Posts Tagged ‘honda odyssey’

South Dakota Family Gets New Disabled Vehicle

Patty Sauyres and her mother, Alice Harvey recently visit IMED Mobility of Tea, South Dakota to pick up their new disabled vehicle. They drove up from Yankton to get a better disabled accessible vehicle for Alice, who uses a wheelchair to get around. The accessible disabled vehicle is a 2010 Honda Odyssey EX with a VMI Northstar conversion. Prior to buying the disabled vehicle from IMED, they drove an unconverted Chevy S10.

“This means I don’t have to lift a wheelchair in and out of the vehicle,” Patty said. “Alice had a way of falling under the truck before. Now I don’t have to worry about that.”

They said they were nervous to use the disabled accessible vehicle, but were also happy to get it on the road. They also said it was a great help to buy the accessible disabled vehicle from IMED Mobility. IMED Mobility has locations in South Dakota and Minnesota, so they had a great variety of disabled vehicles to choose from.

Viewpoint Vision Mobility

Viewpoint Mobility manufactures and sells rear entry handicap vans for wheelchair users to ride and drive in.  They are located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and offer their rear load handicap van conversions through a nationwide dealer network.  Viewpoint Vision rear entry conversion handicap accessible minivans are available on Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town and Country, and Honda Odyssey minivans.  They offer brand new handicap vehicles or used mobility vans with a wheelchair ramp located at the back of the van.

But a top notch handicap van conversion isn’t the only thing Viewpoint offers.  The wheelchair ramps come with the option of manual operation or power operation, and they offer a variety of accessories to compliment the accessible conversion for wheelchair passengers or drivers.  A transfer handicap seat allows a wheelchair passenger to enter at the rear hatch, drive up the handicap ramp, and easily transfer into the front driver or passenger position.  Hand controls or other handicap driving aids can be added at any Viewpoint Mobility Dealership for a fully accessible van conversion.

Viewpoint Mobility also pays attention to details.  The finish on these vans for handicap drivers is unmatched in the industry, and optional second row bucket seats are available.  For details on prices and availability in your area, visit Viewpoint’s website or talk to your local mobility dealer.

Honda Odyssey with VMI Conversion

VMI Conversions available on Honda Odyssey Minivans

Vantage Mobility International was one of the first companies in America to do a full scale handicap accessible van conversion on a Honda Odyssey.  Their handicap van on the Honda Odyssey minivan features an 11 inch lowered floor for an entry height of about 55 inches and interior height of about 59 inches (in models without a sunroof).  The ramp width is about 29.5 inches, and the door opening width is about 31 inches.  The 5.5 inches of ground clearance is among the most in the industry.  VMI converts the Honda minivan with either the VMI Northstar or VMI Summit handicap van conversions.  The Summit has an electric folding handicap ramp, the Northstar has an electric in-floor handicap ramp.  One of the most unique optional features is a rubberized flooring which reduces wear and tear on the interior, and is much easier to keep clean than traditional vehicle carpeting.

One of the reasons a Honda Odyssey handicap van is so exciting to so many people is because it has been difficult to find an import handicap accessible vehicle.  A lot of people prefer an import for fuel economy, comfort, luxury, or a variety of other reasons.  VMI recognized this and developed the Honda Odyssey with VMI handicap van conversion to meet the needs and desires of its customers.  For a visual demonstration, check out our Honda Odyssey with VMI Northstar video pages.

Honda Odyssey with VMI Northstar Conversion

Since it hit the scene in late 2006, the Honda Odyssey with the VMI Northstar conversion has become extremely popular with individuals seeking better transportation options in a wheelchair. VMI is one of the most reputable names in the handicap accessible van industry, and Honda builds some of the most reliable vehicles on the road today. Combine the two, and you get one of the most amazing handicap vans on the road today.

VMI Northstar handicap vans include:

• 11 inch lowered floor
• Remote control activation
• Power in floor ramp
• Power kneeling feature
• Removable front seats
• Optional rubberized flooring
• And much more

MobilityReport recently went through a video series of 8 parts that gives even greater detail of the Honda Odyssey with VMI Northstar conversion that starts here.

VMI Northstar Handicap Van Conversion

Safe, Reliable Wheelchair Transportation

With over 15,000 VMI Northstar handicap van conversions on the road in the US today, it has become one of the most popular and reliable handicap accessible van conversions around.  Why is this VMI handicap conversion van so popular?  There are a lot of reasons, but the most prominent is an in-floor handicap ramp which leaves an open doorway for ambulatory passenger to enter and exit the minivan without deploying the ramp every time.  In short, it is one of the most user friendly handicap accessible vehicles available.

Features of VMI Northstar Handicap Vans

• Power In Floor Handicap Ramp – Leaves an open doorway for non-wheelchair using passengers to enter and exit the vehicle.  It also provides a lower ramp angle, making it easier to enter and exit the vehicle.
• Power Kneel – A mechanism actually lowers the suspension of the accessible vehicle closer to the ground, reducing the ramp angle even more.
• Removable Front Seats – A handicapped individual can choose to ride in the front passenger position or even drive (with the aid of hand controls or other driving aids)
• Remote Control Activation – With the touch of a button on the keychain remote, the door opens and ramp deploys so your van is ready and waiting when you get to it.
• Lowered Floor – One of the most important features on any handicap accessible minivan, this feature means enough headroom to ride comfortably and a more natural line of sight through the windows.

Which Minivans Can Have the Northstar Handicap Van Conversion?

• Dodge Grand Caravan
• Chrysler Town and Country
• Honda Odyssey
• Each minivan make has unique advantages that could make it better for certain disabled individuals.  Consult a professional for details.

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.