Which Van ?

[geordie graham]

At the moment I have a Citroen Dispatch van with a lowered floor and ramp set up for the powerchair.I am not a permanent chair user and still drive but because it is a small van and cannot transfer to the drivers seat I have to reverse the chair up the ramp and with help of my other half I have to shuffle down the ramp and then cling on to the side of the van and get in the drivers door.This is not ideal and as I am getting worse the climb down the ramp is starting to get very precarious and because I need the help of the wife it means I cannot go out by myself.We have now decided to save up for a larger van with side access automatic lift so I can get me and the chair in the van and then transfer to the drivers seat.The main problems we think we are going to encounter are first the price and secondly the size of the door aperture so once up to the level I can get in without smacking my head on the van.We would prefer not to get a massive hi top van but they seem to be the ones with the larger door apertures although I noticed BM used to have a VW Caravelle.Being unable to find any WAV dealers nearby so I can try find the right sizes van to aim for and not wanting to go down the Motability route I was wondering if anyone use these type of vans and can give me an idea of what to look for.
Thanks
Graham

[Burgerman]

Older caravelles used to have a slightly lower floor and I still hit my head but only a bit. Low seat though.

They can be bought with lowered floors, £££ Slightly lowered ££ and only lowered in the passenger compartment. So all are different. Look at the GM Colarado for eg. I still have issues with it, but its a fully lowered floor with a lip where the pedals are. And cannot get square on to the drivers position on the newer ones.

I absolutely still think that if its a drive from vehicle you want then the lowered floor Chryslers are about the best even though the US build quality isn't a patch on the European cars. Where do they get there plastics? And importing from Canada or the US saved me HALF the cost.

[geordie graham]

It doesn`t have to be a drive from van,just one that I can get in and out of without climbing up and down a ramp,also the door aperture height is a major factor as my chair is taller than yours and have measured for the floor to the top of my head whilst sat in the chair and it is 59 ins.It is going to be a few years until till we have saved up and will probably going to be cheaper to get a decent second hand van and then get someone to fit a lift.

[Blackie]

Looks like a long time since last post so hope that you found answeres, may help me.
Need a van to adapt, fix ramp and lock& dock.
Main points required :- my hight in chair 1.5M (59ins). Garage beams at 2.2m .Will need LHD as I live in Portugal. Much too costly to import and hassle.
Wife(ex rally driver) to drive for occasional trips. I need to be able to drive my chair up ramp into dock. Wife to shut door(s) and off we go.LHD required
Don,t have much money and no financial help from SS in Portugal.
To summarise Van hight uder 2.2 internal floor to ceiing hight 1.5
Is this possible? if so what van?

[geordie graham]

Hi Blackie I did finally get a van BUT it was not cheap. The van I got was a Mercedes Sprinter with a Ricon lift fitted at the rear with automatic rear doors, a Ricon 6 way electric drivers seat and an automatic gearbox. Tha van is not a hi top but is taller than standard and can get in with room to spare. It was an ex Motorbility vehicle which I bought off a dealer and had only 3500 miles on the clock and was 2years old. It did cost quite a bit but it was just what I was looking for and with such low mileage it will last for a lot of years. Hope you get something sorted soon.

Graham

[Pierrick]

Hello Blackie, i dont exactly understand what kind of van and Equipment you need but I'm actually looking for a car for my daughter and i have seen a 2nd hand Citroen Jumper in 'Le Bon Coin' (french web site for everything used) whith an automatic ramp : http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/692073903.htm?ca=12_s

To big for my daughter but may be not for a Rally Women ?

P.