Posts Tagged ‘vmi’

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.

Easy To Find Disabled Van Inventory At MobilityWorks

One of the leading disabled van dealers in the midwest is making it even easier to find and buy a conversion disabled van. MobilityWorks has locations in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and California, and they have a brand new search tool to better look for disabled van conversions.

Customers can now search by year, make, model, or conversion type. MobilityWorks usually has around 150 disabled conversion vans in stock, making their inventory of disabled vans among the best in the industry. MobilityWorks is a dealer for some of the largest manufacturers in the industry, including Braun, VMI, and Viewpoint Mobility. They also have a great selection of used conversion disabled vans.

Another great feature of this new search tool is the ability for customers to search by price range. This way, they can find the perfect disabled van conversion for their lifestyle AND budget. Multiple photos are available for their disabled conversion vans, so customers can get a good idea of all the accessible features before they even set foot in a MobilityWorks store or talk to a salesperson.

But the MobilityWorks design team didn’t stop there. Customers can also choose to email specific conversion disabled vans to friends and family, or anyone else they think may benefit from seeing that piece of inventory. The goal is to offer customers with an easy to use, informative, and successful shopping experience.

The VMI Slide-Away Handicap Lift Is Back!

A recent press release from Vantage Mobility International was good news to full size handicap van drivers who use a handicap lift. VMI told the world they were making available a new generation of Ricon Slide-Away platform handicap lift for full size vans. Because they are one of the leading manufacturers and distributors of platform handicap lifts, Vantage Mobility International developed this exciting design for greater access for the disabled as well as other passengers.

“Our new Ricon Slide-Away handicap platform lift is a big step forward in quality, design, and functionality,” said Doug Eaton, CEO of Vantage Mobility International. “The engineering team has worked hard to give it exclusive features and technology… Not only does it employ the highest quality parts, but this handicap platform lifts functionality is unmatched.”

VMI and Ricon also redesigned several system components to give these handicap lifts even better performance than previous models. These upgrades include a better pressure relief valve in the hydraulic lift pump and a change to aluminum from steel to reduce the weight of the handicapped lift.

“While our Slide-Away handicap lift is the culmination of over 20 years of design ingenuity, that is only a piece of this new disabled access product,” added Eaton. “How we put together the Slide-Away is just as important as the parts, design, and technology. VMI has spent the last two years improving our handicap lift manufacturing processes to better ensure the Slide-Away from Ricon will perform up to customer expectations.”

Additional information about the VMI Ricon Slide Away handicap lifts can be found at VantageMobility.com.

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 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 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.

Handicapped Driver Services

Handicapped Driver Services is one the nation’s leading mobility dealerships, with several locations throughout the southeast United States.  HDS offers handicap accessible vans, handicap lifts for vans, scooter lifts, and driving aids and hand controls to their customers in Georgia, Floride, Tennessee, and Alabama.

Handicap Vans and Handicap Accessible Vehicles:

• Braun Ability – Braun Rampvan and Entervan handicap van conversions on Toyota Sienna, Chevy Uplander, Chrysler Town and Country, and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans.
• VMI – VMI Northstar and VMI Summit conversion handicap vans on Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, and Dodge Grand Caravan mini vans.
• Viewpoint Mobility – Rear entry handicap vans on several chassis.

Handicap Lifts and Platform Lifts from:

• Braun Ability – A complete line of handicap lifts for full size vans.
• Ricon/VMI – Platform lifts that will work in almost any full size van application
• Bruno – Scooter and power wheelchair lifts for almost any vehicle you can imagine.

Handicapped Driver Services has several locations serving the southeast:

• 3747 Pine Ln SE Bessemer, AL 35022
• 5675 University Blvd W Jacksonville, FL 32216
• Kennestone Cir Marietta, GA 30066
• Waldron Rd La Vergne, TN 37086

Sylacauga Handicapped, Inc

Sylacauga Handicapped serves the communities surrounding Sylacauga, Alabama by offering handicap ramp vans, handicap van rentals, mobility vehicle adaptive devices, handicap lifts, and scooter lifts.  They also offer personal mobility devices like scooters, manual wheelchairs, and power wheelchairs.

The different lowered floor minivans they have available are from BraunAbility on the Chrysler, Dodge, Toyota, and General Motors mini vans, and they also have full sized handicapped accessible vans for sale at their Sylacuaga store.  Sylacauga Handicapped is a dealer for VMI, and carries their full line of lowered floor minivans, like the VMI Northstar and VMI Summit handicap conversion vans.

Sylacauga Handicapped is located at:

• 1304 Talladega Highway Sylacauga, AL 35150