Vehicle lifts help to make automobiles accessible to people in wheelchairs. Many types are available and range from simple hitch lifts on the back of a vehicle to elevator-type lifts that allow a wheelchair to be loaded into a vehicle that has enough room to accommodate a person still in a wheelchair. Some automobile manufacturers provide programs that will help to cover the cost of a conversion.
Hitch-mounted Platform Lifts
An external, hitch-mounted lift is convenient for storing and carrying wheelchairs when using smaller, two-door or four-door vehicles. This lift uses a trailer hitch to attach a platform that can be tilted manually or lowered by power, depending upon the unit. The wheelchair can then be placed on the platform and tied down and the platform lifted for travel. When not in use, the lift can be folded upright or even removed from the hitch.
Internal Storage Lift
Internal storage lifts are installed within the rear section of a vehicle such as a minivan. After the person in the wheelchair moves to a seat in the vehicle, the rear hatch is opened and a powered swing arm or platform is extended from within the cargo area. Once the arm or platform is fully extended to the ground, the wheelchair is either strapped to the swing arm's hoist or placed on the platform and then retracted into the vehicle for storage. The hatch can then be closed completely.
Occupied Internal Wheelchair Lift
An occupied internal wheelchair lift mounts in a door in the side of a vehicle, usually a van or bus. The lift acts as an elevator and loads both the wheelchair and the person using it into the vehicle. These range from light-weight single-post platform lifts to more substantial dual-post lifts that can lift heavy loads. Low profile, under-vehicle lifts that stow and deploy from below the vehicle chassis are also available.
Power Source
Wheelchair lifts can be powered by hydraulics or electric motors. Hydraulic lifts move more smoothly and tend to even out changes in speed and weight. Electric wheelchair lifts are less expensive to purchase than hydraulic lifts and can also be less expensive to maintain.
Pros and Cons
Hitch-mounted lifts are less expensive than internal lifts and are relatively easy to install and convenient to store or remove. They can leave the wheelchair exposed to the elements. With internal storage lifts, the wheelchair is loaded completely into the vehicle, which can then be closed, preventing exposure. In both the hitch lift and the internal storage lift, the person who uses the wheelchair will need to transfer to a car seat and another person may need to stow the chair.
Occupied internal wheelchair lifts, while the most expensive and requiring special installation, are the most convenient for people using wheelchairs. The wheelchair continues to act as the seat for the person, eliminating the need for moving from the wheelchair to a car seat. It is important to determine the type of lift to be used prior to purchasing a vehicle because each unit is designed for certain types of vehicles.
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