If you have been browsing the net looking for some useful tips for buying wheelchair accessible trucks, you have come to just the right place. Wheelchair trucks, also known as handicap trucks or handicap accessible trucks are a... You have many options when choosing wheelchair ramps for your home. Our buying guide helps you explore your choices, helping you make a confident decision for the mobility and safety of your loved ones.Questions to Consider When Buying a Wheelchair RampWhere and when will you need a wheelchair ramp?Before you shop for a wheelchair ramp, think about all the spaces in your home that have steps, raised thresholds or other barriers that you’ll need a ramp to cross. Common areas where ramps are needed include:Steps leading to front or back entry doorsSteps from your garage into your homeDoors with raised thresholds or lips, such as exterior doorsThe threshold between the floor and the shower in your bathroomVehicle thresholds, like vans or SUVsHow long does your ramp need to be?
The length of the stairs and the vertical height the ramp needs to ascend will determine the type of ramp you need. Also consult the guidelines in wheelchair or scooter manuals. The ramp length that you’ll need can be easily calculated with a few simple measurements.1-Inch Rise: 12-Inch Run (4.8 degrees): The number of inches in total vertical height = the number of feet in length you need. For example, two 5-inch-high steps would account for 10 inches in total vertical height and would therefore require a 10-foot-long ramp. 1:12 is recommended for easy and safe maneuverability. 2-Inch Rise: 12-Inch Run (9.5 degrees): Calculate by dividing the total vertical height in inches by 2. A 2-inch:12-inch run is the maximum recommended for any ramp installation, including portable ramps used by occupied wheelchairs and scooters.3-Inch Rise: 12-Inch Run (14.5 degrees): Calculate by dividing the total vertical height in inches by 3. This is the steepest incline a ramp should have and should never be used by occupied wheelchairs and scooters.
How wide does your ramp need to be?To determine the ramp width you need, consider the following:How wide is the wheelbase on your wheelchair or scooter? It's important to make sure your chair can safely cross the ramp surface with some margin for safety on either side.If using a ramp to get in and out of a vehicle, consider the width of the door opening on your vehicle. Depending on the ramp you purchase, you'll need 30 inches or more for a door opening. Choosing Your Wheelchair RampNow that you know how to figure out the ramp length and width you need, there are several types of ramps you can consider to meet your needs.Shower RampsShower ramps are small, short surfaces that blend in with the flooring in your bathroom. They're meant to eliminate the small barrier that exists at the front of walk-in showers.Doorway and Threshold RampsDoorway ramps cross a couple of steps. Solid ramps and panel ramps are the two most common types of doorway ramps. Before purchasing a doorway ramp, calculate the length you need.
If your required length is longer than standard doorway ramps, consider an exterior access ramp.Threshold ramps are the most common type of ramp needed inside and outside the home, as raised thresholds, usually ½ inch or 1 inch high, are common at many doors. These ramps are very short, designed to facilitate a very small rise, portable and light. Consider locating threshold ramps permanently at any doors with raised thresholds.Portable and Automotive RampsPortable ramps assist in entering and exiting a vehicle or to use in the home occasionally. These ramps usually fold up like suitcases for easy carrying, although there are some shorter ramps that are solid surfaces. When purchasing a portable ramp, consider the total weight of the ramp to ensure safety in transport.Exterior Access RampsYou may need a ramp length beyond what's offered for getting through front and back doors. When this is the case, consider a home access ramp with customizable length. There are two main types of exterior access ramps:Custom wood ramps are built from quality lumber and building materials.
These ramps match your home style or coordinate with an existing deck or porch. Custom wood ramps are advanced projects, best suited for someone with advanced building skills or a professional.Aluminum modular ramps are made from durable aluminum and bought in sections to create the length and path you need. You can buy straight sections in various lengths as well as platforms on which to make left, right or U-turns. While not as complex as building and installing a custom wood ramp, this is still a job for someone with proven building skills who can ensure the safety and stability of the ramp.Custom access ramps include mixed materials of custom wood and aluminum modular ramps. These systems feature an aluminum modular support structure that's outfitted with your choice of off-the-shelf decking and railing products to create a one-of-a-kind look. This type of ramp requires the same level of skill needed to install an aluminum modular ramp, but matches any home style, like a custom wood ramp.
When choosing an exterior access ramp, refer to local building codes. Also consult the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessibility or visit ADA.gov.Shop Mobility Improvements Used American car buyers hold onto their vehicles for an average of 5.3 years, and once upgrade time rolls around, our customers often ask us how much their used wheelchair van is worth. Unlike an average consumer car, evaluating handicap vans is tricky. The evaluation must be done in-person because there is no mobility equipment version of Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds to guide us. Instead, we rely on tried and true evaluation measurements and then compare the results against the current marketplace. Because resale or trade-in value varies so heavily, we won’t be performing any estimate magic in this post. Instead, we’re diving into how savvy owners can protect their wheelchair van’s value—whether you’re selling to a mobility dealer like VMI or private party—and tips for who to contact in each step.
Maintaining a wheelchair van is very similar to proper maintenance of a normal van or car, but with a few caveats. The biggest factors are: Taking care of your van’s exterior only requires standard car care. Doing the following keeps your van looking great: Maintaining your wheelchair van’s interior follows many of the same tasks, which is great because you can tackle both for a cleaning day. Do the following to keep your van’s interior looking excellent: Making sure your wheelchair accessible van is in excellent mechanical condition is trickier and more expensive than maintenance costs on a normal vehicle. However, those challenges and costs can be offset by taking your van to a mobility dealer. Most mobility dealers, such as dealers in VMI’s network, have a team of highly-trained mechanics who specialize in handicap van conversions and maintenance, and they can perform the proper maintenance at lower costs than a neighborhood mechanic. Depending on how heavily you use the van and its handicap ramp or lift, you’ll want to schedule maintenance and a tune-up about every four to six months.
It’s particularly important to get a full inspection before winter starts to ensure your sliding door, ramp and kneel systems function optimally. Otherwise, your van’s mechanical condition depends largely on how you drive. Here are a few driving tips to keep in mind to prolong the life of your van: If you’re performing maintenance on a regular schedule, then it’s a good idea to also save your receipts to show future buyers that the vehicle has been well maintained. As we mentioned earlier, the value of your wheelchair van depends on the marketplace. To get the best idea of what similar wheelchair vans are being sold for, visit or call your local VMI dealer. Your dealer can estimate the value of the wheelchair van because their business is based around selling wheelchair vans. They are your best resource for an accurate evaluation. As a bonus, the local dealer may also be interested in buying your wheelchair van. Because the handicap van is such a small market, it’s often much easier to sell to a local dealer than to a private party.