Mobility Info - USA
Wheelchair Lifts & Ramps
There are a number of ways to load an unoccupied wheelchair or scooter into a vehicle. If the user is capable of transferring into the car, either independently or with assistance, then a wheelchair ramp is one of the simplest and cheapest options, but for heavier or bulkier wheelchairs it might be worth considering a wheelchair platform lift or hoist lift. For people who cannot easily transfer from a wheelchair, a wheelchair accessible vehicle is likely to be the best option.
The suitability of the various types of platform lift and hoist lift is very much dependent on the abilities and needs of the user. The size and weight of the wheelchair/scooter as well as the size and type of vehicle will also dictate which solutions are most convenient.
Platform lifts typically consist of a frame mounted inside or outside the vehicle that raises and lowers a platform for loading and unloading the wheelchair. They are usually operated with a wired or wireless remote control. Straps or belts secure the chair safely during transit. When not in use, the frame and platform rest in an upright position. For this reason, they tend to be installed in larger people carriers and vans, at the side door so as not to block the driver’s rear view.
Other platform lifts can be installed at the rear or side of the vehicle; these are located under the vehicle in a metal enclosure for protection. When required, the platform slides out automatically and lowers to ground level to accommodate the wheelchair, then returns to vehicle floor level so the chair can be pushed or pulled inside. The advantage of this type is that no space is taken up by the platform inside the vehicle and there is nothing to impede the driver’s rear view.
Rotary platform lifts consist of a platform attached to a vertical post located by the side or rear door. The platform swings out and lowers to the ground to take the wheelchair; likewise, the platform rises and swings in to stow the chair inside the vehicle. When not in use, the platform rests on the vehicle floor, so it will take up space. However, an advantage of this type of lift is that the wheelchair can stay on the platform throughout the process of transportation, provided it has been secured.
Platform lifts typically cost around £2000 including fitting and the maximum weight they can lift is usually in the region of 120 to 160kg. If you are considering a platform lift, make sure there is enough room in the vehicle for the wheelchair/scooter and the platform mechanism, especially if the chair cannot be folded. Because of this consideration, platform lifts tend to be suited to larger vehicles.
While platform lifts are ideal for loading heavier, bulkier chairs and scooters, an alternative is to employ a wheelchair hoist lift. These are essentially small cranes with an arm that is attached to the wheelchair frame, in order to load it into the boot. Hoists are especially suited to manual, folding wheelchairs because many require the chair to be folded or dismantled first; for some hoists, this will only be necessary if the vehicle is short on space or if the wheelchair is large. Although many hoists are designed with lighter wheelchairs in mind, there are hoists that can cope with quite heavy equipment.
The hoist arm is hooked onto the wheelchair by the user. Some hoists feature open hooks while others have closed hooks that fasten around the chair’s frame. A remote control or a control pad attached to the hoist’s arm or base unit lifts the mobility apparatus up to a level where it can be transferred inside the vehicle. To achieve this, some hoists go in and out as well as up and down (4-way as opposed to 2-way hoists).
Vehicle hoists should be installed by specialist vehicle adaptation firms. They can often adapt the equipment to suit, for example by fixing the hoist on the left or right side of the boot, depending on which is most convenient. Hoist arms can be padded to lessen the chance of accidental injury. When not in use, the hoist arm can sometimes be unhooked or anchored down inside the vehicle. During normal use, a locking pin keeps the mechanism secure. A wide range of rear hoists is available; the smallest can lift 25kg whereas some of the larger ones can cope with a weight of up to 200kg.
For people who are just about able to manage the transfer from a wheelchair to a car seat but do not have the walking, standing or lifting ability to move around the vehicle and use a conventional rear hoist unaided, a rooftop hoist might be worth considering. This equipment takes the wheelchair from the ground by the passenger or driver door and automatically stows it in a container on the vehicle’s roof. Folding wheelchairs are most suitable for a rooftop hoist – indeed, some models will automatically fold the chair too.
