Posts Tagged ‘handicap van’

VMI Summit Handicap Conversion Vans

Folding Ramp Handicap Vans

VMI makes one of the best in floor handicap ramp conversions in America, but their folding ramp handicap van (the VMI Summit) is pretty great too.  Like all products from VMI, the Summit handicap minivan conversion has been meticously designed and tested to ensure safe and reliable usage.  The engineer team at VMI re-thought how a fold out ramp on a handicap van should work, and the result is one of the best folding ramp minivans for handicap accessiblility.

Features of VMI Summit Handicap Vans

• Power Folding Ramp – Unique design minimizes wear and tear while providing a low ramp angle with safety rails on the sides to prevent roll off.
• Lowered Floor – While reducing the ramp angle as much as possible, this accessible feature ensures ample headroom and a natural line of sight through the handicap accessible vehicle windows.
• Removable Front Seats – You can choose whether to ride in the front passenger or even the driving position.  Driving may be possible for many wheelchair users through the implementation of hand controls, a transfer seat, or other driving aids.
• Remote Control Access – A keychain remote activates the entire VMI Summit conversion for handicap use.

The VMI Summit Conversion Is Available On

• Honda Odyssey
• Chrysler Town & Country
• Dodge Grand Caravan
• Consult a professional to determine which is right for you.

VMI Handicap Vans

Handicap Accessible Minivans

Vantage Mobility International makes several types of handicap mini vans for disabled use, including the VMI Northstar, VMI Summit, and VMI Northstar E Series.  These unique VMI handicap van conversions are available on minivans like the Honda Odyssey, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Chrysler Town and Country.  Each has unique accessible features that make them different, and each provides special options for wheelchair or scooter users.

VMI Northstar

The feature that most people notice first on the VMI Northstar handicap van conversion is the power in floor handicap ramp.  The uncommon design of this in-floor ramp make it extremely durable and safe.  The VMI Northstar handicap accessible van conversion also has power kneel, a lowered floor, remote control activation, removable front seats, and Sure Deploy Backup.

VMI Summit

The VMI Summit handicap van is similar to other lowered floor minivans, but it has a power folding handicap ramp for wheelchair use.  This folding ramp has been designed to be reliable, and VMI Summit handicap van conversions also have a lowered floor, power kneeling feature, activation by remote control, and front seats that can be removed to allow the disabled passenger to ride up front or even drive.

VMI Northstar E Series

The VMI Northstar E Series conversion for handicpa minivans features a manual conversion.  The infloor handicap ramp slides out easily from a compartment in the floor of the lowered floor minivan to provide a simple incline plane to enter the vehicle.  Northstar E Series handicap vans do not have other power options, but they do have removable front seats.

Handicap Accessible Full Size Van Conversions

VMI has made full size handicap vans for wheelchair use for a long time, but recently they partnered with Tuscany Conversions to make some of the most luxurious handicap full size vans in America.  These vans can be equipped with almost any Ricon handicap lift, and can have optional features like a lowered floor, raised roof, leather, flat panel TV’s, and more.

VMI Northstar with Honda Odyssey Part 8

Part 8 of the Honda Odyssey with VMI Northstar handicap van video series ends up where we started:  the features Honda brings to the table that makes this handicap accessible vehicle so popular.

These handicap accessible features include (on the Honda Odyssey Touring)

• Ergonomic controls
• Voice activated controls
• Navigation system

VMI Northstar with Honda Odyssey Part 7

Part 7 of the VMI Northstar handicap van conversion on the Honda Odyssey chassis shows just how much VMI wants to meet their customer needs.  What do you suppose happens to the carpet flooring in a wheelchair accessible van?  That’s right, it gets used and abused.  VMI has a rubberized flooring flooring option in their accessible vehicle conversions that is easy to clean and keeps looking new long after carpet would have worn out.

Not only does VMI care about the looks of their handicap accessible vans, they also put a high premium on customer safety.  For this reason, the include a backup system that can run the VMI Northstar handicap conversion even if “worst case” scenario happens.  No matter what, even in a total electrical failure, this fail safe will allow you to operate the conversion and safely enter and exit the vehicle.

