Accessible Full-Sized Vans
"I had no idea where I could look for help when an accident totaled our van and left us helpless miles from home. Nor-Cal Mobility rescued us with a rental delivered! We were saved by Nor-Cal!" - Beverly B.
"Workmanship is absolutely outstanding!" - Bud R.
"Greg is our angel -- he is very compassionate, understanding and knows his business. Our family is very grateful! Thank you!" - Cathy M.
"The van was exactly what my wife wanted! Thanks!" - Chester K.
"Thank you for all of your help. I love my new van!" - Deborah F.
"Thank you for everything! We love our new van!" - Gary & Tracy S.
"Terrance was great! This process was frustrating and he was always there to help. Could not have done it without him." - Jerry F.
"Thank you for everything you have done for our boys. We appreciate how fast and easy everything went." - Judy L.
"Extremely courteous and knowledgeable staff. Should I ever need another special needs vehicle, I will, without a doubt, return to Nor-Cal Mobility for my vehicle." - Larry S.
"Alex is the best! He took such great care with Mom, made her feel very special and took lots of time explaining all factors to her and I." - Linda C.
"We had an excellent experience dealing with Al. He was very courteous and knowledgeable. We were very satisfied. Thank you!" - Lylliam D.
"Al was generous and absolutely accomodating. He was kind and patient." - Pacific Institute
"I am very happy with my van. It makes my life so much easier!" - Pam C.
"My buying experience couldn't have been better. Alex is great!" - Ray M.
"Terrance is a great salesman and helped us through all of the confusion. He is great to work with -- very professional and helpful. He gets an A+ from us." - Richard and Nelma B.
"Nor-Cal Mobility makes us feel like family!" - Robert W.
"I'm a very satisfied customer at Nor-Cal Mobility. Good place, good crew!" - Robin W.
"The people at Nor-Cal Mobility are just great to work with!" - Stephen C.
"Al and his staff are great! They are all very knowledgeable and demonstrated great customer service!" - Suzanne Z.
"Courtney was extremely helpful throughout the whole process and was impeccable in his follow-up. Because of his dilligence, I've already been able to recommend Nor-Cal Mobility to two other disabled persons interested in buying a vehicle." - Thomas L.
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Space and dimensions are extremely important when making a vehicle accessible. There are several key dimensions to consider: Is the entrance tall enough for the person to enter when seated in his wheelchair? What kind of headroom will the person have once inside the vehicle? How many and what kind of seats can be used while the wheelchair is secured in the vehicle? If the wheelchair user is driving, what is their field of vision while seated?
Accessibility modifications have been made to full-size vans for years. To allow for maximum entry height and headroom, these vans most often have lowered floors and raised roofs. Doors are raised in conjunction with the roof to enable a wheelchair user to enter the vehicle without having to bend over or tilt back. This additional height provides 56” to 64” of clear entry. Floors are lowered for the same reasons. The difference here is that you can often pick up the additional height without having to raise the roof or doors. Lowered floors work great in situations where you would like to garage the vehicle and a raised roof would make the vehicle too high. In comparison to Chrysler’s most popular minivan conversion, lowered floors in the Ford E-series vans add up to four more inches of doorway clearance and interior headroom. Also, a lowered floor can be used in conjunction with a raised roof and doors for a very tall individual.
Weight-carrying capacity is also another distinct benefit to full-size vans. While a Dodge Grand Caravan can carry up to 1,230 pounds, a full-size Ford can hold up to 3,448 pounds and has a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. Consider equipment . . . passengers . . . the weight of your wheelchair . . . it all adds up.
The Ford full-sized E-Van is the most extensively converted full-size van in the industry. Lifts can either be installed in the rear or the side of the vehicle, and are either stowed inside the van or underneath the van. Nor-Cal Mobility, Inc. can provide a lowered floor in the mid-passenger, front passenger and driver areas. Lowered floors are available in 4”, 6” and 9” drops.
For larger or taller clients and those seeking more weight-carrying capacity, greater interior room for both people and cargo and better ground clearance from their accessible vehicle, a full-size van is the only way to go. The cost of adapting a full-size van ranges from $6,000 to $15,000 for a simple lift and tie-downs to upwards of $30,000 with a raised roof and doors or a lowered floor and other significant modifications. There is a ton of room in these vans, and the weight-carrying capacity is significantly higher than in a minivan, so you can pretty much bring along whatever and whomever you want. But size is also its downfall -- not everyone wants to drive a large van and with gas prices increasing daily it seems, the cost of owning this vehicle is more expensive over time. Garaging may be an issue, depending on your home.
