The Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country are the best-selling minivans in the world, so of course they would be the cornerstones of our wheelchair van fleet. Their superb handling and ride quality coupled with their top-of-class fuel economy and dependability, make Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country superb choices for any wheelchair van customer. Our Caravans & Town & Countrys can be configured many different ways to fit each individual customer’s needs and preferences.
what is a rear entry wheelchair van newenglandwheelchairvan.com
What is a rear-entry wheelchair van?
A rear entry wheelchair van is a vehicle where the rear bumper and floor have been modified to allow ease of access for wheelchair users through the rear of the vehicle. This allows wheelchair users to easily enter and exit the vehicle safely, from virtually any parking spot. Wheelchair tie-downs and restraints are included with each conversion.
What vans can we convert into a rear entry mobility van?
We can convert the Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, Toyota Sienna, and the Volkswagen Routan!
Where do I buy an rear entry accessible van?
You can buy our vans directly from us at the VMi New England Mobility Center. Call us at 508-697-6006, or fill out the form. Live far from Bridgewater, MA we can deliver a rear entry van conversion directly to you house!
Do you sell used already converted wheelchair vans?
Yes! We stock pre-owned vehicles that have new conversions and we also take previously converted mini vans in on trade. These vehicles are not placed in our inventory until they undergo a series of rigorous safety, mechanical and cosmetic inspections. You can buy with confidence knowing you are purchasing a safe, dependable and appealing product!
How wide is the ramp?
The Chrysler, Dodge, and Volkswagen offerings come standard with a 34″ wide ramp that has 4″ side rails. Our Toyota vans are equipped with a 31″ wide ramp with 2″ side rails.
Will you convert a used van that someone brings you?
Of course! Call Jim Sanders @ 508-697-6006 for more information!
Doesn’t modifying the floor make the vehicle unsafe?
Quite the contrary. Each rear entry wheelchair conversion is constructed with an ultra-strong metal alloy shell on a steel frame. This configuration provides a combination of strength and light weight economical features, which results in less maintenance and longer vehicle life. These lightweight alloys put less stress on the vehicle which gives AutoAbility vehicles their famous durability and longevity
Our New 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT Mobility minivan has a New VMI Northstar conversion
• 20 miles
• 3.6L V6 DOHC 24V
• Fuel Type: Gasoline
• MPG City/Hwy: 17 city/25 hwy
Pictures
Dodge Grand Caravan with VMI Northstar Conversion
VMI first developed the Northstar handicap van conversion in the early 1990′s to meet customer preferences for increased interior space. To this day, the VMI Northstar on the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan remains one of the best mobility ramp vans in America.
By sliding out of a space below the floor, the Northstar mobility ramp maximizes space inside the accessible vehicle. There are so many benefits of an in-floor wheelchair ramp, it is easily understood why its so popular.
Description
•Interior handles, and switches, buttons are easily accessed
•Front passenger seat retains regular functions
•No additional noise from handicap ramp
•In the event of an accident, the accessible ramp is under the floor-not inside the mobility van
•Works on curbs up to 10 inches tall
•Increased maneuverability due to greater space inside the accessible van
•Ramp-free doorway allows easy entry/exit for ambulatory passengers
•Minimized conversion wear and tear (fewer ramp cycles to load/unload additional passengers)
•Uncluttered and clean wheelchair vehicle interior
•Mobility vehicle interior gets less dirt inside
•Increased handicapped ramp width
Specifications
•Maximum Floor Drop – 11″
•Handicap Vehicle Ground Clearance – 5.5″
•Door Opening Width – 30.75″
•Door Opening Height – 55.125″
•Usable Mobility Ramp Width – 29.25″
•Wheelchair Ramp Length – 45.75″
•Length from Back Seats to Kickplate – 58.25″
•Overall Floor Length – 86″
•Floor Width at Front Doors – 61″
•Interior Height at Driver & Passenger Positions (Without Sunroof) – 58″
•Interior Height at Center Position – 57.63″
•Steering Wheel Bottom to Floor – 29.5″
•Measured Down from Front Edge of Steering Wheel to Front Kick-Up – 16.25″
Standard Features
Dodge Grand Caravan with VMI Northstar only
•Extremely-low 8.0° handicapped ramp angle
•Sure Deploy backup system leaves accessible van conversion usable even with power failure
•Manual secondary backup system for additional peace of mind
•800lb. handicap ramp weight capacity
Dodge Grand Caravan with VMI Northstar AND Summit
•Fully-powered accessible van ramp
•11” drop FLEX Floor maximizes interior space and headroom for better maneuverability
•Complete undercoating and rust proofing
•PowerKneel system lowers the minivan to reduce ramp angle
•Seamless integration with Dodge Grand Caravan vehicle electronics
•Complete control through Dodge keyfob and interior switches
•Removable front passenger and driver seat bases
•No-skid wheelchair ramp surfacing
•Complete crash testing and compliance with all government safety standards
•3-year/36,000-mile warranty
Optional Features
•Durafloor (rubberized flooring) to match Dodge Grand Caravan interiors
Getting the family across town, moving furniture, camping out, or towing a boat: whatever you need, the Grand Caravan can help make it happen.
