Ricon Uni-Lite lift

[reaton]

I have a Chevy express van with a Ricon Uni-Lite lift and I love it. Buying a new van soon and the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna don’t do it for me after test driving them both. So, I will probably get another Chevy Express but was told that the Uni-Lite lift is not being manufactured anymore, but you can still get one custom made for $19K and that is just for the lift. This seems ridiculous since I was quoted $22,500 for a whole Braun Millennial conversion package that covers everything (power seat, power doors, hand controls, etc.…). Has anybody purchased a Uni Lite lately? This lift has been a beast for the last 15 years and that would my first choice..

[Art454]

They don't want to put lifts in full size vans. I wanted one after ford stopped there E van. Last I new chevy had there fuse box under the driver seat and it makes it hard to put a transfer seat in them soo you can see out of the van. Piss poor spot to put it. They could have put it under the passenger seat or some were else. Or have they change that? Most wheelchair dealer don't even stock a chevy van unless you are just a passenger. No good for use folks that drive themselves. If you have a electric chair you need the two post lift. I think Ricon was bought out and now they make junk. May last 1995 van was a chevy 3/4 ton had a Ricon lift in it and it worked good. The only problem I had was that electric solenoid switch which unlocks and locks the lift when you want to use it. It goes bad so I used to use a long screw driver to lift the plate up to realase the lift or take off the plastic lock to bypass it. Then the lift bleeds off then hits the door. You can close the lift before you use it then open it. Problem is you forget and if you open the doors can break the glass or hang up. I bought a new electric solenoid switch which lasted a few weeks and that thing cost me 200 dollars. So I went back to my pry bar. The van was to old to put a new lift in it and with Ricon bought off they have nothing but problems with the lift. So I had to go to to a mini van. If you go over that 7 foot mark you can't get it in a standard garage door and car wash. I hate the mini van no ground clearance and a few inches of snow you get stuck all the time so you have to stay home till they clean the roads. Get the fold out lifts the ones in the floor in the snow is a nightmare.

[1981quad]

I agree that the Uni Light was a beast and since it is no longer available I am considering purchasing the Super Arm by Handicaps Inc. https://handicapsinc.com/
I have an old (2003) Ford E250 with low miles that I will put this lift in.

[lazierdog]

Why can't you put your current lift in the new van you plan to purchase?