![]() ![]() “But somebody with less function might not be able to maneuver it as well. ✔️ Storage: Are you going to put the ramp in the back of a van and have someone to help you move it into place? Or do you need to strap it to the back of your chair and open and close it yourself? “I have enough upper body strength that I can get my ramp up on my lap and into my car,” says Gagliardo. You can also increase the anti-slip ability with grip tape from your local hardware store, says Walworth. ![]() Ramps come with different anti-slip features, such as a sandpaper-like surface or a corrugated aluminum, says Frank. ✔️ Material: While most ramps are made of sturdy aluminum, some are made of carbon fiber, which makes the ramp much lighter, but adds to the cost. “Be sure to combine the weight of the wheelchair, the weight of the user and the weight of anything they may be carrying (groceries, medical devices, oxygen, small pets, etc.) when determining how much capacity you need,” she says. However, a power wheelchair can weigh up to 500 pounds. If you use a lightweight chair (they usually weigh less than 40 pounds), most portable ramps will be fine. ✔️ Capacity: Most ramps can support 600 to 800 pounds, says Walworth. But if you're still overwhelmed with the choices or just need another experienced opinion, you can speak to your doctor or physical therapist. Hopefully, the buying guide at the of this article can help, too. Railings are part of the plan to keep it safe. It gives a gradual slope with two different layers to the design, working straight out from home and then guiding the user to the left. This first plan for a wheelchair ramp is great for homes with a taller foundation. "I usually recommend that people look for companies online that specialize in portable ramps, talk with their representatives about your specific needs and have them help you select the best option," she says. DIY Wheelchair Ramp from Bailey Line Road. When choosing a ramp, Kathleen Walworth, DPT, a board-certified geriatric clinical specialist at Athletico Physical Therapy in Brooklyn, MI, suggests you spend a little extra time doing research. With help from these experts, we were able to pull together this list of the best portable wheelchair ramps. “They are typically 30 inches wide, and don’t have handrails, so they're not as good for self-propelling, but you can use them to get up a curb or into a house with one or two steps.” “There are suitcase ramps, which fold up and have a handle for carrying, and trifold ramps, which fold in half and then in half again,” she explains. Portable ramps come in a few different varieties, explains Karen Frank, PT and co-owner with her husband Gregg, OT, of Back Home Safely, a company in Randolph, NJ, that modifies homes for accessibility. “You’re not going to get up a flight of stairs with these, but if you’re going to a friend or family member’s house, you can make it work,” says Peter Gagliardo, an adaptive sports coordinator at Helen Hayes Hospital, a rehabilitation center in West Haverstraw, NY, who has used a manual wheelchair for the past 17 years. We’re always standing by to assist you with any of your inquiries.Experts explain that a portable ramp is typically used when you’re visiting a home that you know has a step or two into the front door, when you are traveling in a city where you might have to get up and over a curb or when you need to access a part of your home, like a shed that hasn't been adapted for accessibility. ![]() Check our website to find out more information about portable ramps for wheelchairs or ask us a question online. top platform (can be configured for straight, left or right entry) three 6 ft. If you measure the total rise, use our ramp slope calculator to suggest the appropriate ramps to use for the vertical height that you need to climb.
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