Over 45 safety, security, and technology features – such as Electronic Stability Control, anti-lock brakes, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection help ensure that your drive won’t be unintentionally exciting.
For 2012 & 2013, the Dodge Grand Caravan lineup receives revised trim levels, including a new, lower-cost base model dubbed the American Value Package.
At its debut back in 1984, the Dodge Caravan introduced American families to a new, extremely space-efficient vehicle: the minivan. The larger, “Grand” version debuted a few years later. It was a huge hit that remained a strong seller through the years, despite rivals that sprouted like so many dandelions on a suburban lawn. The 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan isn’t the dominator it was so many years ago, but it’s also much improved compared to past iterations.
Dodge refreshed the Grand Caravan in 2011 to bring about increases in engine performance, fuel economy, driving dynamics and cabin quality. Specifically, the V6 provides class-leading power along with decent fuel economy, the handling is fairly agile for such a big vehicle and the cabin boasts not only solid materials quality but also the clever Stow ‘n Go feature that allows both the second- and third-row seats to fold flat into the floor.
Nevertheless, the Grand Caravan still finds itself in an uphill battle against a couple of very tough competitors. Lined up tire-to-tire against the Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest and Toyota Sienna, the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan (and its Chrysler Town & Country twin) comes up a bit short in terms of engine refinement, ride quality and passenger comfort, even though the Dodge has the advantage in all-out cargo-carrying ease thanks to those Stow n’ Go second-row seats. As such, unless you plan to frequently switch your minivan from people mover to cargo van, we suggest cross-shopping the competition.
The 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan is a minivan that can seat up to seven passengers. It is offered in five trim levels: American Value Package (AVP), SE, SXT, Crew and R/T.
The AVP comes with 16-inch steel wheels, heated mirrors, power front windows, dual-zone air-conditioning, second-row Stow ‘n Go bucket seats, a conversation mirror and a four-speaker audio system with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack and steering-wheel-mounted controls.
The SE adds body-color door handles/side molding, tinted rear windows, triple-zone climate control (with rear air-conditioning), a front floor console, floor mats and a six-speaker audio system. The optional SE Plus group includes alloy wheels, body-color mirrors and front/rear power windows. The available UConnect group includes a leather-wrapped steering wheel/shift knob, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, satellite radio and an iPod/USB audio interface.
The SXT is essentially an SE with the SE Plus group. But the SXT offers more in the way of options, such as a power liftgate, power sliding doors, power-adjustable pedals, remote start and a rear DVD entertainment system.
Stepping up to the Crew trim level gets you foglights, a roof rack, chrome body-side accents, power sliding doors, tri-zone automatic climate control, a larger center console, an overhead console, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a power driver seat, power-adjustable pedals, a trip computer, a 115-volt power outlet, a touchscreen display and an upgraded audio system with satellite radio and digital music storage. Optional is a Media Center package that includes the upgraded audio along with a larger display screen, a back-up camera and a navigation system with real-time traffic and weather.
The sporty R/T lies at the top of the lineup with 17-inch alloy wheels, a body-color grille, performance-tuned suspension and brakes, leather first- and second-row seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, a back-up camera and a premium Infinity sound system.
Various other option highlights (some depending on trim level) include automatic headlights, automatic wipers, running boards, a trailer tow package, rear parking and cross-traffic sensors, a blind-spot warning system, second- and third-row sunshades, heated second-row seats and a heated steering wheel.
All 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan models are powered by a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.
In Edmunds testing, the 2012 Grand Caravan accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 8 seconds — average for a minivan. Fuel mileage estimates stand at 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined.
Standard safety features for the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan include active front head restraints, driver knee airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, front-seat side airbags, antilock disc brakes, stability control and traction control. Optional features include a blind-spot monitoring system, rear parking and cross-traffic sensors, and a rearview camera.
