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Wheelchair
vehicle buyer's guide
This guide presumes you are just starting your search
for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
When buying a new car, many will offer advice but when
it comes to wheelchair-accessible vehicles, your well-meaning
friends may tell you what they think you need but if
they are not experienced in disability issues, their
advice may lead to wrong decisions.
The vehicle you purchase will have to meet your needs
for many years to come, so don’t rush into buying
until you understand the issues. We see a surprising
number of people ‘encouraged’ to buy an
inappropriate vehicle by a helpful sales person, only
to find to their cost that the vehicle won’t do
the job.
Car companies do not build wheelchair accessible cars
on their assembly lines, therefore standard vehicles
must be modified (converted) to load and accommodate
a wheelchair easily and safely, give a comfortable ride
and provide adequate visibility for the wheelchair passenger
and others.
The Freewheeler range of vehicles was developed after
extensive engineering and testing to ensure they meet
Australian design rules and regulations. You should
be wary of a converter who tells you they can do a “one-off”
major conversion on a car. It is not commercially feasible
to do so and may indicate they have not carried out
the required engineering procedures. A poor conversion
could lead to ongoing problems and a dramatic drop in
the value of your vehicle..
We do not use in-house engineers, as this is like auditing
your own books. Instead, all engineering and testing
is supervised by one of Australia’s leading automotive
engineering groups, who are in tune with federal and
state requirements to ensure our products comply with
regulations in all states.
We hope the following will be of assistance to you.
While it is not intended to be the definitive specification
for a wheelchair vehicle’s selection, it has been
prepared to inform prospective buyers of some of the
many issues they need to consider when making a decision
that will impact their lifestyle for many years to come.
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First
things first – what about the wheelchair itself?
Vehicle manufacturers have collectively spent millions
of dollars in developing vehicle passenger seating, taking
into account body shape, seat springing, vehicle suspension
characteristics, support when cornering, headrests, back
support and seat belt design and many other features,
including seat performance in an accident.
Many wheelchairs are quite appropriate for daily home
use but fall far short of providing safety and comfort
when used in a vehicle.
While the able-bodied driver and other passengers are
being cosseted in their highly developed, form-fitting
car seats, the wheelchair passenger may well be sitting
in a vinyl sling-type wheelchair with poor back or lateral
support, no headrest and often with hard tyres. This uncomfortable
package is then often secured to the solid floor of a
large van with hard springs. Even with an expensive seat
cushion, you cannot compensate for the extra support and
cushioning built into seating in modern cars.
Obviously, a wheelchair passenger has far greater need
for correct seating than able-bodied passengers and for
those with poor circulation and nerve damage, bouncing
around in an inappropriate wheelchair can have disastrous
effects. It is therefore imperative that the wheelchair
is appropriate for use in a vehicle. We recommend you
involve your occupational therapist to assess your wheelchair
for vehicle travel, or to assist in selection of your
next wheelchair. Most people who require wheelchairs would
benefit from having a properly fitted wheelchair tailored
to their specific needs, rather than an off-the-shelf
generic chair. Your new wheelchair will play a vital part
in your lifestyle and general comfort and must meet your
personal needs.
Features such as ‘tilt-in-space’ are most
desirable but unless carefully designed, can result in
an elevated seating position, raising the wheelchair passenger’s
eye line. This can reduce visibility from inside a vehicle,
make the seated position too high to fit in some vehicles,
or too high to fit under a table. Ask your wheelchair
supplier to make every effort to keep the seated height
as low as possible. |
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What
size of vehicle would be appropriate?
Some buyers become fixated on purchasing a vehicle with
enough room to fit all of the equipment needed when going
on an annual (or even less frequent) holiday. As a result,
they drive a large van all year with perhaps only one
or two people on board. For the sake of a few days of
occasional holiday use, they drive a large unwieldy, more
expensive vehicle with the added disadvantages of more
difficult parking and much higher fuel costs for everyday
use. Over time, the inconvenience of accessing a large
vehicle and the extra effort required loading and securing
the wheelchair can be a deterrent to going out. A compact
vehicle, such as one of our Freewheeler range can be
used by a wider range of drivers, meaning friends, relatives
or other carers can take part in outings, providing
welcome respite for the wheelchair user as well as their
permanent carers. Often a large van-type vehicle can
be daunting – particularly to older drivers.
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What
about holiday equipment and luggage?
