Cutaway bus with handicapped floor?! Removable?

[Bpjr07]

Looking at a thomas chevy express 3500, it is a handicap model so to get a flat platform the body is not changed.

Looks like they add a 5-6" platform behind the drivers seat to get over the wheel wells and have it flat...loosing 5-6" in head room.
Anyone tried removing the floor? Is the standard floor still under it or will it require too much fabrication and time to reinstall the floor lower?

[Danjo]

There isn’t another floor under it. There are 8” high cross members that sit on top of the frame rails. On top of that is 10 or 12 guage steel then a sheet of 1/2” plywood

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Danjo

There isn’t another floor under it. There are 8” high cross members that sit on top of the frame rails. On top of that is 10 or 12 guage steel then a sheet of 1/2” plywood

10 or 12 gauge is pretty thick stuff man. you sure? Full size bus floors are in the 14-16 range.

[farok]

My handicap bus (a 2003 Collins) had 3/4" plywood over what was probably 20 or 22 gauge galvanized steel (and don't get me started on all those L tracks in the floor...). That said, with the plywood removed, I still had about 6' 6" from steel to ceiling. With the floor insulated and ceiling installed, I'll be sitting at about 6' 2" inside. Not all handicap busses have low headroom!

Chris

[Danjo]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

10 or 12 gauge is pretty thick stuff man. you sure? Full size bus floors are in the 14-16 range.

I’ll try to measure it today.

[Bpjr07]

The bus is shorter than the non handicapped versions. I just fit now... around the center, once flooring and insulation is in will be too short imo.. and it sounds too difficult to drop the floor to a standard height.