Category Archives: Ramps and lifts

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

Driving Specific Considerations – Amputation

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Driving Specific Considerations – Amputation

Foot Steering Wheelchair Van Massachusetts

Amputation

  • is the removal of all or part of a limb
  • can be the result of trauma or illness
  • or limb deficiency may also be present at birth
  • is not progressive but the advancement of disease can lead to additional amputation(s)

Potential Deficit Areas

  • loss of function at or above the amputation site
  • decreased range of motion and/or strength of the residual limb
  • decreased sensation at the amputation site
  • hypersensitivity at the amputation site
  • phantom Pain

Impact on Driving/Transportation

  • A modified vehicle, wheelchair lift or transfer seat may be needed for a person who now requires a scooter or wheelchair for mobility or has difficulty transferring into an unmodified vehicle.
  • The site of the amputation will determine if the person will need adaptive equipment to return to driving.
  • Adaptive driving equipment allow the person to compensate for an impaired ability to reach primary and secondary driving controls
  • Prior to driving with adaptive equipment, the person will need a driving evaluation.

Possible Vehicle Equipment Needs

Left Arm Loss
  • Automatic transmission
  • Power steering
  • Steering device
  • Directional cross over
  • Electric turn signal
  • Foot parking brake release modification
Left Leg Loss
  • Automatic transmission
  • Parking brake extension
  • Chest strap
Right Arm Loss
  • Automatic transmission
  • Power steering
  • Steering device
  • Electronic ignition
  • Crossover and/or gear shift extension
  • Wiper control modification
  • Console parking brake modification
  • Secondary/dash modification
  • Key extension
  • Electric ignition
Right Leg Loss

Possible Vehicle Equipment Needs

Loss of Both Arms
Loss of Three or Four Limbs
Loss of Both Legs

top 5 tips to consider when shopping for wheelchair van conversion upgrades

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These days, there is a wide variety of conversion options available for mobility-challenged drivers and passengers who seek to upgrade their vehicles. If you’re new to the world of mobility conversions, stepping into a dealership can be an overwhelming experience. However, by doing the proper research, you can acquire the knowledge necessary to shop with confidence.

Toyota Wheelchair van fitting Honda Wheelchair Van Fitting

Below are 5 points to keep in mind when shopping for conversion upgrades and conversion vehicles.

  1. Know your options.Thankfully, you have many alternatives from which to choose when it comes to mobility upgrades. You could install a scooter lift on your vehicle that lifts your scooter or chair and puts it in the trunk. You could install seats that articulate and lift the driver into and out of the vehicle. And of course, you could also opt to convert your vehicle with a ramp for wheelchair access. Which upgrade is best for you? The answer will depend largely upon just how mobile you are.
  2. Tap your dealer’s expertise.An informed mobility dealer can help you make sense of the various choices available to you, and can guide you toward the upgrade that best suits your needs. Maybe the most important thing is to have a local mobility dealership who understands your disability, The dealer can help you decide whether to go for a scooter lift, articulating seat or a full van conversion.
  3.  Choose an accredited dealer.Mobility dealers differ from regular car dealers in that they need to have 24-hour, 7-day-a-week service capability; if your conversion vehicle has a breakdown, your dealer is expected to be on call to help you address the problem. The dealer’s mechanics are also expected to have training that meets certain standards. The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) is an organization dedicated to advocating for the provision of safe, reliable modifications in the conversion market. NMEDA offers a Quality Assurance Program (QAP) that’s the only nationally recognized accreditation program for the adaptive mobility industry. Dealers who participate in the QAP must meet high standards regarding the services that they provide. Notes Gutwein: “If it’s not a QAP dealer, it’s a crap shoot.”
  4. Know the value of experience.The industry has a lot of people who do customized conversions. You want to avoid a regular new or used car dealership or someone with a garage shop whose work in this segment is limited to three or four conversions a year; it’s very important to choose a dealer who has a history and track record of performance. Look at the number of vans they’ve converted. How big is the company? Do they have customer satisfaction information? Is there data that shows that customers who’ve bought from them are happy with the product?
  5. Get the right fit.If you’re looking at potential conversion vehicles, one of the most important things to consider is the fit. Is the vehicle big enough, given your chair and your size, for you to easily enter and move around in? Also, is it big enough to accommodate the number of passengers that you typically carry?

