Your mobility aid, whether it’s a powerchair, manual wheelchair, or mobility scooter, has given you the freedom to go where you please, but if you want to travel somewhere further by car, how do you transport your wheelchair? Most people will opt for a wheelchair lift and with today’s technology, you have more options of lifts and for different vehicles than we ever had before. That means you no longer need to settle for something that doesn’t work for you, or you may not have to trade in the car you love for a van. You can now find a wheelchair lift that fits your specific needs. In this blog post, we’re going to cover the top 5 advantages of wheelchair lift and which lifts may work best for certain vehicle types.
Benefits of Wheelchair Lifts
There are many benefits of wheelchair lifts that have helped many people stay independent. From ease of use to vehicle versatility, here are 5 benefits of wheelchair lifts.
1. Independence
If you need to travel somewhere by vehicle, it’s nice to just go when you want and on your own. One benefit of a wheelchair lift is you have the freedom to do that. With a wheelchair lift, you’re able to load and unload your wheelchair into your own vehicle and go as you please.
2. Safety Features
Safety is always a priority for the user and their wheelchair. With new technology, both you and your wheelchair are safe using a wheelchair lift. Wheelchair lifts are now easier to secure, yet are actually safer for the wheelchair. In terms of the safety of the user, no lifting is required from anyone, the wheelchair lift does all the heavy work for you.
3. Ease Of Use
Wheelchair lifts have become very easy to use. No matter which wheelchair lift you are using, it’s as easy as securing your wheelchair and hitting a button. The wheelchair lift raises and lowers your wheelchair and places it where it needs to go. Even better, many of the Harmar wheelchair lifts have a backup manual, so if the battery is low, you can still easily lift your wheelchair so that you are not left stranded.
4. Versatility Between Vehicles and Wheelchairs
There was a time where wheelchair lifts were exclusive to vans and larger vehicles, but now, there are lifts to fit many different vehicles. The lifts also have become more versatile in which wheelchairs they are compatible with. Whether you drive a truck or a car, there’s now a wheelchair lift that can accommodate, and whether you have a heavy duty powerchair or a manual wheelchair, there are plenty of wheelchair lifts to choose from.
5. Interior Or Exterior Design
Your space is precious, use it as you choose. There are wheelchair lift options that are exterior, which means the wheelchair lift is outside the vehicle and transports the wheelchair outside the vehicle. Many of these lifts will attach to the hitch of a vehicle. Exterior lifts allow you to keep more space inside the vehicle for passengers or other items you may need to transport. An interior wheelchair lift is installed either inside the vehicle or inside the trunk. You’ll lose some space in your vehicle but your wheelchair is now protected from the outside elements. The good news, you can choose which lift fits you best.
There are many great benefits of wheelchair lifts, with their versatility options, ease of use, and safety features, a wheelchair lift is the best way to keep your independence and freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want.
How To Find The Right Wheelchair Lift For You
It might feel overwhelming when you are first looking for the right wheelchair lift that fits your needs. Next, we’re going to break down things you may consider to help guide you in finding the right wheelchair lift for you.
Determine Your Mobility Aid Device
First, take a look at your actual mobility aid device. There are different lifts for manual wheelchairs, powerchairs, and mobility scooters.
Manual Wheelchair Lifts
If you have a manual wheelchair, you’ll want to look for lifts that are for manual wheelchair lifts. Since manual wheelchairs are lighter and generally foldable, the options may not have as big of a range. Manual wheelchair lifts have a lighter weight capacity and are a smaller design.
Powerchair and Mobility Scooter Lifts
Some lifts are designed for both powerchairs and mobility scooters. Some people have both a powerchair and a mobility scooter and changing out the lift for the device you want to use that day is a hassle. If you have a lift made for both power wheelchairs and mobility scooters, you’re good. If you’re considering a lift made for both powerchairs and mobility scooters, just make sure that the lift’s weight capacity can handle the weight of your chair and mobility scooter (take note, the lift is meant for one mobility aid at a time. Do not try to use the lift for your powerchair and mobility scooter at the same time.)
Powerchair Lifts
If you only have a power wheelchair, it would be best to find a power wheelchair lift. The wheelchair lift designed exclusively for power wheelchairs is more secure and stable, loads/unloads easier, and is optimized for power wheelchair users.
