What to look for in an Adapted Van (Wheelchair Van)/ Understanding adapted Van Terminology

Navigating the world of purchasing a wheelchair accessible van can be confusing, overwhelming and expensive...haha.  I will attempt to break down some of the terms that people use and some of the things I think are best to look for in purchasing a van.

When a van is modified (changed) to be wheelchair accessible it is called "modified" or  "adapted" or "converted" or "accessible" or "wheelchair accessible".

I am only covering the topic of staying in your wheelchair to travel...there are other options if you are able to get out of your wheelchair and into a vehicle seat.

Minivans typically have ramps and full size vans have lifts.

The 2 most common brands of lifts/ramps are Braun and Ricon.  Braun is typically used in minivans.  Ricon is typically used in commercial applications (like public transportation) and full size vans.

A ramp is at a 45 degree angle coming out the side or rear of the van.  Here is an example of a ramp.

A lift comes out of the van and stops parallel to the ground.  It then lowers to the ground.  The person then gets on the lift and is raised up to the level of the van floor.  Kind of like an elevator.  Here is an example of a lift.

An "in-floor" ramp means that the ramp gets stored in the floor of the van.  The advantage to this is that when the ramp is stowed (put away, ready to drive) it is not blocking ANY of the doorways.  A "fold-out" ramp will block a doorway.  An in-floor ramp is preferred, but probably less common.  I am assuming it costs more. Here is an example of both.

This ramp will block the doorway

They do have Manual Ramps.  They do not use any electricity.  It is best if the wheelchair user always has a companion helping them.  All electric/hydrolic lifts and ramps need repairs and maintenance every few years (2-3 years in my experience).  I have not had a manual lift, but I imagine it would not need NEARLY the maintenance and repairs of electric/hydrolic lifts and ramps.  I have had multiple times that my daughter has been stuck in or out of the van due to an electrical or mechanical failure on our lift.  I have had to use the manual over-ride.  Manual ramps are much cheaper.  Manual Ramps are also much faster.  Lifts and ramps take a while to get into position.  If I had a choice, I would choose a manual ramp over an electrical one.  Manual ramps are much harder to find on used vehicles.  Here is an example.

Manual Ramp

A lift can be solid or a "split-gate".  (remember lifts are on commercial and full size-vans).  A solid lift will block one of the doorways when it is "stowed" (put away, ready to drive).  A split gate will split in 2 when it is stowed so you can still use the doorway.  It is awkward, but still leaves an opening.  If possible I like split-gate better, that way kids or things can still get in and out through the door.  Split-gate are much harder to find.  You can tell that they are split gate because you can see that the lift is split into 2 halves.  Here is an example of both.

Splitgate LIFT parallel to ground

Split-gate LIFT in "stowed" position

Split-Gate LIFT on ground

Solid LIFT blocks doorway

Solid LIFT blocks doorway

Lifts and ramps can be Rear-Entry or Side entry. The advantage to rear-entry is that you can use ANY parking spot, not just ones with the yellow striped lines next to the vehicle.  Another advantage to rear entry is that the wheelchair does not have to turn to face forward once it is inside the vehicle.  A disadvantage to rear entry is that the wheelchair user has to be #1)way in the back of the vehicle, or #2)there can be no other seats (or a lot of missing seats) or #3)the seats have to fold up.  If you choose fold up seats, that makes it difficult for carseats.  And fold-up seats are really rare.  Here are some examples.

Rear-entry Ramp

Side-entry ramp

Rear Entry Ramp with fold-up seats

Side-Entry Lift

Rear-entry lift

When looking at lifts and ramps, look at backup plans.  How do you over-ride the lift to use it manually if there is loss of power or mechanical failure.

Braunability, AMS(Adaptive Mobility Solutions), Entervan, Activan, VMI (Vantage Mobility International) are all systems that companies have designed.  Basically your local adaptive van place goes to these training facilities (Braunability for example) and go to classes to know how to adapt a van correctly.  They then come back to their local adaptive van place and can adapt vans to those standards and can place the label of "Braunability" or "Braun Entervan" on the adapted van.  Things that they learn would be structural safety, best design practices for ease of use for wheelchair users, electrical wiring, how to aesthetically make if look good inside and out.  So if you see any of these terms you know it is a good and safe conversion.  It means the conversion was done by someone who had specific training.

