Category Archives: Wheelchair Vans

Wheelchair van and mobility needs for New England – Boston, MA

Wheelchair Van Conversion Styles: In-Floor Ramp Vs. Fold-out Ramp

There are several wheelchair accessible van conversion styles you’ll want to consider when choosing the right mobility solution for you. One decision you’ll have to make is to choose between an In-Floor wheelchair van ramp and a Fold-Out wheelchair accessible ramp.

In-Floor Vs. Fold-Up Wheelchair Ramps
Another important consideration to make is whether you’d prefer a fold-up or an in-floor wheelchair ramp in your handicap van. As their name implies, fold-up ramps fold in half and stow upright, next to the side passenger door. On the other hand, in-floor ramps slide into a pocket underneath the vehicle’s floor. People who opt for in-floor ramps prefer the ramp out of the way of the passenger entrance. Typically, fold-up ramps tend to be less expensive and easier to maintain, and they present a lower ramp angle. In-floor and fold-up wheelchair ramps are available in a wide range of handicap minivan conversions.
Wheelchair Van Conversion Styles- In Floor Ramp Vs. Fold out Ramp

Wheelchair Van Conversion Styles: Side-Entry Vs. Rear-Entry

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There are several wheelchair accessible van conversion styles you’ll want to consider when choosing the right mobility solution for you. One decision you’ll have to make is to choose between a side-entry wheelchair van and a rear-entry wheelchair accessible van.

Side-Entry Vs. Rear-Entry Wheelchair Vans
One of the most important choices you’ll make in selecting a handicap accessible wheelchair van is side entry versus rear entry. Your choice will impact such things as the wheelchair seating positions, your ability to accommodate other passengers, and parking options. Side-entry wheelchair vans represent the majority of the market—over 75% for most personal use vehicles. However, rear-entry wheelchair vans are also gaining in popularity as more products become available. Here is a look at some key points you’ll want to be aware of.

Style	Side-entry wheelchair minivans	Rear-entry wheelchair minivans
Advantages	Enter and exit safely onto curbside away from traffic Drive from a wheelchair or sit in the front passenger position in a wheelchair or driver position More choices available More storage space	Park in any parking space—no extra room required for ramp (excluding parallel parking) Side passenger doors aren’t blocked by a ramp Mid-passenger seats can be mounted next to the wheelchair position Great for long wheelchairs/leg rests Less expensive conversion More ground clearance
Important options	Power ramp and doors Power kneeling system In-floor ramp or fold-up ramp (some ramps are manual)	Power ramp and doors Power kneeling system Driver swivel seats available Manual conversion available
Limitations	Requires handicap parking space/extra room for ramp deployment Some driveways aren’t wide enough to accommodate a van	Must exit and enter from traffic area It is not possible to drive from the wheelchair and/or having the wheelchair in the front passenger position Less storage space available
Conversion price	$19,000-$25,000* *Cost of conversion only (vehicle cost is additional).	$17,000-$22,000* *Cost of conversion only (vehicle cost is additional).

VMI 30 Day E-Venture Contest

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VMI 30 Day E-Venture Contest

Most customers test drive a wheelchair accessible vehicle before purchasing it.

Some lucky customers will have a chance to test drive a brand new VMI Dodge Grand Caravan Northstar E for 30 days… FOR FREE!

Will it be you? See contest details below:

About The Contest

Win a VMI Northstar E wheelchair van to use free for 30 Days.
Attend a major event in your area, on us!
Receive a HD video camera to document your time with the Northstar E then keep the video camera for yourself.

Important Dates

Start Date: May 15, 2014
End Date: Dec. 31, 2014
First Draw: July, 2014
Last Draw: Dec, 2014

Terms & Conditions

The VMI Northstar E-venture campaign is active from May 15, 2014 to December 31, 2014.

Winner will be drawn and announced on a monthly basis from July, 2014 to December, 2014. Winner will receive 30-days free use of a Dodge Grand Caravan with the VMI Northstar E Conversion; no exceptions will be made.

Winners must abide by the rental policies of their local dealer and state. . .
In accordance with rental agreements, insurance coverage for liability, collision and comprehensive insurance must cover full vehicle reimbursement for the term of use.
Must comply with daily/monthly mileage-use limits
Must maintain standard of care for vehicle as stated in rental agreement
Must return vehicle in accordance with rental agreement
Additional conditions may apply
Winners will have up to 120 days from the date of notification to begin their 30-day free use period.
The maximum amount allowable for the E-venture is $300, which is based on $75/person for a family of four.
Payment for the E-venture will be dependent upon the event selected
Payment may be provided in the form of a pre-paid credit card
VMI may purchase tickets/passes for the adventure (e.g. amusement park, sporting event, concert, etc.) for the winner
VMI may provide reimbursement to winner for receipts submitted
A free digital video camera will be provided for documenting your adventures and day-to-day mobility. The digital camera is a gift for winners to keep.
Winners will be required to share a minimum of five minutes of video footage per week to be posted on VMI corporate and dealer websites and social pages. Failure to provide video footage will be cause for termination of 30-day free van-use period and full reimbursement of any funds provided for the E-venture.
The first drawing will be held in July, 2014, and one lucky winner will be drawn every month through the end of the year, December 2014.
Winners will be required to sign an agreement of terms and conditions.

No purchase necessary. Valid in the United States only. Limit one entry per household. Entries may be made at VMI’s Website or by calling 855-VMI VANS.

If the winner purchases a VMI wheelchair van prior to being selected as a winner of the Northstar E-venture, they can elect to be reimbursed $1800 (estimated value of winnings). Reimbursement will be coordinated between VMI and the winner directly if the vehicle was purchased prior to the winner being announced.

Offer is not valid on any added accessories. Winner is responsible for the payment of applicable taxes and registration fees. Prize must be claimed within 120 days of being notified of winning and is non-transferable. No exceptions will be made.

Additional Terms & Conditions may apply.

What is A New/Used Wheelchair van?

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VMi New England Wheelchair vans & ramp:Lift options
When shopping for a new or pre-owned wheelchair van at a mobility dealership, you may hear or read the term “New/Used”. Sounds confusing, right? The term New/Used describes an accessible vehicle for sale that has a new conversion added to a pre-owned used minivan. These vehicles tend to have less than 40,000 miles and are only 2-3 years old. The reason they tend to be newer and with very few miles is that conversion manufacturers want quality vans that are going to provide reliable transportation for many years to come. New/Used van conversions can be side entry or rear entry, with most having a fold-out ramp (vs. an in-floor ramp). A VMI Summit on a Dodge Grand Caravan is just one example of a fold-out ramp conversion. Folding wheelchair ramps on a minivan can be powered or manual. Powered ramps are operated with a push-button inside the vehicle, a key fob or both.

Deciding whether to buy a new or used wheelchair van can be a difficult decision. Your choice may depend on how often or how far you plan to travel every year, whether you are the driver (with the use of hand controls) or passenger, and your preferences for a specific conversion, make or color. A lot of people want all of the latest electronic accessories and gadgets that can only be found in a new vehicle — but they also want something in a used vehicle’s price range. New/Used vehicles provide an “almost new” vehicle at significant cost savings – and may have all of the amenities that you’re are looking for.

Spring Rust Treatment

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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.

Rust Maintenance

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.

** We highly recommend that everyone gets their wheelchair vans rust proofed at least twice a year. Once in Spring and again in the Fall. **

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.