That’s because an individual seated in a wheelchair will have a much higher profile than someone setting in a standard van seat.   That creates a real challenge in terms of headroom.   It can be difficult for wheelchair using riders to get into a standard van and those who do may find themselves in an uncomfortable and unsafe position due to limited headroom.

That’s why raised roofs have become a very popular wheelchair van conversion.   Modification experts literally increase the height of the vehicle in order to compensate for the “taller” wheelchair passengers.   The resulting higher profile vans are more accessible, comfortable and safe than the “right off the assembly line” alternatives.   It’s not an exaggeration to say that it is a key to providing real accessibility for a large number of van and minivan options.

Obviously, modifying a van for increased height is a major undertaking.   It is not a simple conversion.   The people doing the body work need to be exact in their work and must always be cognizant of how their adjustments could impact the vehicle’s structural integrity.   As such, the conversion is not inexpensive and should be handled exclusively by experienced, well-trained professionals.

There is an alternative to raised roofs–one can actually lower the floor of the vehicle to get similar results.   However, roof raising is often preferred for some vehicle types.

Raised roofs are a big help for disabled drivers and passengers alike.   They make wheelchair vans safer and more comfortable than stock alternatives.   It’s no wonder that this form of bodywork has become one of the most popular wheelchair van conversions.

If you or one of your regular passengers utilizes a wheelchair, you’ll undoubtedly want to consider raised roof options for you’re your van.   You can transform unsafe and otherwise uncomfortable quarters into a far superior, roomier alternative by having the roof of your vehicle elevated.   Stop knocking your head against the roof or making your way across town with your head cocked to the side!   Investigate what a raised roof can do for you and your vehicle.

One common problem relates to clearance.   Van entrances are not created with wheelchairs in mind.   Manufacturers assume that people will enter and exit the van on foot and that they’ll sit in the provided seats.   The vans are built accordingly.   However, wheelchair users have a much higher profile while getting in and out of vans than the mythical “average user.”   That creates problems when entering, forcing wheelchair users to somehow attempt to duck low clearance efforts.   It can also result in low-headroom discomfort and safety risks once the wheelchair user has entered the van.

That’s clearly an unworkable situation and it calls for modifications to the vehicle.   In some cases, the problem can be resolved simply by raising the height of the doors used to enter the van.   In other situations, the wheelchair van owner may opt to raise the roof to provide additional clearance.   Another solution is to lower the floor of the van.

When one lowers the floor along the full length of the van, it’s referred to as a “full dropped lowered floor.”   By dropping the floor a few inches, one is able to create additional clearance.   Full dropped lowered floors are a popular wheelchair van conversion because they resolve the headaches associated with inappropriately limited headroom.

The act of creating a full dropped lower floor is rather involved.   It’s a task reserved exclusively for professional conversion experts.   It can be a rather expensive van modification, but many who’ve gone through the process of modifying a vehicle in this manner will vouch for the customization’s value.   It can completely transform a van that would be otherwise ill-suited for wheelchair use into a perfectly credible transportation option.

If you’re confronting issues with entering or exiting vehicles and can see that a few extra inches of clearance would resolve the problem, you should consult with a conversion pro to discuss the potential value of a full dropped lowered floor.   Lowering the floor can give you the space you need to get the most out of your van in a way that is convenient, safe and comfortable.

When you can remove seats, it provides additional space to allow for easier entrance and exit to and from the van for those in wheelchairs.   A nice ramp is a great idea, but its utility is marginal if negotiating the route from the top of the ramp into the vehicle is difficult.   Removable seating makes it possible to have the necessary space for entry.   If you can imagine trying to set up side entry access for a wheelchair with standard seats in place, you will quickly be able to understand the value of removable seating options.

The ability to remove seats and replace them with tie-downs, EZ locks or other devices also makes it possible to transport other wheelchair users within the van.   When you can remove the “stock” seats, you have much more flexibility than you otherwise would.   You will find yourself able to handle a wide variety of situations.

The fact that your customizations are reversible adds to the value of removable seating.   There may be situations in which traditional bench seats are exactly what you need to handle a full van of non-wheelchair using occupants.   When your van features removable seats, you can quickly have your van ready to handle just about any possible situation.

Today, most vans come with removable seating.   The days when van seats were a permanent part of the vehicle’s structure are gone.   Most now have levers and switches that make them relatively easy to disengage and to remove.   Some may still offer bolted-down seats, but that is becoming increasingly rare.   While these removable seats may not always be manageable by the wheelchair user, they should be something that a helper can handle with relative ease.

Removable seating makes it easier to set up your van to meet your specific needs.   It does so without forcing permanent alterations to the vehicles, leaving overall flexibility intact.   It is no wonder that removable seats have become a norm for regular use and wheelchair vans alike.   This simple development has had a tremendous impact on disabled drivers and passengers alike, providing more flexibility and greater opportunities for ideal accessibility, as well.

