Wheelchair Vehicle Lift

There is no denying the value of a wheelchair vehicle lift for anyone who might have mobility challenges.

If you plan on going to the shopping center or just want to get outside and spend some time in the park, unloading your wheelchair is simple. And that makes these excursions much more enjoyable. All to often someone in a wheelchair choses not to leave the house simply because it's a struggle to get the chair in and out of the car, truck or van. So it's easy to see why lifts are commonly installed in many vehicles.

Of course with the increase in the popularity of the wheelchair vehicle lift comes and increase in choices for the buyer. So you'll want to know as much as possible prior to making your selection.

We'll narrow the selection down to two primary choices. The internal vehicle wheelchair lift is stored inside the car and you'll typically find it in the rear. This type if lift is permanant. There are few advantages to this. The primary one is you don't have to worry about your chair being exposed to the elements. It won't get dusty or wet as it would if it were stored outside. But before you get this type of lift, it's important to look carefully at the space inside. You'll need plenty of it and that's why this type of lift is generally found on larger vehicles like vans or SUV's.

An external lift on the other hand is attached to the outside of the vehicle, usually in the back. If you have a sedan or a medium sized car this is the choice for you. But for this to be feasible you'll need a relatively lightweight chair. If you chair is mechanized or very heavy, the weight will be too much for the lift and can even place too much stress on the car's frame. These lifts are best if you are only going to be traveling short distances.

Those are the two main choices, but of course there are many variations on those such as how the lift is used and operated. Some are powered electrically by using the car battery. They will lift the wheelchair simply by pressing a button. Other lifts are operated manually. They'll cost less since you don't have to pay for someone to wire them into the car's electrical system.

Once you figure out what you need, then selecting a lift is easy. Just know how heavy your chair is and how far you typically travel. Once you know this you can decide on an internal or external wheelchair vehicle lift, then make sure it is completely compatible with your car.