For that occasional use, we recommend you consider the
purchase (or rental) of one of the modern weatherproof,
lockable, streamlined roof racks for the convenience of
having your equipment with you while traveling, or rent
the larger items of equipment you may need for use at
your destination. Health equipment companies, which rent
out equipment can often arrange for its delivery to &
pick up from your holiday destination. These expenses
are relatively small compared to the on-going costs and
inconvenience of buying and operating a larger vehicle
for the whole year – particularly as high fuel prices
look like they are here to stay. |
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Floor
space
A space 1300mm long x 800mm wide would cater for most
wheelchairs, however the actual size needed will depend
on the wheelchair and its fittings, e.g. respirator, extended
footplates, arm rests and traveling posture. When you
take this much space out of a vehicle, then allow room
for a ramp or hoist and wheelchair restraints, you may
be surprised at how little useable space is left for other
passenger seats. When designing our models, every effort
is made to maximize the usable space. As a result, our
compact Freewheeler models compare favourably with larger
vehicles due to the efficient use of available space. |
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Headroom
Headroom required depends on the seated height of the
wheelchair passenger. While somewhere between 1400 mm
and 15oomm will suit most passengers, very few vehicles
– even quite large vans, offer this much headroom
without major modification. Check the seated height from
the floor to the top of the wheelchair occupant's head
or headrest - whichever is the higher. To allow for some
movement during travel, an additional 50mm or so is usually
adequate. Some vehicles can achieve additional headroom
by lowering the floor and/or raising the roof. Either
way there are big costs involved. |
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Door
openings
Many large vans, may have adequate interior headroom but
have lower door opening heights, making it difficult for
adult passengers to enter – even if they can bend
their neck. Winding down the backrest of a wheelchair
every time to enter or leave a vehicle can be difficult
for both passenger and carer. Low door openings can present
OH&S issue for carers straining to load a wheelchair.
Modifying door openings and doors is an extremely expensive
process. The high door opening on our rear entry Freewheeler
models are designed to facilitate loading and securing
the wheelchair passenger |
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Windows
The windows of many vehicles, although quite large in
area, often provide poor visibility for adult wheelchair
occupants, as the top edge of the window is below the
wheelchair passenger's eye line. As a result, they get
a great view of footpaths and roof headlining but very
little else. Ideally, the top edge of the window opening
should at least be level with the wheelchair passenger’s
eye line. Shallow, high-set windows in van roofs can
often be of questionable benefit, as unless you have
eyes on the top of your head like a frog, you can't
see out of them.
Buyers should be aware that the vision provided in
many vans is restricted, as even with a raised roof
height, an adult’s eye line may still conflict
with the window frame, or often be above it. Windows
frames are not usually altered due to the high costs
involved, therefore taller people may gain extra headroom
but do not gain improved forward or side vision.
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Ride
comfort, convenience & communication
For some, the answer may be a large van due to their wheelchair
type, equipment needed when traveling, family size or
budget. Most larger vans are based on one tonne (or larger)
commercial vehicles. Their ride can be firm to rough with
a light load, as the wheelchair can be directly over the
rear axle in a typical seating layout. Due to the van’s
height, a wheelchair passenger can feel unstable during
cornering and on windy days, strong crosswinds can affect
high vans. Our focus has therefore been to develop well-sprung
mobility vehicles with a lowered centre of gravity for
the superior ride qualities they offer. As the wheelchair
passenger usually sits towards the rear in a large van,
they are out of reach of the driver, making communication
or observation difficult. For wheelchair passengers
who need to travel in a reclined position, close attention
should be given to the ride characteristics of any vehicle
considered. Driving in a reclined position will exaggerate
bumps.
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Vehicle
drivability
Most people desire a vehicle, which can double as a family
runabout and a wheelchair transport vehicle. Most of the
older van type vehicles did not have automatic transmission
when built and conversion to automatic is very expensive.
Climbing up into a high van can also become onerous, particularly
for people of short stature, the elderly, or those with
back problems, so often experienced by carers. Driving
a large van is a different experience too. You often
see vans damaged where an inexperienced driver has forgotten
how long or high the vehicle was when cornering or when
driving into an underground car park.
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Impact
of vehicle modifications on the vehicle
Different approaches to providing wheelchair access into
a vehicle are:
1. Lowering the vehicle floor
2. And /or raising the roof line
3. Raising the door entry height
4. Power lifter (under floor, rear internal, rear external)
5. Extending the vehicle overhang
If not properly engineered, some of these alterations
can affect the ability of the vehicle to negotiate speed
humps and driveways, and may compromise vehicle handling
in an emergency.
Being exposed to the elements, externally mounted hoists
can be messy to handle in wet weather, as they require
some assembly before (and after) use.
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Integrity
of design
It is absolutely essential that any changes be carried
out to an approved design and are certified by an automotive
engineer before passengers are carried.
Major body modifications can involve the redesign and
manufacture of major items such as fuel tank, suspension,
exhaust system and many other components. Such large conversions
require engineering design and testing to prove the changes
have not compromised the integrity and safety of the vehicle.
As engineering design, R & D and testing can run into
tens of thousands of dollars, be wary of anyone who advises
they can do a major redesign cheaply on a one-off basis.
It’s just not possible to be done cost-effectively
and you may finish up with your vehicle structurally damaged
or unsafe to drive. A well-designed mobility vehicle
will retain a very competitive value when compared with
a conventional motor vehicle, all things being equal,
whereas a badly converted vehicle will be greatly devalued.
