New Features on the 2012 VMI Honda Odyssey

VMI are reliable mobility van manufacturer for years. With over 20 years in building vans and spending millions of dollars in research and design to ensure their vehicles remain a leader in safety features, VMI has become one of the most popular manufacturers in the mobility industry.

To meet the needs of customers for extra interior space and a clean, obstruction-free handicap vans interior, VMI launched the development of the Northstar in-floor wheelchair ramp system for the Honda Odyssey minivan. After more or less tens of years of processing, the Northstar stays the most technically developed handicap ramp system on the marketplace. Rather of taking up area inside the mobility van, the Northstar wheelchair ramp just rolls out from below the floor. Below are some key features for Honda Odyssey:
• Maximum interior space for wheelchair maneuverability,
• Obstruction-free doorway allows easy entry/exit for able-bodied passengers,
• Reduced accessible van conversion wear (no need to deploy mobility ramp for able-bodied passengers),
• Clean, uncluttered handicapped vehicle interior,
• Less dirt and debris from ramp into handicap accessible vehicle interior,
• Wider usable accessible ramp surface,
• Easy access to all interior buttons, handles, and switches,
• Full use of front passenger seat,
• No squeaking or rattling from wheelchair ramp,
• Handicap Ramp stowed safely under floor in the event of a collision,
• Deployable on curbs up to 10” in height,
• Fully crash-tested and compliant with all government safety standards
• 3-year/36,000-mile warranty.

We are starting the year with VMI Innovations for 2012! With the bold new styling on the 2011 Honda Odyssey and industry-leading Northstar system, it was once again the number one selling Honda minivan in the mobility industry. How can we make the VMI Honda Odyssey even better?

The stylish 2-tone body color matched rear valance is now standard on all VMI Honda wheelchair vans. 2012 Honda Odyssey with the 2-tone body color matched rear valance.
The stylish new interior plastics – including rear bench fold-down foot rest will be standard.

Front step flares will option for customers who need a little help getting into the front driver or passenger`s seat.

When one considers the advantages of the Northstar in-floor wheelchair ramp system, there is no question why the Northstar is far and away VMI’s best-selling product.
The Honda Odyssey with VMI Northstar handicap van conversion also offers amazing interior maneuverability. The VMI one touch remote control allows easy and simple wheelchair ramp deployment at your fingertips, while VMI Power Kneel gives an extremely low handicap ramp angle in these mobility vans conversions.

Each local VMI mobility dealer in the US is dedicated to helping you select the mobility vehicle, wheelchair lift, or accessory that will best suit your needs and budget, and to providing you the highest level of service and maintenance. Find a VMI mobility dealer in the United States or Canada and begin your journey of freedom and independence today.

Purchasing from a VMI dealer, guarantees you that you are purchasing from an organization that is bonded, licensed and insured to sell in California and Nevada. Having a license in the state of purchase gives you recourse and strict administration for any violations. As with any purchase it’s important to keep in mind that you get what you pay for. The use of a dealer will save you with service, happiness and comfort knowing that that if anything goes wrong your mobility dealer are there when you need it.

If you are interested in buying or renting Mobility Vans - Mercedes Benz Sprinter, Honda Odyssey, Dodge caravan, Chrysler Town and Toyota Sienna Handicap Vans visit Better Life Mobility Centers in San Diego, California. Contact us for all information you need on Wheelchair Vans

Mobility Lifts For Wheelchair Vans

If you have never purchased a handicap vehicle, then you may not know about all of the accessories that you can have included on a van. A mobility lift, or wheelchair lift or mobility scooter lift, is a mechanical device that is permanently installed in the mobility van.

Mobility lifts are ultimately what make you able to get in and out of your vehicle. Instead of having to awkwardly struggle to get in and out of your car and risk harming yourself or others, a mobility lift will do the work for you. These lifts are adaptable to your vehicle and they will work no matter what type of wheelchair van you have. Before you buy an automatic or a mobility lift, you will need to make sure that you are buying a quality brand. There are several manufacturers of scooter/wheelchair lifts. Biggest names are VMI, Pride, EZ Carrier, Harmar Mobility etc.

