Wheelchair Vans - Accessible Lowered Floor Conversion Minivans for the Physically Disabled, Paraplegics, and Quadriplegics

Braun Entervan drop floor wheelchair minivan conversion

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This is probably the top of the line wheelchair van accessible vehicle package for a person in a power wheelchair for the following reasons:

· Quick and easy access to get inside

· Any transfers from the wheelchair to an interior seat occur inside: out of the rain, snow, and wind.

· The wheelchair van accessible minivan looks essentially no different than any other minivan

· The wheelchair is transported inside the minivan: out of the rain, snow, and wind.

With features and increased consumer demand come a higher price and the wheelchair accessible conversion minivan is one of the more expensive solutions on the market.

A lowered floor (also referred to as a dropped floor) wheelchair van conversion has the following features:

The floor of the minivan has been "dropped" or lowered approximately 10" or 14". This allows enough headroom for the consumer to either get into the vehicle while riding in their wheelchair or to be transported while sitting in their wheelchair. Note: VMI 2008 and newer Dodge/Chrysler minivan drop floor conversion is approximately 11". Braun Dodge/Chrysler minivan drop floor conversion and VMI 2007 and older Dodge/Chrysler minivan drop floor conversion are approximately 10".
A ramp that allows the person in a wheelchair to ride into the minivan.
Additionally some conversions include automated sliding doors and automated ramp deployment/stowage. Other conversions require manual operation of the sliding door and ramp. Some side entry minivan conversions feature a kneeling system. A kneeling system is a modified suspension on the side of the vehicle with the ramp whereby the vehicle "kneels" down or is lowered to minimize the ramp angle for wheelchair entry/exit.

Because the wheelchair accessible conversion minivan are so popular, it's probably best to talk about why this solution might not work for you. If any of the following apply to your situation then a wheelchair accessible conversion minivan might not be your best choice:

You plan to drive from your wheelchair and you sit either tall or short. You should consult a certified driver rehabilitation specialist but if your floor to eye height is around 50" then you should explore either a drop floor full size van or a 14" drop floor minivan conversion. The 10" drop floor minivan conversion is probably not right right for you. If your floor to eye height is around 45" and you will be a passenger only, not a driver, then you should explore a non drop floor conversion full size van with a platform lift.
The combined weight of you and your wheelchair is large. 600lbs is the maximum rating of the ramp but if you're in the 500lb range you should probably be seriously considering a full size van with a platform lift.
You plan to drive with lots of passengers or require a larger cargo carrying capacity.
You live in an area with uneven roads or rougher roads. The wheelchair accessible conversion minivan sits lower to the ground and will bottom out more often than a full size van wheelchair conversion.

The wheelchair accessible conversion minivan is sold as a generic package from the conversion company such as Braun or VMI. This means that the conversion minivan comes to the dealer without any additional final adaptive equipment such as hand controls, 6-way transfer seat, EZ-Lock, etc. Because the additional adaptive equipment is very customer specific, it is left up to the dealer or modifier to install those items as required by the individual customer. So when you're looking at wheelchair accessible conversion minivans on the dealer lot, you'll notice that the insides are pretty sparse. They are however designed for final modification by the end dealer with removable front driver and passenger seats for occupancy by a person in a wheelchair (with appropriate electrical or manual tiedowns).

Note: It's generally not a good idea to purchase a minivan on your own and expect it to be converted after the fact. Almost all wheelchair accessible minivan conversions are purchased as a complete package. First of all you run the risk that something about your minivan will prevent it from being able to be converted, Braun Toyota conversions especially have this problem. Second, the conversion process is 1-2 months long during which time you'll be without your vehicle. Third, it doesn't appear to save any money, in fact it probably will cost you more unless you happen to get a super great deal on the vehicle. Even in those situations, you should contact your dealer to discuss if this is a viable option.

Vehicle makes used in wheelchair accessible minivan conversions are:

Chrysler Town and Country
Dodge Grand Caravan
Honda Odyssey (VMI)
Toyota Sienna (Braun)

You may not be able to get the base model in all cases because it can lack automatic sliding side doors. However the customer can usually pick from a wide array of colors and models depending on their budget.

Ramp Location

Side entry wheelchair conversion: Vehicle ramp deploys from the passenger side door. The mid section seats are removed from the vehicle. A kneeling suspension system is added to the minivan to lower rear of the vehicle. This minimize the ramp's angle when it is deployed making it easier for someone to get into the minivan while in a wheelchair.

