Your wheelchair is specialty equipment and needs to be transported easily and securely. What kind of wheelchair lift you need depends on the type of wheelchairs you have, whether you will get out of your chair or stay in it for the ride, and the type of van or vehicle you have. Here are some ideas to get you started. Today, you have so many options when it comes to choosing high quality mobility equipment that not only fits your physical needs, but also your desired lifestyle.

Power wheelchair lifted and attached to back of vehicle (Bruno ASL-250): This system requires a class three hitch on your car and docking devise on the wheelchair. This solution works if you are able to get from the back of your vehicle to your seat without your wheelchair. That is, you will likely need a walker or caregiver help.

Wheelchair or mobility scooter lifted and placed inside your vehicle, SUV, or truck:

• Bruno VSL-4000 joey lift works with cars such as Cadillac escalade, Lexus LX, Porsche cayenne, Toyota Land Cruiser, or Sequoia.

• Bruno PUL Wheelchair lift works with mobility vehicles such a s Toyota Tundra, Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram, Ford F-150, and Nissan. The average cost of these, in-vehicle lifts range from $2,500 to $3,500.

Need assistance getting into the front driver or passenger seat or, in a mini-van, a mid-row seat (automotive turney): An automotive turney is a seating system that removes your vehicles current seat and replaces it with a seat that rotates out of the vehicle and lowers at least 12 inches, so you can more easily transfer into it. This system works if you are traveling with someone who can secure the wheelchair into your car after you have gotten inside. The Bruno turney seating system works well for people who have taller cars, such as a truck, and costs about $6,000. If you use it with a Bruno PUL lift, you could have a fully independent wheelchair transportation system.

Drive wheelchair into vehicle without getting out of the wheelchair (Ricon wheelchair platform lift):

If you are not able to easily transfer out of your wheelchair, a full-size van – such as a Ford Econoline or Mercedes Benz Sprinter with a wheelchair platform lift is probably best for you. Here is how it works:

• You drive your wheelchair onto a platform.

• The platform lifts you and your wheelchair to the door of the handicap van.

• You secure your wheelchair to the mobility van.

You will also need a floor conversion with this lift. You have several options:

• Norcal mobility 9-inch full-cut lowered floor conversion: The entire floor is lowered 9 inches, so you can sit up front or in the back without transferring out of your wheelchair.

• Tuscany 6-inch full-cut lowered floor conversion: The entire floor is lowered 6 inches.

• Tuscany mid-cut conversion: Just the back seat is lowered, not the front driver or passenger seating area. Tuscany offers a mid-cut for people who do not want the passenger and driver seats modified and the full cut which allows the wheelchair user to sit in the passenger/driver side without transferring from their wheelchair.