Tie-downs consist of 3 parts.  Anchors (usually 4) in the van.  Tie-down's on the wheelchair itself (usually 4).  Straps that connect the van tie-downs to the wheelchair tie-downs.  All three of these parts are collectively OR individually called tie-downs.  When getting a wheelchair make sure to ask for tie-downs (sometimes called a "transportation option" or "Transportation package".  One popular brand of tie-downs are called Q-straint.  Here are some examples of van tie downs.  Some tie-downs are fixed in 1 location (like the first pic).  Some tie-downs have a track (like pics 2 and 3) and can be adjusted in different locations for different needs. (I prefer the tracks if possible).

Tie-downs can have a housing where the straps are stored.  This would mean they have some type of "retractor".  It might be automatic, semi-automatic or manual. In the first pic below is the semi-automatic retractor.  It is a red button that will pull the excess strap tighter.  In the 2nd pic is a manual tie-down, you have to pull it tighter with your own muscles.

Manual tiedowns are cheapest.  One advantage however to one with a retractor is that it gets the straps all contained and more out of the way.

Semi-automatic Retractor (red button)

Manual tie-downs

If a van comes with hand controls it means the van can be completely driven without your legs or feet.  You can do the brakes and gas and steering all with your arms/hands.

Hand Controls

Hand Controls

There are many configurations of van seating.  Where do you want the wheelchair user to sit inside the van?  Are they the driver?  or front passenger seat?  or rear of van?   or right behind driver?  Window shop at adaptive mobility shops to see different configurations and go look at some vans for sale near you to figure your ideal configuration out.  Here are some examples.

When shopping for adapted vans, consider full-size vans vs mini-vans.  A full size van can be anywhere from 7-15 passenger.  It is larger than a mini-van.  It would be like a Ford e-series (Ford e350 for example) or a Dodge Ram or a Dodge Sprinter or a Mercedes Sprinter or a Nissan NV etc...  Toyota and Honda do not make a full-size van.

Full-Size Van

Mini-van

Advantages to a full-size van are #1) you can fit more people #2) more room around the wheelchair to do the tie-downs #3) more room around each passenger #4) if it has a raised roof you can stand upright inside the van  #5) more cargo space #6) not required to raise the roof or lower the floor like a minivan #7) modifications are often cheaper if you choose not to raise the roof or lower the floor.

Advantages to minivan #1) A lot more on the market (easier to find) (unadapted mini-vans) #2) easier to drive and park and reverse #3) usually have a sliding door on each side, so kids aren't banging cars next to the vehicle with the door and if you block 1 doorway with a ramp, you have a door on the other side.

In order to make a minivan accessible they almost always need to have a lowered floor or a raised roof.  Usually people opt for a lowered floor.  A lowered floor (from the outside of the van) aesthetically looks more like a normal mini-van.  Making the lowered floor or the raised roof is really pricey.

After-market raised roof on full-size van

After-market raised roof on mini-van

Lowered floor on mini-van with rear-entry

Lowered floor on mini-van with side entry
(notice the sliding door and whole side of van is lowered in addition to floor inside)

Lowered Floor

Although full-size vans do not have to have a raised roof or a lowered floor, several full size vans come with a raised roof from the factory such as the Sprinters (Sprinters come in 3 roof heights), Ford Transit (not Transit Connect, they are short in length like a minivan), some newer Dodge Ram's.  The raised roof from the factory is often called a "high top" or "high roof".  The advantage to a raised roof  is being able to stand up inside the van.  If I need to move my child from her wheelchair to a bench to change her, it is much much much better on my back if I can stand up straight rather than carrying her while hunched over.

Sprinter has a raised roof (high top) from the factory

The majority of people I know have bought their adapted vans on ebay.  Yes,  you buy them sight unseen and yes you have to drive or fly to bring them home or pay to have them shipped.  But you have a much bigger selection and can get better prices.  It is also a great way to compare prices of similar vehicles.  Because you cannot look up adapted vehicles on Kelly Blue Book unfortunately.  I personally only look at the "buy-it-now prices".  You may be able to get a van cheaper through the auction, but it is too much for me.

To do an ebay search I will typically
#1) put into the ebay search bar "wheelchair van ramp" or "wheelchair van lift".  If there is a make I want I will add that also.  Such as "Honda wheelchair van ramp".
#2)Once the search comes up I will select "Buy it now".
#3)Then I will select "sort" and choose "Price + Shipping:  Lowest first"

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Here is another blogpost I wrote about how to pay for a modified vehicle.
http://supportedinourtrials.blogspot.com/2016/05/paying-for-wheelchair-modified.html

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What did I miss?  What advice do you have for people looking for an adapted van?  Please like my FB page to see future posts https://www.facebook.com/SupportedInOurTrials/