Category Archives: Ramps and lifts

Ramp and lift controls for wheelchair van and vehicle users in New England, Boston MA

WIN a Brand New 2015 Toyota Sienna VMI Northstar Access 360 Wheelchair Van!

VMI’s Star Spangled Salute
The 2nd Annual Operation Independence Star Spangled Salute Veteran Contest has now been launched by VMI (Vantage Mobility International) alongside Toyota Motor Sales USA. Enter for your chance to win a brand new 2015 Toyota Sienna with a VMI Access 360 in-floor ramp conversion system.

Eligibility
Only U.S. disabled veterans are eligible to win the free mobility van. If you are a disabled veteran or would like to enter the contest on a veteran’s behalf, simply fill out the form. Only one-entry per household.

Contest Details

Registrar to win a 2015 Toyota VMI Wheelchair Van
Entries must be submitted by 11/09/14
Winner announced Veterans Day, 11/11/14

Important Dates

04/02/2014 – VMI will begin accepting The Star Spangled Salute entries
11/09/2014 – The Star Spangled Salute Entries End
11/11/2014 – VMI will draw and announce The Star Spangled Salute on Veterans Day
12/31/2014 – The Star Spangled Salute Winner MUST claim prize before December 31, 2014

Terms and Conditions:
The 2014 Operation Independence Star Spangled Salute campaign is valid from April 2, 2014 to November 9, 2014 for all Disabled U.S. Veterans.

Winner will be randomly drawn and announced on November 11, 2014 and must show proof of military service. Winner will receive any 2015 Toyota Sienna with the VMI Northstar Conversion; no exceptions will be made.

No purchase necessary. Valid in the United States only. Limit one entry per household. Entries may be made at www.vans4vets.com or by calling 800-488-6148.

If the winner already purchased their Toyota VMI Northstar conversion between April 2, 2014 and November 10, 2014 – they can elect to be reimbursed for their out of pocket cost of the wheelchair accessible Toyota VMI Northstar minivan by December 31, 2014. Reimbursement will be coordinated between VMI and the winner directly if the vehicle was purchased prior to the winner being announced.

Campaign is not valid on any added accessories. Winner is responsible for the payment of applicable taxes and registration fees. Prize must be claimed by December 31, 2014 and is non-transferable. No exceptions will be made.

The Importance of Servicing Your Wheelchair Van and Adaptive Equipment

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The Importance of Servicing Your Wheelchair Van and Adaptive Equipment
Owning any type of vehicle means that you have to commit to regular service and maintenance to keep it in good condition. Owning a wheelchair van and adaptive equipment is no different – you still need regular service to keep everything operating the way it should. However, it comes with some additional caveats – you can’t just go to any service center and ensure that you’re maintaining your wheelchair van or mobility equipment correctly.

Here at our Mobility Center, not only do we understand the importance of maintaining your mobility vehicle and adaptive equipment, but we take the needed steps to ensure that everything is always in top condition. No other mobility dealer (that we know of) offers the level of maintenance offered by us.

For example, we can maintain primary and secondary driving controls, as well as providing service for wheelchair ramps and scooter lifts. Along with power seat bases, power door operators, wheelchair securement systems and other adaptive equipment. Those are only a few of the areas that our certified technicians can service and maintain. We also have a rust prevention/treatment that we highly recommend.

You’ll also find that we offer installation as well as service for a range of adaptive equipment like lowered floors, raised doors, adaptive steering controls, turning automotive seats and hand controls. All of our technicians are fully certified in mobility equipment so that you always know you’re in good hands with us.

Automotive Innovations has also created a innovative and ever evolving maintenance program over the past 25 years for our customers. We know that making sure your vehicle and adaptive equipment is in good condition is important to you, but we also understand that it can be difficult for you to tell when or if something needs service or repair. That’s why we started our operational preventative maintenance program over 20 years ago. This program ensures that your wheelchair van or mobility equipment is always in the best operational condition possible, but also assesses the need for repairs or replacement most of the time before anything happens.

We’re dedicated to giving you the peace of mind that you deserve and the maintenance you need to maintain your freedom at all times.

Rear-Entry Vs. Side-Entry Handicap Accessible Minivans

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VS.

One of the most significant decisions you will make in the purchase of a wheelchair van is whether to put the wheelchair access ramp on the side or in the rear of the vehicle. Both are great options and like anything else, there are pros and cons to each. Your own personal preferences and the environment in which you travel and live will have the greatest impact on your choice between the two. In addition, budget may also prove to be a consideration in your decision making process as well.

