When visiting family, friends and neighbors do you struggle with the fact that their homes aren’t easily accessible? Wouldn’t it be nice if they were? Well they can be. There is a solution. Portable mobility ramps allow you to take your mobility with you. Portable mobility ramps fold, telescope and roll up small enough to fit in your vehicle. Their compact, lightweight design makes it easy to be on the go.
They come in different configurations to handle different jobs so the first thing you must do is to decide what obstacles you’re most likely to encounter. Is it a threshold, a small step or curb, multiple steps? Since these ramps are portable they have their limitations as to how long they can be. The most important piece of information you need to know is how much of a rise are you likely to face? Remember, for every inch of rise you will want a foot of ramp length. This gives us a 1:12 slope.
It also depends on what type of mobility device you use. If you are using a manual wheelchair, you probably will want to stick with the 1:12 slope or preferably less depending on you upper body strength. You can probably get away with a slope of 1:8, if you have someone pushing you to be sure you don’t tip backwards. This of course depends on how much you weigh and the size and condition of the person assisting you. If you use an electric wheelchair or scooter then a slope of 1:8 should be fine. I recommend you stay under a slope of 1:8 and as always, you should use the longest ramp you have room for.
Below is a chart to help you choose what length of ramp you will need. The column on the left shows the rise in inches. The row on the bottom shows the length of the ramp. Lets say that you predict that you shouldn’t need to go more than 6 inches in rise. Starting with the 6 on the left, go across until you come upon a green cell. Following that cell downwards you see that you need a 6 foot ramp to achieve the 1:12 slope. Also notice the yellow cells. With a 6 foot ramp you could go as high as 9 inches with some assistance.
“Well,” you say, “I go to my son’s house and there is only enough room for a 4 foot ramp.” If that is the case then you can easily bridge a 4 inch rise no problem and 6 inches with some help. It’s just like a stop light. Green is good, yellow means get some help, and red means consider something else. This is just a guide to help you get an idea of what size ramp will fit your needs. Use your common sense and good judgment. After all, you know what your abilities are. If you need another way to calculate all of this, you can check out our new mobility ramp calculator!
Now that you have a ramp length in mind let’s look at the different kinds of portable mobility ramps. There are many styles to choose from based on your needs.
Theshold Mobility Ramps – These ramps are for what the name implies, crossing thresholds! They are purchased based on a given rise (between 1/4 inch to 6 inches) and have the slope built in to them. These are the least expensive of all the mobility ramps and can be made from a variety of materials. If the rise isn’t going to vary these are ideal.
Suitcase Mobility Ramps – These ramps are single fold ramps that fold down the middle. They have a handle on the side so that they can be carried like a suitcase. Weight capacity is between 600 and 800 pounds and they weigh only 10 to 20 pounds depending on the model. Lengths are between 2 feet and 6 feet.
Multi-fold Mobility Ramps – These ramps are excellent for getting your mobility device in and out of vans or SUVs. They can also be used to span a series of steps. Lengths are between 5 feet and 10 feet. Weight capacity is usually 800 pounds and they weigh 40 to 70 pounds depending on the length. These ramps fold into quarters.
Telescoping Mobility Ramps
Roll-up Mobility Ramps – These ramps are also in the two track design and roll up for easy carrying. A carrying strap or case usually comes with these ramps. They too are lightweight and compact yet are incredibly strong. Some have a weight capacity of 2000 pounds! You can use them to get in your vehicle and then at your destination. The track lengths can be 3 to 13 feet long.
The folding ramps are usually are 29 to 30 inches wide. Make sure that is wide enough for your mobility device. The telescoping and roll-up mobility ramps are two-track design so you set the width. They all come with non-slip surfaces either in the form of grip-tape or extruded into the ramp’s surface. Be sure to check out the weight capacities on any ramp you are considering. They are not all the same.
Well there you have it! I hope you are now armed with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision about what portable mobility ramps are for you. Happy trails!
