Ameriglide – The affordable stairlift

Many manufacturers claim that their stairlifts offer affordable home mobility for the majority. However, with some brands charging upwards of $5,000 for one, this statement rings pretty hollow. The price of an Ameriglide stairlift is considerably lower than other brands; An Ameriglide can be installed for less than $2,000, but is this a good value for your money?

An Ameriglide is a simple but reliable model. It lacks some of the features that come standard on other brands like the Bruno and Stannah stairlifts, but for a consumer looking for something basic, cheap and reliable, it should serve the purpose, but there are a few caveats.

The Ameriglide uses outdated, some might say obsolete technology. A cable system is used to transport the trolley along the track instead of a rack and pinion system that is now favored by the best brands of stair lifts. Rack and pinion is preferred as it provides a smoother ride, so an Ameriglide may not provide as smooth a ride as more modern systems.

When stair lifts first appeared, they all ran on alternating current. Batteries were considered unreliable. But today, rechargeable batteries are the industry norm. But, until very recently, you could only buy a mains powered Ameriglide. This has now changed, but instead of switching to a battery-powered model, Ameriglide makes a battery-powered model in addition to their mains model.

The reason the company ultimately succumbed to a battery-powered stairlift, like everyone else in the industry, is because they are easy to install. There is a growing demand from consumers who want to buy one from a dealer, usually online, and then self-install it. Doing this represents additional savings for the customer. Mains powered units require wiring and many states prohibit the installation of any mains powered appliance by anyone other than a qualified technician.

It is unusual for one manufacturer to make both manual and battery powered stair lifts; in fact, I can’t think of any other company besides Ameriglide that makes both types. If you’re really looking to buy a battery model, you’re better off looking at other brands.

Both battery-powered and mains-powered electric stairlifts have advantages. Battery-powered models are typically quieter, have smoother starts and stops, can be easily installed, and can be operated during a power outage.

A mains powered model has the advantage that it can be in constant use. Batteries need to be recharged after 20 round trips up the stairs. Therefore, for those who will be using the stairlift constantly or for a household where more than one person will be using it, a mains powered model might be the best option.

Ameriglide stairlifts come with some safety systems, albeit limited. There is a safety sensor in the footrest to stop the chair if something gets in the way. You also get a seat belt. However, there are some security features that are not available. The Bruno comes with 5 sensors, on the footrest and the carriage, which means that any obstacle on the rail will also stop the lift; There are no sensors on the Ameriglide car.

They also don’t come with wireless remote controls. Stocked with many brands such as Acorn, Bruno, and Stannah Stair Lift, the unit comes with two call/send remotes. You need to think carefully about how you will use the elevator; if there will be two people using it, then you really need units that come with two call/send remote controls, in which case the Ameriglide stairlift will not be the best choice.

But the Ameriglide stairlift was not designed to compete in the high-end niche. It was designed to be functional, reliable and economical and it fulfills all of these roles. It lacks the refinement, safety features, and functionality of others, but there’s no question that Ameriglide has brought mobility to those who couldn’t have afforded the other more expensive brands.

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