[thirst]

Hello everyone! I am working on a project for school for which we are researching the use of collapsible wheelchairs, specifically in car storage. I’ve been looking to obtain information from a variety of different sources and backgrounds and thought I might give the Internet a try as well. If anyone is willing to answer a few questions then that would be awesome.

How do you stow your wheelchair in a vehicle? (What do you like/dislike about that?)
What would you want from an in car storage device?
If you could stow a wheelchair anywhere in a car, where would you want it stowed?
What’s most important to you when storing your wheelchair in a car?
If you could have the perfect wheelchair storage device, what would it be like?
Any general opinions/comments about stowing wheelchairs in cars.

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate any feedback I can get to supplement my current research. I will be posting some results later in this thread.

Thanks again!

[nitrosport_5]

thirst, on Feb 8 2010, 04:40 PM, said:

Hello everyone! I am working on a project for school for which we are researching the use of collapsible wheelchairs, specifically in car storage. I’ve been looking to obtain information from a variety of different sources and backgrounds and thought I might give the Internet a try as well. If anyone is willing to answer a few questions then that would be awesome.

How do you stow your wheelchair in a vehicle? (What do you like/dislike about that?)
What would you want from an in car storage device?
If you could stow a wheelchair anywhere in a car, where would you want it stowed?
What’s most important to you when storing your wheelchair in a car?
If you could have the perfect wheelchair storage device, what would it be like?
Any general opinions/comments about stowing wheelchairs in cars.

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate any feedback I can get to supplement my current research. I will be posting some results later in this thread.

Thanks again!

Ill try to answer your questions to help you out

1. To store my chair, i disassemble it piece by pice. it does not come apart much, the tires come off, seat cushions come off and the back posts fold down. I drag each piece through as i take it apart, staritng with wheels, to seat cushions and last the chassis itself. I store them behind the driver and passenger seat in my extended cab pickup.
2. Not really sure what you mean by device... like a bag? or something that puts the chair in for me?
3. Keeping my chair in my car i want it to be within my reach. I like to have the feeling that if i needed to get out i could.
4. Most important is to keep it safe so it does not get broke or thrown around.
5. The perfect device would probably be just my hands putting the thing into the extended cab of my pickup or the back seat of my car. does not take too much effort and it is safe back there.


Hope this helps!

[ClaraTaylor]

How do you stow your wheelchair in a vehicle? (What do you like/dislike about that?)
Either on the passenger seat or in the boot (if someone puts it there)
What would you want from an in car storage device?
I don't understand this but if you mean bag a water proof layer would be good!
If you could stow a wheelchair anywhere in a car, where would you want it stowed?
Doesn't matter so long as I can get to it! Would be nice if it didn't get in the way of other users
What’s most important to you when storing your wheelchair in a car?
That I can get it out independently
If you could have the perfect wheelchair storage device, what would it be like?

[thirst]

ClaraTaylor and nitrosport_5,
Thanks for your help. Sorry I was being vague on in-car storage "device". I was intending that if there was a storage box or bag that could assist in keeping a wheelchair in the car, what would you want it to do? Basically I'm trying to research into better in-car storage solutions, so if a box or other storage device did exist, what would you expect from it?

Thanks!

[dangerousdave]

What you have to do is sit in the drivers seat - and think what now
There is a devise for folding chairs so they are lifted to a box on the roof
Crap if you use fixed frame w/chair
If you use a power chair you need a "truck"
I can't manage from a high seat vehical
Nor can I twist and turn to get my chair behind me
My car doesn't have a passanger seat cause that's where my w/chair lives
My bike though solves all problems and I just transfer to ride

[McTavish]

I store my chair on the roof of the car in a "Braun Chair Topper" Google this and you will get all the info. For me this is ideal as all I have to do is press a button and up it goes or down it comes. It also keeps the car free for passengers, for this device you have to have a wheelchair that folds in like a concertina. They are costly initially but can be moved from one car to another. Personally I am completely happy with this device.
The only drawback that I have come accross is that it will not fit some underground car parks, something I didn't think of when buying my present car, however I am changing it shortly and am looking for a car a few centimetres lower which will solve this problem. Hope this is of some help to you.