Wheelchair Lifts for Vans, Cars & SUVs
Wheelchair Lifts
Wheelchairs bring a lot of people the freedom to go wherever, whenever, but what about transporting the wheelchair to a certain location? Depending on the wheelchair, whether it be a power chair, a manual wheelchair, or a folding electric wheelchair, you may or may not need a wheelchair lift.
If you have a folding electric wheelchair, they generally can fold up small enough to fit in the trunk of a vehicle. It’s also light enough for a person to lift the folding electric wheelchair into the car. For a folding electric wheelchair, a wheelchair lift is generally not needed, but if you are a person who lacks strength, there are lifts that can help place your folding electric wheelchair into your vehicle.
For those who use a manual wheelchair, it may vary on whether you need a wheelchair lift or not. Some wheelchairs are smaller, lightweight, and can fold into a car. Other manual wheelchairs are sturdier and heavier, so they are harder to lift and might not fold up. These types of wheelchairs will need either a wheelchair lift or a wheelchair carrier.
Wheelchair Lift: mechanically lifts the wheelchair. User-friendly option.
Wheelchair Carrier: the user must manually load and secure the mobility device onto the lift. Wheelchair carriers are generally cheaper but require more work.
If you drive a standard power wheelchair, odds are that you will need a wheelchair lift. Most power wheelchairs are sturdy, heavy, and not foldable. Power chairs generally either are lifted inside into a van or are transported on the outside of a vehicle.
Different Kinds Of Wheelchair Lifts
There are different types of wheelchair lifts, all to cater to different needs. Some lifts are more versatile than others, they can vary how they work with the car, SUV, or van.
- Hitch Mounted Platform Lifts: The platform lift is a large platform that supports the wheelchair, raising and lowering it into or out of the vehicle. Best used for vans, SUV’s, or other larger vehicles that need to accommodate heavier wheelchairs or power chairs. It mounts into the hitch receiver of the vehicle and operates using an electric motor and is typically controlled with a switch or remote. Good for any vehicle that can support the weight of the lift plus the weight of the mobility device.
- Hoist-Style Lifts: The hoist-style lifts are a crane-like device that lifts the wheelchair or scooter and places it inside the vehicle. Best used for vans or SUV’s.
- Trunk-Mounted Lifts: The trunk-mounted lift is designed to lift the powerchair or electric scooter into the car trunk.
- Hybrid Lifts: The hybrid lifts combine hoist and platform lift technology, allowing the wheelchair or scooter to be secured inside the vehicle on a platform. Best used for SUVs, and minivans.
- Side-Entry Lifts: A side-entry lift is mounted on the side of the vehicle, allowing for entry and exit from the passenger or driver's side. Best for vans with side sliding doors.
Leading Wheelchair Lift Brand
When it comes to the best brand of wheelchair lifts, you cannot go wrong with Harmar. Harmar offers different models for both wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Harmar Lifts are also known for being safe, reliable, and durable. It’s also known for being user-friendly, compact, and includes battery backups. Harmar's commitment to quality, safety, and customer satisfaction, along with its diverse range of mobility solutions, makes it a reputable and reliable choice for wheelchair lifts. These lifts have features such as the swing-away joint. The swing-away feature, which allows you to use this lift with any vehicle. You’ll be able to open the hatch in hatchbacks, allow access to your cars’ trunk and open the rear door of your SUV. The Harmar electric wheelchair lifts are extremely easy to use. Pushing the lever down, the lift is lowered. You then drive the power chair onto the platform. Then to raise the lift, you just push the lever up. It’s just that easy! Another great feature is manual crank backup, you won’t be left feeling stuck by a lfts’ electricity or motor fail. If the lift battery happens to be dead, you can still lift your electric wheelchair easily.
Harmar AL500 Universal Power Chair Lift
The Harmar AL500 Universal Power Chair Lift is one of the most popular wheelchair lifts. This model has 4 mounted single hand use ratchet straps to secure the powerchair, so you don’t need to worry about storing them, losing them, or misplacing the straps. With a weight limit of 350 lbs, the AL500 is able to carry most power chairs. As with all Harmar lifts, the Swing Away option allows it to work on any type of vehicle that can support the required weight.
Harmar AL560 Universal Power Chair Lift
The Harmar AL560 Universal Power Chair Lift is one of the easiest electric wheelchair lifts to use. This power chair lift is versatile and can be used on many different vehicles. With a weight limit of 350 lbs, this lift can carry most power chairs as well. A favored feature to the AL560 is the hold-down arm. The hold-down arm eliminates the need for straps, as it holds the chair in place during transport.
Harmar AL500HD Heavy Duty Universal Power Chair Lift
The Harmar AL500HD Heavy Duty Universal Power Chair Lift is very similar to the AL500, except it has a higher weight limit. The AL500HD has a weight limit of 400 lbs. The corner for the platform is reinforced, so it’s sturdier and will not bend.
Hybrid Platform Lifts
Hybrid platform lifts lift the electric wheelchair into the vehicle. Many people use the hybrid platform lift with their van or larger SUV. Because the hybrid platform lift brings the chair inside the vehicle, the electric wheelchair is protected from the outside elements. Harmar lifts also excel with hybrid platforms. With models like the AL600 & AL600HD, the hybrid platform lift is reliable and easy to use. With the use of a remote control, the lift slides out to load and unload the wheelchair.
Axis Hoist Lifts
Axis lifts work best for vans, SUVs, and trucks. This lift doesn’t have a platform, but rather uses an offset post to lift the power wheelchair to place it inside the vehicle. With just the use of a remote control, axis lifts are still easy to use. Axis lifts weight capacity runs between 250 lbs and 400 lbs, so it’s suitable for most electric wheelchairs. Axis lifts generally take up less space.
Purchasing A Wheelchair Lift
When you’re ready to purchase an electric wheelchair lift, the first thing you need to consider is the vehicle you plan on primarily using to transport your electric wheelchair. You’ll need to think about which platform you would prefer; platform, hybrid, or hoist lifts. Check the dimensions of both your power chair and your vehicle to make sure you purchase the right size of lift. The lift needs to be able to fit with your car, SUV, van, or truck and you need to make sure the power chair size works with that particular lift. Also, make sure the power chair’s weight fits within the lift weight capacity. DO NOT GO OVER THE WEIGHT LIMIT.
Where To Purchase A Wheelchair Lift
ScooterDirect.com is a great place to purchase a wheelchair lift. As an authorized dealer, you get a new product with a warranty. We’re here to help you whether you need help finding the right wheelchair lift, having an issue with your lift, or need to honor your warranty.
How To Purchase A Wheelchair Lift
Purchasing an electric wheelchair lift is easy. You can buy directly online or you can place an order by calling one of our mobility specialists. Though we don’t work with Medicare or insurance companies directly, we do offer financing, for low monthly payments.
Installing A Wheelchair Lift
After purchasing your wheelchair lift, most wheelchair lifts do not require a professional to install, you can install the lift yourself. This makes the savings to you greater than purchasing a lift with installation. There is a plethora of manuals and videos online to instruct you on the use and installation of your lift. Using these tools, very few customers have any issue with the installation. However, if you do have questions then you can give us a call and we’ll do our best to assist you. Worst case, you can contact a technician in your area to do the installation.