In Edmunds brake testing, a Grand Caravan Crew came to a stop from 60 mph in 130 feet — an average distance for a minivan. The R/T with its better brakes stops in a strong 119 feet. In government crash testing, the Grand Caravan was given an overall score of four out of five stars, with four stars for overall frontal-impact and five stars for overall side-impact testing. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, the Dodge Grand Caravan was awarded the highest possible rating of “Good” in the frontal-offset and side crash tests.
The Grand Caravan’s interior features quality materials and solid build quality that make it equal to — if not better than — rivals such as the Sienna. There is a total seating capacity of seven, which is in contrast to the eight possible in the Odyssey and Sienna. In terms of comfort, the front seats are supportive, but even drivers of average height have noted that the driver seat doesn’t slide far enough rearward. The bottom cushions of the second-row seats are somewhat low to the floor, but they are tilted back slightly to make the seating position comfortable for passengers with long legs. The third row is tilted even farther back, which may make it a bit strange for children and smaller adults. Taller adults may find limited headroom back there.
Unlike other minivans that require the removal of the middle row of seats to achieve maximum cargo capacity, the Grand Caravan benefits from its Stow ‘n Go second-row seats that fold flat into the floor. Operating these seats is fairly simple — only a quick tug of a strap and a few gentle yanks are required to make them disappear into the floor. The third-row seats fold into a deep cargo well, but require several more steps to transform. Luggage space behind the rear seats is a generous 33 cubic feet. Stowing all seats opens up 143.8 cubes, comparable to other minivans.
In terms of acceleration and handling, the 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan is a contender. But segment leaders like the Odyssey and Sienna are still steps ahead as they boast greater refinement in terms of powertrain performance and overall ride quality, both of which are smoother than the Grand Caravan’s. For example, the Dodge’s responsive six-speed automatic transmission does an admirable job of keeping power on tap, but sometimes its gearchanges can be jarring. The steering is slightly heavier and the suspension is a bit less compliant compared to its competition.
Reviewers like how much cargo the 2013 Grand Caravan can carry. It also has clever features, like second row seats that fold into the floor, that reviewers say make the interior flexible. However, some reviewers also complain that those folding seats are uncomfortable. Standard features on the base model are sparse and include dual-zone climate control and an auxiliary audio input jack. Available features on higher trims include Bluetooth, navigation, a rearview camera, a rear-seat entertainment system and USB ports.
Give us a call with any of your Dodge Grand Caravan wheelchair van questions 508-697-6006
While the decision to axe the Routan was likely driven by lackluster sales, we can’t help but wonder if the tense relations between Volkswagen and Fiat/Chrysler didn’t usher the Routan to its grave. The Routan was just one of many nameplates under which the same van was sold, alongside the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Ram C/V and, in overseas markets, the Chrysler and Lancia Grand Voyager. Volkswagen reportedly has no plans to replace the Routan with a new model, although it has plenty of vans overseas (like the Touran and Sharan) it could bring over to North America if it deemed it worthwhile.
Over the past month or two, we’ve been going through our wheelchair van buyer’s guide here at VMi New England. This week was meant to spotlight the Volkswagen Routan, the fourth line of new minivans we offer.
Unfortunately though, the Volkswagen Routan is being discontinued.
The Routan is an interesting mix of a vehicle. See, the name and logo say Volkswagen. The exterior curves and interior aesthetics look and feel like a Volkswagen. Much like you would expect from a “European” vehicle, it also features a tighter suspension with firm steering to match.
Beneath its sheet metal and fiberglass exterior, however, it’s almost the exact same van as the Town & Country/Caravan. The engine, the dimensions, the wheelbase, the list goes on.
The Routan is built on the same frame with the same engine.
But you’d be surprised how much the look and handling add. Many have commented that the Routan is about as sleek and sturdy as a minivan could possibly get. Alas, it wasn’t enough to keep it in production.
Though sales have been okay for the Routan, they weren’t quite good enough to keep it alive. Part of the problem is no doubt the higher cost of the van. Considering just how similar it was to the considerably cheaper Caravan in terms of specs, it was often a hard sell.
And so, the Routan has been retired.
Volkswagen is currently planning to replace the Routan with a crossover SUV. While this might be good for the general public, SUVs (particularly crossovers) don’t exactly offer great wheelchair access.
For the wheelchair van community, we will still be offering the Odyssey, the Town & Country, and the ever popular Caravan, all three of which are fantastic vehicles. Could the future bring a new wheelchair accessible minivan into the mix?