Portable wheel chair ramps

Stairs or curbs in public places or even around homes can be difficult for people in wheelchairs to navigate around. This is where wheelchair ramps come in the picture to help access such inaccessible places with ease. As more and more wheelchair users demanded a more independent lifestyle, manufacturers responded by building wheelchair ramps, properly designed to meet the needs of wheelchair users.

Portable wheel chair ramps are built from aluminum or steel and can be easily moved from one part of the house to another and can also be used outdoors offering easy access to vehicles and stairs. Permanent wheelchair ramps installed in different places in the home can prove to be an expensive affair; portable wheelchair ramps come in handy in such situations as just one single ramp can be used at multiple locations inside and even outside the home.

One type of portable wheelchair ramps is the suitcase type of ramps. They can be folded to the size of a suitcase and can be used to cover up to two steps. Their disadvantage is that they are bulky to carry even when folded and are quiet heavy weighing an average of 41 pounds.
This shortcoming is taken care of in the rolling ramp model which is not just light weight but also more stable and stronger than the suitcase type of ramps. The only drawback is probably the peculiar appearance of these types of ramps which is more than enough compensated for by their advantages.
Lastly, there are ramps built for use in vans. These ramps, known as van wheelchair ramps are lightweight yet they can take a weight of up to 800 pounds. They have anti-skid surfaces for added safety and are easy to install and use.

It is possible to build a wheelchair ramp at home but it requires a great deal of time, effort, and attention to detail. If the safety standards are not followed then it can result in serious accidents and injuries to the user. Thus it is often advised to go in for commercially manufactured wheelchair ramps which have been thoroughly tested.