Handicap Vans and Keeping Gas Costs Down

Gas costs are all over the news right now. With the prices of gasoline so high, a wheelchair van may seem like an expensive investment. These vans, however, get good mileage; comparable with the vehicles that they're converted from. You can make sure you get the most mileage out of your wheelchair accessible van by adhering to some basic driving tips.

Stop and Go

Handicap vans can take off and slow down as well as any of the other vehicles on the road. If you want to save gas, however, make sure that you do both smoothly. When you floor the vehicle to take off, you'd be surprised to see how much gas you actually burn. When you slow down to smooth stops, it tends to help reduce wear on the breaks, which means that you'll be able to lessen the cost of changing and servicing them.

Servicing

Make sure you bring your vehicle to a full service provider when you have it looked at. This means the dealership must be able to take care of the vehicle's regular components as well as the parts of the vehicle that are specifically related to accessibility.

Where regular service is concerned, simple things like keeping the vehicle lubricated and getting the oil changed go a long way toward giving you the best gas mileage. Make sure that you keep good tires on the vehicle, as well, and that they're properly inflated. These little things add up and, if you have a full-sized van or pickup, they can make your mileage much better than you might expect for such a vehicle.

A handicap accessible van can be a very efficient vehicle, provided that you maintain it correctly and drive sensibly when you take it out on the roads.

Getting a Wheelchair Van Ready for Outdoor Activities

If you're planning to take your wheelchair accessible van on outdoor adventures this year, you'll want to make sure that you're ready for them. Before you head out, it's a good idea to take handicap vans to the dealer to make sure that everything is in good condition.

The Lift System

A wheelchair van has to be checked to make sure that the lift system is operating safely. This should be done at regular intervals; your dealer can recommend a schedule. This is to ensure that the lift doesn't need adjustment and that all the components are clean and lubricated properly. If you're going to head off somewhere where the terrain might be a bit challenging, you'll want to make sure that this equipment is working properly before you head off so that you avoid any problems.

Tires

If the summer travel bug has hit you, it's a good excuse to get your tires checked. A handicap van with rotated, balanced tires that are in good shape is safer and drives very well. When the tires start to get worn or out of balance, they'll start taking bigger chunks out of your wallet for gas and they present some real hazards. Have your dealer take a look to make sure that everything's okay.

If you have other equipment in your vehicle, such as extra power hookups for equipment and so forth, make sure that this is all functioning so you have all your comforts when you're out adventuring.

Just to be safe, make sure you carry spare water, radiator fluid, a spare tire and other emergency supplies in your van when you head out on the road. Vans are tough and reliable, but it's always best to be prepared for situations where you end up having mechanical issues or where a road proves too challenging.