Wheel chairs are great to get around for handicapped individuals. However, sometimes one needs to transport the wheel chair to a different place. Wheel chairs are light and portable but for the handicapped individual, lifting them manually is out of the question. Today, wheel chairs lifts have become the norm in many buildings and automobiles.

Wheelchairs lifts function like any other lift by using electrical power. Wheel chair lifts today can be installed in a car or home without too much restructuring and can be done relatively cheap- installation of wheel chair lifts is standardized. There are many different models and makes on the market but before one buys a lift, go and see how one works. Each model of lift has different accessories and gadgets.

The most common wheelchair lift is the rack and pinion. The silent device works very effectively and widely used in hospital settings. However this model does cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000- a sum which can be prohibitively high for many elderly. The rack and pinion wheel chair lifts are designed in such a way that they require minimal maintenance and energy.

The cable based lift wheel chairs are cheaper but the ride is not always smooth and tends to jerk. Plus, the cable based lifts also require a lot more maintenance and are prone to breakdowns.

The screw based wheel chair lift is another option but again it does require a lot of maintenance.
The running chair wheel chair lift is used for heavy duty devices and only used when there is no other option. These lifts are extremely noisy, require frequent checkups and are prone to breakdown.

Wheelchair lifts can provide a lot more independence to the individual and offer a chance to go to places not before traveled. Each wheel chair lift has its pros and con but they all serve the same purpose. The best way to know what you should get is to surf the web, read about what is available and the costs.