Handicap Van

Thanks to the modern handicap van, the person who finds themselves relying on a wheelchair or powered scooter to get around no longer have to count on someone else to drive them around. These vehicles make possible for most of those who use a wheelchair or scooter to finally be able to enjoy similar levels of freedom as those who have full use of their legs. However, buying this type of van can be somewhat costly and you should have an idea of what these expenses are before you set out to buy a mobility van. Before you go too far into looking for a handicap van, you need to consider who is going to be using it. Is the person who is handicapped going to be driving it or will they simply be a passenger? Of course there are times when both situations might be the right answer. In either case the van is going to require different modifications for each type of use. At the same time you will also need to take into consideration the level of handicap you are dealing with, those who wish to drive with full loss of use of their lower extremities are going to need far more adaptation than those who have some use of their legs.

A large number of those, especially the elderly, who are wheelchair bound now use powered scooters instead of the traditional wheelchair. A younger person might be able to make use of a ramp to move his wheelchair up and into the handicap van, whereas a senior citizen may be better off with a power lift that he can drive onto, be lifted up to floor height and then drive straight into the van. The size of the van must also be considered; while a full size van may seem like a more logical solution, the initial cost of the van is going to be somewhat higher. Most people today are opting for a specially converted minivan for their handicap van. While the overall cost may be similar due to the extensive floor modifications that must be made to lower it to accommodate both a powered scooter and the handicapped person, operating expenses are significantly less. For many years the only handicap van you could buy was a full size V8 powered van that averaged 18-20 mpg on the highway.

Today almost 90% of all handicap vans on the road are minivans, these vans get an average of 22-25 mpg on the highway, which if you do a fair amount of traveling can add up to significant savings over the period of a year and more than offset the cost of buying a minivan that has been fully converted. If you are considering buying a handicap van for yourself or someone you love let the experts at The Mobility Resource evaluate your needs and help you find the right van to fit those needs. With a coast to coast network of dealers, you will find that purchasing the best van for your purpose is very simple and you can start the process online making it even easier for you to buy your next van.