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Insurance
You should be aware that vehicle modifications not fully
supported by an engineer’s certificate may deter
insurance companies from providing cover for that vehicle. |
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Parking
Side-loading vehicles require a wide space to load and
unload. This can restrict you to using disabled parking
spaces only, whereas rear-loading vehicles can use a conventional
car space. Look at the top of a high van and you'll often
see the result of damage when accessing an underground
car park or from overhanging trees. Car park height limit
at many shopping centres is only 2 metres. |
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Wheelchair
loading/unloading
Loading requirements depend on the type of wheelchair
(manual or electric), the size and weight of the chair
and passenger, as well as the height of the vehicle floor
above ground. As carers with many years’ experience,
we have found roll-on-roll-off ramps to a lowered floor
vehicle to be the most user-friendly and for this reason
have equipped Freewheeler models with this quick loading
feature. Power lifters are suitable for some applications,
while a lowered floor is the answer for others. With power
lifters, bear in mind that the size of the hoist platform
needs to be matched to the wheelchair too. Our power loading
option enables heavy manual wheelchairs to be loaded with
ease and saves carer’s backs. |
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Loading
using portable ramps
In the interest of cost savings, many use loose ramps
for loading and unloading wheelchairs. The maximum desirable
ramp angle is about 1:4, which means that a 2 mere long
ramp is needed to load to the typical van floor height
of approximately 500 mm. Use of ramps is extremely
cumbersome, requires a huge amount of space and, where
you have the combination of a heavy electric chair and
a frail carer can be extremely dangerous. Apart from
these issues, safe storage of the ramps in the vehicle
during travel must be considered.
Remember – the easier the vehicle is to use –
the more you will use it.
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Restraints
and fittings
Wheelchairs and occupants must be secured properly for
travel. Look at the method of securing the chair and occupant
and practice it a few times. Standing on your head to
reach restraints or getting down on your hands and knees
to secure a chair and occupant can be hard on your body
and your clothes. Remember you will have to do this every
time you load and unload a wheelchair, whether it is late
at night after a function, simply going to the corner
shop and whether it is raining or not. If you are assisting
another person to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle,
please ask yourself if you would want to go through such
a major exercise every single time you went out. There
is an easier way. The Freewheeler restraint system lets
carers load and secure wheelchairs while dressed in their
party clothes or suits without a ruffle or a crease. It
certainly takes the curse off going out.
If it's not user friendly -- it won’t be used If
a car is hard to use, you may look for reasons NOT to
go out.
We've seen it happen and this defeats the whole purpose
of having an accessible vehicle.
Often the wheelchair user is reluctant to ask their
partner/carer to take them out if the vehicle is difficult
to use, as they know how hard it is on the carer. Everyone
loses out and the car stays in the garage.
Our aim is to make going out a pleasure - not a hassle.
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Have
a test drive seated in a wheelchair
If you are making decisions regarding a mobility vehicle
for another person who is a wheelchair user, put yourself
in their place and take a ride in a wheelchair in the
vehicle you are contemplating. This will help to understand
some of the issues mentioned above. While taking a test-drive,
try to imagine how you would feel on a long trip traveling
as a wheelchair passenger, as a quick trip around the
block won’t give you a full appreciation. You will
certainly appreciate the importance of driving smoothly
when a wheelchair passenger is in your vehicle. |
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Driving
a mobility (wheelchair accessible) vehicle
A well-designed mobility vehicle will allow you to access
normal driving obstacles such as speed humps, driveways
and culverts, however vehicles with poor ground clearance
or long rear overhang may restrict access to some driveways.
You should take care driving over speed humps and crossing
driveways or culverts. Drivers should approach such obstacles
slowly, so that both front wheels drive over or through
the obstacle at the same time to avoid the vehicle rocking
from side to side to the extreme discomfort of the wheelchair
passenger. Once again, it would be helpful for you to
try being a wheelchair passenger to appreciate how much
influence a driver can have on the comfort of a wheelchair
passenger. |
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Let
Fleetworks Mobility help
The vehicle you choose will play a very important part
in your lifestyle for a long time to come. We have seen
some amazing lifestyle-changing results where the right
vehicle choice was made. We have been pleased and proud
to play a part in those decisions and to see the impact
it has had. The right choice can often provide new
respite opportunities for all by providing a wider range
of prospective carers, or traveling companions who are
able to operate a user-friendly vehicle.
Fleetworks Mobility handles a wide range of vehicles
and models - new and used. We try to find the best solution
to a client’s needs in conjunction with their
family, OT or carers. We do not push any one vehicle
or product regardless, as we know from personal experience,
getting it ‘right’ can be very liberating.
Consider your alternatives carefully before making
a final decision. We would welcome a call from you to
discuss your requirements or fill in our questionnaire
form with your details and we will make contact with
you.
We may even know of a vehicle already converted to
suit your needs. If you have a vehicle to trade, we
may be able to assist with that too, as Fleetworks Mobility
is a Licensed Motor Car Trader.
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After
sales support
We take the responsibility of providing support and keeping
our clients mobile very seriously. We have a FREECALL
service for the convenience of clients and welcome calls
to discuss their transport issues. |
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If
you would like a copy of this guide
If you would like a hard copy of the wheelchair vehicle
buyer's guide, a pdf file can be downloaded by clicking
the symbol below.
6 pages
Format: PDF File Size 192KB
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To read the attached file, you will need adobe acrobat
reader. If you don't already have this software, it
is a free download.
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