Why does Dodge make wheelchair vans?

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Truth be told, Dodge isn’t in the business of making wheelchair vans. It is in the business of making great vehicles that readily lend themselves to wheelchair van conversion. Models like the Caravan sell well regardless of their use in wheelchair van circles. Honda undoubtedly appreciates their popularity in the accessibility market and takes that under consideration when making the vehicles, though.

2012 Dodge Grand Caravan Wheelchair Van Massachusetts

 

Dodge has re-branded itself over the course of the last few years. They’ve gone from building a reputation as a “something for everyone” automaker to a producer of high-performance, high-capacity trucks and passenger cars with a “muscular” edge.

Even with that change in focus, Dodge continues to produce its Caravan and Grand Caravan minivan. It also produces a compelling full-sized van, the Dodge Sprinter. These vehicles are often converted to serve as wheelchair accessible vans.
Why does Dodge Make Wheelchair accessible Vans?

The truth is Dodge doesn’t make wheelchair accessible vans – The term “wheelchair accessible vans” refers to any vehicle that can be customized for use by a person utilizing a wheelchair. – They make multiple vehicles that are easily converted into Dodge wheelchair vans by professionals who specialize in these modifications such as VMI or Braun.

 

Dodge continues to produce these popular wheelchair van options because they’ve been well received in the marketplace. Research suggests continued increases in demand for accessible vehicles, which means we’ll probably be seeing Dodge wheelchair vans for years to come.

 

 

Van to Wheelchair Van

In order to make a wheelchair van accessible, after market conversions are usually required. Conversion professionals adjust vehicle height by raising roofs and lowering floors. Adjustments to door height may also be necessary. Turning a “stock” vehicle into a wheelchair accessible van will usually involve installation of a ramp or lift and may include a number of other customizations, as well.

 

 

Dodge Wheelchair Vans

Dodge produces two different models that have tremendous popularity in the world of wheelchair van conversion: The Caravan/Grand Caravan minivan and the Sprinter full-sized van. That makes Dodge one of the few manufacturers that offer both minivan and full-sized options that have achieved high levels of popularity within the wheelchair conversion world.

Chrysler

Chrysler Town & Country is one of the nation’s best-selling and most luxurious minivans. Chrysler Town & Country was the first minivan in the world, and Chrysler has continued to lead the way in minivan styling and technology. This technologically advanced and extremely safe vehicle is our flagship conversion. We are proud to offer this van which will surely become a welcome addition into anyone’s life.

 

How To Maintain Your Mobility Equipment and Wheelchair Van

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Maintain Your Mobility Equipment
VMi New England recommends keeping the bottom door track of your handicapped van clear of any debris by vacuuming out the track every 2 or 3 weeks. Debris in the bottom track will cause the door motor to work harder and even weaken or burn out prematurely. Such problems will only be more of an inconvenience in cold weather.

2013 Toyota Sienna VMI Summit Silver Wheelchair Van VMi New England

Check Your Brakes
We recommend that you make sure your brakes are in good working condition. You should never postpone having brake work done because you never know when you might have to drive on snowy or icy roads.

Check Your Lights
Lights are essential in snowy weather; not only do they help you see clearly, but they also help others see you. VMi New England recommends that you make sure your lights are clean and that all bulbs and fuses are working properly.

Remember Your Fluids

Frequently check all fluids (including brake fluid, antifreeze, washer fluid, transmission fluid, power-steering fluid, etc.) checked and “topped off.” In addition, we recommend that you consider keeping a half tank of gas in your car at all times–you don’t want to run out of gas in an emergency.

