32 replies to this topic

[blckchns]

For those of you that drive. How do you get your chair into the car? I drive a Subaru Impreza STI and I can't seem to find a way to get my chair into it. I'm a t-3 complete and I use a Quickie GT for my chair.

Here's a pic of the car.

[Dancingdolphin]

blckchns, on Sep 4 2006, 09:55 PM, said:

For those of you that drive. How do you get your chair into the car? I drive a Subaru Impreza STI and I can't seem to find a way to get my chair into it. I'm a t-3 complete and I use a Quickie GT for my chair.

Here's a pic of the car.

Nice car :-)

I take off the wheels and put them behind the passenger seat, then flip the back down and lean out and grab the bars under the seat and drag it in, onto my lap and across onto the passenger seat. Good luck!

[LadyPilot]

blckchns, on Sep 4 2006, 09:55 PM, said:

For those of you that drive. How do you get your chair into the car? I drive a Subaru Impreza STI

Hi, my hubbys got a Subaru Impreza WRX LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!

I have two cars, my main car is a Mazda hatchback. I get in the car from the passenger side, take the wheels off (rigid frame) and put behind drivers seat then transfer myself to drivers seat and pull the chair frame onto the passenger seat.

The second car is an MGBGT coupe which I get in the drivers side. I have a small fold up wchair whch I fold and pull over my body onto the "back seat".

Happy Driving....

Edited by LadyPilot, 05 September 2006 - 04:13 PM.

[russ1]

I'm T2 complete and drive a saab 9-5 aero or my wifes mini cooper. I always get straight into the drivers seat from my chair push drivers seat as far back as possible and recline seat back to give you loads of space - first remove cushion and put on passenger seat, then wheels go in the back behind passenger seat. There's a trick to this as leaning out of the car is always awkward as it's difficult to use both hands on the chair without falling out so I either brace my shoulder on the door pillar or in the mini where the door pillar is too far back I put the seatbelt on and then lock it with a sharp tug so I can lean out a bit without falling out. Then fold the back of the wheelchair down and holding wheelchair under seat with one hand lift chair over your body and set on passenger seat with castors down in footwell.

It takes ages to start with but I can now (3 years later) do the whole thing in comfortably under 2 minutes from opening car door to closing car door.

Practice practice practice.

[blckchns]

Thanks everyone for the advise. I have a feeling I'm gonna need a day to just practice over and over until I find the right technique.

Transfering from the passenger seat to the drivers seat sounds like a good idea, but the stick will get in the way. When the car was modified, I was able to keep it a standard 6 speed.

[LadyPilot]

Blckchns-
Try both ways without hurrying, maybe on different days. See which becomes the easiest.
I do prefer the passenger side because if ever I have to park on the highway, Im not transferring out of the car "into traffic".

[knightrider]

Hi there nice car mate. What i do is get into drivers seat and push the passenger seat forward and folded forward too then put my cushion behind the drivers seat, take the wheels off and put them on the back seat behind me (drivers side) then fold the back rest on the chair and pick up the chair sideways so the castor wheels are facing outwards but facing me also if you know what i mean. Then put it on the back seat behind the passenger seat. Job done. You could also but it on the passenger seat if you prefer but since you got a top motor i guess you will be takking your mates for a spin so id stick it in the back. Im T-6 by the way and u should do it easy.

[Lucydog]

I have a Shogun, and my method is similar to everyone elses. I have to bend down to get my chair apart, so either I loop my arm through the steering wheel, or if I sit facing outwards I hoist my chair up so I can get the wheels apart. I then throw the wheels behind the front and drivers seat. I can rest the frame of the chair on the running board as its just the right height so that gives me a breather. I then push my seat as far back as it goes, and also put the back as flat as I can too. I then life the chair up and over onto the back seat. I guess it takes couple of minutes usually.

You just have to try and experiment. Although I sometimes put my chair on the front, I dont actually find this as easy as I have to push past the steering and the gear stick which is quite high in my car. It does become easier than you think. The worst thing I find is that people insist on helping, spend 10 minutes trying to get your chair apart when you could have done it all in 2!

