Wheelchair Accessible Bus For Sale

Wheelchair accessible buses are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant, the guidelines of which are defined by the federal government. These buses are usually accustomed with special vacant space for the wheelchair, hydraulic lifts/ramps for lifting the passenger seated on the wheelchair onto the bus. Our wheelchair bus for sale is ADA complaint and passenger-friendly. You can look into our collection by going to our INVENTORY and applying the filter of paratransit to ‘yes’.

Depending on your requirements, you may browse through our inventory and look for Wheelchair Accessible Handicap bus and vans for sale. All these buses are customized for Handicap which makes the overall experience of the passengers one of its kind. Having said that, here are some of the best wheelchair accessible buses:

1. Volvo 9700L
In recent times, Volvo has evolved as a top company in this industry. This variant comes with a capacity of 54 passengers. It has a 12.8L V6 engine with an automatic transmission system. This wheelchair-accessible bus for sale comes with ample features some of which are; High reclining seats with armrest, Hydraulic Lift, 3 TV Monitors, Electric door, Rear Heat flooring, Lavatory, Cargo Compartment, Air Brakes, and many more all at a price of $129,000. (negotiable)

2. ElDorado Aero Elite 320
This 24-passenger bus is powered by Maxx Force 7 6.4L engine and has an automatic transmission. With Midback vinyl seats, Black rubber RCA flooring, Armrests, hydraulic brakes, lift, and many more exciting features, this is one of the best paratransit buses for sale with a capacity of 24 passengers which comes at $29,800. (negotiable)

3. Champion Challenger 270
Ford is one of the most reliable and trusted brands in our industry. This 20 passengers’ wheelchair-accessible van for sale comes with a 6.8L V10 engine with an automatic transmission system. At a price of $107,800 (negotiable) this bus is equipped with electric doors, a 55 Gallon Fuel tank, all-LED exterior lighting, AM/FM/CD Radio Package with 4 Speakers, REI Backup Camera with 7″ Monitor, and much more, which are all justified by its price.

Not all of the available vans can be converted to wheelchair accessible vans. Primarily you must select the correct model for which the conversion is possible. Talking about lifts, the capital cost of a lift ranges from $1,000 to $15,000. Installation of some of these lifts requires too much effort and is difficult. If you don’t have much experience, it is best advised to hire a professional mechanic or installation service to put the lift in your vehicle. Altogether, the costs for making a customized wheelchair accessible van are remarkably high. All these factors make the wheelchair vans slightly expensive as compared to regular vans.

The lifts to be installed onto the vehicles must be designed for a maximum load of 600 pounds. The passenger along with the wheelchair must have a combined weight of lesser than 600 pounds. In special cases, the maximum design load can be increased as per the requirements.

In today’s date, with advanced technology, it is observed that a large chunk of users switched to electric wheelchairs. As per ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), an electric wheelchair is considered as an assistive device for especially abled people. For it to be an assistive device, these wheelchairs must have three or more wheels with dimensions not exceeding 30 inches by 48 inches. If the stated conditions are met, electric wheelchairs can be loaded on buses and vans.

When looking to buy a vehicle it is important to know all the features that the vehicle has to offer to you. The impact of a rear entry or a side entry on the passenger as well as on the bus/van has to be known before buying the vehicle. Here are some key features of each type in brief.

1. Rear Entry Vehicle:
A Rear entrance would offer a larger interior space as compared to the side-entrance. With the rear entrance, you would be able to park your Van/Bus in normal parking zones where NO extra side space would be required. The rear entrance with ramps is usually of lower angles, which helps in an easier entrance for the passenger. For a rear-entry vehicle, the wheelchair passenger would not be able to get to the front seat position. Having said this, if you are looking for budget-friendly options, the rear-entrance vehicles are usually less expensive as compared to the other ones.

2. Side Entry Vehicle:
From the passenger perspective, side-entrance vans offer the best seating options. The passenger would be able to seat in the front positions. It is also easier and convenient for the wheelchair passenger to get in or out of the bus in the side-entrance as compared to the rear entrance. However, you would need a special handicapped parking space to park the vehicle as it would require some space sideways. For a bus service provider, it would be preferred to own a side entry vehicle, as the driver would have better access to the entrance and the passenger would not have to move to the rear side of the vehicle by going into the traffic area making it unsafe for the wheelchair passenger.

