Tag Archives: accessible minivans

Experienced Mobility Equipment Dealers

When it comes to finding the right transportation solution for your needs the options are almost endless. There’s accessible minivans, trucks, wheelchair and scooter carriers, lifts, ramps, hand controls, transfer seats etc. To ensure you are getting the right mobility products for your specific needs it’s important to get the help of an experienced mobility equipment dealer. Most local mobility equipment dealers have been in business for years and over that time have gained the knowledge and expertise to fit you with the very best product for your situation.

Quality mobility equipment dealers will meet with you in person to help determine your individual needs and what adaptive vehicle or equipment is best for you. They’ll ask you questions about you, your disability, your wheelchair or scooter, how you’ll be using the vehicle, will there be additional drivers, your budget etc.

It’s important that you ask the mobility equipment dealer some specific questions, as well. You’ll need to find out if they offer 24-hour emergency assistance, are their technicians trained and certified, and are they a full service automotive shop. You then have to ask yourself if you feel like they’re easy to work with and ultimately if you want to do business with this dealership.

Whether you buy new or used will depend on your finances but the most important thing is that the vehicle is designed to fit your requirements. Your local mobility dealer is the key to getting you into the right vehicle. Based on your disability, together, you can easily determine what’s the best transportation solution for you.

Accessible Vehicle Options

We hear a lot of talk about which accessible vehicle to buy. It all depends on your mobility needs and your lifestyle. There are several sizes to choose from:

Minivans
Minivans are taller than a sedan or station wagon and easier to maneuver than full-sized vans. Many have sliding doors as well as out-swing doors. They come in large, compact, mini and micro sizes.

Minivans can hold manual wheelchairs, many electric wheelchairs, electric scooters and walkers.

Full-Size Vans
Full-size vans are designed to transport cargo and/or groups of people. They are taller than other private vehicles and ideal for larger families or those with “cargo”- i.e. power wheelchairs.

Full-size vans are spacious enough for manual wheelchairs, 2 electric wheelchairs, electric scooters and walkers.

Sedans
It’s difficult for anyone to get into the back seat of a 2-door vehicle. A 4-door is easier. If you use a walker or wheelchair, you need a car with a roomy trunk and a low lip height for easier loading. Some sedans have a hatchback in place of a trunk lid – the entire back of the vehicle lifts up for easier loading.

Sedans and hatchbacks are roomy enough for portable manual wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs that can be disassembled, compact or partially dissembled scooters and walkers.

Station Wagons
A station wagon has a old school connotation but they are typically roomier than a sedan and handy for loading with its tailgate at the rear. Fold-down rear seats accommodate either passengers or cargo.

Station wagons have ample space for manual wheelchairs, compact electric wheelchairs, electric scooters and walkers.

Depending on your budget, you can also adapt SUVs, Pick-up Trucks and some Sports Cars. With the rising price of gasoline you will want to consider how important good gas mileage is to you versus style and convenience.