Before I sat down in a wheelchair for good, I thought there were only two types of wheelchair lifts: the ones on specially equipped vans and the lifts on accessible public transportation. But, like the vehicles they make handicapped accessible, lifts come in all shapes and sizes.
Car Wheelchair Lifts
Not everyone can afford a specially equipped van. While I look at how easy a van would make my life, getting a van lift is anything but easy, and very expensive. Right now, I lift my folded wheelchair over my lap and plunk it in the passenger seat, if I don’t have someone to get it in and out of the trunk. I need a car lift.
The kind I want is like one of those overhead travel containers people buy, when they don’t have enough trunk space. But, this one is special. Using controls in the car, the container opens up, lowers the lift, so you can hook it onto the chair, pulls it up, folds the chair, and places it into the compartment. Then, when you get to the destination, the controls reverse the process. It is still not a cheap modification; but, it’s a lot cheaper than a relatively new van and the 50 thousand dollars needed to lower the floor and put all the gadgets into the vehicle.
Pickup Lifts
Just based on my own observation, I think this might be the most affordable of all the wheelchair lifts. It works like a miniature crane. Using controls in the cab, you lower a hook. Before getting out of the chair, you hook the lift to the chair. Once you have safely transferred to the pickup, the lift will put the chair into the truck bed. Upon reaching the destination, the hoist will put it right back, in the same position that you got out of the chair earlier.
Trunk Lift
If you never travel alone, or you can walk for short distances, you might want to look into wheelchair lifts for the trunk. When the chair is not in use, you don’t have to pull it in and out of the trunk. It works much like a bicycle rack on the trunk. Fold the wheelchair, attach it to the lift, and it will lift it to the level of the back bumper for transport. Personally, I would rather lift thirty pounds over my lap, because this lift means you always have to have a caregiver present. But, it works for those that never travel alone, and it’s a lot cheaper than a van lift.
Van Wheelchair Lifts
I wish I had a van and the lift to put in it. If you are able to get such wonderful transportation, this is truly the way to travel. But, you will most likely need a grant or some sort of financial aid.
A few years ago, my father-in-law helped me with the down payment on an older van. I immediately searched for someone to help me get that enviable lift. I had so much to learn.
The cost of putting a lift into a van makes it impractical to outfit an older van. Why go to such extremes only for the van to die in a year or two. So, if the van is too old or has too many miles on it, a lift will not be installed. I was told the van must be less than five years old, with less than 50,000 miles.
In many cases, the floor will have to be lowered, so the person in the chair doesn’t get decapitated when pulled into the van. Chairs have to be moved. If the disabled is also the driver, special clamps have to be installed, in place of the captain’s seat, so the chair won’t move while driving. Then, there is the actual lift and all the hydraulics to make it work. The basic cost is approximately 50 thousand dollars. Then, you have to pay higher insurance premiums to cover the cost of a replacement handicapped van. If you can get the financial aid, a grant, or have money in the bank, this is the best, and safest of the wheelchair lifts, because you don’t have to transfer out of the chair.
Finding the right wheelchair lifts depends on your level or mobility and your pocketbook. But, at least you know there are choices.