PVI Wheel-A-Bout Portable Ramp

Some front steps are too tall for any ramp you can carry: at a safe slope the rise wants 10 ft or 12 ft of ramp, yet the household does not want a permanent structure across the front of the house, or cannot build one on a rental. The PVI Wheel-a-Bout is a 30 in wide welded aluminum ramp in exactly those two lengths that folds in half, rolls away on built-in wheels and stands upright in the garage, so a 12 ft ramp can be set out for an appointment and put away afterwards by the people who live there.

Two things set it apart from PVI's shorter portables and need weighing. PVI rates it lower, 600 lb with two axles on the deck and 300 lb on a single axle, against 800 lb and 400 lb for the Singlefold, Solid and Multifold. And it is heavy, 83 lb to 98 lb depending on model, which is why it rolls instead of being carried; PVI's own page says to consider who will set it up and where it will be stored. The maximum rise is 20 in for the 10 ft WAB1030 and 24 in for the 12 ft WAB1230, and PVI's rule that an occupied chair never travels steeper than 2:12, with an assistant, applies here as on every portable ramp. No maximum rise is published for the utility-hook WABU models.

Key Features

• 10 ft and 12 ft lengths on wheels: These are the longest portable ramps PVI makes, and the built-in wheels mean the 84 lb WAB1030 or 98 lb WAB1230 is rolled from the step to the garage rather than lifted.
• Two top hook lengths: PVI's 2026 catalog lists a 2.75 in top hook on the standard WAB1030 and WAB1230 and a 9.75 in hook on the utility WABU1030 and WABU1230; choose by how far the hook must reach over the landing edge, since PVI does not state applications for each.
• Stands upright in a garage: Folded, the ramp measures 66.25 in x 36.75 in x 16 in for the WAB1030 and 78.25 in x 36.75 in x 16 in for the WAB1230, and PVI lists upright garage storage as a feature.
• Closure strap: A strap locks the two panels together once folded so the ramp stays shut while it is rolled and stored.
• Full 30 in platform: The deck runs the full width for the whole 10 ft or 12 ft, which PVI notes matters more on a long ramp where the user needs support and the caregiver needs room throughout.
• Weather resistant: The Wheel-a-Bout is rated weather resistant for outdoor use, with the same anti-slip tape surface PVI puts on its other portable ramps.
• 600 lb on two axles: PVI rates the Wheel-a-Bout at 600 lb across two axles and 300 lb on a single axle; check the loaded weight of a power chair plus rider against those figures before buying.

Who It Is For

A household with a tall front or porch step where a ramp is needed on appointment days and in the way the rest of the time: an older house whose owner does not want to move, a parent recovering from surgery, a rental where nothing may be built. PVI's own page describes that case: a family folding the ramp and rolling it away from the front of the house between medical appointments. It also suits mobility dealers and rental centers that need a long ramp a customer can manage without installation. It is built by PVI in Fairbury, Nebraska.

Dimensions

• Lengths: 10 ft (120 in) or 12 ft (144 in), both 30 in wide
• Top hook: 2.75 in on WAB1030 and WAB1230; 9.75 in on WABU1030 and WABU1230 (PVI 2026 catalog)
• Folded: 66.25 in (WAB1030), 63.25 in (WABU1030), 78.25 in (WAB1230) or 75.25 in (WABU1230) long by 36.75 in wide by 16 in high
• Weight: 84 lb (WAB1030), 83 lb (WABU1030), 98 lb (WAB1230), 97 lb (WABU1230)
• Maximum rise: 20 in for the 10 ft WAB1030, 24 in for the 12 ft WAB1230; not published for the WABU models

Measure the rise from the ground to the top of the landing, then measure the level ground in front of it: a 12 ft ramp needs 144 in of run plus a clear path to roll the folded ramp, 36.75 in wide, to wherever it will stand.

Installation

PVI publishes a Wheel-a-Bout instruction sheet and an installation video (both below); its page gives no setup time or crew size. Setting the ramp out needs no tools; the included steel security pins are for fixing the top of the ramp at a landing it will return to, as PVI's catalog safety guidelines advise.

1. Roll the folded ramp on its wheels to the foot of the step and release the closure strap.
2. Open the two panels out flat along the center fold.
3. Set the top hook over the landing edge, the 2.75 in standard hook or the 9.75 in utility hook, with the bottom end on firm, level ground.
4. Confirm the slope: PVI recommends 1:12 and permits no steeper than 2:12 for an occupied chair or scooter, with an assistant present.
5. At a landing used repeatedly, secure the top of the ramp with the included steel security pins.
6. After use, fold the ramp, fasten the closure strap, roll it to the garage and stand it upright.

PVI Wheel-a-Bout ramp in use, under 2 minutes

PVI Wheel-a-Bout installation, about 3 minutes

Manufacturer documents: Wheel-a-Bout product sheet (PDF), Wheel-a-Bout instructions (PDF).

Warranty

PVI Manufacturing Limited Lifetime Warranty

Limited lifetime warranty, which applies to all end purchasers other than residents of the State of California: PVI Manufacturing warrants to the original end purchaser of the product that the product is free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service. This warranty does not apply to any product that has been subject to misuse, abuse, neglect, alteration, accident, usage not in accordance with product instructions, acts of God, or improper installation, or that has been used for rental purposes or repaired by someone other than PVI Manufacturing. This warranty does not cover normal deterioration of the product due to wear and exposure.

Five year warranty, which applies to residents of the State of California: For a period of five years after the purchase of the product by the original end purchaser of the product, PVI Manufacturing warrants to the original end purchaser of the product that the product is free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service. The same exclusions apply: misuse, abuse, neglect, alteration, accident, usage not in accordance with product instructions, acts of God, improper installation, rental use, repair by someone other than PVI Manufacturing, and normal deterioration due to wear and exposure.

Remedy: This warranty is limited to repairing or replacing, at the option of PVI Manufacturing, any product that is returned to PVI Manufacturing and is reasonably determined by PVI Manufacturing to be defective. The repair or replacement of a defective product under this warranty will be made by PVI Manufacturing without charge for parts or labor. This excludes shipping or delivery charges to and from PVI Manufacturing's place of business. If the product has been discontinued, PVI Manufacturing may replace the product with a new product of comparable value and function. PVI Manufacturing also reserves the right to refund the purchase price as its exclusive warranty remedy.

Claims: Any claim alleging that the product fails to conform to this warranty may be made only by the original end purchaser and only while such purchaser owns the product. A defective product that is covered by this warranty must be returned, at the purchaser's expense, along with proof of date of original purchase (such as a receipt, check or other document PVI Manufacturing deems acceptable that shows the date of purchase and the identity of the product and purchaser), along with a description of the alleged defect, to PVI Manufacturing, 2620 Industrial Drive, Fairbury, Nebraska 68352.

Except as set forth herein, PVI Manufacturing makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and PVI Manufacturing disclaims and negates all other warranties, including, without limitation, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, conformity to models or samples, or any warranties or indemnities against intellectual property infringement. Some states do not allow limitations on implied warranties, so these limitations may not apply to you. In no event will Prairie View Industries, Inc. be liable for any indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages or for any liability in excess of the purchase price of the product.

Before using the product, the purchaser must first determine the suitability of the product for its intended use, and the purchaser assumes all risk and liability whatsoever in connection therewith. No person, agent, distributor, dealer or company is authorized to change, amend or modify the terms of this warranty. This warranty gives the purchaser specific legal rights, and the purchaser may also have other rights that vary from state to state. The purchaser may not assign the purchaser's rights or obligations under this warranty without the prior written consent of PVI Manufacturing.

PVI warranty document (PDF)