Loading a wheelchair or scooter through the rear doors of a van with a portable ramp means carrying the ramp, setting it, and stowing it again on every trip. The PVI Rear Door Van Ramp stays bolted to the van floor inside the rear doorway: three aluminum sections fold out to a 7 ft or 8 ft run, four springs take most of the weight so one person can lower and raise it, and it folds back up to stand 36 in or 40 in tall just inside the doors.
It is a permanent installation, and the van has to fit it. PVI's installation sheet calls for at least 34 in of inside door-opening width and 37 in (7 ft ramp) or 41 in (8 ft ramp) from the van floor to the top of the opening, measured after subtracting any threshold, and the folded ramp needs 18 in of depth with 0.25 in of clearance to the closed door. PVI states it will not work on a vehicle with stow-away seating, and a conversion kit is required when the rear opening has a threshold. The ramp's weight rating is not published here because PVI's dealers currently list different figures; contact us before relying on a capacity.
Key Features
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Folds in three and stows upright: The ramp folds into three sections and stands vertically inside the doorway, 36 in tall on the 7 ft model and 40 in on the 8 ft, taking 18 in of floor depth.
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Four-spring assist: Four springs counterbalance the sections so one person can fold the ramp down and back up by hand.
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27 in wide: The ramp is 27 in wide; PVI's installation sheet separately requires a 34 in minimum inside door opening.
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Bolts through the van floor: A mounting plate bolts through the floor with four 5/16 in x 2 in bolts, lock nuts and washers, all supplied, after drilling four 7/16 in holes.
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Welded aluminum with a traction surface: The sections are welded aluminum with a high-traction surface.
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Two lengths for two door heights: The 7 ft ramp needs 37 in of opening height and weighs 72 lb; the 8 ft ramp needs 41 in and weighs 77 lb.
Who It Is For
Full-size and minivan owners who load a manual chair, power chair or scooter through the rear doors regularly and want the ramp fixed in the vehicle rather than carried, provided the van has the opening dimensions above and conventional, not stow-away, rear seating. The 8 ft length gives a gentler slope for the same floor height when the door opening is tall enough to stow it. PVI's own guidance also notes the ramp requires drilling through the van floor and that head clearance must be checked before an occupied chair enters the vehicle.
Dimensions
- 7 ft (84 in) or 8 ft (96 in) long, 27 in wide, one length per variant
- Folded height 36 in (7 ft) or 40 in (8 ft); folded depth 18 in; 0.25 in clearance to the closed rear door
- Minimum inside door opening 34 in wide; minimum opening height 37 in (7 ft) or 41 in (8 ft), floor to top of opening less any threshold
- Weight 72 lb (7 ft) or 77 lb (8 ft)
Measure from the van floor to the top of the rear door opening and subtract the threshold height if there is one; that number must be at least 37 in for the 7 ft ramp or 41 in for the 8 ft, and the opening must be at least 34 in wide.
Installation
No assembly; the ramp arrives as one unit. Installation requires drilling four 7/16 in holes through the van floor; a drill, a 7/16 in bit and wrenches are needed and are not included. PVI does not publish an installation time.
- Measure the opening: floor to top of the door opening, less any threshold, must be at least 37 in (7 ft ramp) or 41 in (8 ft ramp), and the inside width at least 34 in. If a threshold is present, the conversion kit and its instructions are required.
- Set the folded ramp in the doorway with clearance on both sides and at least 0.25 in between the ramp and the closed rear door.
- Mark the mounting plate position on the floor, remove the ramp and drill four 7/16 in holes through the floor, avoiding wiring, brake lines, fuel lines and the tank.
- Reset the ramp, use the floor holes as a template to mark and drill four 7/16 in holes in the mounting plate.
- Bolt the ramp down with the four 5/16 in x 2 in bolts and self-locking nuts, with flat washers under the van floor.
Manufacturer documents: Van ramp installation 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)
Authorized dealer
