Companion Van Wheelchair Vans

Companion wheelchair accessible vans from BraunAbility are unlike any other wheelchair van available today. Like other handicap vans, Companion Vans have a lowered floor, but the part of the floor that has been lowered is different. Only the middle section has been lowered. This type of conversion has been done on full size mobility vans for years, but the Companion Van is the first lowered floor minivan to have this "midcut" design.

Because the Companion Van was engineered for wheelchair users who are attended, accessibility into the van is provided through a manual folding ramp. Don't worry too much about the manual operation, though, because it is very easy to operate with one hand. A good rule of thumb is that if you can pick up a gallon of milk off the kitchen floor, you can operate the ramp. The side door is also manually operated unless a power door has been pre-installed at the manufacturer.

Companion Vans have pre-manufactured wheelchair strap connection points installed throughout the lowered floor portion of the van for secure and safe wheelchair transportation.
Custom ground effects make this van look stylish, as well as mask the look of its wheelchair accessibility.

Upside:
-Companion Van wheelchair vans are more affordable than fully automatic or other full cut lowered floor vans.
-Because of their manual operation, Companion Van handicap vans are less likely to have malfunctions in the accessible system which could leave you stranded.
-Manual operation also reduces any repair costs you could incur in the unlikely event of break down of the wheelchair accessible van conversion

Downside:
-The Companion Van is not a good application if you want to drive from your wheelchair. Because the floor is only lowered in the middle of the mobility van, there is no way to remove the front seat and roll a wheelchair under the steering wheel.
-The passenger side sliding door sill has not been lowered like other lowered floor minivans. This can make it difficult for ambulatory passengers to enter and exit the vehicle through that door.
-Because the manual ramp folds up into the doorway, it has to be deployed every time anyone other than a wheelchair user wants to enter or exit through the passenger sliding door. The folding ramp can also cause extra road noise when traveling.

All things considered, the Companion Van from BraunAbility is a wonderful conversion for handicap use if you are accompanied by an attendant. Consult with a Certified Mobility Consultant to learn if this handicap vehicle modification is right for you.

All wheelchair vans reviewed so far.