Types of Vehicle Wheelchair Lifts - By: IC

A vehicle wheelchair lift is equipment that enables a person with a handicap to comfortably ride into a vehicle. It also allows you to transport the wheelchair or scooter with the vehicle. The two main types of the vehicle wheelchair lift are those that you can put inside the vehicle and those that just stay outside the vehicle. The type of wheelchair/ scooter vehicle lift you would want to use would depend on several matters. Things to consider would have to do with the make of your vehicle, the type of mobility equipment that the vehicle lift would carry and the way you want to store the vehicle lift.

The type which you can put inside the vehicle is also called inside vehicle lifts or internal lifts. They can either be powered by electricity or manually. The design of the internal wheelchair vehicle lift allows you to store it inside the vehicle; most of the lifts are installed inside of large vehicles such as vans and SUVs. When choosing an inside vehicle lift you most look for a compact design so you can have more space for the wheelchair or scooter inside the vehicle.

A lot of room in the compartment or the back of the van is important when opting for an internal vehicle lift to accommodate both the lift and the wheelchair or scooter. One main advantage for the internal lift is that you need not worry about the weather, with an internal vehicle lift your wheelchair is safe and dry wherever you go.

The other type is the external vehicle lift or hitch mounted lift which is installed outside the vehicle. This kind of lift is usually seen at the back of vehicles. An external vehicle lift must have a sturdy design because it will carry the wheelchair or scooter throughout the trip. Most external vehicle lifts have a tilt-load-go design. This means the platform tilts into a ramp, you just wheel in your wheelchair or scooter on the ramp, then the lift tilts back to its original position and you are good to go.

Other external vehicle lifts have an elevator design, this is where you wheel in your wheelchair or scooter into the platform and the platform simply raises the load above the ground securely.

If you worry about the wheelchair or scooter being exposed to the weather there are covers available for that. When you are not using the external vehicle lift it can simply fold up and it is held securely close to the back of the vehicle.

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More information about wheelchair lifts for vehicles can be found at www.usmedicalsupplies.com.

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