#186807 - 05/12/10 09:10 PM
Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
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Deo
Member
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 127
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I drive with hand controls but have to depend on someone to unload my wheelchair and bring it around to my side. I would really like to be more independent. I have seen on TV where a pwd pulls the wheelchair over the lap and into the passenger side. I can't do this with my wheelchair, it too heavy or my minivan( Hyundai Matrix)seat is too high. I can stand up for a second or two. Is there a wheelchair model which is ideal for this purpose? The alternative is a converted vehicle with a ramp which I will have to import-really expensive. Any suggestions?
Deo
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#186822 - 05/13/10 10:49 AM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: Deo]
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paradocs
Member
Registered: 11/20/04
Posts: 2323
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Many manual wheelchairs fold and are light enough that once folded, they can be pulled in behind the front seat (assuming there is enough room) of a 2 door car. In some cases you may have to remove the rear seat. This is what I do. I drive an older model 2 door car with a bench front seat and can load the chair on one side and get it out the other if necessary, although it is easier if I can load and unload from the same side.
Other chairs have wheels that can be removed one at a time and the chair loaded piece by piece. I have seen people do this in 4 door cars, but it seems awkward to me.
There is also a device called a Chair Topper which some people find useful. The main drawback for me is that you can't load from one side and unload from the other. It also requires a folding manual chair.
http://www.braunability.com/ppc/chair-topper-wheelchair-carrier.cfm?gclid=CPrTzrzHz6ECFRFcbQodJ1izJw
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#186881 - 05/14/10 08:52 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: paradocs]
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Deo
Member
Registered: 02/11/08
Posts: 127
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Thank you. The chairtopper seems like the ideal device for my needs.
Deo
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#186887 - 05/15/10 12:31 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: Deo]
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Paul I
Member
Registered: 02/24/00
Posts: 7913
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Braun has modified the Chairtopper for foreign markets by reducing the weight for smaller cars. They are sold in Europe.
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"...only the shadow knows"
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#187398 - 05/29/10 10:15 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: Deo]
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Luc
Member
Registered: 02/14/09
Posts: 43
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It seems like you are using a manual wheelchair. So what I am posting may not apply to you, but the situation is similar. A power wheelchair user transfers from his/her chair into the driver's seat but has no way to get the wheelchair into the van him/herself. Believe it or not, but they came out with a wheelchair that stashes itself in the car .
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#187475 - 06/01/10 09:11 AM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: Deo]
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marls
Junior Member
Registered: 02/16/10
Posts: 2
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I drive with hand controls but have to depend on someone to unload my wheelchair and bring it around to my side. I would really like to be more independent. I have seen on TV where a pwd pulls the wheelchair over the lap and into the passenger side. I can't do this with my wheelchair, it too heavy or my minivan( Hyundai Matrix)seat is too high. I can stand up for a second or two. Is there a wheelchair model which is ideal for this purpose? The alternative is a converted vehicle with a ramp which I will have to import-really expensive. Any suggestions?
Deo
Try the Jouleflow designs site at http://www.jouleflowdesigns.com
They make a chair that is specifically designed to go over your lap and onto a car passenger seat.
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#196451 - 12/20/10 07:29 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: marls]
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Paul I
Member
Registered: 02/24/00
Posts: 7913
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I have a Chairtopper for sale. It's 7 years old and in very good condition. Shipping could be costly.
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"...only the shadow knows"
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#196468 - 12/21/10 01:34 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: Paul I]
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paradocs
Member
Registered: 11/20/04
Posts: 2323
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Paul: Why are you selling your chairtopper? Did you buy a van? If so, what did you decide on and how is it working for you?
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#196478 - 12/21/10 06:19 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: paradocs]
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Paul I
Member
Registered: 02/24/00
Posts: 7913
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Have to sell it for safety and butt reasons. Have an 09 Honda Van
with the ramp, etc. Best choice I could make aside from none. First vehicle I have bought because I personally needed that type for mobility. Still some issues regarding my personal needs for driving but I'm working on them. So the Magnum goes up on the block
and my teenage indulgence will be gone. No more Hemi, dual exhausts and style. Just a "practical, unexciting" vehicle.
Life goes on.
