For those with disabilities, wheelchair minivans offer either a ramp or lift to get the chair into its proper place. While the lift has its fans, the ramp has the edge in popularity due to its price and convenience.
Ramps can be deployed manually or electronically from a passenger side door. They can be a fold-out or in-floor style. (In-floor ramps slide in and out from beneath the floor.)
Each has its drawbacks and advantages, so weigh the options against your situation.
In-floor ramp
- There is usually no manual option; if the van loses power, the ramp won’t operate unless there is a backup system or a hand crank.
- An in-floor ramp is roomier as it doesn’t block the doorway – it rests in a pocket under the floor. Passengers enter and exit without having to deploy the ramp – an important consideration if you have passengers.
- High sidewalk curbs may prevent the in-floor ramp from deploying.
- When pocketed, the ramp cannot be seen from inside or outside the van, making it look more attractive.
VMI manufactures a full line of minivans with in-floor ramp options:
- Dodge Grand Caravan Northstar
- Chrysler Town & Country Northstar
- Honda Odyssey Northstar
- Toyota Sienna Northstar
Dodge Grand Caravan Northstar
Features Overview
The VMI Dodge Grand Caravan Northstar provides ease of use and flexibility at a budget-friendly price. This wheelchair conversion van offers all of the in-floor ramp benefits, such as an obstruction-free doorway and uncluttered interior, in an affordable mobility vehicle.
Ramp System
All VMI Northstar conversions come with a patented, ultra-low, in-floor power ramp that allows for safe entry and exit for even the largest power chairs. The ramp is stowed under the floor, creating more interior room for maneuverability and minimizing dirt and debris in the interior.
Interior Space
Our Dodge Grand Caravan Northstar offers an obstacle-free front row for more wheelchair maneuverability. Both front-row seats can be removed to accommodate wide power chairs and provide multiple seating options.
Headroom
Our Dodge Grand Caravan Northstar provides enough door height to accommodate manual wheelchairs and small-to-medium power chairs. The doorway is clear of obstructions for easy entry and exit and has a dropped floor to give wheelchair users a clear line of sight.
Comfort & Style
Our Dodge Grand Caravan Northstar offers a clean, uncluttered interior. Enjoy a quiet, comfortable ride with noise-reduction engineering.
Other Features
Our Dodge Grand Caravan Northstar mobility minivans come with additional features for extra durability and ease of use. For example, the VMI Northstar reduces the likelihood of under-vehicle damage by providing up to 1.5 inches of additional ground clearance over other mobility vans.
- Wheelbase: 121 inches
- Overall Length: 201 inches
- Overall Height: 73
- Overall Width: 77 inches
- Maximum Floor Drop: 11 inches
- Min. Vehicle Ground Clearance (ground effects): 5.5 inches
- Min. Vehicle Ground Clearance (exhaust): 6.5 inches
- Door Opening Height: 55.1 inches
- Door Opening Width: 30.8 inches
- Ramp Length (angle ramp and transition plate): 58.6 inches
- Usable Ramp Width: 29.25 inches
- Ramp Capacity: 800 pounds
- Ramp Angle with PowerKneel on (curb weight): 8 degrees
- Ramp Angle with PowerKneel off (curb weight): 11.5 degrees
- Overall Floor Length: 86 inches
- Length from Back of Seat Bases to Kickplate: 58.25 inches
- Floor Width at B Pillar: 60 inches
- Floor Width at Front Doors: 61 inches
- Interior Height at Center Position: 57.63 inches
- Interior Height at Driver Position: 58 inches w/o sunroof; 55.5 inches w/ sunroof
- Interior Height at Passenger Position: 58 inches (w/o sunroof)
- Cargo Area/Seat Up: 11.5 cubic feet
View the Dodge Grand Caravan Northstar brochure here
Chrysler Town & Country Northstar
The Chrysler Northstar has a fully-powered, slide-out ramp that creates an uncluttered interior and obstruction-free doorway. With noise-minimizing engineering and a selection of Chrysler’s most popular features, the Chrysler Northstar offers an enjoyable ride. Features of these new and used conversion vans include:
- Factory navigation and entertainment options
- High ground clearance to reduce scraping
- 800-lb weight capacity holds larger power chairs
Features Overview
Ramp System
All VMI Northstar conversions come with a patented, ultra-low, in-floor power ramp that allows for safe entry and exit for even the largest power chairs. The ramp is stowed under the floor, creating more interior room for maneuverability and minimizing dirt and debris in the interior.