So you can see we all have a variation on a theme just see what works for you.

cheers
L

[russ1]

Lady Pilot - I'm intrigued, how do you reach the chair frame when it's outside the passenger door from the drivers seat? Is it just a case of leaning over onto the passenger seat (which I couldn't do in my car because of the central console) and then dragging rather than lifting the chair frame onto the front seat. If so doesn't this make a mess of the car / seat in terms of scratches and tears? I can see that it might be a useful technique for certain situations but doesn't it just add an extra transfer into the equation?

Blckchns - how do you manage with the six speed box? I'm assuming you have an electronic clutch but with one hand on the hand accelerator/brake and one hand on the steering wheel how do you change gear? I'm intending to get a small sports car for track days and would like the control of a manual box but can't see how it would work braking hard for a corner, setting up the car for entry and selecting the gear all at the same time.

[LadyPilot]

russ1, on Sep 6 2006, 10:35 AM, said:

Lady Pilot - I'm intrigued, how do you reach the chair frame when it's outside the passenger door from the drivers seat? Is it just a case of leaning over onto the passenger seat (which I couldn't do in my car because of the central console) and then dragging rather than lifting the chair frame onto the front seat. If so doesn't this make a mess of the car / seat in terms of scratches and tears? I can see that it might be a useful technique for certain situations but doesn't it just add an extra transfer into the equation?

After I take the wheels off, I then pull the frame sideways onto the sill with one caster in the footwell. I also hook a push handle round the door pillar. After transferring to the drivers seat, I then lean over getting hold of handle and edge of chair I pull it onto the car seat. Then to close the car door I have a 18" long bar with an 90 degree angle on the end which I hook onto the door handle and pull the door closed.
Minor damage to sill only, Which has thick tape on it. Renew tape when shredded!

I forgot to add that this is my preffered method as I have a horse and the chair gets filthy, I have no wish to transfer all the "mud, hair, bedding, food, etc" that accumulates on the chair to my clothes.

Edited by LadyPilot, 06 September 2006 - 08:29 PM.

[russ1]

LadyPilot, on Sep 6 2006, 09:26 PM, said:

I forgot to add that this is my preffered method as I have a horse and the chair gets filthy, I have no wish to transfer all the "mud, hair, bedding, food, etc" that accumulates on the chair to my clothes.

Ah! now it all makes sense :-)

[blckchns]

russ1, on Sep 6 2006, 05:35 AM, said:

Blckchns - how do you manage with the six speed box? I'm assuming you have an electronic clutch but with one hand on the hand accelerator/brake and one hand on the steering wheel how do you change gear? I'm intending to get a small sports car for track days and would like the control of a manual box but can't see how it would work braking hard for a corner, setting up the car for entry and selecting the gear all at the same time.

I had the car modified by Cobb Tuning and they were able to aquire a part made by 5Zigen that allows you to disengage the clutch with a touch of a button. The button is located on top of the shifter. My hand controls are setup so the lever is right next to the steering wheel. I pull down on the lever to add gas and push "out" to apply the brake. When you apply the brake, it also disengages the clutch. The lever is close enough to the wheel as to where I can apply the gas and steer with one hand. I also got a 4 point harness installed to keep me in place while I'm on the track. But I guess pictures speak a thousand words:









You can find more info about me and my car here.

[LadyPilot]

blckchns, on Sep 7 2006, 01:43 AM, said:

I had the car modified by Cobb Tuning and they were able to aquire a part made by 5Zigen that allows you to disengage the clutch with a touch of a button. The button is located on top of the shifter. My hand controls are setup so the lever is right next to the steering wheel. I pull down on the lever to add gas and push "out" to apply the brake. When you apply the brake, it also disengages the clutch. The lever is close enough to the wheel as to where I can apply the gas and steer with one hand. I also got a 4 point harness installed to keep me in place while I'm on the track. But I guess pictures speak a thousand words:

Would you mind if I asked how much the "mod" cost?

I just showed your post to my hubby, he went "kinda silent!!!". He did a track day at work a few days ago with his WRX on the 3 mile runway and peri track. He says he needs a brake upgrade after getting brake fade.

[bubbleandsqueak]

blckchns

i like your car.

i really like the idea of the 4 point harness how it is secured using the back seat.

[blckchns]

LadyPilot, on Sep 7 2006, 03:08 AM, said:

blckchns, on Sep 7 2006, 01:43 AM, said:

I had the car modified by Cobb Tuning and they were able to aquire a part made by 5Zigen that allows you to disengage the clutch with a touch of a button. The button is located on top of the shifter. My hand controls are setup so the lever is right next to the steering wheel. I pull down on the lever to add gas and push "out" to apply the brake. When you apply the brake, it also disengages the clutch. The lever is close enough to the wheel as to where I can apply the gas and steer with one hand. I also got a 4 point harness installed to keep me in place while I'm on the track. But I guess pictures speak a thousand words:

Would you mind if I asked how much the "mod" cost?

I just showed your post to my hubby, he went "kinda silent!!!". He did a track day at work a few days ago with his WRX on the 3 mile runway and peri track. He says he needs a brake upgrade after getting brake fade.

The mods ran me about $4000. That was just for parts. Cobb Tuning did all the labor for free. The parts that actually allows me to drive the car cost me about $2500. The rest were parts to boost HP.

[blckchns]

bubbleandsqueak, on Sep 7 2006, 06:37 PM, said:

blckchns

i like your car.

i really like the idea of the 4 point harness how it is secured using the back seat.

Thanks.

I like these 4 point harness because they don't use a harness bar. Plus they keep me in my seat when shifting and hitting the turns on the track.

Edited by blckchns, 08 September 2006 - 03:01 AM.

[knightrider]

All cars should be fitted with them. Alot safer and there would be alot less sci's through car crashes and other injuries even death. as you see rally drivers never really get hurt and they crash well over 100mph. Same as babies their seats are kitted out with them too.
Wish i had them in my accident, but hey lifes a challenge right and it sucks.

[dingle]

Hello and Greetings,
I use to drive a black London taxi for 14 years which is the best car/van to get a wheelchair in and out,my best time to get myself and the chair in was less than one minute,
now I have a VW camper with a side lift and a elictric drivers seat,
but I am changing for a Mercedes Sprinter so I can drive from my wheelchair.
IN GOD I TRUST THE REST PAY CASH.

Edited by dingle, 21 September 2006 - 02:23 PM.

[faithdude]

I use an ultralight weight wheelchair (Quickie) that's 15 pounds and collapsible. I stand on one leg, take the wheels off one-handed and put them into my back seat area. I then collapse the wheelchair. Then, still standing on one leg, I reach down and pick up the wheelchair one-handed, and shove it also into the back seat area. Works for me. I'm glad as I've a very small cheap Aveo car.

Faithdude

[Black Sox]

Get into the car, tip the 'chair forward so the back of it is against the car door and the footplate is resting on the ground. Remove the wheel nearest and put it on the rear seat of the car, behind the driver' seat. Tip the chair so that the side now without a wheel is leaning in towards the footwell of the car, reach over, remove the other wheel and put it beside the first on the rear seat.

Tilt the chair back to the upright position, grab it by the side of the seat, tilt it back further and then swing it in over your lap, castors first, over you chest and onto the back seat on the passenger side, so that it ends up with the seat on the seat and the castors on the floor.

Just reverse the procedure when getting out, except that the chair comes out castors first.

The key is to tilt the back of the driver's seat back before you do all this. My car (BMW 7) has electrically operated seats, with memory positions, so I just press the appropriate button before I start and after I finish.

By tilting the chair and leaning it against the car door early in the operation, you minimise the time that the seat is exposed to rain.

I use an RGK titanium rigid chair. I don't know what it weighs, but without the cushion (Jay Extreme), I can pick it up with one hand.

You can figure a way to do anything if you have to, and now you have to, or give up.

BS

Edited by Black Sox, 25 October 2006 - 09:15 AM.

[BillS]

My first car was a 4 door and was a pain in the butt to get in and out of so I switched to 2 door cars. I use a collapsable Quickie 2 and drive a Toyota Solara now adays.

I open the drivers door, fold the front seat forward and toss my footrests onto the back seat. Then I transfer over to the drivers seat leaving my feet still outside. I take the cushion off and toss it on the back seat. Fold up the wheelchair. Slide the drivers seat all the way forward. Grab hold of the front of the wheelchair and slide it right in behind the drivers seat. Slide my drivers seat back and lift my feet into the car.

