Picture this: It’s a wet or snowy morning, and a caregiver needs to take a student to school or an older person shopping or to an appointment. After transferring a mobility device user to the car, it’s necessary to fold the wheelchair or take the power scooter apart for storage in the trunk or hatchback. Making these devices fit in the vehicle is time consuming, not to mention downright miserable with the wind chill. 

Now, picture this: The client is safely tucked into the passenger’s seat, while the caregiver loads the scooter or wheelchair into the back of a van, SUV or a rear-mounted carrier in just seconds. They drive off in safety and comfort after minimal exposure to the elements. 

Using a wheelchair ramp is an easy way to load mobility devices such as a power scooter or wheelchair directly into a vehicle or carrier, saving time and frustration for the user’s caregiver. Here are three carried by Rehabmart. 

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PVI Utility Ramps include an extended hook to ensure bumper clearance by the mobility device as it enters and exits the van. It can be broken down into two pieces or folded like a suitcase for transport. The center hinge is designed to eliminate a pinch point while providing additional strength. Its nonslip coating provides traction for safer transfers of wheelchairs and power scooters. Four lengths are available, and all of them can support up to 800 pounds.

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For pickup trucks and SUVs with trailer hitches, the TrekAway Hitch Mounted Carrier with Ramp provides an excellent way to transport mobility devices externally. The TrekAway is made from low-maintenance, powder-coated, corrosion-proof aluminum with welded joints for strength and a steel underframe, giving it a weight capacity of 400 pounds. Loading the device involves unfolding the ramp, guiding it onto the platform, and then using a cotter pin to keep the ramp vertical during transport.  When it is not in use the built-in ramp folds up. The TrekAway may also be used to transport large wheeled items such as snow blowers as well as scooters and carts. 

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PVI Van Ramps come in two configurations, one for use with rear doors and the other for side doors. They can be used with a wide range of scooters and wheelchairs and can be operated by one person. Both configurations come in a choice of lengths and have a maximum capacity of 400 pounds. The anti-slip coated ramps can be folded into quarters and stored in the van without blocking the doors. A center hinge provides strength while eliminating pinch points, helping them earn the UL listing. 

These ramps are suitable for use by people needing to use mobility devices due to a range of neurological, neuromuscular, or musculoskeletal conditions. They are appropriate to help adapt private transportation for the differently-abled, supporting them in living the fullest, most independent lives possible. 

Fran Jablway,
Senior Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO