Great information! The only caveat to the dual armed lifts is that they block your way to park in the front passenger position (...if you don't drive). I've always used a single arm lift in the past. Now though, I just received a Permobil and there is no way it is strong enough for my total weight. So, here is a possibility that is in the beta stage: Slide-Away Lift, http://www.vantagemobility.com/products/ricon_lifts.aspx
Mike~ -----Original Message----- From: RONALD L PRACHT [mailto:r.pra...@sbcglobal.net] Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 9:56 AM To: quad-list@eskimo.com Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] information about mini vans versus full size and wheelchair Im a c7 quad and I drive a 2000 Safari mini van with a 4.3 v6 and a side entry lift. Learning how to park a side entry wheelchair van is a trick. Actually Ive found there is no full proof way to do it. If your not driving this isnt an issue which is a good thing. Full size vans with a lift are harder to find these days but have advantages....more room....no ramp to go up...and are more durable after 100,000 miles. The minis get better gas mileage, are easier to drive and park and with the drop floor you can see out the window and get in parking garages and the car wash. The raised roof full size vans are a pain...pain....pain.....you cant see anything when you ride, no parking garages or car washes. Either go with a mini or a full size dropped floor van. Also try to get a dual armed lift then you are good for 800 pounds. The single arm vangaters are good for maybe 600 pounds ron c7 --- On Mon, 11/30/09, Danny Hearn <ddh...@sbcglobal.net> wrote: From: Danny Hearn <ddh...@sbcglobal.net> Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] information about mini vans versus full size and wheelchair To: daa...@aol.com, quad-list@eskimo.com Date: Monday, November 30, 2009, 9:31 AM Dana, i'm like you and don't drive either---We used to use a large full size dodge giant van that I bought cheap and made repairs on, it was huge and hard for my wife to drive, plus had an 8cylinder that used a lot of gas, it also had side entry lift and we always got blocked in at parking spots.... Now we got a 1995 chevy astro-mini van with a 6 cylinder and raised roof. It has a rear entry ricon lift and we never can get blocked in :-) . Me and wife both love it since she drives--------- I went to a van sales and tried loading on the mini vans that a quad can drive but man it was a tight fit for me too, plus they cost over $25 thousand and way up--- no way we could afford one of those. The new ones they had cost over $40 thousand.-----DAN H. _____ From: "daa...@aol.com" <daa...@aol.com> To: quad-list@eskimo.com Sent: Mon, November 30, 2009 9:11:48 AM Subject: [QUAD-L] information about mini vans versus full size and wheelchair Hi Gang, What kind of vans do you use. I have always used a full size vehicle and I went to a united access location just to try out minivans during the summer. It seemed like there was so little room with my Permobile. My new chair has two wheels in front, which make the base a little longer. It was such a tight fit I was told that I would have to remove the front chair. I don't drive. Do any of you use the easy lock to secure your chair? are there others that are better? I'd like to know others experiences with both size and what vehicle models you prefer in both sizes. I will probably not be getting a brand-new, because of the cost. I'd also like to know the durability and problems that you have experienced. Have any of you purchased a vehicle and then had it modified. I use pencils with rubber in my splints. I am not able to reach the switches to control the functions at all and I have much difficulty reaching the mode button. Do any of you have problems reaching the switches? I I could use the switches and the mode button on my older model. Recently I wrote about my wheelchair going dead. I found out from the technician there is a connection under the arm that is a design flaw that is not in my other chair that attaches and can easily become pulled out. I was told it has to be connected with electrical tape or twist ties to prevent this problem.. Thank you and I appreciate any ideas or suggestions any of you may be able to offer with any of my questions. Dana .