Rear-Entry Wheelchair Vans
To make a minivan rear-entry accessible, the mobility converter cuts out the center of the floor, 30” wide and 10” deep, from the rear bumper up to either the back of the middle seat or the back of the front seat. A new lowered section is then welded in and finished with the rest of the conversion.

Advantages of Rear-Entry Vans

Less Expensive: A rear-entry conversion method affects a smaller area of the vehicle and has less impact on the structural integrity of the minivan. For these reasons, rear-entry conversions are significantly less expensive than similar side-entry conversions.
Depending on the conversions it may or may not have better Ground Clearance: Although the floor is lowered with a rear-entry vehicle, there are no modifications done to the sides. In addition, a rear-entry conversion is raised higher in the back. Therefore, greater ground clearance results in more space than on a side-entry van.
Ease of Entry but not Exit: When you enter a rear-entry minivan, there is no turning around (there isn’t enough room) to get the wheelchair into the traveling position. All that is needed is for a person to simply move up as far as required to get into their wheelchair securement device. The down side is you have to back out and down the ramp. For individuals with exceptionally long wheelchairs or conditions requiring extended legs or tilted backs, this is especially valuable.
Tight Parking: A rear entry wheelchair minivan maybe able to park in regular, non-accessible parking spaces and garages if required. With the wheelchair ramp in the rear, no extra side room is required. But now you have to exit the vehicle into traffic. A rear-entry vehicle is also helpful in situations where double parking is required for loading and unloading.

Disadvantages of Rear-Entry Vans

Limited Parallel Parking: The rear-entry vehicle makes loading or unloading wheelchair passengers while parallel-parked impossible. Parking on the end of the street or loading or unloading on the street before moving into a parking spot would be the only feasible options.
Wheelchair Pilot or Co-Pilot Seating Unavailable: Rear-entry accessibility does not allow the person operating the wheelchair to sit in the pilot or co-pilot seat because the floor is only lower to just behind the front seats. Instead they must sit in the second or third row of the van unless they are able to transfer from their wheelchair into the second row to the front passenger seat.

Side-Entry Wheelchair Vans
To make a minivan side-entry accessible, the mobility converter lowers the floor between 10-15” from the rear bench seat all the way forward, referred to as a firewall, or in some cases to just behind the front seats. Therefore, with a side-entry van, a wheelchair operator can move into the pilot or co-pilot position more easily.

Advantages of Side-Entry Vans

Parallel Parking: The side-entry accessible van is not affected by parallel parking. Passengers in wheelchairs can still get in and out of the vehicle parked parallel to a curb, which is helpful for people who live in the city or a neighborhood where parking lots are not available.
Pilot and/or Co-Pilot Capability/Compatibility: The side-entry allows the wheelchair operator to drive or ride in the passenger seat. Pilot and co-pilot compatibility is an important feature for couples who wish to ride in the front together or for families with wheelchair operators that drive.

Disadvantages of Side-Entry Vans

Inside Space Limited: Space is limited for large really long wheelchairs.

VMi New England consultants can help you access your needs and determine if a side-entry or rear-entry van is suitable for you.

Freedom Mobility – Three Axis Extended and Lower Mobility Seats

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3100

The 3100 mobility seat is intended to be installed in pick-up trucks. When activated, the Freedom Seat smoothly rotates, extends, and ascends/descends in-to or out-of the vehicle so you are perfectly positioned on the ground or behind the wheel. It has a weight capacity of 350 lbs as well as multi-access programmability for optimal axis movement.

3200
wc-truck-3200
The 3200 has all the same features of the 3100, except it is designed for a passenger set-up and can be installed in SUV’s, sedans, and minivans.

3300 & 3400
wc-truck-3300-3400
The 3300 & 3400 mobility seats offer you the flexibility to enter from the front passenger position using an after-market seat, or from the mid-row using the original or after-market seat.

Freedom Sciences has a complete line fully-powered articulating mobility seats. After years of meticulous development and research, Freedom Sciences brings to market multiple seating applications for Passenger Vans, Mini-vans, Trucks, and Full-Sized Sedans. Our multi-axis movement allows us to fit our Freedom Seat into tighter applications hence providing more flexibility and span more vehicle applications than was previously available. With the patent pending Freedom Seat base, the end users seating pathway is custom programmed to their specific needs, optimizing every inch in and around the door opening – this maximizing feet and leg room while entering and exiting the vehicle. The Freedom Seat also offers seat products which are driving or passenger applications that exit the vehicles from the second row bay door. This innovative design allows for easy transfer in and out of vehicles by providing greater space outside of the vehicle for larger power chairs, wheelchairs, or scooters.