To operate a rooftop hoist, it is simply a question of lowering the mechanism with a switch from the comfort of the car seat. The wheelchair is usually hooked on by hand, but the hoist does the rest for you, lifting the chair onto the roof and storing it in a box or on a rack. Some types of rooftop hoist can pick up from both sides of the vehicle, which is handy if the wheelchair user is sometimes the driver and sometimes the passenger. Other makes have the option of being fitted either on the driver’s or passenger’s side. Rooftop hoists also have the advantage of freeing up space inside the vehicle for other uses.
If your vehicle is unsuitable for carrying a wheelchair on the roof but you are unable to use a conventional rear hoist, there are other options. The Cowal Robot 200 and the KC Robostore, for example, will take a wheelchair from beside the driver’s door and load it into the boot unassisted. The boot opens automatically and the hoist’s robot arm brings a cradle round the side of the vehicle to within the driver’s reach. Once the chair has been put on this cradle, the arm moves the wheelchair back round and into the boot, whereupon the boot closes. Not surprisingly, this apparatus is quite sophisticated and the robotic movement can be programmed to suit the individual vehicle. Other hoists, operated using a hand-held controller, load the wheelchair into the rear seat space via a sliding rear door.
Expect to pay from £2,000 to £5,000+, including fitting, for the more advanced hoist solutions.
Considerations Before Purchase
- Consider the space needed around the vehicle to use the various platforms and hoist lifts comfortably. Platform lifts require about 8 feet of space behind or beside the vehicle, though hoist lifts probably need about half that. Think where the equipment will be used - whether in a garage, a driveway or on the street – because this will have a bearing on which solution will be preferable.
- Give thought to the size of your vehicle. Will the platform or hoist fit? Will installation entail the removal of seats or will it interfere with other passengers’ requirements? If you opt for a rooftop hoist, will your vehicle support the weight of the hoist and chair? Check with the manufacturer first.
- Assess the weight and bulk of your wheelchair or scooter. Does it fold or dismantle? Will it fit inside your vehicle along with the lifting equipment? Is its weight within the range that a particular lifting solution can deal with?
- Last but not least, are you able to use the platform or hoist easily? Think about your own strength and dexterity and whether you will be using the equipment unaided or with someone else’s assistance.
Vehicle Wheelchair Ramp
The task of loading a wheelchair into a vehicle can be accomplished in several ways. Some wheelchair users, especially those who use a light manual wheelchair, may be able to load the wheelchair unaided, provided they have some walking and lifting capability and a suitable vehicle. Otherwise, a helper or carer can assist. However, for large and heavy wheelchairs and scooters a vehicle ramp may be needed.
A portable ramp hooks onto the back, or sometimes the side, of the vehicle in order to load the wheelchair or scooter. The chair can either be pushed up the ramp or guided up under its own power, if it is a power chair. The ramp itself is then stored in the vehicle with the chair during transit, so the vehicle needs to be big enough to accommodate both chair and ramp.
Ramps are usually made of aluminium or steel with a non-slip surface. Side edges keep the wheelchair in line and prevent it from rolling off. For chairs whose front and back wheels are in line, two ramps, one for each side, are the ideal option, provided there is enough width to allow the wheels or castors to turn freely. Single, wide ramps should be considered for scooters and for wheelchairs without a straightforward wheel configuration.
Most vehicle ramps typically measure between five and eight feet in length, though some ramps are telescopic so their length can be adjusted. Some can be folded in half for ease of transport or have carrying handles so that a helper can easily move them. Ramps that allow side access to a vehicle can often be folded up vertically so they take up little space and do not impede the driver’s rear view.
Ramps must be secure before they are used and for this reason some comprise pins that slot into holes in the floor of the vehicle. The side guards should be sufficiently high to stop the wheelchair or scooter from falling off but not so high as to impede the lower or protruding elements of the equipment. A ramp gradient of up to 1 in 3 is acceptable if the apparatus is simply being used to load and unload an unmanned wheelchair/scooter, although a lesser gradient will obviously not entail the same degree of effort.
Basic ramps commonly start from around £100 upwards, with more sophisticated ramps costing considerably more.
