The question of a Rear Entry wheelchair van versus a Side Entry van often comes up in conversation when a first time buyer enters the accessible van market. There are several things to consider; first, the family or care giver needs to decide on where the wheelchair user is going to sit. If the person in the wheelchair is able to drive and will be independent there are other things to consider, but for now, let us stay with an assisted member of the family.
Door height is an issue. For that we need to know how tall the person sits in their wheelchair.
Scooter or Power chair is next. Size and weight combination will come into play as we move along in the discovery process.
Can the person transfer into a factory seat or will they remain in their wheelchair while traveling?
Okay, now we get into seating. The side entry offers both mid-section and front seat options with tie-downs located throughout. In a rear entry van, the mid-section to rear of the vehicle, are the only seating options while remaining in the wheelchair.
There are five passenger seats available for family members in a side entry van versus six available seats in a rear entry. Both are in addition to whoever is in the wheelchair, which gives a total of six people in a side entry and up to seven in a rear entry.
For folks with a long wheelchair or scooter the rear entry is ideal. Over six feet of space is afforded to tie down the wheelchair and no turning to forward face is necessary.
A side entry requires up to eight feet accommodating the lowering of the ramp allowing access into your van. This may prohibit the use of the ramp while inside a garage or if someone parks to close while at the mall or a doctor's appointment.
The rear entry does not have the blocked in problem, you are always accessing your van from the aisle.
In summation, like anything else, it is best to try before you buy. See which style suits your lifestyle and then consider the purchase of either a new or used mobility equipped van. Always consult with your mobility product specialist for any additional questions you may have.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.
Selecting a vehicle can feel like a chore, but knowing what to expect can make it easy. All wheelchair accessible vans do the same thing. They provide “Freedom & Independence.” With a wheelchair accessible van you no longer have to wait for the bus to come, or stay home on the weekend when the buses aren’t running.
However there are certain things we as Mobility Consultants need to know so that we can make sure you the customer are getting the proper vehicle to meet your or that of a family members need.
First thing we need is the height of the person in their wheelchair. Not how tall they are standing, rather how tall they sit in their chair. That will tell us what size door height and ceiling dimensions we will need. So, standing behind the wheelchair, take a tape measure, from the floor to the top of the head. This is the number we need. The average person is going to sit anywhere from 48” to 54”. A standard lowered floor mini-van has a door opening of approximately 54” with a ceiling height of 57-58”. (Note: a standard van from the factory has an opening of 44-45” with a floor to ceiling dimension of 47-48”.) With the height figured we can then determine the fit into the vehicle.
The next thing is width and where the client wants to sit in the van. Front right, mid-section or as a driver. Drivers will need extra equipment such as a docking device for the wheelchair and hand controls or a transfer seat with hand controls. (Not all people drive with hand controls. If a customer is a first time user of hand controls, he or she must have a certification that he or she has completed classes. A doctor or physician will perform an assessment to determine driving needs and eligibility.)
There are several other things to consider when buying a van after the fit:
- Will the person be an independent driver?
- Will they have a care giver?
- Do they want access to the front passenger seating position?
- Can they transfer/do they want to?
These questions will determine the style of the van and its options for automated door openings or manual operation. Also side or rear entry.
Every family’s situation is different yet many have the same issues. We see everything in disabilities from birth defects to spinal cord injuries, stroke victims, along with multiple sclerosis, A.L.S. and the loss of limbs due to diabetes. Each case has the same need, but how it comes together is unique to the user and their family.
The final determination in the equation is how much does the family or individual have in their monthly budget for the vehicle. We have
long term financing on new vans and extended terms on used. Financing is based on individual credit. It’s customary to have 20% down either cash or trade. (We accept trades, whether they are adapted or not.)
Some people
qualify for assistance for different organizations. Since the list is extensive, it’s easier for us to help when we know the source of the disability. For example:
- Injuries can be a Workman’s Comp. case.
- For those going to school or back to work, there is assistance from the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation.
- Veterans have programs that vary greatly by the nature of their disability and if it’s service related.
There are many other Government programs, so please let your consultant know which program you are on or ask what program you may qualify for. If there is help to be had, we’ll help to see that you get it.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.
Are you a safe driver? Discount! Are you married? Discount! Is your vehicle modified in any way? Oops. Modified vehicles send up red flags to insurance companies. They automatically link “modified” with activities like street racing, and can then legally hike premiums or deny coverage.
Make sure your company knows the modifications are due to disabilities and they understand the insurance is for the vehicle and the conversion components, plus coverage for replacement costs.
Shop around to get the best price.
According to The Hartford Financial Services Group, "Insuring a significantly modified vehicle, which increases the value of the vehicle, will cost more than the same non-modified vehicle, if the modifications are insured for physical damage -- comprehensive and collision coverage. Liability coverage is not affected by vehicle modifications. If the modifications are not insured, premium will not be impacted."
Modifications are not the only factors that influence premiums.
- Gender: Younger men pay more, as they tend to drive more aggressively and take more risks than females.
- Age: Young drivers in general pay more (a lot more) until they turn 21 (sometimes 25) and then rates increase again when they become seniors.
- Marital status: Single people pay more as they are more accident prone than married couples.
- Driving record: Tickets and/or accidents drive premiums higher.
- Type of vehicle: More expensive cars cost more to repair and that jacks up premiums.
