Full Size normal Wheelchair Vans

Wheelchair users need head room (floor to ceiling height)more than 55" full-size van with 10" floor lowering adjustment will be a good option. Persons whose wheelchair do not need tall head rooms and who wish to drive themselves or travel as passengers can choose normal vans. Their modification do not cost a lot. As these vans are spacious, you travel with people, accessories your gear etc. Because of its bigger size, full size vans also provide good and easy transfers from wheelchair to the van.

Fuel economy and bigger parking space can be the negative aspects.

Another alternative to both mini vans and normal vans modification is raising the roofs for more head room. This modification is cheaper than floor modifications. However, the floor height remains the same and hence require a longer ramp and more space for parking etc. Alternatively one can think about wheelchair van lifts to overcome this problem.

Wheelchair access van

Basically there are 2 ways to customize vans for wheelchair access

1. Rear entry wheelchair custom vans

For a rear entry customization, a ramp should be fixed on the rear side of the wheelchair custom van. Some interior modifications like seat realignment and wheelchair stability fittings are needed. Rear entry wheelchair custom vans are not for the person who wants to drive from a wheelchair. Rear entry wheelchair custom vans are fine for wheelchair travelers with another individual driving for them.

2. Side entry wheelchair custom vans

Requires a lot of modifications like body modification to enable wheelchair entry, lowering the floor to install ramps, when the floor is lowered, the fuel tank should be replaced and total main shaft should be relocated.. However this is good for people who want to drive from a wheelchair and this modification makes wheelchair custom van comfortable for the person in the wheelchair to turn around and get in and off the van the way they want.

For people who require bigger head room the roof too can be raised and this to requires some modifications and its own disadvantages like parking in low roof places would not be possible.

Mini vans

Wheelchair mini vans are easy to drive, space, Economic, good sporty look and easy convertible make mini-vans very popular among normal and wheelchair users. All these features make minivans more suited for wheelchair users as they have space, compact design help in parking easily, the floor height makes transfer easy, broad doors make it easy for wheelchairs to enter.

Now lets see some conversion choices for wheelchair mini vans available and their pros and cons

First the entry
Either the entry can be in the side or rear.

Side entrance to wheelchair vans have their own pros and cons.

Wheelchair vans with side entrance allow the person in a wheelchair to drive and turn inside the van itself which would make it easier to get in or out of the van the way you want (front or rear). However, Side entrance in wheelchair vans involve tedious and complex work like changing the floor height, for which the main beam has to be cut and a new main beam welded to lower the floor level. Get the fuel tank shifted. All this alteration work will cost more and also we loose the ground clearance of the van, safety is compromised and noise increases. Also in wheelchair vans with side entrance do not allow getting of the van in cramped parking spaces.

Rear entrance wheelchair mini vans are becoming more popular as they do not need huge modifications. Just a ramp in the rear end. Easy to enter or exit in cramped parking lots. However, Wheelchair vans with rear entrance do not allow driving by the wheelchair user. As any one knows everybody wants to sit in the front of any vehicle as sitting at the back may cause more jerks and can make a ride uncomfortable. This is same for the people in wheelchair traveling in a wheelchair van with rear entrance.

Normally wheelchair vans (mini) have less head room as their roofs are smaller. People who require 50" head room floor to (ceiling height) can consider mini vans.

TAG: disability and society