20 replies to this topic

[Doug]

I am a c5 quad and I want to start driving soon.
I will most likely have to do so from a power chair due to the fact that I cant push my manual up into my van and I want to know if any one here drives from a power chair that is a quad?

[milosh]

http://www.tetrapleg...ent/view/15/29/

this guy drives from his powerchair. i think he's a member here as well.

[alyssa]

i've done an assesment, and will be starting lessons soon. I do it from my power chair

[milosh]

how strong and mobile are your hands and arms? gotta be cool hear the quad drivers. i do have the license but i don't drive. dislike cars.

[alyssa]

milosh, on Aug 8 2007, 03:40 PM, said:

how strong and mobile are your hands and arms? gotta be cool hear the quad drivers. i do have the license but i don't drive. dislike cars.

Are you asking me or Doug?

[milosh]

both

[Tim13]

Friend of mine (c5 or 6) in Daytona Beach drives his van from his manual chair, instead of a ramp, he has a really neat sling type lift that just picks him and the chair up and sets him in through the side door.

[alyssa]

milosh, on Aug 8 2007, 03:40 PM, said:

how strong and mobile are your hands and arms? gotta be cool hear the quad drivers. i do have the license but i don't drive. dislike cars.

I have zero grip in both hands, so i use tripins. My left arm is much stronger than the right, so its my steering arm, the right does brakes. I have almost full range in my left arm.

[Doug]

Zero grip both hands, no tricepts, strong shoulders and bicepts.



hey your friend in daytona is his name lou?
I live 20 min from daytona would like to see his van.
my mentor lives in daytona and he has a van like that but he can transfer from chair to drivers seat.


alyssa

let me know how the lessons go....best of luck to you.

[milosh]

also gotta be cool to know amount of money needed for such modification. paras and lower quads can go fine even with hand controls only.

[jimwa]

I have been driving a van w/lift 30 plus years from my manual chair. There are many options for extra assist on power brakes and steering. I am able to get along with factory power. It all is expensive, thats why I still drive 20 year old van. That swing arm lift(maybe called super arm) is nice because fits in smaller park spots. Do whatever you can to drive independently. It totally can change your life. Check out disabled dealer, ebay, newspaper if your lucky you might find something used that you could adapt if cost is prohibitive. Used wheelchair lift vans usually sell for a fraction of original cost.

[Tim13]

Doug, on Aug 10 2007, 03:49 PM, said:

Zero grip both hands, no tricepts, strong shoulders and bicepts.

hey your friend in daytona is his name lou?
I live 20 min from daytona would like to see his van.
my mentor lives in daytona and he has a van like that but he can transfer from chair to drivers seat.

Yep that would be Lou, I'm sure he'll be glad to show you his van, I'll PM you his contact info

interesting, I'm 20 minutes from Daytona too (south)

tim

[Doug]

nice nice.....yah I have seen lous van....and im 20 min south too..Deltona

[Hedgejamz01]

Doug, on Aug 11 2007, 01:47 PM, said:

nice nice.....yah I have seen lous van....and im 20 min south too..Deltona

Well Doug whats up?!

Your post couldn't of come at a better time. I am a c6/c7 incomplete quad and use a powerchair for mobility. I just got an evaluation/assesment for driving last month along with my driver's license. Yaay!! I can hardly believe it but I got it, lol. So yes quads can drive! U may need to drive from your chair which in my opinion is best if you have limited support trunk wise or if you just feel more stable in your own chair. Like I said, I drive a powerchair and whatever vehicle I decide on I will manuver into the driver's position and drive from my chair. You will need what is call a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist to do your assesment with you in a modifide vehicle to determine the type of controls you'll need to get. Here is a website Driver Rehabilitation Specialist to find someone in your area. Once at the site click Membership Directory and then select your state from the pull-down menu. You should get a list of those who are certified driving instructors. Keep me posted or if any moe questions just hit me up online at AIM. AIM Username: Hedgejamz

[margaret]

My husband is C5-6 complete quad and has been driving almost 14 years from his power wheelchair. He has a hand control on the left for gas and brake, a tripin on the wheel for steering and a push pad console on the right for anything else; windows, door locks, lift, ignition, heater, etc. Once you get the driving eval done, they will tell you what equipment will work best for you. Good luck!

