If your family needs to purchase your first wheelchair accessible van, then it is important you take many different things into consideration. For example, will the van be driven by a person in a wheelchair, or will it simply be used as a transport vehicle? To help you answer this and some of the other common questions first time buyers often have, listed below are some buying tips.
Tip: Think About the Size of Van You Actually Need
When you shop for a wheelchair accessible van, one of the first things you will notice is they come in a wide variety of different sizes. While you might immediately think the bigger options will be easier and better, you might not consider things like where you will park for specialist appointments in large cities and other places you will travel. In addition, larger vehicles burn more gas and cost more to operate. Large vans are ideal for people who are larger in size or who use large power chairs. Alternatively, very mobile people using small sporty chairs are often a lot happier with smaller wheelchair vans.
Tip: Decide if You Want a Side-Loading or Back-Loading Van
One of the major decisions you need to make about your wheelchair accessible van is whether you want the person in the wheelchair to enter from the side or the rear. Typically, if the person in the wheelchair will be the driver of the van, then they should enter from the side and move into position behind the wheel. However, if you will be transporting someone who doesn't drive the vehicle, then a rear loading van makes locking their wheelchairs into place a lot easier for their attendants.
Tip: Obtain the Best Warranty Available
When you are comparing one wheelchair van with another, make sure you take their warranties into consideration as well as the overall price. Since wheelchair accessible vehicles contain many additional moving parts, it isn't unheard of for them to need some extra maintenance and repairs from time to time. To put your mind at ease and ensure you don't have any repair bills in the near future, opt for the longest warranty possible.
Tip: Consider Working with a Mobility Consultant
Finally, since most automobile sales professionals don't have any special training or experience in the arena of wheelchair accessible vehicles, it's advised you work with a mobility consultant to determine you get the best options to meet your family's unique needs. Mobility consultants keep up on all of the most recent assistive technology advancements and will help you design or choose the ideal wheelchair van.
For more information, reach out to companies like Lone Star Handicap Vans.
Share15 March 2019
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