#192743 - 09/17/10 04:34 PM
Hand Controls anyone?
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megsy
Junior Member
Registered: 09/17/10
Posts: 1
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Hi I am just staring to drive and i was wondering if anyone had any used hand controls i could buy off of them, or knew of where i could buy them reasonably priced. My mobility dealer is quoting $1,100 which i find ridiculous for basic hand controls.
Any info would be so appreciated
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#192860 - 09/20/10 12:47 PM
Re: Hand Controls anyone?
[Re: megsy]
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paradocs
Member
Registered: 11/20/04
Posts: 2323
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When I first began driving in the 1960's hand controls were easy to install on just about any car -- all you had to do was bolt them around the steering column. Today with all the different vehicles available, you often need special adaptors depending on the vehicle. I suspect your mobility dealer is not out of line on his price given the labor involved. Below is a link to a place offering both permanent and portable controls which you might want to consider. Like all things with moving parts, hand controls wear out over time. I would not want to have a wreck because a set of used controls malfunctioned due to wear and tear. Also be aware that if you are working or going to school, your state vocational rehab department may pick up the fee for the controls and installation.
http://www.handicapsinc.com/shoppingcart/agora.cgi?product=Driving%20Controls
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#193522 - 10/02/10 10:17 PM
Re: Hand Controls anyone?
[Re: paradocs]
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mrbuhag
Junior Member
Registered: 10/02/10
Posts: 1
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Hey Megsy, i saw your post on driving controls, i went through the same thing , i was getting prices of over a grand quoted to me. i kept looking around the web and found this guy
http://adaptivedrivingdevic.accountsupport.com/
on this site, i found the automobility 901 system. worked great in my 2005 mustang. the price is close to 600 but that's almost half of what i was seeing. hope this helps.
-Tony
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#193743 - 10/06/10 09:18 PM
Re: Hand Controls anyone?
[Re: mrbuhag]
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backwards
Junior Member
Registered: 10/05/10
Posts: 4
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I was lucky enough to find a set of easy to install controls on eBay---the guy was a local C5 and had been modifying vans for years and even offered to come to my house and help install them! He bought a pre-set up van and didn't need them. I was also lucky enough to have him "throw in" a box of odd parts and pieces that he had saved so different cars could be fitted out. Most companies that make this stuff WILL sell you the adapter pieces. The control itself was not that hard to install--my husband and son in law did it in a few hours, most of that was apent fine tuning and discovering what went where.
I will say tho that the control I got is perfectly workable it is not all that "easy" to drive with. I have muscle "issues" and this might be why the push movement on the throttle is very tiring---of course this might be my car ---a Mazda MPV---as I noticed that the gas was "hard" to push when I was able to drive with a (partly amputated) foot. After I severely damaged the thing muscle on the right leg I could not drive for almost a year before I got the controls. The newer ones might be easier to manipulate too.
Things to remember---you might have to give up your TILT feature tho I was able to keep the cruise control---vital!!!! You will need to learn the "point" where the gas and brake---brake on mine is push FORWARD and gas is push DOWN--- have a "balance" so you are not giving the car gas while braking. Timing and experiance! I had a set that I returned that had "motorcycle twist grip" gas and push brake ---they did not fit my car and could no longer get parts for the model---but even in the living room the twist grip seemed very hard to turn---would be very tiring. Some have a switch you can wire up to control turn signals and lights. Doing a toll road is um fun---think about it---you have to open the window with the BRAKE HAND!!!! So you have to put it in PARK do window pay toll roll up window take out of park---or get an EASY PASS. A switch to open/close windows and lock doors and do the wipers would be GREAT---and maybe that is out there and I just did not look hard enough---cost was the main driver here---I paid $200 for the set and have seen many on eBay sell for much more. Altho waaaay less than at a shop! You could of course contact a local installer and ask if they will install something you buy---if you had a previous set this is what you would do right???? I am lucky that my family is generaly around so I don't have to drive much but I do love the idea that I CAN do it if I want to. I will NOT however drive with the motorcycle trailer behind the van!!!! LOL!!!!
I am sure there are things I forgot to mention contact me for any other tips and tricks I might be able to help with.
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