Interior Space
Our Chrysler Town & Country Northstar offers an obstacle-free front row for more wheelchair maneuverability. Both front-row seats can be removed to accommodate wide power chairs and provide multiple seating options.
Headroom
Our Chrysler Town & Country Northstar provides enough door height to accommodate manual wheelchairs and small-to-medium power chairs. The doorway is clear of obstructions for easy entry and exit and has a dropped floor to give wheelchair users a clear line of sight.
Comfort & Style
Our Chrysler Town & Country Northstar offers a clean, uncluttered interior. Enjoy a quiet, comfortable ride with noise-reduction engineering and an array of Chrysler’s most popular interior and entertainment features.
Other Features
Our Chrysler Town & Country Northstar mobility minivans come with additional features for extra durability and ease of use. For example, the VMI Northstar reduces the likelihood of under-vehicle damage by providing up to 1.5 inches of additional ground clearance over other mobility vans.
- Wheelbase: 121 inches
- Overall Length: 201 inches
- Overall Height: 73
- Overall Width: 77 inches
- Maximum Floor Drop: 11 inches
- Min. Vehicle Ground Clearance (ground effects): 5.5 inches
- Min. Vehicle Ground Clearance (exhaust): 6.5 inches
- Door Opening Height: 55.1 inches
- Door Opening Width: 30.8 inches
- Ramp Length (angle ramp and transition plate): 58.6 inches
- Usable Ramp Width: 29.25 inches
- Ramp Capacity: 800 pounds
- Ramp Angle with PowerKneel on (curb weight): 8 degrees
- Ramp Angle with PowerKneel off (curb weight): 11.5 degrees
- Overall Floor Length: 86 inches
- Length from Back of Seat Bases to Kickplate: 58.25 inches
- Floor Width at B Pillar: 60 inches
- Floor Width at Front Doors: 61 inches
- Interior Height at Center Position: 57.63 inches
- Interior Height at Driver Position: 58 inches w/o sunroof; 55.5 inches w/ sunroof
- Interior Height at Passenger Position: 58 inches (w/o sunroof)
- Cargo Area/Seat Up: 11.5 cubic feet
View the VMI Chrysler Town & Country Northstar Brochure here
Honda Odyssey Northstar
The Honda Northstar wheelchair-accessible minivan delivers both space and style with generous headroom, more floor length and a top-rated design. The ramp is stowed below the floor, offering a clean, obstacle-free interior and greater safety in the event of a collision. Features of these new and used conversion vans include:
- Most headroom of any Honda mobility van
- Greater usable floor length for maneuverability
- Easy entry for wide power chairs on 30” ramp
- Sleek design fully integrates with factory styling
Features Overview
Ramp System
All VMI Northstar conversions come with a patented, ultra-low, in-floor power ramp that allows for safe entry and exit for even the largest power chairs. The ramp is stowed under the floor, creating more interior room for maneuverability and minimizing dirt and debris in the interior.
Interior Space
Our Honda Odyssey Northstar offers an obstacle-free front row and innovative seat-base design to create more space for wheelchair rotation. Both front-row seats can be removed to accommodate wide power chairs and provide multiple seating options.
Headroom
Our Honda Odyssey Northstar provides the most headroom of any Honda conversion on the market. The doorway is clear of obstructions for easy entry and exit. Once inside the van, the dropped floor gives wheelchair users a clear line of sight.
Comfort & Style
Our Honda Odyssey Northstar’s style, fit and finish are consistently rated best in the industry by customers and dealers. The sophisticated interior and exterior designs seamlessly integrate with Honda’s top-selling minivan.
Other Features
Our Honda Odyssey Northstar mobility minivans come with additional standard features for extra durability, convenience and ease of use.