[Doug]

thanks for the info.....I just got my van back from Braun but Im too tall in my chair for it...lucky for me I got the sun roof...I slide the cover back and then I fit up front...so Im not sure if I can get a power chair that will sit me low enough for the van...keep your fingers crossed

[Ironside]

Doug, on Aug 19 2007, 10:44 PM, said:

thanks for the info.....I just got my van back from Braun but Im too tall in my chair for it...lucky for me I got the sun roof...I slide the cover back and then I fit up front...so Im not sure if I can get a power chair that will sit me low enough for the van...keep your fingers crossed

so I suppose it means you can only drive when it's not raining. I think you will find a power chair will be higher than a manual chair

[Buehlar]

Hi, I'm a C6/7 quad and used to drive a ford F-150 Van w/lift from my power chair. Used basic manual hand controls (gas/break) and a tri-pin for steering.

I now drive a 2003 ford F-150 pick-up truck. I transfer to a seat lift called the Bruno EZ-Rizer which raises me up to the drivers seat.
I then have a crain like boom lift called the Bruno Pickup lift that swings around, hooks to my power chair and loads it in the back of the truck.
Finally, the Bruno Topper that raises (opens/closes) the rear camper shell from the drivers-side to keep chair out of the weather.
It's a cool set-up. I didin't think I could manage it at first, but after a little practice, I can do it all by myself. Takes a little longer transfering and loading the chair but there is nothing like driving a truck compaired to a big ole van. (A guy thing maybe) Gas mileage is better too. Unless you have a mini-van.
I can take some pictures of it if anyone is interested in seeing it.

Just thought I'd put this out there to let people know that there are other options out there for us quad drivers besides the a car or van. It just depends on your preference, level of injury and your ability to transfer.

[4Wheels]

I drove to work (3 times a week, 45 miles-Round Trip) and every weekend to DJ up till I had my right leg amputated 4 years ago..... I hate those tri-pin yokes, I prefered the single, leather curved yoke.... get a lowered floor, raised roof and aluminum Ricon lift........

The state of Illinois paid for my first van conversion, I bought the second (it's a piece of shit)...
I'm a c5-c6 have real good use of my right arm, tri-ceps are shot on my left....

After the van was first modified, I had my then (young) son hang out the passenger window while I backed down our 3/4 mile winding lane.... Til I got comfortable using the side mirrors....

Scariest part was that first day I left home, (no cell phone) on the long drive to work..... Scared the SHIT outta me......... After that, it became just like old times (except driving an MG Miget, I felt like I was in a tank)..........

Check craigslist.org for handicapped Vans...........

Good Luck

Jim

[KarenFerguson]

My hubby is a C5/6-ish quad. It was 3 years after his accident before he started driving. He began driving from his powerchair in a Dodge Caravan with a IMS conversion using hand controls with vacuum powered brakes and zero effort steering with a forked cuff on the steering wheel. After a pin was fitted to his powerchair he could lock down using an EZ-Lock. This of course was after an extensive evaluation by someone certified by the state of California to access disabled drivers. During the evaluation he also tried transferring from his powerchair to a motorized captains chair, but due to excessive leg spasms fatigue it was deemed best to drive from his powerchair.

After three years of driving the minivan he was able to purchase a used Ford E-150 Econoline equipped with a Braun lift, and similar hand controls, steering ...etc as the minivan. This allowed him to begin driving from his manual chair. Once again he used the EZ-Lock system and had to have a manual chair fitted with an EZ-Lock bracket.

A year ago, we purchased a new Honda Element with the Freedom Motors X-Wav conversion.
He still drives from his manual chair (Ti-Lite Evo: which has the necessary configuration to mount an EZ-Lock bracket) using hand controls and a forked cuff on the steering wheel with reduced effort steering. The ramp can be a little steep at times but he usually backs up it utilizing his biceps.

He's a fairly typical C5/6-ish quad (with strong shoulders, biceps and wrist extension).

Feel free to PM me with any other questions you might have.

[Mike (c4-5) & Lorena]

Doug, on Aug 8 2007, 12:09 PM, said:

I am a c5 quad and I want to start driving soon.
I will most likely have to do so from a power chair due to the fact that I cant push my manual up into my van and I want to know if any one here drives from a power chair that is a quad?

I am a c4-5 quad and I use a Quickie P-222 wc and drive a 2003 Dodge Caravan using the joystick drive from EMC. Check us out at http://vonrueckers.tripod.com