Van adapted for wheelchair transport?

[simmitc]

My Mother-in-Law has MS and is confined to a wheelchair . She can't drive, but the family has a specially adapted vehicle that takes the wheelchair in the back. Unfortunately it's a Renault Kangoo, and this weekend I had to abondon work on my Traveller when the Renault sprang a high pressure petrol leak. The complexity of the vehicle coupled with the cost of spares led me to contemplate adapting a Minor van to take a wheelchair in the back. Has anyone heard of such a thing?

My initial thoughts are that a fold out ramp would be needed, side windows, and a raised roof - not as tall as a Gown Van or Ice Cream Van, but to give adequate headroom. Straps / clamps for the chair are simple, but a seat belt with suitable anchorages would be needed. I don't know whether there are any regulations to which we would have to adhere, but obviously I'd find out if no-one here can help.

If it's possible to make such a vehicle the advantages are obvious - but then I'm sure that I don't have to list them for this forum

So, any thoughts or advice please. It's a serious question and not something to be undetaken lightly, but it could still be fun to make.

[bigginger]

How does this work? Does the chair stay occupied, and if so, does it get clamped to the floor (just re-read your question, so looks like it does)? Seatbelt anchorages might be tricky - modern VW Sharans have a centre rear seatbelt that mounts to the roof, might be worth a look for an idea of reinforcement needed. Wouldn't staying in the chair and having the join of cab roof and van back at face level cause problems if there was a crash?
Sounds like a fascinating project - oh, and give my love to your Mum in law, I've got MS too (progressive remissive so far, touch timber), and it's not much fun.

PS a quick Google takes me to this - Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Service (MAVIS) This is the Department for Transport’s own centre at Crowthorne in Berkshire. For disabled and older motorists, it offers assessment, advice on car and van adaptations, and advice on vehicle access. A charge is made for assessment. Its free information service covers all aspects of personal outdoor mobility, including information about similar centres in other parts of the UK.
Tel: (01344) 661000;
Website: www.mobility-unit.dft.gov.uk.

[woo]

Simmitc

My friend, who has had both legs amputated, also uses a Renault Kangoo. My primary concern with your idea would be the method of access. At the moment she uses a 'lift' to get from street level to van level. I think, providing you can get the necessary headroom in the back of the van, your idea of a ramp would only work if you had an electric winch to pull the wheelchair and passenger up the ramp. I think it would be too difficult and dangerous to do it manually. The wheels could run in channels in the back of the van. this would prevent the wheelchair from slewing round. It wouldn't be too difficult to fashion some clamps to fix the wheelchair wheels to the floor. The main remaining item is, as you say, fixing the seat belts. Could some kind of 'roll frame' type structure be made that would provide fixing points for the belts?

[Welung666]

Didn't they used to make the 'Chair Master' vans out of fiesta couriers and the like? I shouldn't think it would be to hard to build from there design or at least close. Woo nice idea using a roll frame for seat belt ancourage, I was just trying to figure that out when I refreshed and you had mentioned it!

The ramp idea would be fine if it's an electric chair, my step-brother has a ramp on the back of his school bus, he just zooms up it, if it's a manual chair you might consider a lightweight lift, only needs to carry about 200kg and they are not that pricey from a specialist breaker.

Lee

[paulk]

Back in the dim and distant 80's I remember a metro conversion that had a second windscreen above the normal one in the extra roof bit. The back looked a bit Heath Robinson but as I recall worked well with I think a ramp. The only reason I remember this was that as a child I thought having your very own windscreen wiper was very cool. OK OK I was only about 10!

Paulk

Also seen Mk111 escort vans so don't see why a minor could not be adapted. The only thing would be getting up to the load bed and ramps and winches sound suitable

[bigginger]

The ven floor is also ply wood, do you'd need a metal frame connected to the chassis underneath to fasten the clamps/belt brachts to.
a

[simmitc]

Thanks all for thoughts so far. The wheelchair is a push one, not electric. At the moment the Renault has a fairly steep ramp with an electric winch for those who need it, but we just push hard. The chair remains occupied, and is clamped to the floor. Certainly I've seen conversions on other vehicles with a "personal" second windscreen. I think it's cool too! Good thought about the roll bar for seat belts. I'll look at the mobility advice, and check back here too. Thanks again, and Begginger, I'll keep fingers crossed for continued remission.

Simon

[bigginger]

Cheers for that - I'd cross my fingers, if they worked properly...

[Onne]

Wouldn't the chassis and rear axle be a problem, all cars mentioned above are FWD, and monocoque structure....Which would mean you'd almost need an Ice cream Van for headroom. Or am I just nagging?

[bigginger]

Well. the Chassis would make things a bit higher, but Ice cream vans are designed so that you can stand in the back, and in this one you,d be sitting. In a wheelchair.
I reckon it'd work - wish I could help, sounds like a fun project.
a

[Kevin]

Back in the dim and distant 80's I remember a metro conversion that had a second windscreen above the normal one in the extra roof bit.

I saw one of those last weekend.

[rayofleamington]

If you have to go to the extent of adding more roof height, then you can also consider a traveller. You might be able to find a decent joiner to add some side panel height extensions.

Ooh - another thought. There used to be a few Marina 'suntour' campers (like a marina van but with side windows and a raisable roof). The cars are basically Minor mechanics and you might be able to get the necesary height without too much hassle. The downside is that most marinas have rotted into oblivion.