[phattyduck]

vertically, you are clearly good to go as the van is sitting way higher than stock)

Sadly, this isn't true at all. The front spring perches on the struts are fixed height compared to the wheels/tires. No amount of lifting gains clearance there. Same with front to rear clearance in the wheel wells (turning clearance in the front, mostly). You can probably go 1-2" larger in tire diameter, but that only will gain you 0.5-1" of lift.

Based on the photos, the ground clearance between the front and rear axles is basically the same as a stock Odyssey. The front and rear are both raised about the same amount (likely 3-4" as others have said), so you aren't going to be able to modify things more. (I'm assuming they put lift blocks on the front and rear subframes to keep suspension geometry reasonable)

As for grip - unless the weight you added is behind the rear axle (say, towing a trailer, bike rack, etc.) any additional weight will be pretty evenly distributed between the front and rear axles. That shouldn't have an effect on the front grip.

You can try disabling traction control to get more slip/spin in the front, but that may not help - and may not be possible if the TPMS system is disabled for winter (say, no TPMS sensors in the wheels). I'd check tire review sites to see if you can find better tires for you driving situation - I'm assuming there are differences in performance even with studded tires.

-Charlie

 

[davedrivesody]

I'm find my front tires don't grip as well especially in the winter with studded tires.

Do you mean in snow, on ice, or on dry pavement? Studded tires add traction only on ice; make no difference in snow; reduce traction on dry pavement.

Your converted van is probably heavier than stock so the front wheels need more torque and traction to provide the same acceleration. A throttle sensitivity controller might help by reducing engine power response to pressing the gas pedal.

Pedal Commander - PC21 for Honda Civic (2012-2015) Fits: DX, LX, EX, Si, Touring, & All Other Models (1.4L 1.5L 1.6L 1.8L 2.2L 2.4L) | Throttle Response Controller, Engine Management Systems - Amazon Canada

 

[spin_nin]

I have a 2021 Odyssey that has been converted by VMI for wheelchair access. It doesn't matter which conversion company did the modification(s), or the make of the van; all wheelchair-accessible vans are very low to the ground and easily bottom out on speed bumps. You also have to be very careful when going up or down a steep incline/grade driveway. Your suspension was raised already during the conversion and I don't believe it is safe to raise it any higher. I have heard of wheelchair-accessible van conversions getting stuck in the snow/ice if it is hard-packed and too high for the lowered floor and body panels to clear. Also, do not take the van to an automatic car wash as it can get stuck on the track because it is so low. If you put on larger tires, they will rub when you fully turn the wheel (usually when parking - lock to lock). I hope that helps.

 

[ratler9782]

So looking at the Vantage Mobility website, it looks like the modified Odyssey has a ground clearance of 5.25" which is actually greater than the stock Odyssey (at 4.5") - are you bottoming out on normal things? Is it high centering, or it is bonking into the ground on say speed bumps after the front wheels go over the bump, then recovering upwards? or is it the suspension bottoming out (so the suspension is running out of travel and hitting the bump stops) The issue may be the lifted suspension is a bit too soft (springs too soft, or struts aren't damping well under compression) - I know the van looks lower than a stock odyssey in the middle, but that might be a bit of an optical illusion from the way the van is raised (looks like it sits a good 3-4" higher than stock. If that increase in height is accomplished by adding spacers of some sort to the OEM struts, the van+mobility kit may be a lot more weight than the suspension can handle, so it's bottoming out, or allowing the van to travel a lot more vertically than is otherwise would. Have you reached out to the vantage mobility folks to see what they recommend, as if you are having a problem, odds are other folks are as well. (I'd be worried that raising the van up a bit might mess with the ramp system - stiffening up the suspension might solve the issue without doing that)

Going with larger tires is going to be tough - you are currently at a diameter of 29.1" - going to 30" would raise you up a half inch - is that sufficient? I wouldn't worry about rubbing in the rear, but definitely take a look at how close the tires are to the control arms and wheel well at full lock (vertically, you are clearly good to go as the van is sitting way higher than stock)

I know that at least on the Braunability vans, the low point is the exhaust piping. I know that many conversion companies actually shrink the diameter of the exhaust tubing under the dropped floor. I noticed that many of these companies mount these really low and further away from the floor than what I think is necessary. If the conversion companies used oval-shaped tubing under the floor to increase clearance and maintain the stock exhaust piping diameter, that might solve the clearance issues.

 

[spin_nin]

I believe that the lowest points are actually the cosmetic panels installed on the sliding side doors after the floor is lowered to cover gap left by the dropped floor. When my van scrapes, I can feel the whole vehicle scraping. It’s unsettling to say the least.

 

[adr5]

Hi all,

We have a new-to-us 2014 Touring that has been modified for my daughters wheelchair. As a result the body of the van sits lower than a typical Ody and occasionally the frame bottoms out on speed bumps or can easily get high centered. OEM is 235/60/18 but would like to get bigger tires to gain some clearance. I’m aware of the speedo impacts etc but the clearance is my biggest concern that I’m looking to address. Has anyone run larger tires (maybe an inch bigger for a half inch more clearance) and had any issues with clearance or rubbing at full lock etc?

thanks.

