Handicapped Van Rentals |
Sometimes, buying is not always the solution to your problems. This holds true in almost every aspect of life regardless whether you are a person with normal bodily functions, or a person with disability. Renting a wheelchair van is slightly more tricky compared to other conventional car rental facilities. There are times that you may think that the detail is trivial but, when you are already travelling on the road, you find out that it actually affects your mobility and comfort.
Here are some of the things to consider when looking for rental vans to meet your needs:
1. Wide network of distributors. Usually the issue of van rentals comes up when you go on a trip and you just have your wheelchair as a means to travel. In this case, you would like to rent a handicapped van from carriers and transfer systems that have distributors across the United States. This not only simplifies the process of renting the van, but will allow you to transact any unfinished business comfortably in your home town should the rental have a distributor there.
2. Wide array of inventory. It is better to go to a distributor with a huge onsite wheelchair van rental inventory. This will give you more choices and better options. This will also let you visually appreciate the type of vehicle you will be renting by comparing it with other vehicles on the lot. This will also give you the opportunity to judge whether the rental is in excellent driving condition or not by comparing it to the other vans of your choice.
3. Hand control system. If you want to drive the wheelchair van rental yourself then you would need to make sure that a hand control mechanism is in place. The hand control system allows persons with disability who have limited or no usage of their feet to continue experiencing the driving pleasure like normal human beings. This control system puts linkages to the conventional accelerator and brake pedals of the vehicle, allowing the handicap to drive the van using only his hands for steering, accelerating and braking.
4. Transportation and mobility equipment. Before renting wheelchair accessible vans, check whether the installed features are right for your type of disability. Most handicap vans are equipped with wheelchair ramps, however, these ramps are designed differently during van conversions. Some modified vehicles are designed to cater to the needs of a handicapped driver (disabled people who drive) while others are manufactured to service the needs of handicapped passengers. Choose what best suits your needs.
5. Seating capacity. Presuming that you are renting a wheelchair van for the purpose of going on a trip, or you are on a trip and need additional mobility, you have to consider the number of people in your party. Are all of you wheelchair bound? If that is the case, look for a handicapped van rental that offers more wheelchair seating capacity. Look also for creative controls that make the trip easier for the physically challenged like central lock system, tinted windows, air conditioning, and the presence of mobility aids among others. When considering seating capacity, you should also look into the storage capacity. If you are driving in a big group, chances are you need more storage space for your luggage. The question to consider here then would be; should you go with a minivan or a full size van?
6. Handicapped van delivery. You will have to consider whether you will be picking up the rental or will have it delivered to your hotel or apartment. In such case, will you be calling driver services or do you already have a volunteer driver picked out? It would be highly inconvenient to rent a wheelchair van and suddenly find out you have not yet made arrangements for who will drive your transportation. Again, small details will cause big problems if unchecked.
7. Type of flooring. Handicap vehicle modifications are done in such a way that the flooring is strengthened along with the suspension system of the vehicle. This is to provide for the perceived additional load that will come from the wheelchairs used by the handicap. Ask the dealer if the particular unit you are interested in renting can handle the weight of manual wheelchairs, all-terrain wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs, or a combination of different types of wheelchairs. Essentially, the weight associated with each type varies like the case of wheelchairs with motors which are definitely heavier than manual wheelchairs.
8. Additional support systems. Some wheelchair vans come with added features like medical equipment, portable wheelchair lifts, jump seats, and other similar add-ons. This is because the vehicle was designed to cater to the mobility and transportation needs of senior & handicap people alike. This again comes into consideration on who will be the members of your travel party. The need of each member should be carefully considered before coming to a decision on the type of vehicle to use.
9. Portable equipment. The advances in technology have allowed the installation of special travel accessories in various types of motorized vehicles. Having a wheelchair vehicle that has a portable computer to serve as a driving guide would be very helpful when going on long trips. Persons with disability do not actual enjoy the luxury of going down the vehicle and asking the gas station manager for directions. Every little bit of equipment that can be put in place to help the disabled in the field is a much deserved comfort. If available, handicapped vehicles with GPS and other onboard systems will prove to be useful on the road.
