13 replies to this topic

[ChrisTop her]

Well I finally got my license back after being injured for over a year. I sold my big truck and it's my first week with my hand controls. I just bought a trailblazer ss and was wondering how other people break down there chair. I really don't want to put the chair next to me. I'm trying to figure if I could break it down and put it in the back seat. But I was curious of how others take there chair apart????

[dreamerr]

I do not take my chair apart and I have a rigid chair. I don't even fold the backrest. I do drive a minivan so it fits easily.

[KayDub]

I have a Q7 rigid chair and just pop off the wheels, take off the cushion and fold down the backrest. Only takes a minute. When I drive I like to put it beside me (we have a Volkswagon Passat, so just a regular car) because it's easier. When my partner drives, he sometimes puts my chair in the backseat because it's easier but I also put it in my the backseat. I sometimes will do this when I'm driving as well. I put the wheels behind the seat first (I also do this when I put the chair beside me). I usually put the cushion behind me too or then on the seat beside me. I then pull the string thing that allows me to push my backseat down and slide it over me and put it on the chair beside me. It works best with the footrests down on the ground. When I put it in the backseat I pretty much do the same thing it just takes a bit more finagling to get the chair between the two front seats and into the back. It's easiest if you keep one or two of your backseats down but you can easily set it on the seats. It just takes some practice IMO to figure out the best way to fit your chair in without marking up the ceiling, scraping the front chairs, hitting the steering wheel or hitting the person in the car with you! Hope that helps.

[ChrisTop her]

I have the same chair I just gotta figure it out without scratching the car up lol. I have been looking at you tube videos of how people do it...

[Michael84]

ChrisTop her, on 07 January 2012 - 02:06 AM, said:

Well I finally got my license back after being injured for over a year. I sold my big truck and it's my first week with my hand controls. I just bought a trailblazer ss and was wondering how other people break down there chair. I really don't want to put the chair next to me. I'm trying to figure if I could break it down and put it in the back seat. But I was curious of how others take there chair apart????

I have a rigid and a fold up manual chair, which both have the push button release wheels, I pop the wheels off and put them in the back seat and if I am traveling alone. I just put the chair in the passenger seat or the back seat if someone is going with me or I am going to pick someone up. Setting the chair in the passenger seat makes it a little easier to put the seat belt on the chair, I use to just put the chair in there but after a close call with the car in front of my slamming on his brakes to avoid a dog in the road which in return I did the same thing my fold up chair came up in the front seat with me hitting me in the back of the head, not damage but hurt like hell.

[Aparr]

I drive in my chair but I wanted to say congratulations on getting your license back.

[D. Smith]

ChrisTop her, on 07 January 2012 - 06:57 PM, said:

I have the same chair I just gotta figure it out without scratching the car up lol. I have been looking at you tube videos of how people do it...

Unfortunately my car is scratched up on the kick plate under the driver side door (four door subaru sedan) but I'm looking into getting it rhino lined.

[Andrew Meddings]

congrats on the license .i believe its the biggest step towards independence you will make.you sometimes just have to accept your car will get scratched & dirty especially when you are tired or not felling well.
today a young bloke from the outback who ive been training passed his test to drive road trains. he is also 1 year in a chair.
cheers andrew

[brockit79]

ooh this is something I am struggling with too. Maybe check out youtube see how other folks do it. It is technique and not strength I am told.

Congrats on getting mobile!

[RZ94]

Glad yer drivin also.

Fact is yer chair is gonna raise hell wif yer vehicle......I tried like hell fer 'bout a month to keep my truck nice, after a while I just let the dings happen.

Do it the same way every time and you damage the same spots in yer rig (makes fer an easy fix if/when you sell it).

[ChrisTop her]

Thanks guys it's just a processes that will take time. I got some 3m film clear tape where I open my door so it help not scratching it up.

[Edinburgh Colin]

Areas at risk - door sill (kickplate). Inside of the door panel, passenger door pillar (if you put your chair upside down on passenger seat the caster can grind against it). Inside of the roof (tire tracks from wet/dirty casters), drivers side door/windscreen pillar (scrapes when pulling chair into the car). Probably many others, sill guard tape works good on the outside and there are clear films you can get for the interior plastics. Or you just have to pay for a good valet and plastic polish later!

Or just forget it and enjoy the freedom, as they say don't sweat the small stuff.
EC

[megatrig]

The first scratch is the deepest!

Sad but true!

Kick plates (on car) will get scuffed. Goes with the territory.

You really should be able to pull a whhel off. That goes on back seat.
Pull second wheel off. Onto back seat.

Frame .. Without folding. Easily lifts across waist/chest. Either onto passenger seat or onto backseat.

It is easier if you recline the drivers seat to give you more room between your chest and steering wheel.

Sit outside for a while doing itv repeatedly and it gets quicker and quicker.

Youtube is useful to give you the idea but doing it yourself makes all the difference.

Enjoy the freedom!!

[Danimal_1985]

I have a quicky q7 chair and I start by pulling the wheel guards off and putting them in my door pannel, then I toss my cushion in the passenger seat then I pop the tires off and set them in them on top of the cushion. I have power seats in my truck so I lower the seat down all the way and back all the way and recline the chair back as well, then I fold down the backrest and make sure the handles are folded down and pull the chair in across my body and set it behind the passenger seat. I also have the passenger seat slid all the way up. If I'm picking someone up I'll throw. My wheels in the back seat too, but it I'm flying solo ill just leave them next to me. If I have someone with me it's super easy, I just make them do the work lol!