If you are using a rear door wheelchair ramp or lift with your van, you might discover than an other modification is in order.   You may want to consider raising the rear door to allow superior accessibility and space.

Vans are made with certain expectations of use in mind.   While manufacturers realize that many people convert their vans for wheelchair use, they do not always design the vehicles with that in mind.   As such, you will often discover that various conversions are necessary to turn a van or minivan into a “wheelchair van.”   That is one reason why the conversion van industry continues to grow.

The raised rear door is a perfect example.   The average van door is designed to facilitate the loading and unloading of boxes or other freight.   They are not make with a wheelchair in mind.   This can create a problem because the height of the chair and its passenger may exceed (or come dangerously close to) the height of the door itself.   Even if the interior height of the van is adequate for a wheelchair user, the often lower profile of the doors can still interfere with entering and exiting the vehicle comfortably and safely.

Obviously, you do not want to risk bumping your forehead against the frame of the van.   Once inside, you do not want to deal with an uncomfortable situation, either.   You are not going to get shorter and you are not going to invest in an awkward, undersized wheelchair.   That leaves you with one alternative:   Increase the amount of space in your van.   You can do that by raising the rear doors on your wheelchair van.

While it is possible to raise the entire roof, many find that increasing the height and access at the rear door is an adequate solution.   A bodywork expert with experience in conversion vans can add several inches in height to the rear of the van.   This modification is expensive, but the accessibility it provides generally justifies the expense.   It is also worth noting that having a rear door raised will be cheaper than having an across-the-board elevation.

If you are struggling getting with your rear-entry ramp or lift due to height restrictions, you may want to consider raised rear doors.   They can provide you with a comfortable solution to the limitations of standard-issue vans.   It is a relatively common conversion with a track record of successfully improving overall accessibility.