Hello and Welcome!  These pages about vehicles with disabled adaptations/conversions wheelchair access and wheelchair driving.

Over the years I couldn't find much useful info out there in internet land for myself about what kind of adaptations to vehicles were available.  I struggled to find out what was best for me.  Or which were the best vehicles to adapt.   Just a lot of people trying to sell me something. Often these people had less knowledge of the possibilities than I did. 
I realised my experiences and knowledge gained may be of some help to others!

I am Paraplegic (T4 Complete amongst other problems) and a full time powerchair user.  I have used a car or van with minor (or sometimes pretty major) modifications as a driver for the last ten years.  I am also a bit of an engineer so understand a lot about what's available and how everything works and how to buy things a lot cheaper too in some cases!

Go to my van page for details of the best option currently available (at least for me) as pictured below!

Click image for a larger view!  Or click here for an even bigger image!
 

The van above...
Currently I drive the Dodge Grand Caravan SXT above.  We have a similar vehicle in the UK called the Chrysler Grand Voyager and it is exactly the same as the Chrysler Town & Country in the USA.  Only minor trim differences and a different grill differentiate all three!  This is possibly the best option available for a wheelchair user if they want the option of driving from a wheelchair. At a hefty price.

In the US these things are called minivans. Mine is seriously modified by Rollx in the USA specifically as a wheelchair friendly van with lowered floor/ramp etc from new before ever being registered.  Braun do a similar conversion called the Braun Entervan, or Rampvan, which is practically identical. 

This site is new

as of 29th May 2007 and will grow quickly as I get the time and photos and info to complete it.  Anyone wishing to contribute with links or info on your own vehicles (both users and manufacturers) please contribute! Thanks.  Are you a manufacturer? Want to be added? Then send me as much detail of your vehicle related products as possible! By email or snail mail. and some GOOD photos. Better still samples to look at if you are close enough! See contact details.  Thanks.

Important Reading!

Don't buy a vehicle first! This is the biggest and most costly mistake people make. If you already have one then its probably best to sell it.  You are unlikely to be able to modify it in the ways you want or expect.

The majority of adapted wheelchair vehicles are adapted from brand new by various companies They only do certain modifications to certain vehicles.  If you do buy a non adapted car or van first then it is going to be an expensive mistake in more ways than one. Vehicles supplied already adapted for disabled usage are VAT free! That means you get a further 17.5 percent off here in the UK.

Different vehicles lend themselves to be adapted in a variety of different ways.  If a dealer has developed a regular modification to say the likes of my new van above by Rollx, it does not mean he can do the same thing with any other vehicle. These ramp vans based on the Chrysler minivans, Toyota Sienna and others are built almost on a production line basis,

In the case of the Braun Entervan and Rollx Adapted vans, VMI ramp vans for example, a very special and carefully designed and manufactured adaptation has evolved over the years.  It is pretty damned major!  It involves such things as specially moulded body skirts, suspension mods, a complete new manufactured floor, Different designed exhaust systems, various carpets and interior plastic mouldings and seat mountings etc and much more. These parts are manufactured in quantity to modify only this one vehicle. These parts will not fit any other van.  

Before you visit a mobility dealer visit as many other web sites as you can that offer the kind of information you need! Read and research a LOT!  When you have narrowed down your search and have an idea of what you want allow at least 3 or 4 dealers to demonstrate their vehicles and modifications and advise you of the pros and cons. But remember they are selling you a vehicle! Read between the lines and ask as many awkward questions as you can! Don't rush. Don't buy the first "solution" you see. Find out and learn as much as you possibly can and think about it first. Mistakes are costly!

• Would I be ever be able to drive a car again?  Answer yes!  The driving part is easy. Its the getting in and out part that I struggle with! I am too fat and its hard work.  There are various solutions if you struggle to transfer - see picture below if you must use a car! This can be done on your own too with a manual chair because some are collapsible and can be folded and dismantled to store in the passenger seat next to you. Its slow and hard work though if like me you are paralysed from the chest down.

• would I be ALLOWED to drive? Yes.  No problem there then!

• would I need a different licence or test?  No, if you already had a licence nothing changed! If you have not got one yet then you need lessons and a test just like everyone else. There are special schools and instruction for this.

• How and what modifications would be needed? Very little in my own case initially since my existing Automatic ford Granada just needed some simple push pull mechanical hand controls fitting at around 160 UK pounds..  Takes about an hour to fit.  If your car is manual you will either need to change it or get a fancy Simplex Guido clutch installed in your manual car.