It's fast and easy for me. The great thing about doing it this way is it doesn't require me to pop the wheels off, only takes about a minute, and it only takes up the drivers side of the back seat.

Edited by BillS, 04 November 2006 - 11:05 PM.

[sarz118]

Hi all,

I am a T3 paraplegic and use a TiLite manual chair that folds up in the middle. I have a Toyota Corolla. I currently have a chairtopper on it for my chair, but the other day it broke (luckly my boyfriend came to rescue me). This is not the first time it broke either, so I am trying to figure out another way to get my chair in my car. If anyone has any suggestions on what works for them that would be great. I have read all the posts so far but it seems that everyone has a rigid chair. Thanks for the help.

[icarus_melt76]

Getting in with folding Quickie2, use pass. side and sit sideways on pass. seat.....lift casters over door sill (behind pass.seat)...slide over to drivers side and fold pass. seat forward....reach behind it and grab front end of chair (velcro loop).....haul whole chair in behind pass. seat...fold seat back up.... 'n away.

To close door I used the gas......if in reverse a qwik hit of the brakes would close the door.

Ran into a few hassles while getting my chair 'out'.... Anyone have the chair roll away on an incline?
Gets the juices flowing.

Another time was getting in after a party in winter.....attempting transfer to car....my chair slid away on ice under the snow! Left in between went flat on my ass. Had to sit like a ninny bout 10 minutes 'til someone came by. Oh ya..,they say 'are u okay?'. 'Sure' I said, 'be better if you'd bring my chair over here plz.' Looking back it's funny stuff.

Edited by icarus_melt76, 02 December 2006 - 07:13 PM.

[Texaswheelz]

Yea, the inclines suck. I never use my brakes so I take em off to keep em out of the way, normally I can get into the car fast enough and turn around and grab the chair before it takes off rolling backwards, or position it so that when I get up it will roll into my car or door, but there are the times that it gets away, most of the time I can just start the car and pull over to it, but there has been a time or two that I've had to wait for some one to walk by so that I could ask them to roll it back to me.

[Nichole]

Texaswheelz, on Nov 26 2006, 07:59 PM, said:

Yea, the inclines suck. I never use my brakes so I take em off to keep em out of the way, normally I can get into the car fast enough and turn around and grab the chair before it takes off rolling backwards, or position it so that when I get up it will roll into my car or door, but there are the times that it gets away, most of the time I can just start the car and pull over to it, but there has been a time or two that I've had to wait for some one to walk by so that I could ask them to roll it back to me.

LOL that's so embarassing i've done that before. I do use one brake when i get in, but it still manages to get away from me every once in a while!

[Nichole]

sarz118, on Nov 23 2006, 05:58 PM, said:

Hi all,

I am a T3 paraplegic and use a TiLite manual chair that folds up in the middle. I have a Toyota Corolla. I currently have a chairtopper on it for my chair, but the other day it broke (luckly my boyfriend came to rescue me). This is not the first time it broke either, so I am trying to figure out another way to get my chair in my car. If anyone has any suggestions on what works for them that would be great. I have read all the posts so far but it seems that everyone has a rigid chair. Thanks for the help.

Hi! I also use a tilite chair, but i have a rigid frame and the back folds down. I drive a two door oldsmobile. What i do is slide over into the drivers seat, and slide the seat all the way back. Then i reach outside of the car, and take the cushion off, set it in the back seat, then i pop the tires off, and set them in the passengers floorboard. Then i fold the back down, pick the chair up and slide it over my body, and set it in the passengers seat. The only hard thing about that is, i have to have the chair at a perfect angle for it to fit in my car because it's a coupe, and has a low roof lol! But hey, i'll put in the extra effort if i can still drive a cute car! When i have someone with me, they ususally put the chair in and out of the trunk for me since they'll be sittng where i usually put my chair! I always tease my bf and tell him he can just sit in the back seat and my chair gets to ride up front HAHA

[sarz118]

Nichole, on Nov 27 2006, 02:46 PM, said:

Hi! I also use a tilite chair, but i have a rigid frame and the back folds down. I drive a two door oldsmobile. What i do is slide over into the drivers seat, and slide the seat all the way back. Then i reach outside of the car, and take the cushion off, set it in the back seat, then i pop the tires off, and set them in the passengers floorboard. Then i fold the back down, pick the chair up and slide it over my body, and set it in the passengers seat. The only hard thing about that is, i have to have the chair at a perfect angle for it to fit in my car because it's a coupe, and has a low roof lol! But hey, i'll put in the extra effort if i can still drive a cute car! When i have someone with me, they ususally put the chair in and out of the trunk for me since they'll be sittng where i usually put my chair! I always tease my bf and tell him he can just sit in the back seat and my chair gets to ride up front HAHA

Yeah I tried getting my chair in that way but once I push the drivers seat back I can't get it forward again because I don't have power seating adjustments (something to look for on the next car). My car is a 4 door which makes it harder too since you don't have much space to work with. Most of the time my bf is w/ me so I just have him throw my chair in the trunk too. Hey you gotta get use out of them somehow right?! lol By the way, did you say you just started college? Where do you go?

[Adams]

Nicole, I do the same exact thing as you when I get my chaie in and out. I drive a Pontiac GTO, it's also a 2 door.

[Nichole]

Adams, on Dec 4 2006, 05:55 PM, said:

Nicole, I do the same exact thing as you when I get my chaie in and out. I drive a Pontiac GTO, it's also a 2 door.

That's cool, i've always thought that the GTO's were pretty awesome. I really liked the old ones, and the new one's seem pretty sweet too from what i've seen. I actually almost bought a GTO, but got an Olds Alero instead because it was a lot cheaper haha!

sarz118, on Dec 2 2006, 05:06 PM, said:

Nichole, on Nov 27 2006, 02:46 PM, said:

Hi! I also use a tilite chair, but i have a rigid frame and the back folds down. I drive a two door oldsmobile. What i do is slide over into the drivers seat, and slide the seat all the way back. Then i reach outside of the car, and take the cushion off, set it in the back seat, then i pop the tires off, and set them in the passengers floorboard. Then i fold the back down, pick the chair up and slide it over my body, and set it in the passengers seat. The only hard thing about that is, i have to have the chair at a perfect angle for it to fit in my car because it's a coupe, and has a low roof lol! But hey, i'll put in the extra effort if i can still drive a cute car! When i have someone with me, they ususally put the chair in and out of the trunk for me since they'll be sittng where i usually put my chair! I always tease my bf and tell him he can just sit in the back seat and my chair gets to ride up front HAHA

Yeah I tried getting my chair in that way but once I push the drivers seat back I can't get it forward again because I don't have power seating adjustments (something to look for on the next car). My car is a 4 door which makes it harder too since you don't have much space to work with. Most of the time my bf is w/ me so I just have him throw my chair in the trunk too. Hey you gotta get use out of them somehow right?! lol By the way, did you say you just started college? Where do you go?

Oh, yeah the seat is a problem that i had to consider when buying a new car. I can move a manual seat, but it hurts my back from all the jerking, so i made sure i got a car with a power seat when i bought my Olds. I understand your problem with the four door, becuase i've tried it in my mom's four door car, and there's just not a big enough doorway to get the chair through. I like the idea of making our bf's useful too I'm actually getting ready to start school next month, but i'm just going to a junior college near where i live.

[RYAN68]

I drive a 99 ford f250 superduty 4x4, i got the extended cab with the quadcab... i get in on the passenger side, take my cushion off, put it behind the seat. I reach down and take the brakes off, pull the chair up as high as i can get it, and take the one tire off, and put it behind the seat still while holding onto the chair, then twist it to pull the other tire off. then i close the 3rd door, and while still holding onto the chair, i fold the backrest down, and slide over into the middle of the front seat, and pull the chair onto the passenger seat, and i made a rod that can reach out to the door to grab the handle to pull it close

this method i do takes alot of balance and strength..(pretty dumb of me to buy a huge truck ) oh well...I wanted a diesel...I'm too tall for cars and small trucks anyways

by the way i use a Invacare A4 titanium rigid chair...i wish i had a folding chair now
we are in the process of building a lift that mounts into the box that will swing over to pick up my manual chair, and it'll be heavy enough to lift my powerchair too...then it will lift it up and set it in the box

I'll post pics someday