12 replies to this topic

[Brokeback Brenda]

I'm a 33 yr old T6, 2 yrs post injury. I just finished up the driving course and am all set to get my vehicle. I was planning on getting a Toyota Sienna rampvan because I have wrist and shoulder issues and don't want to have to worry about the eventual wear and tear breaking down my chair and putting it in a car will cause and I also didn't want to have to worry about transfering in the elements-just wanted to roll on in and transfer once inside. However, when I went to try out a friend's van I discovered that I can't get up the ramp! I got halfway up it, tipped back, and ended up on my anti tippers, stuck. I tried a bunch of times, I'm very strong, but it seems like the ramp is just too steep of an angle for me. I ended up hurting the wrist that I wanted to protect in the process too. Now I don't know what to do. I pretty much know what my choices are--if I want to get a van I will have to get power assist wheels, magic wheels, or braun says they have a lift for a minivan; or I could get a car and deal with breaking my chair down (how long does it take to do it and how much of a hassle is it I wonder?). Luckly, money isn't too much of an option for me for these choices. I guess I just need some opinions from everyone and maybe some do's and don'ts and info from experience. Thanks!!

[Kev-O]

i drive a infiniti G-35 an have to brake down my chair. it sucks at first but the more you do it the faster you get. i can get in an out about as fast as it takes an old fat lady to get in an out.

[Ian D]

Hi Brenda,
There is another option Brenda, Get a wheelchair lift fitted to a car. OK the chair gets wet if it rains, although I believe you can also get covers fitted. I’ve always used this option and it’s served me well. Pics of my last two cars below if you need any more info feel free to mail me or just ask here
Cheers Ian

[Tim13]

It doesn't sound to me like you really want to deal with pulling a chair in and out of a car or small truck if you already have wrist and shoulder problems.
A couple of people I know with issues similar to yours have vans with a lift that swings out and lifts the chair (and them) into the van. There's no ramp or anything-just a little arm that swings down. What impresses me the most is that it's really fast and doesn't have all the room required between vehicles
that normal ramps or lift platforms do. Another choice would be a van that lowers itself when it stops, there is still a ramp but it isn't as steep.
Below are my current cars, access is pretty easy because I'm used to breaking my wheelchair down and re-assembling it but doing that all the time isn't for everybody.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

Edited by Tim13, 22 April 2008 - 10:13 AM.

[Yong]

It seems like everyone is just showing off their nice looking cars. Haha.

Brenda, I am a T6 as well and I've tried going up on one of those entervans and have also found it steep.

However, it seems like rampvans are the best choice for you seeing that you have shoulder and wrist issues. I suggest you try to get up the ramp again but see if you can get some speed before you hit the ramp and let the momentum help you.

You can also lean the heck forward so that you won't tip backwards. Just let your chest rest on your legs. This is how I usually go up very steep slopes. You say you're a strong person so once you practice a couple times, it shouldn't be too hard.

Best of luck to ya,

James

[KVH]

Brenda if you want a minivan but have a hard time going up the ramp, I might suggest the Honda Odyssey with the VMI package, my g/f has one and the whole passenger side of the van kneels 3 inches to make the angle on the ramp much less.

here is a link for their website check them out.

VMI

[KarenFerguson]

Hubby has the same issue with tipping and landing on his anti-tips.. His solution was to roll up backwards. It really works, and plus his biceps do most of the work backwards too.

Have you looked at modified Honda Elements? Must sportier than a mini-van and plus much better gas millage.

Edited by KarenFerguson, 22 April 2008 - 04:57 PM.

[Tim13]

Yong, on Apr 22 2008, 12:48 PM, said:

It seems like everyone is just showing off their nice looking cars. Haha.

Guilty as charged LOL.

Seems the lift I was referring to is only for full-sized vans but I did notice that besides the standard ramp-vans there are vans with lowered floors that also kneel (like you see buses do when they stop) so that there is almost zero angle to roll into them. One of those might suit you better not only for ease of access but safer for wet or icy days.

...saw a guy in a powerchair lose traction in the wet and slide off the side of his ramp-wasn't pretty at all.

[Stacia]

Kev-O, on Apr 22 2008, 04:32 AM, said:

i drive a infiniti G-35 an have to brake down my chair. it sucks at first but the more you do it the faster you get. i can get in an out about as fast as it takes an old fat lady to get in an out.

Hey! It didn't take me THAT long to get out of your car! Brat!

[oldwheelz]

You have to think about where you use your vehicle, If you do much on-street parking and get in and out of the drivers side you are in traffic and may have a long wheel to get to the sidwalk. I have a Entervan with dropped floor avd kneeling but have to back in when I am on flat areas. When I park along a sidewalk the ramp drops on the walk and I am level. I don't like to transfer so drive from the chair. What you buy has to suit your needs.

[Brokeback Brenda]

Thank you so much everyone!! It turns out that my wheelchair is the problem. I tried to do it again in a lighter, rigid frame chair and it was SO much easier. I also got a chance to demo some magic wheels, they are pretty neat and worked well. I can get up it without them, but with them I flew up.

[J-Wall]

well when all else fails go up the ramp backwards dont have to worry about falling back on your tippers then

[KennyB]

I drive a new Sienna minivan and I just forgot about the ramp all together. Less things to worry about breaking down. I transfer from my chair into the drivers seat. While sitting in the drivers seat with my feet still on the ground I grab my wheel chair by the push handle and pull the wheelchair up and into the van and it sits right behind the drivers seat.
I had the drivers seat lowered by about 1 inch to make things a little easier and I may take it to get the suspension lowered by 1.5 inches as well. The thing with the lowered floor vans is they are very expensive, have little ground clearence, and it turns a 7 pass. vehicle into a 5 passenger. I think that the less moving parts the less you have to repair down the road so that's why I stay away from power ramps and kneeling vans.
I should mention that my chair is a rigid frame Tilite TR so it is fairly light.