back ramp vs side ramp

[cpartin74]

I am looking to replace my full sized van with something more gas efficient but am reluctant to get a rear entry van. Could you guys help me with the pros & cons of both side but especially rear entry as I have never seen or in one. Keep in mind I drive & transfer into driver's seat since I have a folding chair. Thank you!

[Burgerman]

Side door means the rear half of the van and the boot/whatever that's called in Americanise is available to put stuff...

So rear door is almost personal transport only.

[cpartin74]

Right now, the rear entry will allow for a flip down bench in back to give me entra seating I need for my 3 growing children. I can go up all the way to driver's seat to transfer over to drive. I will have 5 seats instead of only 3-4. My youngest is still in a car seat which takes up most of the back seat in a side ramp. Considering getting new chair if possible that is ridgid frame for lock in system to avoid extra and time it takes. I'm worried more about getting parked in but that happens all the time with side entry now. I have a salesman coming to show me a rear entry this Tuesday. I thought the same thing about rear entry myself.

[phatboyroy]

I'm a side ramp man, i feel rear ramps are so impractical as it takes out rear seat & luggage space. If you have a wheelchair user loaded up and want to get that person out, you have to unload the luggage first. How impractical is that? With a side ramp, it’s unclamp and straight out. Also with rear ramps, if someone parks behind you on the street, you’re stumped, with the side ramp you’re out on the pavement. in side by side car parks you do need your wits, and park to encourage others not to park alongside. i've even seen and considered a bollard placed. inherently i've found side ramps are more expensive, simply because of the practicalities.

personal choice in the end.

[Mark]

They both have (different) disadvantages. Both types have potential problems caused by other (inconsiderate or illiterate) drivers. Agree that side ramps give better storage space but the smallest vehicles (like my Qubo) wouldn't have room inside to turn from a side ramp.
Like I say, I have a rear ramp at present, and yes, I have reversed over the groceries.
My next vehicle will probably be a side ramp.

[Irving]

My Kia Sedona conversion is a rear ramp, so you lose 2 seats, but end up with a good load space behind me though it has to be unloaded before I can get out. Good for shopping, or bulk buys of kitchen towel at Costco, or taking friends/family to airport. We've even had my hoist there, as well as a second, occupied, wheelchair (was an emergency, not recommended. The way the ramp is recessed means its only 9" longer than the car, generally if there's room for an AB to stand behind and open the tailgate, I can get in.

[Smark67]

Although I currently have a rear entry vehicle I would much prefer a side entry (a Motability lease vehicle so very limited side entry options), because apart from all the reasons above, when I had my own vehicle, which had a lift on the side, when I was shunted from behind, had it been on the rear I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to exit the vehicle. I know you can be hit at the side as well but I presume that being shunted from behind is more common.

[stevelawiw]

I have a rear entry DFW van, and I agree that the rear ramp takes up far more storage/seating space than a side ramp, but the main reason I chose rear entry was I can park in any supermarket/car park parking space now, with a side ramp I would be as limited as I was when I used to transfer into a manual wheelchair from a car - I would need to find a space at an end so that no one could block me in and I could swing my coupe door wide open

[Pierrick]

In another subject "" Burgerman wrote about disabled spaces : "I don't use them. Or I use 2... And land at 45 degrees." (Pros and Cons - side load or rear load).

My daugthter is afraid of back ramps because others drivers are too dangerous (we live in France ...) so i am searching for a side ramp van and i'm looking for big car parks in my cities.

P.