Retaining the OEM/factory seat should always be explored as it preserves the safety and comfort functions initially designed into the seat. Retaining the OEM/factory seat requires a series of client measurements that your Freedom Seat dealer is trained to perform, and if the OEM/factory seat requires adjustments for final fitting, either your local dealer or Freedom Sciences can provide this service. Alternatively, you can choose from one of our premium, aftermarket seats if the OEM/factory seat can not be used in conjunction with the Freedom articulating seat base. Either way, the Freedom Seat’s state-of-the-art articulating base has no equal in providing superior pathway seat performance, safety, and comfort.

Specifications: Lifting Capacity: 350 lbs. Total Seat Extension at 90 degrees Rotation: 50-7/16″ Elevation Travel: 14-3/4″ Vehicle Clearance at 90 degree Rotation: 21-5/16″ Footrest Extension: 0-7″ Seat Maximum Recline: 15 degree Maximum Seat Rotation: 120 degrees

We specialize in lowered floor minivans and stock the best in the industry. Dodge Chrysler Honda Toyota Chevrolet Silverado Mobility conversions. Select a modified van from our inventory or choose a non-modified van and let our certified technicians modify it for you at our (Quality Assurance Program) QAP service facility.

We were the first NMEDA QAP certified dealer in MA and have been designing, engineering, selling and installing mobility equipment like hand controls, zero effort steering, servo steering, servo gas brake left foot gas pedals and installing them in GM vehicles for close to 25 years.

We don’t just mount hand controls with hose clamps like the other guys, we fabricate custom brackets for each application and take the time necessary for a quality installation that will out last the vehicle.

We offer a lifetime warranty on our installation. If you ever feel there is something wrong with your hand controls (even if we didn’t install them) please come in for a free inspection by a certified mobility craftsman.

We have more money invested in one piece of equipment than most shops have in all there tools combined.

We have individual craftsman with more experience than all the technicians combined at other local mobility dealers, with a better equipped shop and a higher attention to detail I doubt you could get a higher quality Chevrolet installation anywhere in the New England area.

Do you want your hand controls installed by someone who just completed a two hr online course on hand control installation or a certified master craftsman with 25 years of experience?

How Do I Know Which Hand Controls, Left foot gas pedals and or Mobility Driving Equipment is Right for my Chevrolet?
We give you a number of tools that will help you find the perfect GM accessible hand control or left foot gas pedal for in the New England area. We need your help to make us the top seller of hand controls in the Chevrolet New England area, we can provide handcontrol General Motors safety information as well as additional information about extra features of our Chevy mobility products.

All you have to do is think about your ideal Chevrolet hand control, make a list of features, and look to Automotive Innovations for the installation of your General Motors mobility products at Chevrolet Massachusetts Automotive Innovations .We will find the one that fits the custom requirements of your Chevrolet.

Did you know that technological mobility advancements might now allow you to drive your Chevrolet, even if you need to drive with hand controls? If you are interested in this Chevy Mobility technology, or any other specialized GM features, please contact us about you Chevrolet mobility requirements.

Automotive Innovations Bridgewater Massachusetts’s sells and or services brand new, hand controls for your Chevrolet, manufactured by top companies.

Rust Proof you Vehicle Today

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Vehicles today are subject to rust and corrosion due to moisture, humidity, tons of road salt and other airborne pollutants that can cause rapid deterioration of your wheelchair van. If neglected, the damages can make your mobility investment of little value. The thousands of yearly miles, environments and exposure to the elements of larger vehicles means they are a lot more likely to suffer from the effects of corrosion. Correct rust proofing on a regular basis can ensure that your vehicle does not suffer from corrosion related vehicle downtime and keep your van from falling apart.

If you consider that new vehicles undergo thousands of spot welds and numerous bends and folds during assembly; this process damages the automobile coating systems, exposing these panels to corrosion. Besides body-panel damage, certain mechanical parts are also at risk – suspension mounts, hood-locking mechanisms, door hinges, brake cables – which are all susceptible to the damaging effects of rust on your wheelchair van.

To protect your vehicle against corrosion our rust proofing formula does more than just cover the metal required. A rust proofing product must be applied as a high-pressured spray, ensuring protection to your vehicle’s most critical areas by penetrating, displacing existing moisture and protecting the many vulnerable crevices of your automobile.

Benefits of rust treatment
Prevention is better than a cure. There are a number of products that can offer prevention against rust. Products are available either as oils, waxes, fluids and coatings. The range is vast. Our rust prevention processes, products, plan and application have been found to be very effective and developed over more than 25 years and still remain affordable.

We are the only mobility dealer in New England to offer this service.

Our rust proofing processes is ever evolving and has been for more than 25 years.

Above is a picture of a van that has heavy rust and metal fatigue due to a lack of maintenance, once it’s this bad there’s not much we can do other than replace the van.