Handicap Van
While there are many difficulties associated with being confined to a wheelchair, one of the more challenging ones is transportation. Choosing the right handicap van can make a world of difference in a handicapped person's life. Starting out with deciding whether a minivan or a full sized van is going to better serve your needs is usually the best place to start. Both of these vehicles have their advantages and disadvantages and having an understanding of them can make the choice a little easier. By virtue of its size, a full sized handicap van offers many advantages. To start with there is far more room to make space for a wheelchair without having to make major modifications to the body. For example the average full sized conversion van offers 58 inches of headroom, which is more than enough for the average person in a wheelchair. Minivans do not offer this type of headroom and must undergo extensive bodywork to offer more space.
If you have a family that travels together a full sized handicap van can provide plenty of space and comfort for everyone no matter whether you are going shopping or on long vacation trip. Since there are many who must have a heavy well equipped wheelchair a wheelchair lift becomes a necessity. A full sized van has the size and framework to support the weight of the lift and the extra batteries needed to power it. On the other hand not everyone needs the size and bulk of a full sized handicap van. This is where the modern minivan shows its strengths. Parking is becoming an issue no matter where you go and trying to find a space for a big van is not easy. A minivan can easily fit into most parking spaces and is much easier to maneuver especially if the driver is handicapped. Over 90% of all handicapped vans purchased today are minivans; the number on stated reason for this is fuel economy. Minivans offer approximately 25-30 miles per gallon on the highway compared to full sized vans that offer only 14 to 20 miles per gallon.
The one thing that has to be considered when buying the smaller handicap van is that they tend to be significantly more expensive. In order to create the necessary headroom to accommodate a person in their wheelchair the floor must be lowered; this involves cutting the floor out and replacing it with a completely new floor and frame. Additionally some of these vans are lowered and have either a lift or ramp built into them for ease of access, this all adds to the cost which must kept in mind when you are shopping for handicapped vans. For those who are looking for a handicap van, consider talking to the specialists at Landmark Vans. The offer a complete line of full sized conversion vans that can be custom made for your needs. Each van is carefully designed to provide you with the comfort, mobility, convenience that will give you complete peace of mind. These vans are among the finest on the road today and come with one of the most comprehensive warranties in the industry.
