What Are Some of The Wheelchair Vehicle Conversions Available?

When looking to buy a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV), it is important to first look at the kind of conversions you will need and then see which vehicle will be most suitable. A lot of people don’t realise it, but not all cars and vans are suited to the same vehicle conversions.

But there are some general conversions that will be added to most vehicles when being converted for wheelchair use. Some portion of the floor will be lowered; the seating will be modified for wheelchair access and, in most cases, will be reconfigurable; wheelchair access will be added in the form of either a ramp, lift or turning seat; the suspension may be stiffened, especially in the back, to allow for extra weight added to the vehicle from both the wheelchair and the conversions themselves; and restraints for the wheelchair and its occupant will be installed.

The lowering of the floor is an important vehicle conversion for two reasons: firstly, it allows easier access in and out of the car as the distance to the ground is reduced, and secondly, it allows for headroom once secured in the car.

The seating quite often needs to be modified during a vehicle conversion to ensure that there is room for the wheelchair. If the disabled person wishes to drive the car, provisions need to be made so that they are able to do so without leaving their wheelchair. Making the seats reconfigurable is helpful for times the arrangements may be different, such as when the wheelchair is not in the car or is in the front rather than the back.

Entry and exit to the vehicle is also one of the most important things to consider during the conversion. Ramps are more suited to smaller vehicle conversions as they take up less space and are available in both motorised and manual types. A lift, on the other hand, is more suited to larger vehicle conversions due to their size. Double arm, under body and mono arm types are available. The turning seat conversion is less popular as this requires the disabled person to sit in a seat within the vehicle while their wheelchair is stored in the back.

Wheelchair restraints are also an essential part of any vehicle conversions as it is imperative to make sure that both the people and the expensive wheelchair equipment is kept safe. Restraints for the wheelchair itself can be either automatic, manual, or semi-automatic whilst restraints for the person are manual and quite often resemble those found on airplanes.

Owners of cars that have undergone wheelchair vehicle conversions insist that you should do your research before buying a vehicle that you will get converted yourself. Otherwise, you may be stuck with a car that won’t suit your particular conversions.