The lifts are generally hydraulically operated with a manual backup system in case of system failure.

When a wheelchair passenger arrives, the driver of the bus switches ‘ON’ the power to the lift. Using the remote the lift is brought down to the ground level until it completely rests on the floor.

(NOTE: It is generally advised to use the lifts for loading/unloading on Level Surfaces).

The passenger on the wheelchair is then guided to the platform of the lift. After the wheelchair brakes are engaged, the lift is moved up until it reaches the floor level of the bus. Once the passenger gets into the bus, the lift is then folded back to its compact position and the power to the lift is turned ‘OFF’. A similar procedure is followed for the departure of the passenger. If the lift cannot be used using the remote, there is an option of operating the lift manually using levers. This ensures that the passenger does not have to compromise with anything and his/her journey remains stress-free and relaxed.

While planning to convert your vehicle into a wheelchair accessible, there are many variable costs that need to be taken into account. There are a variety of wheelchairs available in the market ranging from $1,000 onwards. Simple lifts may cost up to $3,500 while lifts with the completely automated system may hike up the prices as high as $15,000. Factors like reliability, durability, comfort, and ease of operating plays a major role in this range. The next step after buying the lift would be installing the system securely onto the vehicle. Depending on your requirements, the lift may be installed on the side/rear of the vehicle. The installation charges would vary, depending on the company and your model. Other variables that can be added to buses customized for Handicap include manual/hydraulic ramp, removable seating, and remotely operable system. It is advised to consult a sales expert to help you decide the most cost-efficient solution which would have all the features that you wish to keep in your vehicle to have a valuable experience.

In case of power failure, the lift would fail to satisfy the requirements for which it was designed. To avoid such situations, lifts are equipped with a manual operating system that can work in any situation. These systems can be operated manually using levers that are installed along with the automated system. The driver needs to have the basic knowledge of working with the manual system in the case of system failure.

As per the regulations laid down by ADA, the lift platform must be able to accommodate a wheelchair measuring 30 inches by 48 inches. However, if the operator procures a lift that can accommodate a wheelchair exceeding the minimum dimensions the operator must accommodate the wheelchair and the passenger.

At first, you might find this question frivolous. But while planning to buy a bus or a van, some factors are to be taken into consideration that might affect your routine. If you are a tourist company or a Bus service provider, you would want to make sure that your vehicle is equipped with all the necessary parts that are required to carry wheelchair passengers. Consider a case where the expected number of passengers is 20-25, you must opt for minibus/vans and not for buses with a passenger capacity of 50. If you want your vehicle to remain budget-friendly you might want to opt for an automatic/manual ramp system rather than going for more expensive lifts. Factors like the size of the entrance door for wheelchair in the bus or van also needs to be taken into consideration. The door might be kept on the sides or at the rear of the bus, whichever is more suitable. Keeping the entrance for the wheelchair at the sides would be more feasible in the case of a bus service provider as it would be more accessible for the driver who would be dealing with the situation. To summarize this, here are the factors that you would want to consider before buying a wheelchair accessible bus/van:

The number of passengers, Entrance door for a wheelchair passenger, dimensions of the wheelchair, buying a new/old bus or van, etc.

All the buses and vans in our paratransit option are ADA compliant. These buses and vans have a two-part securement system, one which secures the wheelchair and another is a seatbelt and shoulder harness for the wheelchair passenger. While the wheelchair would be secured to the main chassis, wearing a seatbelt and/or shoulder harness depends on the passenger whether he/she wants to wear it or not.

Depending upon the model of the bus, the number of wheelchair passengers may vary from 1-6. Generally, it has been observed that the van has a maximum capacity of 3 passengers in rear-entrance models. In side-entrance models, it is commonly found that there are 2 seats for wheelchair passengers. For large buses, a maximum of 6 wheelchair passengers can be accommodated on the bus.