Side Entry wheelchair conversion primary advantages are:

Most common conversion on the market. Better resale value.
Better rear seating however mid row seats are generally removed. Note: Braun does offer a new mid row seat option.
Greater flexibility. Person can ride in their wheelchair from either the driver or front passenger position or in the mid row cargo area.
Easier to manually secure a wheelchair passenger in the cargo area of the van.

Side Entry wheelchair conversion primary disadvantages are:

More expensive than a rear entry conversion.
Requires space next to your wheelchair accessible minivan to be clear to allow the ramp to deploy.
Requires additional space in your garage.

Rear entry wheelchair conversion: Vehicle ramp deploys from the rear hatch. Mid section seating is maintained. A lowered floor channel runs right through the mid of the minivan and stops either between the mid section seats or goes into the driver compartment.

Rear Entry wheelchair conversion primary advantages are:

Don’t have to park in a handicapped parking space with clearance to the side for the vehicle’s ramp.
Less expensive than a side entry wheelchair conversion minivan. Common to find manual version since these are primarily for transport only. Don’t require a kneeling suspension system.
Designed for hilly parking conditions so that you don’t have to go out the side at an angle.
Maximum passenger seating. Can use flip-n-fold mid row seating and have a rear bench as well. Seating is compromised however. Rear fold down bench and flip-n-fold mid row seats are not as comfortable as OEM or side entry conversion.
Used to be the only ADA compliant conversion minivan choice but there are now ADA compliant side entry conversion minivans as well.
Generally cheaper than a side entry conversion

Rear Entry wheelchair conversion primary disadvantages are:

Not possible for wheelchair drivers. The drop floor is a channel up to the rear or middle row seating only. Drivers would have to transfer from their wheelchair into a power seat (4-way or 6-way).
You enter and exit the minivan into traffic.
Less common conversion which affects resale value.
Harder to properly use manual restraints to secure the wheelchair passenger. Not a lot of space and the tiedown anchor points are not in ideal positions.

Side Entry Ramp Type

Foldout Side Entry Ramp: Ramp is stowed inside the minivan. The foldout ramp prevents access through the side door but it allows for manual operation. This ramp style is used by Braun.

In-Floor Side Entry Ramp: Ramp is stowed under the vehicle with some loss of interior and doorway headroom. Ramp angle is slightly greater. Curb can prevent the ramp from properly deploying. There are some agencies that avoid under vehicle lifts because they are viewed as more finicky and prone to higher maintenance due to increased dirt exposure to the ramp mechanism. This ramp style is used by VMI.

Ramp Type

Manual Ramp: The doors and ramp are manually operated by an attendant.

Automated Ramp: Door opens, ramp deploys, and vehicle kneels automatically upon pressing a remote switch. A magnetic switch is also available on some systems. Rather than press the small button on a remote, the magnetic remote is held up to a a magnetic sensor installed at the rear taillight and the ramp automatically deploys.

14" Drop Floor Wheelchair Conversion

These are relatively recent offerings. The first manufacturer to offer a 14" drop floor wheelchair conversion was El Dorado Amerivan®. Braun has come out with their own 14" drop floor wheelchair conversion in their Entervan XT®. Driver position eye height is around 50" making the 14" drop floor wheelchair conversion similar to the interior room of a drop floor wheelchair conversion full-size van.

Braun CompanionVan® SE (Side Entry Wheelchair Conversion)

These are wheelchair accessible conversion minivans for the sole person of transporting someone in a wheelchair. The person in the wheelchair will be traveling with an attendant who can drive the minivan. The person in the wheelchair will not be a driver in their wheelchair nor can they accommodate a 4-way or 6-way transfer seatbase for the driver seat. The CompanionVan® features a lowered floor from the rear bench seat to just behind the front seat allowing space for one wheelchair. They also feature a manual door and manual ramp which much be operated by the attendant. The CompanionVan® is cheaper than a Entervan® wheelchair conversion because of the reduced drop floor area, the driver and passenger seats are not removable, and manually operated door/ramp. The reduced drop floor area can be difficult for some wheelchairs with larger turning radiuses to maneuver into a proper forward facing position.

Braun

Braun is the largest wheelchair accessible conversion minivan manufacturer in the world. Their main product is the Entervan®, the latest version is specified as Entervan II®. Now they offer the Entervan XT® discussed above. Braun converts Chyrsler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, or Toyota Sienna minivans. The Toyota Sienna wheelchair minivan conversion goes by the name of RampVan. The Chyrsler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan wheelchair minivan conversion go by the name of Entervan®. But sometimes the Toyota Sienna wheelchair minivan conversion seems to be going by the name Entervan® as well. Not terribly important but it can be confusing in your internet research attempts.

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