A wheelchair van is converted van that has been supplied with the accessories that a person in a wheelchair needs to get around. They come in a rear entry version with a ramp out the back or a side entry version with a lift. Rear entry vans work well for those who will be riding in the van, but won’t be driving it. On the other hand, side entry vans work very well for those who will be driving themselves.

A rear entry van will have a ramp that is counter-balanced and loaded with magnetic anti-rattle provisions. This makes the ramp safer and less noisy during travel. Often these ramps are manual and fold up, but some can be found with electronic or hydraulic ramps.

Your wheelchair van will be fitted with a number of features for safety, comfort and convenience. Your van will have either a lowered floor or a raised roof. This gives more head space and makes it easier for the person in the wheelchair. The floor will be of a durable steel supported fiberglass and will have an anti-slip surface for easy and safe maneuvering. Customizable features include the ability to have two wheelchairs in the van or even a wheelchair and a mobility scooter. You can choose where and how you would like safety features such as four or five point tie downs for the wheelchairs and how you would like the seat belts to be arranged. Additionally your van can be equipped with total hand controls, 6-way power seat in driver position, and even outside entry controls. Vans can even be fitted with easily accessible storage for those needing to carry items along with them.

Wheelchair vans come in a wide variety of manufacturers, price ranges and styles. You can find many dealers who buy and sell these types of vans at a reasonable price and often the first step is to visit with them. You may be able to get a wheelchair van in the form of a Ford Winstar, Ford Freestar, Ford Mercury Monterey, Dodge Grand Caravan, or even options for Chevrolet, GM, Plymouth, Honda, and Toyota.

Buying a wheelchair van is an important decision. You need to consider how you will be using it and the features that you need. You should also consider how much money you can spend and where you will go to get the van. It is always a good idea to talk to the dealer about your needs with the hopes that they can help you get a van that will meet those needs and make your life easier and more efficient.

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Are you thinking about building a wheelchair ramps in your house? If so, there are some important considerations to take into account when planning the ramp for your wheelchair. First of all, the ramp cannot be too steep, so you will need to plan the space carefully. For this reason, many people end up building a wrap around ramp that will allow them to use their space more productively. In addition to space considerations, you need to think about safety issues to when building your chair ramp. For example, you should install railings along the ramp in case of an emergency. If the traction failed on your ramp, or if your wheelchair suddenly went out of control, then with ramp railings, you would have something to grab onto.

One of the great features of a van lift for an electronic or manual wheelchair is that some of them can be remotely operated. For example, if you need to get into the van, but your wife has the remote, she can simply press a button on the remote, and then go about doing her tasks while the lift is pulling your wheelchair up into the van. These models will also allow you to operate the wheel chair lift manually in case the power goes out, or you experience some other type of emergency.

If your wheelchair ramp will be outdoors, you will have to make some special preparations as well. First, you should build the ramp keeping traction in mind. If it rains or snows, your wheelchair will need to be able to adhere to the wheel chaired ramp. Secondly, the ramp for your chair should be sturdy enough that the elements won’t deteriorate it.

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Portable ramps are generally compact and can be stored easily. Most of them are made of lightweight Aluminum materials. Aluminum is strong and at the same time possesses extreme tensile strength. Some ramps manufactured for domestic use and made of aluminum have a whooping 700 pound carrying capacity.

The important qualities to look for while shopping for a portable ramp is how long it are: 1) How compact it is while packed and 2) What is the maximum weight it can withstand. Wheelchair ramps come in various sizes. It is important to know where you would be using the ramp, and whether anyone would be available to help you, in order to select a suitable ramp size. Portable ramps can be from 6 feet to 12 feet. Make sure that the width of the ramp easily accommodates your wheelchair. Depending on the size of the ramp and the manufacturer the price of these ramps could vary between $250 to $800.

While using the ramp always makes sure it is attached securely on both the ends. You could get hurt or maybe damage the wheelchair if the ramp slips while using it. Special care has to taken if the surrounding ground is wet or if it has rained.

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The Americans with Disabilities Act sets strict standards for building ramps, so make sure that you install yours correctly. Before you begin construction, it is recommended you check with your local building department on this issue for your state’s accessibility regulations. This article describes the basic guidelines and measurement requirements for building ramps.

Single-family residences have no ramp width dimensional requirements but a minimum of 36″ of width (unobstructed by hand rails or ramp edging) is recommended. Level landings are needed at both the top and the bottom of the ramp. In addition, a 60″ long landing is needed after every 30″ elevation change. Landings need to be at least the same width as the ramp. If the ramp changes direction at a landing, the minimum landing size is 60″ x 60″.

