Side- or Rear-Entry Accessible Van?
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- čas přidán 24. 09. 2018
- I compare a side-entry Honda with an automatic ramp to a rear-entry Toyota with a manual ramp. There are pluses and minuses to each type of accessible van.
The Honda has an automatic locking mechanism for the wheelchair. It works best with a mid-drive chair that can spin on its access. It would be difficult to fit a front-drive wheelchair in the van and have enough room to turn it so it faces the front.
It's a straight shot to get into the back of the Toyota, but there's still little legroom. An automatic locking mechanism is available for rear-entry van, but the particular model in the video has manual wheelchair restraints.
The person in the wheelchair sits closer to the front in a side-entry van, but the rear seats are less comfortable for passengers. The space behind the rear seat is still available for storage. In a rear-entry van, the person in the wheelchair sits further back, and it's difficult to have a conversation with the driver. We lose the storage behind the rear seats, but the middle seats are more comfortable for passengers.
Both vehicles have a low ground clearance. The ground clearance for a side-entry van is low from the front to rear wheels, while the rear-entry van will only have low ground clearance at the very back.
There is a lot of road noise in both vehicles, but the rear-entry van is at least a bit quieter for the driver. - Jak na to + styl
I like the idea of having a rear entry van with a manual ramp so you don't have to worry about the ramp motor burning out and the expensive repairs it will take to fix. Also I like that if there is not a handicap parking space, you can basically park anywhere as long as you have access to the back of the van. Me being handicapped, I don't have to ride in the back of the van, I can drive but when I need to use my power chair, I don't have to bring an extra person with me to assist me with getting the power chair in and out. This will help me be more independent where I can travel or shop or go out on my own.
very helpful. It makes a difference if you have a manual chair or electric - an electric can turn in place, a manual is easier in a rear entry. We just went to a dealer and tried side and rear entry, and your pros and cons are exactly what we discovered.
Thank you for making and sharing this video.
Thank you for making this video to help all of us!
Thank you Kristin.. You did a great video. My wife and I will be converting our 2018 grand Caravan in the next couple of months for our daughter who is now 21 years old. We will go with the rear entry as that is the most affordable and it works the best getting her in and out. Best wishes to you and your family..
Could one of you please give us an idea of the cost for this. I like the rear entry shown in this video.
Thank you for sharing this always wondered how they work
Thank you for helping me decide what I need to get. Adapting EVERYTHING is so costly. Rear, manual access looks like a perfect option. Now to exchange my Honda Fit for a van... (*groan*)
Great vid honestly, I run a NEMT company and this was very informative.
I've been having to look into accessible vehicles with family members "help" this video really helped showing why rear entry is a huge problem for manual chair users
Thanks for the comment, and please explain. Your insight will be helpful for those with manual chairs.
I live on an Island and a Rear entry is great for travelling on a Ferry as you can just ask the person directing you onto the ferry to get the person behind you to stop a full car length behind you. A Side Entry Van would not work on a Ferry as you would have no control over vehicles in the next lane over.
I will be starting soon as a driver for a service that provides wheel chair vans for patients to and from medical appointments and this was a valuable resource to me. Thanks for putting this together. BTW I will be driving a rear ramp van and I appreciate your insight on the benefits and them and I will be cautious of the speed bumps.
They you Kristin for making this video.. Now i know for sure i don't want a rear entry van. Love the fact there is nothing that could go wrong with that type of operation but, the rear -entry wouldn't work for me. I like to drive and be as independent as i can.
Good job
I drive my van from my powerchair and have a rear entry automatic ramp. It means you don’t always need to use a disabled parking space. However you almost always have to park facing forward because you need to make sure you won’t be blocked in.
What kind of van and lift? I need a van with a rear lift. Tired of parking problems.
Not sure what country you are in. I’m in the UK. I have a VW Transporter T6.1. It has an automatic ramp. I’m soon getting a Ford Tourneo Custom with a very similar setup.
All this just confirms for me what I already know... I want a high-roof, full-size van with a side-door lift. The parking distance problem is not an issue if I remember to park where nobody can pull in next to me! I need the space in back for my bed, kitchen, porta-potty, etc., since I intend it to be my home-on-wheels! Other than the lift (probably underfloor type), the only real change I'd make is an easy-transfer swivel driver's seat. I can walk a bit and I still drive, so these mini-van conversions just don't work for me.
One thing you forgot to mention that a rear entry van also puts your person loading and loading in a parking lot right in the way of traffic. NO safe. I had a Braun crane style lift in the back of my pickup, as that was the only vehicle I had that could accommodate my power chair. I finally found a (well) used Ford E-150 Econoline for $1200. It had a Ricon power lift on the side. so I had it transported to me from Utah. but I did not take into account the door entry height and so I could not ride the wheelchair in. so Had to use the attendant control to get the wheelchair in and out. A huge pain for me, I have to take a break from loading as my back gives out. I have to sit in the van for a few minutes. then go back and finish loading and tying it down. I have now since saved up and purchased a 2018 Ford Transit Van and its at the conversion place now installing the same style Ricon lift. it has a split platform so you can gain access to the van with the lift in the stow position. I had to many issues loading and unloading in traffic to have it installed in the rear. but I also have had people park into the space designated for handicapped so I cannot load me and my chair till they leave. My new van will have the clearance so I will be able to automatically open the sliding side door remotely and remotely have the lift drop down for me, I drive on and lock into a docking station like what you showed in your video. I then have the same style seat that will move back and rotate towards the back so I can transfer to the drivers seat. It will be SO much better for me. NO PAIN.
thanks for your video.
Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well. I wanted to reach out and ask for some help. Currently, I'm in need of a van or truck to help me with some logistical challenges I'm facing. If anyone has any information or resources they could share, or if anyone is able to offer a donation or assistance in any way, I would be incredibly grateful. I'm facing some limitations at the moment, so any support would mean a lot to me. If you're able to help or have any leads, please feel free to reach out to me. Thank you all so much for listening, and I appreciate any support you can offer
I need this for my mother as relying on Transit Plus is becoming difficult. What is range of cost for conversion? I own a 2017 pacifica van.
The conversion cost for our manual ramp was under $10,000. That side entry conversion I believe was about $30,000. I'm not sure if a Pacifica can be converted or if they do any previously-owned vehicles. We purchased the Toyota already converted from them.
Do they make a rear entry ramp that is powered. And can you get both side and rear entry in the same van.
I have MS and can still drive. I would need to be able to get up front and get in the driver’s seat. I wonder if all wheel drive van can be converted. Is there an easier way to restrain the wheel chair without using tie downs with the rear ramp.
Yes, powered rear ramp is an option. I think you'd need to get one or the other, rear or side. For AWD or FWD, you'd need to have roof lifted instead of floor dropped. You can get quick connect for constraints.
Where are you located and how can I purchase a van for my wheelchair
I know this is a old video but a side entry van is safer than this rear entry van since the wheelchair user has no room due to the third row seating also the user head would get slammed into the seats in a rear end collision and don';t forget in a rear end hit the difficulty of getting out of the van if the tailgate won't open I guess the biggest negative is your more worried about your kids having enough room for friends to ride along than the safety of the chair user I have seen many wheelchair vans hit in the rear which is the part of the van that is made to dissipate energy in a crash so I base my views from 20 years of being a auto tech. So anyone who sees this video should know before buying a van an yes I own a side entry van.
I agree
I like the honda
One day I will buy one of theses for my soon 🙏🏼
One consideration about rear entry vans. Visualize exiting the vehicle in a parking lot. You literally are exiting out into traffic. To me this is a safety issue. Especially at night. I don’t like the idea of depending on other drivers seeing you and stopping while you slowly exit the van. People are rude and don’t care if you are in a wheelchair.
The other issue with manual ramps is in bad weather it is a slower process to get in and out. In the meantime you and the person in the wheelchair are getting wet. Waiting for a break in the rain is not always a option and trying to use an umbrella while operating the manual ramp is basically impossible.
Can’t see where the other passengers will sit in the rear entry
The van was manufactured with 3 rows of seats, and the last row was removed for the wheelchair. So our rear-entry van still has 3 seats between the front seats and my wheelchair.
Can you tell me what type of van are able to be converted? Or does the brand and type of van matter?
Yes there are alot of vans that can be converted. But also keep in mind your needs as well. not all conversions are alike. for me I am a large guy and need a full size van, others can get away with a mini van. I have or will have a 2018 Ford Transit T-150. Being converted as I write this. cannot wait till get it back.
Hi how much cost 1 minivan like that
A side-entry conversion is about $22,000 plus the cost of the van. So converting a $38,000 van would be a total of $60,000. Our rear-entry conversion with manual ramp was less than $10,000. They put it on a used van, so the total cost was about $26,500.
We take road trips so I need cargo space. Side entry only for me.
Por que sera muy caro un carro de esos si son para discapacitados
One can't get out oneself with back entry. You can't extend your legs.
I rather my rear entry. Park anywhere
Rear entrance is cheaper, and more fixing compare to side entrance, SIDE ENTRANCE WELL BETTER
daaaa we are disabled not handicapped thank you
You're welcome.
Interesting that you prefer "disabled." Neither term has bothered me in the slightest, but if pressed I would say handicapped is a more accurate description.
"Handicapped" implies limited skills - coming from the words handy (meaning clever or skilled) and capped (meaning limited.)
"Disabled" means the opposite of able, or not able. When we use the word disabled to talk about a thing, we generally mean that it doesn't work at all.
I still have a lot of abilities, but they are certainly limited. So I guess I would prefer the word "handicapped."
Thanks for bringing up the topic. Anybody else have thoughts on this?
~ Todd
@@ALS411 I think it depends what country you are in. Here in the UK the term handicapped is archaic and is regarded as somewhat offensive. It’s just not something you hear. It was in common use decades ago especially until it was replaced by the term disabled. However I totally appreciate that in countries such as the USA it’s still used as an everyday word and is totally acceptable. So I have no problem with it at all as long as people are well meaning. It’s a really interesting video and chat. Many thanks.
I find the word handicapped quite offensive. I always prefer disabled.
or may i say handi-capable