Looking for a mobility van near Cincinnati

[kdlmoore2000]

Thank you so much for considering this post.

I have a precious family member who was diagnosed with ALS two years ago. He is currently using a manual wheelchair full-time, and will soon be requiring an electric wheelchair. Conventional modes of transportation are becoming all but impossible. I am interested in a minivan of good condition equipped with a side-entry ramp, as was suggested to accommodate this husband and father of three. Due to the progression of this disease, he is no longer able to participate in family activities that require he leaves his home, so time is definitely of the essence.

If anyone has useful information, I would be grateful beyond words.

 

[John1]

I am guessing you are looking for a used van. The big names are Braun and VMI with some others as well. One good source is your local Craigslist.com. I found my van through an on-line source called the disabled dealer.com.
Equipments for Disabled Wheelchairs Accessible Vans Scooters
However, despite the name there are many private sellers there too. You can generally save several thousand dollars by buying privately. Patience is a virtue though. Often private sellers start off by asking near-dealer prices and gradually lower what they will accept. For example I found a good quality, six year old Chrysler Town and Country Braun conversion side entry van with 46,000 miles for $16,000. It has proven surprisingly satisfactory although with 150,000 miles on it now I am looking at a new Honda Odyssey as a replacement.

The Japanese vans hold their resale values much longer than the American ones, presumably because of their better quality.

Finally, if you are willing to broaden your search out of state, you will also widen your choices for these scarce vehicles. I bought mine through Disabled Dealer and it was 4,000 miles away. I had it shipped to a location near me for $1000.

 

[kdlmoore2000]

Thank you so much, John, for your post.

Indeed, I am looking for a used van, and have stumbled across the disableddealer.com and mobilityvansales.com websites. They seemed like good avenues to take, but I am so grateful to hear from someone with experience to know if I should go that route. This is all new to me, and this forum is like a godsend. I really appreciate the information. I would love to purchase a Toyota or Honda, but that price range is a little high. My family and I are trying to raise the funds ourselves and with the help of the community through a raffle, and the money is tight, so again, it is so reassuring to find that your Chrysler was reliable. My cousin with ALS has a wife and three children, and I so desperately want to find something that will be mechanically sound, and not create more hardship for her. It's a daunting task, but the kindness shown by you and others who offer their advice and assistance is a blessing.

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[Al]

Have you checked out the vans posted here? Even if sold it will give you ideas what they are asking.

AL.

 

[kdlmoore2000]

Thank you, Al. I sure did That's the first place I tried. This forum has been very enlightening, and I am so grateful to be in touch with others dealing with the same issues. I was so glad to stumble across this website, it's like being in touch with specialists in the field. I hope and pray to be able to share my experiences in the future with others, and be as helpful as you all are.

Many thanks!

 

[MobilityVanSales]

Hi,

Yes it can be really hard to find the right wheelchair van in the right place. I have had a look at some mobility vans and wheelchair accessible vans and there are quite a few different kinds. Is it a full-size or a mini wheelchair van?

Good luck with buying you next wheelchair van and there is some excellent advice online.

Simon

 

[John1]

You're most welcome. One thing I should have added if you are considering buying a van out of state. Have the van checked out by a dealer where the seller lives. The first van I looked at was in Florida. I had the vendor take it to the local Dodge dealer and I paid the dealer about $200 for a thorough examination. I decided against buying it on his evaluation. The second van, and the one I ended up buying, was in San Diego. Again I had it checked out by the dealer and then purchased it on the basis of a good evaluation. It turned out to be a sound vehicle.

 

[natyong]

This is my first post, so I hope I'm not breaking rules with outside web page. But I've found mobilityvansales.com to have one of the best selections. Other info that might be info is you can often ship a van for less than a $1000 from somewhere else. Just get a good dealer/mechanic to check it out for you as poster before me stated.