Lisa Franks thought her athletic career was over when a spinal cord injury left her in a wheelchair at 14 years old. But Paralympians visited her and showed her she could find new ways to pursue her passions. She went on to compete in three Paralympic Games and earn seven medals. A later shoulder injury required multiple surgeries and sidelined her for years—and that’s when she discovered car camping.
The camping experience led Lisa to order a Ford Transit and create a fully wheelchair-accessible home on wheels. She can navigate the entire van independently, including loading her mountain bike and surfboard using the adaptive systems she designed into the build.
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Three-Time Paralympian’s Custom Van Home
Images via Tiny Home Tours
Stealth Exterior Hides Adaptive Interior
Images via Tiny Home Tours
Slide-Out Induction Cooktop Under Counter
Images via Tiny Home Tours
Hydraulic Lift System for Bed Access
Images via Tiny Home Tours
Video Tour: Paralympian’s Wheelchair Accessible Van
Design Details
- Owner: Lisa Franks
- Background: Three-time Paralympian, seven medals
- Vehicle: Ford Transit high-roof
- Wheelchair Entry: Slim-profile wheelchair lift
- Interior Clearance: Space to rotate wheelchair
- Bed Access: Hydraulic lift system
- Bench/Toilet: Lifts up to access bed
- Bed Storage: Hydraulic lifts for gear underneath
- Kitchen: Induction cooktop slides out from under counter
- Upper Cabinets: Pull-down cubbies for wheelchair-height access
- Gear Carried: Mountain bike, surfboard
- Original Plan: Weekender rig, converted to full-time
- Independence: Can navigate entire van solo
Lessons from This Build
- Hydraulics Enable Independence: Lisa’s hydraulic bed lift allows her to transfer from wheelchair to bed without assistance, making solo van life possible
- Slide-Out Features Improve Wheelchair Access: The induction cooktop that slides out from under the counter brings cooking to a usable height rather than requiring reaching up
- Pull-Down Storage Solves Upper Cabinet Access: Standard upper cabinets are unreachable from a wheelchair, but pull-down cubbies bring contents to accessible heights
- Stealth Exteriors Work for Adaptive Vans: From outside, Lisa’s van looks like any other Transit, providing safety and flexibility while hiding the specialized interior
- Adventure Gear Can Still Travel: With the bed on hydraulic lifts, Lisa stores her mountain bike and surfboard underneath, proving wheelchair users don’t have to give up active hobbies
Learn More
Related Stories
- Stealth Wheelchair-Access Cargo Camper with Lift Bed
- Wheelchair Accessible Van Life: Ram ProMaster with Lift
- Paralympian Kayaker’s DIY Truck Camper
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Alex
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