Portable wheelchair ramps are a convenient way for a wheelchair user to access any area they like and experience greater freedom. Wheelchair ramps can be used to get over steps, to access steep entrances into buildings, to access vehicles and to navigate steep curbs. There are a variety of different types of portable ramps available and it’s important to research the right one for your requirements before you make a purchase. Consider what type of wheelchair you have, what types of incline you most often navigate and how easily you can transport the ramp before you choose the right ramp for your requirements…

Rollup ramps

Rollup ramps are flexible and highly portable as they are lightweight and small in size which makes them ideal to fit in a vehicle or to attach to the wheelchair for everyday use. They are simple to use and can be unrolled to provide a ramp which the wheelchair can then mount. The major disadvantage with these ramps used to be that they were generally only available in lengths of three or five feet but they have advanced in recent years and they can be shortened and lengthened to fit a variety of different disability applications.

Multi-fold ramps

The multi-fold ramps consist of four sections which fold into a heavy duty portable ramp. This type of ramp is available in lengths up to 12 feet and is ideal for heavier wheelchair users as they are so sturdy. These ramps do tend to be heavy in weight so they are not ideal for everyday use as they can be awkward to transport. The multi-fold ramps are a good choice for entering and exiting larger vehicles such as SUVs.

Single-fold ramps

The single-folded wheelchair ramps are generally light and can tolerate a high weight capacity. They would be the ideal ramp to cross mid-height inclines. The drawback with these ramps is that they retain their full length when folded which can make them difficult to carry and transport. If you just require the ramp for a single purpose though and that fits into the category of mid-height then the single-fold ramp would be fine.

Track ramps

Track ramps are extremely versatile as they allow access to short steps but can also be extended to cover higher inclines and there are some models on the market which extend to up to ten feet. The only drawback to this ramp is that it can only be used on a two-wheel wheelchair. The ramps come in pairs and each ramp acts as a track under each side of the wheelchair so if you have a power scooter or a three-wheel wheelchair for example then this ramp wouldn’t be suitable.

Before you make a final decision on the ramp you need, it would be advisable to work out what the ramp will mostly be used for, some companies have ramp calculators on their websites which will help you to decide which type would be best for you.