Don’t Forget Your Battery
Having your battery checked is especially crucial for handicapped accessible vans. The cold weather is strenuous on any battery but even more so on an accessible van’s battery. An accessible van has to power ramps, lifts, and doors, so it uses more battery power than other minivans. A common problem we see at VMi New England is customers who do not drive their accessible van enough to keep the battery charged and healthy. You can keep the battery charged by driving your vehicle more than 3 hours a week or by using a battery charger. Under normal conditions, batteries will typically last for 3½ years, so if your battery is older than that, we recommend that you make sure that it’s in good condition or think about replacing it.

Good Tire Maintenance Is Critical
Good tires might be one of the most essential driving tools in winter weather. Worn, bald, badly aligned, or badly balanced tires can cause accidents in any type of slippery weather. You’ll need to test the air pressure and tread on your tires and have your tires rotated so that the better ones are in the front for more traction and control. If you need new tires soon, don’t wait, get them now! If you have snow tires and live in areas with heavy and frequent snowfall, don’t hesitate to use them.

Don’t Forget Your Windshield
Taking care of the windshield on your wheelchair van entails more than having good wipers. Windshields on minivans and full-sized vans are large, so having good wipers and properly functioning rear and front defrosters are musts. Also, small dings in a windshield can become large cracks when it’s cold. Cracks are a result of the stress of having freezing temperatures on the outside of the windshield and the warm heater on the interior of the windshield. If this occurs, fix the ding and avoid the risk of replacing a costly van-sized windshield!

Be Prepared…Have an Emergency Plan
Sometimes emergencies occur despite precautions to avoid them. For this reason, there is no such thing as being over-prepared. Be sure that you have snow equipment and an emergency kit ready in case you need them.

Snow Equipment
If you ever get stuck or break down in snow or other inclement winter weather, having the appropriate equipment to get yourself out of your vehicle is important. Keeping a shovel, sidewalk salt, snow scraper/brush, jumper cables, spare tire, jack, and flares in your vehicle during the winter months is always a good idea. Also, if you live in an area with frequent and/or heavy snowfall, keep tire chains in your vehicle for extra traction.

Emergency Kit
A snow emergency kit in your car. Your emergency kit should include a cell phone, a cell-phone car charger, a blanket, a flashlight with good batteries, hand warmers, snacks, and water. Your kit should be able to keep you relatively comfortable while waiting in your vehicle for assistance to arrive. Please remember, if you’re waiting in your vehicle for assistance, make sure your exhaust pipe is clear of any snow or ice so carbon monoxide won’t enter the vehicle.

 

Why does Honda make wheelchair vans?

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Why does Honda make wheelchair vans?

VMi New England Honda Wheelchair Van

Truth be told, Honda isn’t in the business of making wheelchair vans. It is in the business of making great vehicles that readily lend themselves to wheelchair van conversion. Models like the Odyssey and the Element would sell well regardless of their use in wheelchair van circles. Honda undoubtedly appreciates their popularity in the accessibility market and takes that under consideration when making the vehicles, though.

As we continue to see an increased demand for accessible vehicles and the reputation of Honda wheelchair vans continues to grow, we can undoubtedly expect to see more Odyssey conversions on the road.

Honda’s Wheelchair Vans

The Odyssey minivan are extremely popular conversion targets and are happily used by thousands of people who rely upon wheelchairs.

 

These Honda wheelchair vans don’t roll off the assembly line ready for use. They start out as standard passenger vehicles and are then modified by conversion experts for wheelchair use. That happens because people hold the Odyssey and Element in high regard.

Honda isn’t known for full-sized vans, but two of its smaller vehicles have strong fan bases in the wheelchair van community.

Honda’s get strong marks from their purchasers on a number of fronts. Here are three of them:

  1. ◦First, they’re aesthetically pleasing. The Element is one of the more attractive vehicles that are well suited for conversion and the Odyssey impresses critics year after year with its good-looking design.
  2. ◦Second, Honda has earned their reputation for reliability and cost-effectiveness. These are sturdy, reliable options that consistently provide a great deal of bang for the buyer’s buck, matching the manufacturer’s overall profile.
  3. ◦Third, conversion pros have turned the process of making a stock Honda into an impressive Honda wheelchair van into a science. The adjustments necessary to make the transition are proven and effective. Put simply, these vehicles make great wheelchair vans.