[OOT] Options For Purchasing A Wheelchair Vehicle

 Searching for the perfect wheelchair vehicle can be overwhelming due to all the different choices and options that are available on the market. It is important to assess the needs of the disabled individual as well as the overall transportation needs of the family to give you an idea of what to look for when purchasing your vehicle.


One of the first decisions to be made is to pick what type of wheelchair vehicle would best meet your needs. Most disabled individuals purchase a van or a sport utility vehicle that they can convert or that is already converted and equipped with the proper mobility equipment. The reason these two types of vehicles are the most popular and most used wheelchair vehicles is the spaciousness of the vehicle interior. Wheelchairs tend to take up a decent amount of space, and smaller vehicles do not have the room needed to accommodate the size of a wheelchair.
Many different types of vans and sport utility vehicles are out on the market for you to choose from. Vans typically come in two different sizes, the minivan and the full sized van. Both of these options have their pros and cons. Full size vans have a lot more room and seating, but are bigger, bulkier vehicles, and a lot harder to drive than a minivan. Minivans are easier to drive and better on gas mileage, but often need to have additional seating installed, which can be expensive.

After selecting the make and model of the wheelchair vehicle you will need to decide what type of mobility equipment you want the vehicle to have. Wheelchair accessible vehicles have either lifts or ramps to help load disabled individuals into the vehicle. Both lifts and ramps come with either manual controls or mechanical controls. The interior of the vehicle will need to have either tie downs or mechanisms that lock in place to secure the wheelchair in the vehicle to keep it from moving around while travelling. Tie-downs are usually secured manually, while most locking mechanisms run off an electric motor and do not have to be secured by hand.

Once you have purchased your wheelchair vehicle, you will need to take some time to practice driving the vehicle around to get familiar with how it handles. You will need to practice loading the wheelchair onto the lift or ramp and securing it inside the vehicle to ensure you can perform these tasks safely and quickly.

By: Bob Lundin 

Source: Articledashboard