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"...only the shadow knows"
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#196497 - 12/22/10 01:06 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: Paul I]
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paradocs
Member
Registered: 11/20/04
Posts: 2323
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I hope the van works well for you. Are you able to get up the ramp in a manual chair or did you have to get a power chair? None of the ramp vans I have seen so far have ramps with a "shallow" enough grade to get myself up them. My arm strength is inadequate. For a ramp van I would have to go to a power chair. If I have to eventually get a van, it will have to have a lift.
Who did the conversion for you? I think there is a conversion factory there in Phoenix (VMI?). What other features did you need? Transfer seat? Reduced effort steering? Your review, when you have had time to evaluate it would probably be helpful to others.
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#196503 - 12/22/10 01:58 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: paradocs]
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Paul I
Member
Registered: 02/24/00
Posts: 7913
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It has a transfer seat that comes way back, farther than the older ones. It is up,down, fore and back and rotate. The ramp steepness is the main issue. I have ordered "hill holders" to replace the normal Quickie II brakes. When flipped over onto the tire you have free forward but locking on reverse. It's a matter of getting my hands back in push position at the top of the ramp without rolling back. The gearshift, on the dash, has a push button to allow shifting but I'm working on a solution for that. Other than that it's practicing transferring as regards seat position, angle and all that. It will come. Paul I
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"...only the shadow knows"
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#196525 - 12/23/10 01:57 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: Paul I]
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paradocs
Member
Registered: 11/20/04
Posts: 2323
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I know the feeling of "breaking in" a new vehicle. Some take more work than others, especially after you have driven the same one for years.
How far does the transfer seat rotate? Some of the older ones went only 90 degrees, but I understand some of the newer ones do 180.
I imagine that if you do a lot of parallel parking by raised sidewalks, the ramp steepness is far less of a problem.
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#196574 - 12/27/10 12:14 AM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: paradocs]
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spinner
Member
Registered: 09/30/01
Posts: 35
Loc: Silverton Oregon
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Paul, what chair did you use with the chairtopper. I've only seen them with used with the old Invacare weight lifter specials.
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#196575 - 12/27/10 12:26 AM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: spinner]
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flicka
Member
Registered: 04/06/00
Posts: 24616
Loc: SLO County, CA - 66.122.77.142
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I have a braun chairtopper that works like a snap with my Quickie 2. My chair folds, and rolls back easily over the lift 'sling'. I bought the vehicle it was installed on, simply for the lift. The lift worked from day 1 without any adjustments. Very impressive.
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#196580 - 12/27/10 07:36 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: flicka]
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rosebud
Member
Registered: 07/20/05
Posts: 1149
Loc: NY
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My van has the 6 way power seat and lowered floor, I had the passenger seat taken out and now it's very easy to transfer onto the driver seat. I thought I'd be able to manually wheel up the ramp as well as use my power chair when needed, but no can do. The ramp looks very shallow, but is deceiving. When passengers ride along, they have to sit in the back. Not a perfect scenario, but it'll have to do. One friend who rides in the back a lot loves that she can just walk into the van and stand upright inside (she's only 4'11"). Anxious to hear if the hill holders solve your up wheeling Paul. Good luck!
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#196587 - 12/28/10 02:32 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: rosebud]
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paradocs
Member
Registered: 11/20/04
Posts: 2323
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rosebud: What kind of van do you have and who did the conversion? Also, how far does your transfer seat rotate? I assume you lock down your wheelchair in the space where the front passenger seat once was. Is that correct? I have seen full sized vans with captain's chairs that rotated 180 degrees and the wheelchair lockdown was behind the driver's seat. That allowed the front passenger seat to remain.
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#196591 - 12/28/10 11:00 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: paradocs]
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rosebud
Member
Registered: 07/20/05
Posts: 1149
Loc: NY
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paradocs: I have a 1995 Dodge Gr.Caravan Braun Conversion.
The seat can rotate 90dgr. and also moves back quite far. I tried several ways to maneuver, and taking the passenger seat out was the least frustrating, requires less moves, and also gives lots of wiggle room. Also, the space makes it possible to get right up to the dash to start the engine before I start transferring, which is very handy in this cold weather.