VMI Northstar with Honda Odyssey Part 5

Part 5 of the VMI Northstar handicap van of the Honda Odyssey minivan gets into the meat and potatoes of the accessible vehicle conversion.

Features included in the VMI Northstar handicap van conversion:

• Remote control activation of the entire mobility system
• Power sliding passenger door
• Power in floor handicap accessible ramp
• Power Kneel
• Multiple button locations

VMI Northstar with Honda Odyssey Part 4

At the end of the day, a handicap accessible van is a vehicle that you will use to get from point A to point B.  In the past, handicap accessible vans have had so many modifications that there wasn’t enough room to fit all the stuff you want to take with you.  The VMI engineers have solved this problem by creating a handicap van conversion with more cargo room than ever before.

In a Honda Odyssey Touring handicap van by VMI:

• The spare tire is located in the sidewall of the van, creating an abundance of cargo space.
• The rear backup camera will help navigate while backing up.
• The power rear hatch has built in safety reverse.

VMI Northstar with Honda Odyssey Part 3

In part 3 of the VMI Northstar handicap van conversion on the Honda Odyssey, some of the convenience features of the Honda Odyssey are covered. But in a handicap van, convenience features also mean accessible features.

Honda Odyssey handicap accessible vans by VMI offer:

• Auto Roll Down windows – with the touch of a button on the keychain remote the windows roll down.  This allows you to start to cool your accessible vehicle immediately once you are within the remote controls working distance.
• Heat Rejecting Glass – keeps the interior of your accessible van cooler so it doesn’t take so long to get comfortable.  This feature will also keep the interior of your van looking newer longer.

VMI Northstar with Honda Odyssey Part 2

Part 2 of the VMI Northstar handicap van conversion on the Honda Odyssey minivan goes into detail about some of the features of the Honda van.  Specifically, the power and reliability the Honda Odyssey provides, as well as the safety features Honda builds into every one of their handicap accessible vehicles.  These are a few of the reasons the industry is buzzing with excitement over the handicap accessible van.

The Honda Odyssey Touring model handicap van provides:

• Honda V6 engine – 3.5 Liter, 244 horsepower
• Increased fuel economy with cylinders that turn on and off depending on driving conditions
• Special body construction that allows for increased safety during a collision

VMI Northstar with Honda Odyssey

An foreign import handicap van has been a difficult thing to come by, that is until VMI introduced the VMI Northstar handicap conversion van on the Honda Odyssey minivan.  VMI has a series of videos detailing and demonstrating the features of their Northstar conversion on the Honda Odyssey.

The first section in this video demonstration beaks down what this exciting new accessible vehicle means:  quality and dependability.  One important item for buying a handicap van is a proper evaluation, meaning the dealer or company you buy an accessible vehicle from should ask you some questions about how you plan to use the van, what your physical limitations are, and what your budget is.  Without an appropriate evaluation, you could end up buying the wrong handicap accessible vehicle for your needs, lifestyle, and budget.  This is not covered in the video, but be aware that it is important.

A VMI Northstar handicap van conversion on the Honda Odyssey means:

• Honda dependability, reliability, and engineering
• VMI’s 20+ years of experience and over 14,000 units in the field

Handicap Conversion Vans

Handicap Van Conversion

A handicap van conversion is much different from a traditional conversion van.  When most people think of a conversion van, they think of a fancy, finished full size van.  A family van.  Maybe it has a raised roof for extra headroom.  Handicap conversion vans cover a much broader variety of vehicles.  Handicap van conversions can have a lowered floor, a raised roof, both, or neither.  Confused?

Lowered Floor Minivans

One of the most popular conversions is the lowered floor minivan.  These vans are wheelchair accessible either through the back hatch or sliding passenger door.  The lowered floor means more headroom, a better line of sight through the windows, and a reduced ramp angel for easy wheelchair transition.

Full Size Van with a Lift

Less popular than a lowered floor minivan, a Full Size handicap van with a lift is still a good choice for many people who want wheelchair accessibility in a vehicle.  Full size van can have a raised roof or lowered floor, and are generally a good choice for people who sit taller in their wheelchair.  Full sized handicap conversion vans will typically have a handicap lift installed in either the side passenger door or back doors.