Full-size Vs Minivans
November 12, 2007
When buying an accessible handicap van one thing to think about is how you want your space to be created. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, and you must choose which suits your needs most accurately.
You can buy a full-size used handicap van which typically requires a lift rather than a ramp. Full-size vans are advantageous mainly because of their size. You have plenty of room to fit the wheelchair user inside while most people can stand straight up while fastening the chair in place. Then in the back you still have plenty of room for luggage or whatever else you may need. These vans are typically much more powerful than a minivan as well and have the ability to tow if necessary. They will also never have a problem with ground clearance, as they sit much higher than minivans. You may also enjoy this ride more if you like the sense of superiority riding above the average crowd. One thing to note while feeling the power and size is the gas mileage. Full-size vans biggest disadvantage is their thirst for energy. While their tank is much larger so you don't have to fill up that often, just keep in mind that when you do you will have a hefty bill on your hands.
The other option would be to buy a minivan with either a raised roof or a lowered floor. Minivans are typically preferred over full-size vans for many reasons, especially conversions with a lowered floor. They have the image appeal as they look very similar to a regular van, and tend to drive much easier than full-size vehicles as well. With the lowered floor, a ramp becomes much easier to access as the floor is lower to the ground. On the reverse side of this, they lose a bit of ground clearance so be careful if you have to travel much on a dirt or rocky road. Having the option for a ramp can be huge, while they are preferred well over a bulky lift. They are much more reliable, they don't rattle as much, and they clean up much neater. Minivans also typically cost less than a full-size van to convert, which can sometimes be a determining factor. Sometimes people or companies try to install a lift into an unconverted minivan. Do not fall for this, there will not be enough room. If it was truly that easy then everybody would be doing it. The main disadvantage to the minivan is a lack of extra space. Tying the chair down can sometimes be a pain, and other than the area behind the back seat there is not much cargo space. The biggest advantage of accessible minivans by far is gas mileage. With gas rising like it is today, this has been a detrimental factor in vehicle purchases today and it should definitely be taken into consideration.
Whichever you decide to buy, I would advise against carpet as it does not stand up to the abuse wheelchairs throw at it for very long. A new type of floor made of polyurethane is becoming increasingly popular and should definitely be considered when deciding what to purchase. Ultimately the decision is yours, and there are definitely positives and negatives about each so there is no wrong answer when choosing between a full size wheelchair van or accessible minivan .
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