength Allen cap screws for the installation because they go along with my mission of high quality in everything that I do, and they look the best too.
Here's the antler setup installed. The antler receives the front wheels of the cot. The way the system is designed, the wheels "auto track" right onto the antler as the cot is pushed into the van. The antler is completely removable by simply unscrewing the large thumb screws and can be stored out of the way while the van is being used for wheelchair transport only.
The van's drive shaft has to be removed to access the bolts under the van so the heavy washers and nylock nuts can be installed to bolt in the antler flush mounts.
Here is a photo of the rear cot locking system installed. The rear cot locking system is a quick release locking system that "auto aligns" with a heavy locking lug that comes installed on all Ferno cots.
The rear cot locking device is completely removable by simply unscrewing the large thumb screw and it too can be stored out of the way while the van is being used for wheelchair transport only.
Here's a view of both the antler and the rear cot locking system as viewed from the rear of the van.
In this photo, the cot has been rolled into the van and "auto tracked" into the antler. The antler holds the two front wheels of the cot safely and securely in place.
This next photo shows the rear of the cot locked securely into the rear cot locking system. You just push the cot into the antler and as per my measurements and installation the cot's locking lug pushes right into the locking system and the lock automatically snaps closed around the cot's rear locking lug.
Last but perhaps most importantly, the cot's safety hook must be installed as per Ferno's guidelines.
The cot installed....Another successful high quality cot installation by Tuscarora Dave's Mobile Auto Detailing.
Here is a short video showing my helper Jeff installing the cot into the Ferno cot installation kit we just installed. This is a very nice powered cot system that allows patients to be loaded and unloaded by one single operator.
Ferno Power Flex completed installation - YouTube
Thanks for looking. TD
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