The other half involves core issues of access.   All of the low-effort steering, hand controls and other driving modifications in the world are not worth much if the driver of the vehicle has difficulties getting in and out from behind the wheel.   Those issues must be addressed before we even begin to worry about other aspects of accessibility.

Remote entry is one way to overcome some of the “in and out” hurdles.

Van and minivan doors can be quite heavy.   They also tend to have handles in places that are anything but convenient for those in wheelchairs to use.   That can lead to a difficult situation for the wheelchair-bound driver.   Getting in and out can become an annoying wrestling matches with van doors to simple enter the vehicle.   Once inside, closing the doors can be a struggle, as well.

Remote entry solves this problem by motorizing the chosen doors of the vehicle and allowing the driver to control them via remote control.   Pushing a button on a keychain can result in a door automatically opening without any other human intervention.

When the driver is inside, another press of the button will close the door.   There is no need to struggle with handles or bulky door.   Everything is done automatically thanks to the remotely controlled electrical motors.   It is a much less labor-intensive and far safer way to go.

Many new vans come with stock remote entry options.   These are usually reserved for the side doors, which may be exactly what an owner who uses a wheelchair would like.   Those who need motorized remote entry solutions for other doors do not need to worry, though.   A qualified conversion expert should be able to install units wherever they are necessary.

In order for a wheelchair van to have any real value, its driver needs to be able to get in and out without trouble.   One of the best ways to work toward that goal is via the installation of remote entry options.   It decreases the effort required to get in and out of the van, providing users with new levels of accessibility and much greater ease of use.

When deciding how to organize your seating, you’ll want to consider multiple variables.   It’s important to consider how the wheelchair user will be entering and exiting the van and whether he or she will remain seated in the wheelchair once inside the van.   You’ll also want to think about total potential occupancy and the likely use of the van in transporting others.

If you opt for side entry for the wheelchair, you’ll need to decide where the wheelchair user will sit once inside the vehicle.   In many cases, he or she may remain within the chair.   In those cases, you can use tie-downs or an EZ Lock device to keep the wheelchair in place.

In other situations, the wheelchair user may want to sit in a more traditional chair.   This can provide enhanced comfort and may also better enable the user to deal with the inherent height and clearance issues that appear when one opts to remain in the wheelchair.

In those cases, a center passenger seat may be an ideal option.   The wheelchair user can enter the van via the side door and then transfer to the nearby center seat.   If the chair user can manage the transfer without assistance, so be it.   If some additional aid is necessary, one may opt to use a pivoting transfer seat to make things easier.

There are a few obvious advantages to utilizing a center passenger seat.   Comfort and safety in low-clearance vehicles are one reason to prefer this arrangement.   The decision to utilize a center passenger seat does come with some negatives, though.

By having the seat positioned in vehicle’s center, it does minimize the amount of room available to negotiate the wheelchair’s entrance and exit from the vehicle. Many users prefer to place a passenger seat way from the side door, behind the driver’s seat, in response to this challenge.

There’s no single “right way” to arrange seating within a wheelchair van.   While a center passenger seat option may not be optimal for everyone, it is a credible solution for many users who are looking for a way to utilize a standard seat after getting out of a chair.

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.

The goal of making the “ins and outs” of access easier has led to a number of wheelchair van conversions.   Raised rear and side doors, remote entry units, dozens of varieties of lifts and ramps and many other modifications exist to make it easier for folks to get in and out of their vehicles.

The half dropped lowered floor is another example of these modifications.   The basic idea is simple.   The standard van is not tall enough for people in wheelchairs to use comfortably.   Vans are built under the assumption that drivers and passengers will use the stock seats.   People in wheelchairs have a much higher profile.   That can make it hard to get into a vehicle, hard to move around after entry, unsafe and uncomfortable.

By lowering the floor in the area of access, one can create additional clearance for wheelchair users.   That’s how the half dropped lowered floor hopes to improve accessibility.

In many cases, wheelchair van owners will opt to have the entire floor of the vehicle lowered.   This increases clearance across the length of the van.   The half dropped floor, on the other hand, is lowered only in the area in which chairs are unloaded or loaded. In most cases, that may involved dropping the lower floor in the front and middle of the vehicle for side door entry and exit.

A half dropped lowered floor provides the same advantages a fully lowered floor offers, but does so at a lower price.   Unless you have a clear reason to think that you’ll need the increased headroom in all rears of the vehicle, a half dropped floor will probably suit your needs.

As you can probably guess, the process of lowering a van’s floor is anything but simple.   It requires a great deal of work and can have a negative impact on the vehicle’s structural integrity and drivability if done incorrectly.   As such, anyone considering a half dropped lowered floor should have the job done by a qualified conversion professional.