Guardrails need to be mounted along both sides of the ramp, and handrails are to be mounted to the inside. The top of the handrail (gripping surface) must be between 34″ and 38″ above the ramp surface so as to be the correct height for grasping. A handrail needs a clear space of 1 1/2″ from it and the surface to which it is mounted. Use 2″ x 6″ decking boards and install the short way (the width of the ramp, 36″ or 48″) to provide better traction for wheelchair tires, and install a non-slip surface. The maximum slope of a ramp in new construction is 1:12, but a slope of 1:16 or 1:20 may be easier for a wheelchair user to navigate. A slope of 1:12 means that for every 12″ length of ramp, the ramp will rise 1″.

Building Materials for Your Wheelchair Ramp

Construct the ramp with pressure treated lumber to prevent the wood from rotting. Make sure you purchase the posts that are rated for burial in the ground. Before you start building, be sure to check your local codes for requirements, you might need to apply for a building permit in your area. The transition at the point where a concrete walk or drive meets the ramp should be smooth and level with the landing. The landing should be at least as wide as the ramp, and the length should be a minimum of 60″.

On an exterior door (door swings to the interior) and/or slider, the landing immediately outside should be level and clear of any obstacles. Depending on how a wheelchair approaches the door, the landing requires a maneuvering clearance in front and/or to the side of the entrance. The entrance itself requires a minimum net opening (width) of 32″ for the wheelchair to pass through. A wheelchair can approach a door or slider straight on, from the hinge and/or slider side, or from the latch side. Each of these approaches requires a minimum landing size:

Straight-on approaches: Both door and slider requires a minimum 32″ width net opening by a minimum 42″ in depth (measuring out from the exterior wall).

Hinge and/or slide side approach: Both doors require a 54″ (minimum) width with the measurement starting from the latch side and measuring back toward the hinge and/or slide side and have a depth of 42″ minimum.

Latch side approach: Both doors require a minimum 32″ width net opening plus 24″, with the measurement starting from the hinge and/or slide side and measuring back toward the latch side, and have a depth of 42″ minimum. Keep in mind the barrier of the threshold for the exterior slider should not exceed 3/4″ in height. For all other types of doors, it should not exceed 1/2″ in height.

In addition to using quality lumber, also consider concrete-setting your posts, installing non-slip decking treads every few feet for added traction in wet weather, and keeping an eye on the hardware and trimming you use which will contribute greatly to the overall attractiveness of the finished product.

If you paint or stain the wood to match your house’s siding or trim, a newly built wheelchair ramp can be an attractive, useful addition to your home and your neighborhood.

As you can see, planning out the route and design of the wheelchair ramp is the most important element in its construction. Using high quality plans will ensure that you are pleased with the eventual look an functionality of the ramp. High quality materials will mean that it will be safe and attractive for years to come.

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If you are building a ramp for a manual wheeled chair, you should not make the rise more than 1 inch for every 12 inches of length. Otherwise, the incline would be so steep that it would be difficult to manage the chair and it may careen out of control. On the other hand, if you plan to build a ramp for an electric wheelchair, you should make the rise 1 ½ inches for every 12 inches of length.

The absolute minimum width for your wheelchair ramp should be 36 inches. But, when drawing up your plans for the ramp, you should try to make it 48 inches if you have the room. In addition to these widths, your plan for the wheeled chair ramp should include at least 2 inches of a lip to keep the chair on wheels from slipping off of the edge.

In your ramp plans, be sure to fashion the end of the ramp (where it meets the ground) so that the wheel chair will be able to go over it smoothly. You don’t want the scooter to bump and jar the person in the electronic chair needlessly.

Finally, at the top of the ramp, there should be a landing that will allow the person in the wheelchair to plan for getting in and out of the wheelchair, or maneuvering it. This platform should be at least 5 feet by 5 feet. Be sure to think of this area in your wheelchair ramp plan as separate and not part of the overall width and length measurements.

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The first is a platform wheelchair van ramp, and it is the most common. In this type of van ramp, a frame is attached to either the inside or the outside of the van, and it moves in or out as you need to move your wheel chair on the van ramp. The only drawback to this type of van ramp is that, unless you purchase one of the specially designed models, the entrance to the van will be blocked by the wheeled chair van ramp.

The second option is an under vehicle lift. With this type of van ramp, the frame is mounted underneath the van, and slides out when it is activated. Then, after the wheeled chair is on it, it rises to the level of the van, and the wheelchair can then be geared toward the interior. With this type of wheelchair van ramp, the entrance to the passenger door is not blocked.

The third type of van wheelchair ramp is a rotary swing. This van ramp for wheeled chairs is mounted on the floor of the van, and that can make it difficult to move around freely inside of the van. To operate it, you position your wheel chair on the van ramp, and then, once activated, it swings around toward either the interior or exterior.

The last type of van ramp for chairs with wheels is not a platform at all. Instead, this type of van ramp for wheelchairs is a hoist that, when in use, attaches to the frame of the wheeled chair and then lifts it either to the ground, or brings it inside of the van.

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