Folding Wheelchair Ramps

Folding wheelchair ramps are specialty ramps that are made to safely load and unload wheelchairs or scooters from a vehicle or even a house. Find out what to look for below.

When it comes to transporting wheelchairs and scooters, it's important to choose ramps that have been specifically built for this purpose. Folding wheelchair ramps should be safety tested and be rated for a specific weight capacity. This certification guarantees that the ramp meets government safety standards.

Whether there is a member of your family who uses a wheelchair or scooter, or you have elderly parents who need to be taken to appointments or on errands, a folding wheelchair ramp will come in handy. It's so much safer and easier to use a wheelchair ramp than to try to lift the chair into the vehicle or house, or use a make shift ramp.

A portable wheelchair ramp should be lightweight for easy handling. But it also has to be strong enough to hold the chair or scooter, as well as the weight of the person in it, and possibly the weight of the person pushing the chair. That's why most of these ramps are made out of aluminum. Aluminum is strong and durable yet lightweight.

Because wheelchair ramps need to be transported from place to place and stored while in transit, they fold conveniently. Some ramps fold in half while others may fold into thirds or even quarters. Most will come with a handle and so can be easily carried like a suitcase.

The longer the ramp, the heavier it will be, so these ramps may be designed to come apart into two separate sections, making them easier to use, carry, and store. You remove the hinge pins to separate the ramp into sections. When the sections come apart, each will often come with its own handle.

Look for loading ramps with anti-slip traction tape covering the entire walking surface. This allows for maximum traction even in situations where the ramp itself or the wheels of the wheelchair or the scooter are wet. Another nice feature is to have raised side rails to be sure that wheels stay on the ramp during use.

Portable folding wheelchair ramps should be wide enough to work with whatever wheel configuration the wheelchair or scooter has, while at the same time supplying full support and stability. Check sizes when ordering.

Choosing a wheelchair ramp that is long enough to avoid having too steep a grade is an important safety consideration. Many of these ramps have a self-adjusting transition plate on top and bottom for a smooth transition from the ramp to the ground. Check specifications of ramps for recommendations.