There are various designs and styles, but essentially, the lift consists of a flat metal panel that will raise and lower to allow the wheelchair passenger to get into the vehicle. Simply roll your mobility device on the platform from either side, hit a button, and let the Meridian do the lifting for you. Scooters and power chairs are automatically secured when lift is raised. Retractable belts are also available for securement. The lift is attached to the van either on the outside undercarriage of the van or inside the vehicle. Inside the van, the driver may be able to simple roll into place and lock down the chair or scooter in the driver's area. Some types are only for vans with side entry. Other types utilize a boom to lift the chair into the rear cargo area of a smaller mini-van or SUV. The type that you require will depend on not only your needs, but on the type of vehicle that you own. The mobility lift works great in a wide variety of wheelchair vans. Some of the van models that are compatible for installation are the Ford Transit Connect, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, GMC Savana, Ford E-Series, and Chevrolet Express. Lift works with cars such as Cadillac escalade, Lexus LX, Porsche cayenne, Toyota Land Cruiser, or Sequoia. If you are converting a minivan, you may be required to install a manual lift. Manual lifts are slightly smaller and do not need the same amount of support and space that an automatic lift requires. If you are not physically capable to operate a manual lift, you will have to purchase an automatic.

Some of the characteristics of mobility lifts are: Multi language LCD Interface, remote control, warranty, fully FMVSS compliant, built in manual backup system, signal LED's on both sides of mobility lift.

Your mobility dealers can install wheelchair platform lift in less than 3 hours for most installations. And visual and audible maintenance reminders let users know when their platform handicap lift needs service, parts replacement, or repairs. You should expect a 3 year warranty on parts and a 1 year warranty on labor.


If you need Wheelchair Vans or mobility lifts for you or a person you care about please visit Better Life Mobility Centers in San Diego, California. Whether you need mobility van rentals, Mobility Scooters , or disabled driver hand controls, we have either used it personally or our family or friends have.

Honda Wheelchair Vans With VMI Conversion

One of the most popular wheelchair vans on the market today is the Honda Odyssey, and one of the most popular conversions is the Northstar from VMI. Honda is the maker of one of the best and most long-lasting minivans on the market. Vans like the Odyssey have high safety ratings as well as a variety of extra features perfect for families and individuals alike. These vans are some of the most reliable on the market, and they're known to outlast their counterparts by thousands of miles. For this reason, companies specializing in handicapped conversions have created Honda wheelchair vans, which are some of the best one the market.

Honda minivans tend to last for thousands of miles beyond the normal life of a minivan. The reason that these vans are excellent for conversion vans is that they can stretch your dollar further. A wheelchair van is a huge investment. These vans are much more expensive than regular minivans because of their conversions. Since the Honda vans last so long, they'll mean that your dollars go further.

Another reason that these conversion vans are excellent is that they handle better than most other vans on the market that are comparable to them. The vans feature lowered floors, but they are still easy to drive, park, and get into and out of.
Honda wheelchair vans are also great because they can be customized to your needs. You can get side loading, front loading, mobility lifts, and ramps. Some are automatic, and some are manual. Each of these options will suit different types of people better, and you can change different aspects of your Honda wheelchair vans in order to meet your needs.

When one considers the advantages of the Northstar in-floor wheelchair ramp system, there is no question why the Northstar is far and away VMI’s best-selling product.
• Maximum interior space for wheelchair maneuverability,
• Obstruction-free doorway allows easy entry/exit for able-bodied passengers,
• Reduced accessible van conversion wear (no need to deploy mobility ramp for able-bodied passengers) ,
• Clean, uncluttered mobility vehicles interior ,
• Less dirt and debris from ramp into wheelchair vans interior ,
• Wider usable accessible ramp surface ,
• Easy access to all interior buttons, handles, and switches ,
• Full use of front passenger seat ,
• No squeaking or rattling from wheelchair ramp,
• Handicap Ramp stowed safely under floor in the event of a collision ,
• Deployable on curbs up to 10” in height ,
• Ultra-low 8.0° accessible ramp angle,
• 750lb. wheelchair ramp capacity,
• Sure Deploy backup system allows users to stow or deploy the mobility ramp van conversion even in the event of complete power failure ,
• Manual secondary backup system for additional peace of mind.

For all these reasons, the Honda wheelchair vans that are on the market right now are excellent for individuals and families with special needs. These vans are great for those who need something small and maneuverable that will still easily hold a wheelchair or mobility scooters. Hand controls or other handicap driving aids can also be added for a completely independent driving solution in Honda Odyssey with VMI Northstar wheelchair vehicle conversion.

If you need Wheelchair Vans or mobility lifts for you or a person you care about please visit Better Life Mobility Centers in San Diego, California. Whether you need mobility van rentals, Mobility Scooters , or disabled driver hand controls, we have either used it personally or our family or friends have.