- Wheelbase: 118.1 inches
- Overall Length: 202.9 inches
- Overall Height: 73.5
- Overall Width: 79.2 inches
- Maximum Floor Drop: 12.75 inches
- Min. Vehicle Ground Clearance (ground effects): 5.5 ± 0.25 inches
- Min. Vehicle Ground Clearance (exhaust): 5.5 ± 0.25 inches
- Door Opening Height: 55 ± 0.25 inches
- Door Opening Width: 30.75 ± 0.25 inches
- Ramp Length (angle ramp and transition plate): 59.75 inches
- Usable Ramp Width: 30 inches
- Ramp Capacity: 800 pounds
- Ramp Angle with PowerKneel on (curb weight): 8 ± 0.2 degrees
- Ramp Angle with PowerKneel off (curb weight): 11 ± 0.2 degrees
- Overall Floor Length: 91.5 ± 0.25 inches
- Length from Back of Seat Bases to Kickplate: 61.75 ± 0.25 inches
- Floor Width at B Pillar: 60 ± 0.25 inches
- Floor Width at Front Doors: 60 ± 0.25 inches
- Interior Height at Center Position: 60 ± 0.25 inches
- Interior Height at Entertainment Console (in Touring Elite): 56.0 ± 0.25 inches
- Interior Height at Driver Position: 57.25 inches w/o sunroof; 56.25 inches w/ sunroof
- Interior Height at Passenger Position: 57.25 inches w/o sunroof; 56.25 inches w/ sunroof
- Cargo Area/Seat Up: 19 cubic feet w/o tire; 12.5 cubic feet w/ tire
View the VMI Honda Odyssey Northstar Brochure here
Toyota Sienna Northstar Access360™
The Toyota Northstar Access360 is a top-of-the-line wheelchair-accessible minivan. It gives greater access to life through more space, flexibility and ease of use. With a slide-out, in-floor ramp, users get less dirt and debris in the interior and optimal maneuverability for larger power chairs. Features of these new and used conversion vans include:
- More room to turn due to 12”-longer floor
- Easy entry for wide power chairs on 30” ramp
- Maximum door height for tall wheelchair users
- Industry-best headroom via 14.9” dropped floor
- High ground clearance to reduce scraping
Features Overview
Ramp System
All VMI Northstar conversions come with a patented, ultra-low, in-floor power ramp that allows for safe entry and exit for even the largest power chairs. The ramp is stowed under the floor, creating more interior room for maneuverability and minimizing dirt and debris in the interior.
Interior Space
Our Toyota Sienna Northstar Access360 offers more interior space for a greater range of movement. With a floor 12 inches longer than any Toyota conversion on the market, the Access360 allows complete rotation for almost any wheelchair without scraping or scratching interior panels.
Headroom
Our Toyota Sienna Northstar Access360 offers industry-leading door and interior height to accommodate taller wheelchair users. With more headroom than other mobility vans, the VMI Access360 conversion ensures nearly any wheelchair user can enter and exit the vehicle comfortably.
Comfort & Style
Our Toyota Sienna Northstar Access360 offers a clean, uncluttered interior and a pleasant ride for all passengers. The VMI design seamlessly integrates the interior and exterior conversion with the factory vehicle and adds extra usability and comfort with features such as step flares and a rear-bench footrest.
Other Features
Our Toyota Sienna Northstar Access360 mobility minivans come with additional features for extra durability and ease of use. For example, the VMI Access360 reduces the likelihood of under-vehicle damage by providing up to 1.5 inches of additional ground clearance over other mobility vans.
- Wheelbase: 119.3 inches
- Overall Length: 200.2 inches
- Overall Height: 77.6 inches w/ roof rails
- Overall Width: 78.1 inches
- Maximum Floor Drop: 14.875 inches
- Min. Vehicle Ground Clearance (ground effects): 6.2 inches
- Min. Vehicle Ground Clearance (exhaust): 5.6 inches
- Door Opening Height: 57 inches
- Door Opening Width: 30.5 inches
- Ramp Length (angle ramp and transition plate): 58.75 inches
- Usable Ramp Width: 30 inches
- Ramp Capacity: 800 pounds
- Ramp Angle with PowerKneel on (curb weight): 8.6 degrees
- Ramp Angle with PowerKneel off (curb weight): 11.4 degrees
- Overall Floor Length: 95 inches
- Length from Back of Seat Bases to Kickplate: 65.5 inches
- Floor Width at B Pillar: 61.5 inches
- Floor Width at Front Doors: 60.3 inches
- Interior Height at Center Position: 61.8 inches
- Interior Height at Driver Position: 60.5 inches w/o sunroof; 58.25 inches with sunroof
- Interior Height at Passenger Position: 60.5 inches w/o sunroof; 58.25 inches with sunroof
- Cargo Area/Seat Up: 26 cubic feet