This is really a question to ask the company that did the conversion. They should have accounted for this in the conversion package. All the conversion vans I have seen all have what looks like a 6 inch suspension lift that should help, but it is possible you need more. The conversion company should have lots of experience with this and can make a recommendation as to what would work best.

 

[Grammiecherylp]

Hi all,

We have a new-to-us 2014 Touring that has been modified for my daughters wheelchair. As a result the body of the van sits lower than a typical Ody and occasionally the frame bottoms out on speed bumps or can easily get high centered. OEM is 235/60/18 but would like to get bigger tires to gain some clearance. I’m aware of the speedo impacts etc but the clearance is my biggest concern that I’m looking to address. Has anyone run larger tires (maybe an inch bigger for a half inch more clearance) and had any issues with clearance or rubbing at full lock etc?

thanks.

I have a power wheelchair and a platform installed to carry it on. We had airbags installed on the rear of our 2016 Ody. It allows us to inflate them when carrying the chair and to let out some of the air in the airbags when not. Otherwise. We have stock tires installed on our van.

 

[DrD]

Sadly, this isn't true at all. The front spring perches on the struts are fixed height compared to the wheels/tires

I'm sorry - what? The van has been lifted and the wheel well is a solid 4" higher than stock, as you increase the diameter of the tire you'd hit in the front/rear long before you'd hit the inside top of the wheel well. Going with a larger diameter tire will have issue forward/aft, vertically, it's not a problem (you'd have to increase the OD 8" before you'd be at the same position as stock, and you'd have fitment issues long before then.

 

[phattyduck]

I'm sorry - what? The van has been lifted and the wheel well is a solid 4" higher than stock, as you increase the diameter of the tire you'd hit in the front/rear long before you'd hit the inside top of the wheel well. Going with a larger diameter tire will have issue forward/aft, vertically, it's not a problem (you'd have to increase the OD 8" before you'd be at the same position as stock, and you'd have fitment issues long before then.

Look again:

The bottom spring perch on the strut is there, just above the tire. Looks like there is 1-2" of space - and that is fixed in orientation with the front hubs. You can go larger than stock, but nowhere close to what you are thinking. And you may still want to have clearance for chains if needed, which increases the clearance required. You also have to worry about turning clearance in the wheel wells, which you already mentioned.

-Charlie

 

[davedrivesody]

The bottom spring perch on the strut is there, just above the tire. Looks like there is 1-2" of space - and that is fixed in orientation with the front hubs.

There's no doubt that the height of the bottom spring perch is fixed.

I think you are saying that a large enough tire could make contact with the bottom spring perch?

 

[phattyduck]

I think you are saying that a large enough tire could make contact with the bottom spring perch?

Yes. Its an issue on all strut-based vehicles when you go to oversized tires. (I've seen it most often with Subarus going to off-road/all terrain tires)

-Charlie

 

[troysd68]

Okay, So I read all of this. Here is my question from Costa Rica, where it never snows. There is a good inch+ of space in front on both rotations of my 2016 VMI converted Van with 65/18". The lowest spring perch is about 2" above and of course the well itself is plenty big. It is designed as stated above to handle both snow and snow chains. We will never require that. It seems that we could add an inch of overall clearance by adding 20" radius wheels. Am I wrong?

 

[troysd68]

Okay, So I read all of this. Here is my question from Costa Rica, where it never snows. There is a good inch+ of space in front on both rotations of my 2016 VMI converted Van with 65/18". The lowest spring perch is about 2" above and of course the well itself is plenty big. It is designed as stated above to handle both snow and snow chains. We will never require that. It seems that we could add an inch of overall clearance by adding 20" radius wheels. Am I wrong?

I am adding this from an article i JUST READ.
"VMI is building only 25 of its anniversary vans, which cost about $75,000. That expense includes the cost of a new Honda Odyssey minivan, its conversion and accessories such as a custom grille, 20-inch Londrina lightweight wheels, Hankook tires and two-tone leather interior. "

Thanks

 

[phattyduck]

It seems that we could add an inch of overall clearance by adding 20" radius wheels. Am I wrong?

You don't need to change the wheels to put on bigger tires.

Make sure you have clearance through the whole wheel well though - the front end will have much less clearance while turned and through the compression stroke of the suspension that you are seeing right now with the wheel straight and at normal ride height.

-Charlie

 

[davedrivesody]

VMI is building only 25 of its anniversary vans .... 20-inch Londrina lightweight wheels

Those larger 20" wheels are likely for better appearance, not increased road clearance. (I'll bet they look terrific though!)

They are likely fitted with lower profile tires of the same diameter as the stock 18" tires. That would keep the speedometer accurate.