Important Facts You Should Know When Shopping For A Used Minivan That Is Accessible To Handicapped Persons
If you or someone you care for needs to use a wheelchair, being able to safely transport, load and unload that device is obviously of the utmost importance. However, purchasing a van that has already been equipped as a handicapped-accessible van is often very expensive and therefore, is not always a viable option. As a result, before you purchase a used minivan from the newspaper or an online ad, it is important to be aware of the minimum specifications your van must have if you want to have it converted to a handicapped-accessible vehicle.
The Van Must Have A Lowered Floor
One of the most important features your van must have in order to be easily converted to a handicapped-accessible vehicle is a floor that is no less than 57 inches. If a van does not already have that feature, a professional will usually be able to modify it. However, doing so can be a bit pricey. and therefore, it is best to determine if that extra fee still allows the vehicle you are considering a good buy.
Prior to committing to that purchase, it is best to determine if that extra costs still allows the vehicle you are considering to be a good buy or if opting for a van that already provides that feature is a better choice.
The Vehicle Must Have A Door That Can Fit The Biggest Wheelchair That You Think You Might Need
One concern that is easy to overlook is the size of the wheelchair that the van will transport, now and in the future. For instance, if your young son or daughter needs a wheelchair now, he unit will probably need to be replaced with a bigger device within a few years. Therefore, you should determine the approximate dimension of the wheelchair that you expect your insurance company to approve at that time or the unit that you are most likely to pay for when the need arises.
That information will allow you to be sure that the ramp you're supplying for the van can provide adequate space for entering and exiting from the van for many years to come. In addition, knowing the dimensions of the existing and future wheelchairs your van will transport can also help you to determine whether you will prefer a side or back ramp. That is because the size of a chair can impact the amount of space that ramps need.
In conclusion, a handicapped accessible van must meet certain specifications in order to safely load, unload and transport wheels and the size of the chair in question can impact your future use of the new-to-you minivan. Since not all vans meet those specifications or allow for easy use by wheelchair-bound passengers, it is a good idea to consider the preceding information. Talk to a place like Lone Star Handicap Vans for more information and guidance.