Mobility Scooter Lifts
If you happen to use a mobility scooter, a mobility scooter lift will benefit you most. A lift made for mobility scooters will ensure that your mobility scooter is secure and safe. These lifts are made exclusively for mobility scooters, so it’s best compatible with mobility scooters.
Determine Your Vehicle
It’s best if you choose one vehicle to transport your wheelchair. Some of the lifts require more of an installation process than others. Having one vehicle makes transportation the easiest. Let’s take a look at the different lifts and which may work best for your vehicle type.
Wheelchair Lift For Van
If you are looking for a wheelchair lift for a van, you have several options to choose from. If you have a van, the next question you’ll want to ask is whether you’d rather have an internal or exterior wheelchair lift. If looking for an exterior wheelchair lift for van, the hitch-installed wheelchair lifts are a great choice. These are very popular and very reliable.
The exterior wheelchair lift for the van allows you to keep all your cargo space in your van.
If you want an internal wheelchair lift for van, the rear platform lift, side door platform lift, or boom lift would make a great option. The wheelchair lift for van are also strong and reliable, but you’ll lose some cargo space exterior wheelchair lift. With the side door hybrid platform, you’ll lose passenger space, as the rear lift and boom lift will take up space in the back.
Wheelchair Lifts For SUV
If you are looking for a lift for an SUV, your options will look very similar to the van lifts. Most SUVs are spacious and can accommodate internal or external wheelchair lifts. If you drive a smaller SUV, you might want to look more into the external lift or keep it to the boom or rear platform lifts.
Wheelchair Lifts For Trucks
If you drive a truck, the most common wheelchair lift for trucks is the boom lift. The boom lift is installed in the bed of the truck and is strong enough to lift and place your wheelchair into the bed.
Wheelchair Lift For Car
If you’re looking for a wheelchair lift for a car, if you have a hitch, you still can opt for the external wheelchair lift, otherwise your last option is the boom lift. The boom lift is a great wheelchair lift for car, as its compact design easily fits in the trunk. Keep in mind that your wheelchair must be able to fit in the trunk, the wheelchair lift only lifts and places your wheelchair in place. The external wheelchair lift for car is also a great option, if your car has a hitch.
Top Wheelchair Lifts
If you are wondering which wheelchair lifts are the best or favored, you can’t go wrong with a Harmar AL030 Power Tote is an excellent lift for manual wheelchairs. The Harmar AL030 Power Tote connects to the hitch of the vehicle, making it easy to install and to use. The Harmar AL030 Power Tote holds the wheelchair in place with its hold-down arm and with just the flip of a switch, the wheelchair is raised or lowered.
Harmar AL500 Universal Power Chair Lift
The Harmar AL500 Universal Power Chair Lift is one of the most popular power wheelchair lifts. This lift also connects to the hitch but is known for being extremely easy to use. Just roll your wheelchair onto the platform, secure it, and flip the switch to raise it. The Harmar AL500 Universal Power Chair Lift is compatible with most power wheelchairs (weight capacity of 350 lbs), and requires no modification to your chair. When the lift is not holding a powerchair, it automatically folds up, conserving space.
Harmar AL6000 Hybrid Platform Lift
If you’re looking for an interior lift, many people enjoy the Harmar AL6000 Hybrid Platform Lift. Controlled by a remote control, the Harmar AL6000 Hybrid Platform Lift lifts your wheelchair and then brings it inside of the vehicle by sliding inside the cargo space. The Harmar AL6000 Hybrid Platform Lift is versatile and can be used for both powerchairs and mobility scooters.
Harmar AL425 Axis II Fully Powered Inside Lift
If you’re wanting a boom wheelchair lift, the Harmar AL425 Axis II Fully Powered Inside Lift is a popular choice. It’s easy to use and install. It’s strong enough to lift most power wheelchairs and mobility scooters, with a weight capacity of 400 lbs. It’s versatile as it has options to work with many different vehicles.
Are Wheelchair Lifts Worth It?
Yes! There are so many advantages to having a wheelchair lift, the benefits outweigh the risks. Wheelchair lifts are easy to use, more versatile, safe, and bring you independence to go where you want when you want. With a wide variety of wheelchair lifts, there’s a lift that fits your needs. If you need more help finding the perfect wheelchair for you, please feel free to call us, as we have mobility specialists waiting to help!