Once inside, I simply rotate my w/chair right there in the middle to face forward, then rotate the driver seat 45dgr., bring it up to the height I need, transfer over, then start swiveling the seat a little at a time till I get my legs and seat in the driving position. I don't move my power wc up front unless I have passengers.
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#196592 - 12/29/10 12:45 AM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: rosebud]
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Paul I
Member
Registered: 02/24/00
Posts: 7913
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Spinner, the Chairtopper has been used with my Quickie II like Flicka. The lift in the device will lift around 40 pounds.
Rosebud, today I successfully entered the van by ramp. I went to near the top. the hill holders locked the wheels and I proceeded by
reaching in and grabbing on the left the seat belt for the missing row of seats(row 2) and the grip on the back of the passenger seat and pulling myself in. I'm going to rig some more convenient
pulls soon. Before, it would lock at the top and as soon as I pushed on the rim it would wheelie.There is a company,
http://www.adapt-solutions.ca/ that makes a number of cool devices including a winch to pull you up the ramp and in plus
going down.
My transfer seat doesn't rotate even 90 degrees because it hits the door post or wall on its left.
Rosebud, how have you been? It's been a while. Your weather sounds horrendous up there. I have refrained from posting a photo of the oranges on our trees with the blooming roses poking into the low, orange laden branches. Rosebud, does your driver's seat have a foot floor the moves with the seat?
I'm still waiting for perfect W/C vehicle. I do know it will have a lowered floor, no kneel, a lightweight lift, hopefully a diesel engine for at least 30mpg, seats with no sunken center, etc. Add your own desires.
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#196597 - 12/29/10 01:08 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: Paul I]
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paradocs
Member
Registered: 11/20/04
Posts: 2323
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When I first started driving I would get into my car on cold mornings and start the engine. Then I would load the chair. One morning I slipped and hit the shift lever putting it into reverse. Fortunately there was nothing behind me except the curb across the street which stopped the car. I managed to get back to the chair and get it loaded but the incident made me wary of starting the car before getting into position behind the wheel.
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#197741 - 02/27/11 03:47 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: paradocs]
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Paul I
Member
Registered: 02/24/00
Posts: 7913
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Update: the hill holders work well. I can take one push and stop,push and stop until I'm at the top.
Paradocs, your story reminds me when, as an indestructable teenager
I decided I could back the car out to wash it without getting in as the hand controls were on the left and the window open. Problem;
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"...only the shadow knows"
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#197742 - 02/27/11 03:53 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: paradocs]
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Paul I
Member
Registered: 02/24/00
Posts: 7913
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Update: the hill holders work well. I can take one push and stop,push and stop until I'm at the top.
Paradocs, your story reminds me when, as an indestructable teenager
I decided I could back the car out to wash it without getting in as the hand controls were on the left and the window open. Problem: 2 car garage, 2 garage doors. Solution: put the car in idle/reverse (push button tranny). As it backed out scoot around the center post and greet the hand control as it rolled out, stop it and wash it. Don't try it without the idle adjusted or the choke off. Hung on to the car, left my chair and rode it till it hit an incline. Seemed like a good idea at the time.
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"...only the shadow knows"
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#197771 - 02/28/11 01:02 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: Paul I]
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paradocs
Member
Registered: 11/20/04
Posts: 2323
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I never tried that, but I can imagine horrors immediately.
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#198370 - 04/13/11 09:41 AM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: rosebud]
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pitbullnp
Member
Registered: 03/31/11
Posts: 68
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why not just a rigid chair with no box frame? with a back that folds and locks down. Rigid chairs dont fold in half...but they dont look gay either and super light!
I have a tilite.
np
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#198583 - 04/27/11 11:02 PM
Re: Wheelchair model ideal for pulling over the lap
[Re: paradocs]
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shinything
Junior Member
Registered: 09/22/06
Posts: 3
Loc: Spokane, WA USA
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I always drove older cars w/ bench front seats & stowed my WC behind me, but it was putting so much wear & tear on my shoulders- also getting hard to keep those nice old cars running!
I bought a used, older model Braun car-top carrier for my present car & really enjoy it. It probably was designed for use on a bigger car than mine & does throw off the center of gravity, so I drive a bit slower when the wind blows & take it easy on corners.
I have been stranded a couple times when part of a switch snapped off, hopefully that's a design flaw that's been addressed in newer models?
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