I had the opportunity to test-drive a van with the Scott System here in Phoenix. Having driven for 26 years with MPD hand controls and a tri-pin spinner, it was a difficult transition to the Scott System, but after a few minutes of instruction I was able to drive around the block with no trouble. It's a pretty cool setup. The hardest thing for me was not having a steering wheel in front of me! I talked to several people who drove with the Scott System and they all raved about it.
I tell newbie drivers to find the right system for them because once you get used to one type of controls it's hard to switch! Don. ________________________________ From: Thomas & NoelCusack <tecn...@sbcglobal.net> To: wheelch...@aol.com; daa...@aol.com; quad-list@eskimo.com; Tod E. Santee <sant...@cox.net> Sent: Tue, December 1, 2009 10:14:27 AM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] information about mini vans versus full size and wheelchair The "Scott" System has been arounda long, long time. The first time that I saw one I thought that I was in the cockpit of a B-17! He builds a great system. I wish he'd move east just to give people east of the Mississippi to experience it. Service on any of these sophisticated driving systems is always critical. The third party payors oughta think about taking out extended warranty's for their clients so they don't get socked once the factory warranty has expired. Tom --- On Mon, 11/30/09, Tod E. Santee <sant...@cox.net> wrote: >From: Tod E. Santee <sant...@cox.net> >Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] information about mini vans versus full size and >wheelchair >To: wheelch...@aol.com, daa...@aol.com, quad-list@eskimo.com >Date: Monday, November 30, 2009, 11:36 PM > > >I drive a full-size Ford E-150 modified with a "Scott" system, by Driving >Systems, Inc., (dSi) in Anaheim, CA. (www.drivingsystems.com) It has some >benefits that can overcome some of the obstacles to driving that some quads >have. > >On the positive side: > a) it truly IS built to fit the quad driver. dSi buys their vans >from Ford with no steering system... then they install theirs to fit. > b) the steering effort can be very close to "zero-effort" as can the >push-pull gas-brake system, > c) steering and gas/brake are done with the same hand (not quite like a >joystick, but not not like one either), > d) it is built to fit the driver and gas/brake/steering effort (force >required) can be adjusted almost as needed, and > e) it's mechanical and Electrical --- NOT Electronic -- so fewer failures >and easier to fix! Machanical breaks are much easier for anyone to deal >with. Electronic is usually a specialty to that particular system and only >THEY can do the re-working or troubleshooting. > >Down sides: > a) it's sensitive... sometimes too sensitive for AB Folk to feel confident >with, > b) it looks intimidating... like a regular driver might look and think, >"geez, it's like a cockpit," > c) the two above make it hard to convince garages to work with it even >though it's "just a van," > d) if it needs any major work on the system that can't be done at a local >place, it has to either: > 1) go to CA to be fixed (maybe you too to try it out!), or > 2) one of the shop guys flies to you with his tools, stays at a >motel and rents a do-it-yerself fix-it-up garage bay. > (Either way can be both expensive and a paion in the butt >inconvenience.) > and finally > e) unless an Able-Bodied person drives it on occasion to stay comfortable >with it, YOU end up as the designated driver for every trip, long or short, no >matter what the reason for driving is. (Makes long road trips tougher when >you're the only driver and you have a weaker than normal arm, or shorter >sitting tolerance. > >For me, it has most definitely been worth it though. Being able to drive has >just opened SO MANY possibilities and led to such an amazing feeling of (and >REAL) independence in certain areas of my life. > >I have always had a used van. These vans are mostly found in western states >because there aren't places that deal with them anywhere except for the shop >itself in Anaheim. So that means there are far fewer driving trainers >familiar with it in the east, too. I bought my first from one from a guy in >Phoenix in '94. That van was an '82 with awful gas mileage (like 7 mpg in >town, 11-12 highway!). Two and a half years ago I got another... a 2001 this >time. Much better! > >And I learned enough about how it worked that I could tell the guys at my >local Gimp-Van Shop how to adjust it for me. (The first time I had to fly to >CA and have the original guys do the work.) Now, any garage that has >questions can call the guys in CA and they are happy to explain to anybody, >free-of-charge, how to fix whatever the problem is -OR- how to figure out what >the problem, is in the first place. > >So... that's all I can add. > >Good luck. Talk wiuth ya later! > >Best! >--Tod > > >----- Original Message ----- >>From: wheelch...@aol.com >>To: daa...@aol.com ; quad-list@eskimo.com >>Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 8:39 AM >>Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] information about mini vans versus full size and >>wheelchair >> >>Hi Dana, >>The automotive industry, does not communicate with the mobility industry. It >>never has and I doubt it ever will as the mobility mass is not that big by >>comparison to its counterparts. As the automotive industry downsizes with >>smaller, more efficient vehicles, the mobility industry is making motorized >>mobility larger and more stable to meet and address government standards. >>And you are caught in the middle with fewer choices each production year. I >>don't see any major changes in this for the next couple of years as research >>and prototypes are expensive and must pay for themselves. >> >>Learning as much as you can about mobility and knowledge are your tools for >>survival. This applies to your mobility too. Quality may change with >>production years on some manufacturers. Also consider the service end of the >>problem. The closer you are to a mobility provider, the better your odds and >>lessens any risks. >> >>Best Wishes >> >>In a message dated 11/30/2009 9:12:20 A.M. Central Standard Time, >>daa...@aol.com writes: >>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 >>> >>> >>> >>>.
