This is my latest "drive from wheelchair" Vehicle.   It's a Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, 3.8 V6 auto, converted by the Rollx company in the USA for disabled use by people like me!
Download 5Mb Video of the door / kneel / ramp operating  |  2  |  3

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This is an American built vehicle that I had imported into the UK by Alfred Bekker a mobility specialist so it has the steering wheel on the left side. Don't let that worry you though! After driving it for a few miles it feels perfectly natural. Its actually almost the same vehicle as the UK's right hand drive version the Chrysler Grand Voyager.  In the US there is also the Chrysler "Town & Country" and sold alongside it is the Dodge Grand Caravan (this one). The only differences between them all are as follows:

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

Gallon (much like our language) and got both wrong! So the MPG indicator looks really scary if you happen to be English!  Their gallon is incorrectly sized and considerably smaller! Oh and it only comes with a good 200+ BHP 3.8 litre engine which is smooth and never needs to be revved! And an auto box. Its basically the same as the 3.3 engine we get stuck with but massively better to drive for the extra low down power. Both units don't like to be revved but the 3.3 has to be whereas the 3.8 doesn't need to be...  And unlike the deseasel its very quiet too!    

What modifications are done to this Dodge minivan to make it a ROLLX wheelchair van?
Well first of all its delivered from production line to the ROLLX factory to have its insides and its complete floor removed.  I have seen this operation in progress at Alfred Bekker in the UK as he builds similar right hand drive ones for our market. Trust me its a very major modification with the vehicle almost completely dismantled and much welding and many new parts!

See a animation photo animation of the van lowering and the door/ramp operating here

The complete floor is cut out, and replaced with a new one 10 inches lower. The suspension is raised a couple of inches before being refitted to allow ground clearance for the dropped floor level. This gives plenty of headroom inside for a large power wheelchair with its occupant. Fuel tank air conditioning and brake lines and wires as well as exhaust systems are all extensively moved/replaced/relocated. A computer system and a special winch device is installed into the rear under the floor. As well as an electric in floor or fold up ramp.

The computer controls and integrates the ramp, the sliding door and the winch that lowers the rear of the van. Then the doors are extended downwards and body skirts added along the sides.  Once completed and repainted and re-trimmed it looks like a brand new showroom vehicle once again. With a difference! Look at the picture below. It shows the extra "size" and height and with my aftermarket wheels (18 x 8.5j E35 with 245/50/18vr tyres) fitted it looks better and more substantial than the original vehicle. 

The picture on the left is my Rollx converted Dodge van parked next to a UK Chrysler Voyager. It shows the increased ride height, and the side skirts at the bottom that make the sides deeper. It makes the standard unmodified vans look sort of diminutive and old! The voyager is the same as the US "Town and Country" model. The front grill is about the only obvious difference between the standard vehicles. My van is really black in a limo/film/mafia kind of way and you feel good driving it! Handling, controls, and performance are all good. And with the extra wide wheels fitted any extra body roll caused by rollx increasing the height for ground clearance reasons is effectively cancelled out. They look cool too and are about an inch bigger in total diameter too so fill those huge arches much better.

Sat on the driveway image

1024 wide
2043 wide

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Desktops sizes below should you be interested!
 This is my one year old Dodge Caravan SXT sat on my drive in the rain.

640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1440x900, 1600x1200, 1920x1200,

Original photo for printing purposes - 4208x2794

***Imported on my behalf by Alfred Bekker Mobility in my own name. Because he does this regularly and has to fit the hand controls and wheelchair clamp. I could have imported it myself including all charges for shipping, customs, ministry test and lights conversion etc for 27,000 UK pounds. Alfred Bekker did it for 30k including fitting hand controls and powerchair clamp/tie down and all paperwork and a 12 month warranty on conversion and vehicle.

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