- Education: (1) Lower premiums by taking a defensive driving class and sending a copy of the certificate to your insurance company. (2) College and high school students receive discounts by maintaining a high GPA. (3) College grads pay lower premiums than those with less education.
- Credit score: If you pay bills on time, you’re less likely to file an insurance claim, so your premiums are lower.
- Occupation: The more stressful your occupation and/or the more time you spend driving means higher premiums.
- Your location: Urban areas increase your premiums, as accidents and auto theft are much lower in rural areas. However, even moving 2 miles can possibly raise your insurance.
- Safety equipment: Candidates for lower rates include anti-theft devices, front and side airbags and an onboard service like OnStar and others.
- Organizations: Ask about discounts for organizations to which you belong, including military, senior organizations, etc.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.
Converting a vehicle to suit the needs of those with disabilities is costly. The conversion alone can cost upward of $20,000. Add on the vehicle and the bottom line will run between $40,000 and $60,000+.
Why? Three things: The vehicle, the adaptive equipment and 3 to 4 weeks of intensive labor.
The work is not merely bolting in equipment. Extensive alterations to the body and electrical system are made. Depending on what is installed, the entire vehicle may be taken apart, the components installed, and the whole thing reassembled. And because structural modifications can affect the safety rating of the vehicle, it must be crash tested to government standards – another expensive process.
Lowering the floor alone is massive. If the fuel tank must be moved to lower the floor (a common procedure in a minivan), it must be shown that the conversion did not change the evaporative emissions of the original vehicle, and still meet strict government requirements.
You can save in areas that are less complex and require less work. For example, a rear-entry ramp entrance typically costs less than side-entry because its installation is less complicated and takes fewer hours of labor.
Converting an older vehicle or one with high mileage will cost more in the long run and may be a safety issue.
- The average lifespan of a wheelchair van is around 10 years.
- A vehicle with more than 20,000 miles that has not been properly maintained may have hidden corrosion, and may no longer be structurally sound enough after adaptive equipment has been installed. The structural integrity – and your safety – will be compromised.
- A van’s value depreciates by 10% each year, so if you put $20,000 worth of adaptive equipment into an older van, the modifications will probably outlast the vehicle. To remove that equipment from the van and have it installed in a newer van is another chunk of change.
While it may all be overwhelming, an adaptive equipment distributor helps determine which vehicles can be modified to best suit your needs.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.
For those with disabilities, wheelchair minivans offer either a ramp or lift to get the chair into its proper place. While the lift has its fans, the ramp has the edge in popularity due to its price and convenience.
Ramps can be deployed manually or electronically from a passenger side door. They can be a fold-out or in-floor style. (In-floor ramps slide in and out from beneath the floor.)
Each has its drawbacks and advantages, so weigh the options against your situation.
Fold-out ramp
- The installation is less extensive and therefore less expensive than the in-floor ramp.
- It easily deploys on tall sidewalk curbs, a big plus where parking is limited.
- Since it stows in the entryway, the ramp blocks the doorway, so it must be deployed when the door opens, unless the van has doors on both sides of the compartment.
- Because it stows in the passenger compartment, it is less apt to corrode or freeze up in colder climates.
In-floor ramp
- There is usually no manual option; if the van loses power, the ramp won’t operate unless there is a backup system or a hand crank.
- An in-floor ramp is roomier as it doesn’t block the doorway – it rests in a pocket under the floor. Passengers enter and exit without having to deploy the ramp – an important consideration if you have passengers.
- High sidewalk curbs may prevent the in-floor ramp from deploying.
- When pocketed, the ramp cannot be seen from inside or outside the van, making it look more attractive.
Both ramp styles have their benefits; and your individual needs will determine which is best for you. Discuss the pros and cons of each with a therapist or Driver Rehabilitation Specialist.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.
Some people with disabilities may think that any vehicle can be converted for their unique needs. They buy a car, van, truck or SUV and are surprised that it can't be modified at all. You can't just return that vehicle to a dealership and get your money back.
To save money and grief, start with a professional mobility equipment dealer because they know which vehicles can be converted.
These professionals also specialize in accessing clients’ needs, and will determine which vehicle fits your individual needs based on many factors, like wheelchair or scooter size and your unique disabilities.
Ideally, you should contact a mobility expert and discuss your needs for a vehicle even
before purchasing a wheelchair or scooter. If you already own a wheelchair (or scooter), tell your dealer if you plan on getting a different one.
Reasons to consult with a qualified mobility equipment dealer:
- Mobility experts, driver evaluators or occupational therapists will interview you to determine your equipment needs and give you a list of specific vehicle and adaptive equipment recommendations.
- They make sure the vehicle you want is sound enough structurally to be modified, as not all are engineered to take conversion.
- They will ensure the vehicle, with adaptive equipment, has been crash-tested to meet or exceed government safety standards. (It must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.)
- They provide a local link to qualified service and repair, as it is vital to have a modified vehicle serviced by a certified mobility dealer due to its adaptive equipment.
- Many will bring the vehicle to your home or place of work for you to test drive it.
It only makes sense. Save money. Less frustration. Get the expert advice of a professional before you buy. A Quality Assurance Program (QAP) dealer through the National Mobility Equipment Dealer Association guarantees the highest quality in sales and service.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.