If you're in the market to purchase a handicapped van there are a few things to know before you buy. A handicapped van can greatly increase the mobility of a disabled person. There are some important features that you will need to have in order to properly accommodate a person in a wheelchair.
Consider why you'll be using the handicapped van. If the van will be used for only short trips, like to the doctor and back, you may not need some of the comfort features. On the other hand, if the van will be used for longer trips or more frequent trips, you'll need to be sure that the trip will be comfortable for all the passengers.
Those who can't leave their wheelchair will need to be lifted onto the van while seated. The wheelchair will then be locked into place while driving so that it won't move. The handicapped van is designed to have space for a wheelchair to be used. This requires that some sections of seating be removed to allow for the wheelchair.
It's almost always more cost effective to purchase a used handicapped van than a new one. That's because it is quite expensive to install the equipment necessary to convert a regular van into a handicapped van. You can save a lot of money when you buy a used van, as long as it has all the options that you need.
The most expensive of the options that are required is the wheelchair lift. Other options can almost always be affordably added to the van. The lift may be installed either on the rear door or the side door. This is usually a matter of personal preference. The most important aspect of the lift is how it works. Be sure that the lift is called an occupied style to allow you to lift the wheelchair while it's occupied.
The lift itself should be easy to operate with a simple control. The handicapped van should allow the caregiver to comfortably and safely get the disabled person into the van without assistance. This will give the family the best option for mobility. If the driver is disabled, special hand controls will need to be installed. Any other special concerns of the disabled person should be considered when buying a handicapped van. Keep in mind that you can always add special options or features if need be.