Dropping half of the floor in your van may provide you with the space and comfort you need.   If you’re struggling with the entrance/exit process and need some additional head room, you may want to consider this popular conversion.

That is why transfer seats are so popular.   As their name suggests, they aid in the transfer of the driver from his or her wheelchair to the driver’s seat itself.   In fact, transfer seats can double.   They move and swivel out in order to make it easier for the driver to get in and out of his or her chair.   There are also transfer seats designed for passengers.

Transfer seats are often adjustable in all directions.   In addition to swiveling out at ninety degrees, they also move up and down to match custom height needs and slide toward and away from the steering wheel, as necessary.   In essence, they can move as necessary to facilitate transfer from wheelchair to the seat.

These seats can be somewhat expensive.   A high-quality Ricon Power Transfer Seat, for instance, may cost as much as $2,000.   However, when one weighs that price tag against the accessibility advantage a transfer seat provides, it may very well seem like a bargain.

As you would guess, professionals usually install these powered seats.   Installation may often be included with purchase.   Even when it is not, it makes sense to leave installation to those with extensive conversion experience.   The seats must be correctly positioned in order to provide for driver safety and optimal use.   If the seat is not correctly installed, it will not function properly.

A transfer seat can allow someone who otherwise would not be able to get into a van seat to do so.   That has a huge impact on people who are completely capable of driving but who struggle with getting behind the wheel.   Transfer seats provide them with all new levels of accessibility.

If you are struggling to get behind the wheel, look at your seat options.   You may discover that you can drive your wheelchair van more easily and comfortably with a transfer seat.   They can make a great deal of difference to many drivers and, as a result, have become an extremely popular modification.

While you might think that a rear bench seat would limit options for wheelchair vans, there are good reasons for its use.   Let’s look at how a rear bench seat can improve the wheelchair van experience.

First, we should note that rear bench seats are appropriate for vehicles that will feature side entry for wheelchairs.   Obviously, anyone planning to use the rear for wheelchair entry and exit won’t be able to have a back bench seat in place.   Luckily, there are a number of ramps and lifts that make side entry a solid option.

So, whey would one want a rear bench seat in a wheelchair van instead of single-person seating options?   It’s really a matter of flexibility in terms of one’s passengers.   Setting up a van for wheelchair access necessarily involves removing some seating to provide adequate space for the chair and associated modifications.

That can pose some problems when you’d like to add additional passengers to the mix.   One way to maximize the value of your remaining space is by using a rear bench seat instead of additional single-person units.

A rear bench will safely seat three people across.   That’s one more than a pair of single seat units.   There are some benches capable of comfortably handling four passengers in some wider vans.   You’ll want to check your van’s particular specifications to determine how many people can safely sit in a rear bench seat within your vehicle.

Making a rear bench seat part of your van’s interiors plan provides you with some additional flexibility in terms of passenger needs. You want to have sufficient space to transport those who need wheelchair accessibility, but you don’t want to over limit your vehicle’s capacity.

Look at the way your van is currently set up.   Are you relying on single person seating (some or most of which has been removed to facilitate wheelchair accessibility)?   Would you be better able to meet your family’s needs or your personal preferences by adding more seating to your vehicle?   If so, you may want to consider setting the vehicle up for side entry and maintaining a rear bench seat to maximize passenger occupancy.

Getting rid of the driver’s seat makes sense for the wheelchair-bound driver.   If you can drive from your chair, it adds a great deal of convenience to the process and avoids the use of expensive transfer seats.   It may also allow the driver to get behind the wheel without assistance that may otherwise be required.

That is a good reason for dumping the driver’s seat.   However, there may be times when you wish you still had it around.   That is why the best possible solution is an easily removable driver’s seat that can also be re-installed quickly and easily.   The van can go from being driven by someone in a chair to being handled by a “traditional” driver in a matter of minutes.

While a van’s primary driver may utilize a wheelchair, it does not make sense to limit driving to that individual alone.   The wheelchair van owner may want to take a break on a long trip or another member of the family may have reason to drive the vehicle regularly.   You do not need to think too hard to come up with a variety of reasons to appreciate the flexibility provided by a removable seat.   It just does not make a great deal of sense to have a vehicle around that only one person can possibly drive.

In most cases, a removable driver’s seat has a post that enters the seat base on the floor of the van and then locks into position.   The seat can then be unlocked with a latch or lever and then removed by lifting it out of position.   The procedure may be beyond the capacity of some wheelchair users but a helper should be able to handle the job with relative ease.   Most seats are surprisingly light and the installation process is really quite easy.

If you plan on driving from a wheelchair, you’ll want to have a removable driver’s seat around for those times when you’d rather have someone else behind the wheel or in case of an emergency that renders you unable to drive.   It is an easy way to increase your vehicle’s overall utility.