Q. I see that you sell portable ramps. Can I just put a portable ramp on the door of my van instead of buying an expensive lowered floor van?

A. Maybe, it depends on what you are trying move in and out of the van. For an unoccupied wheelchair or scooter, it might work. For an occupied wheelchair or scooter, the situation is completely different for several reasons. First is safety, a ramp short enough to store in the van will probably be too steep to ascend safely. Remember, if someone is pushing someone else up too steep of a ramp in a manual wheelchair and they slip, TWO people get hurt. Second are the laws of physics. A minivan side door opening is between 40" and 43" tall. Can the person in the wheelchair duck their head far enough to clear that? A full size van door opening is between 46" and 59", but the floor is also another 6" - 10" higher from the ground than a minivan, which is between 17" - 20" above the ground.

Some Things to Consider:

Length of ramp - will it be too steep? The anti-tip wheels on wheelchairs or scooters will physically prevent them from going up too steep of slope.

Do you have the room and the ability to fold and store the ramp in the van? A typical 8' folding ramp weighs 50 pounds.

Q.How do I know how long of a ramp I need?

A. Most ramp manufacturers recommend between a 1:12 and 2:12 slope. A 1:12 slope means for every inch of height, you need 1 foot of ramp length. ADA requirements usually require a 1:12 slope.
NOTE: If you are installing a ramp on a building or dwelling, some building codes require a permit and railing for any ramp with a rise of 6" or more.