Regardless of whether you are buying a new van or have plans of modifying an existing one to transport users with disabilities, you will need to decide about how to load the wheelchair. The objective of this article is to help you make this important decision by offering a comparison with the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative.
Side Entry Vans
Side entry vans are arguably the favored option in the market right now mainly because they offer greater flexibility regarding the floor plan. You can choose to maximize the number of passengers (up to five), maximizing the number of wheelchair users (up to three), or any variation in between that suits your needs. Another benefit of sideloading vans is the ability to drive the vehicle from the wheelchair using the proper strapping or wheelchair locking system.
Nevertheless, this great flexibility comes with a disadvantage. Side entry vans require more side clearance to park than their rear entry counterparts. Depending on the area where you live this could become problematic in order to find parking spots. Since most side entry vans use a powered folding ramp our suggestion is to take into account the necessary side/ground clearance before taking a decision.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
– Brings more floor plan options, up to three wheelchair users or up to five passengers and one wheelchair. – Allows the user to drive the vehicle from the wheelchair using the proper floor plan and wheelchair strapping system. |
– Depending on the floor plan it could affect the available space inside the van. – Requires good ground clearance when parking the vehicle which may be a problem while looking for a parking spot. |
Rear Entry Vans
Rear entry vans are also quite popular, especially when side clearance is an issue. The biggest benefit of rear entry vans is that you can park the vehicle almost in any spot available. Since the powered ramp is located at the rear, you don’t need to worry about side clearance anymore. However, you will be limited in the number of seats because you will be using most of the cargo area for the wheelchair. Another limitation of this option is the inability to reach the driver’s seat, so you won’t be able to drive the van from the wheelchair.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| – Offers the best side/ground clearance possible, allowing the van to park without any issue almost in any spot. | – In most cases, there is a limit of four seats with a wheelchair. – The wheelchair user can only travel as a passenger unless a transfer seat is installed on the driver’s seat. – No trunk space. Everything needs to be unloaded before the wheelchair could exit the vehicle |
Verdict
As you can see, choosing between side load and rear load wheelchair vans is a matter of convenience. Both alternatives offer a good solution for wheelchair mobility. You also have to remember that you can combine any of these solutions with a transfer seat option in order to customize even more your vehicle and overcome side/rear load inherent limitations.