Used Wheelchair Vans for Wheelchair Users

Posted by admin | Posted in Car Insurance Minnesota | Posted on 02-09-2010

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A Used Wheelchair Van is a work utility vehicle that has been customized or specially built to accommodate wheelchairs. Access is often provided for through the use of ramps or lifts, with even more elaborate options involving cranes. The next most popular “mobility motoring” option involves electric and manual tie-down systems for physically securing the wheelchair, with upper body torso restraints being especially useful for those with weak upper body muscles or poor overall balance. But out of all the modifications made on a used wheelchair van, ramp installation is the most common. The Ford Freestar is one model that will take ramp-based conversions, which may be folding or sliding, motorized or manual. Full-sized vans will likely require sort of lift that is a platform which may be raised and lowered from within the vehicle outwards and downwards to the ground outside.

So as to allow for extra headroom, a used wheelchair van will have its floor lowered, and this in turn will lead to the installation of some specially modified gas tanks to ensure operational safety on the road. The floor is not lowered in the case of rear-entry configurations, but removed altogether and replaced with a tub of steel or a composite material. The precise steps to customizing a used wheelchair van will differ based on the model, but the general process starts by taking a regular vehicle off the assembly line. Customization or conversion almost always includes removing the floor, installing a ramp and/or hydraulic lift, and stiffening the suspension to accommodate all the extra weight incurred.

Various tie-downs are available for the physical stabilization of wheelchair-bound passengers. While manual systems require assistance to operate as they are inaccessible from the wheelchair, electric options often require some degree of modification to both vehicle and chair. Those in wheelchairs still able to drive may choose a front seat that can be specially adjusted for wheelchair access, swiveling around and lowering itself for easy ingress and egress. Due to all the modifications involved, extensive testing is conducted to ensure full operational safety and reliability.

Rear-entry conversions are designed for situations where the wheelchair-bound person is necessarily a passenger; if the person in the wheelchair is able to drive, side-entry conversions are not only preferred but absolutely necessary. While making for great convenience, rear-entry conversions are the easiest to perform, without any complicated engineering or electronics required, unlike where side-entry configurations are desired. Thus rear-entry wheelchair vans are commonly favored for deployment with paratransit companies and dial-a-ride services.

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