Wheelchair Hoist Help

dthegunner

Good Afternnon everyone I wonder if I could ask for some help please.  My wife had a Renault Masters van with electric steps and a rear Ricoh Lift.  She uses a Kymco K-Activ powerchair and this will fold to about a 1m cube and weighs 97KG.   The van was completely destroyed by fire in a senseless arson attack a few weeks ago and we are trying to replace it.  We have quite specific requirements -

at least 5 usable seats preferrably 7

automatic (she only has an auto licence)

She does not want another big van that is difficult to park and she couldn't park in a normal bay as she couldn't open the door fully.

She can walk a little so I thinking a large car with a hoist but what car?  I can't find out the requirement of the boot apperture height and length.  I have been looking for a couple of weeks.  The one car that seems to work best is the Ford Grande Tourneo Connect but they are like hen's teeth and very expensive.  Can anyone please offer alternative suggestions?  I have tried Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Expert, Fiat Doblo and VW Caddy as the closest but again affordable >£10K is a problem.

My wife is eligible for the Motorbility Scheme but even that does not seem to meet the requirements.  Please advise.

Thanks

Dan

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community, I would advise you speak to a disability car specialist at one of the approved mobility garages near you they should be able to offer some recommendations.

Also I am sure other members will be able yo help with the type of car they use as well

Hope you find something suitable

Cher_Scope

Hi @dthegunner - Welcome to our online community.  I'm glad you found us.  

Sorry to hear about the arson of your previous car.  That's a real shame.  Have you spoken to someone at your local Motability dealership?  Here's a link to the Motability site to find your nearest one.  

dthegunner

Cher_Scope said:

Hi @dthegunner - Welcome to our online community.  I'm glad you found us.  

Sorry to hear about the arson of your previous car.  That's a real shame.  Have you spoken to someone at your local Motability dealership?  Here's a link to the Motability site to find your nearest one.  

Thanks I have spoken to several dealerships and also to our local adaptations expert.  I am beginning to wonder if the vehicle I need exists at any reasonable cost.  Ford say it will take 6 to 9 months to get the Grande Tourneo Connect on Motorbility.  I can't afford the prices that are on Autotrader but I need something now.  Maybe I will have to go for another van albeit hopefully a bit smaller.

Thanks for the link.

Dan

newborn

Keep researching.  Disability sites, magazines, online sites may have information.  It crossed  my mind that Fish may have some informal suggestions (they are astonishingly cheap insurers for everything disability related.) I went round that loop, but my info will be out of date. 

Motability goes for a car, but isn't necessarily good value.   There are second hand vehicles and second hand hoists.  Your wife  has made a decision lots of people need to make.  Hers, now, will be complicated  by the prospect of having the next vehicle  attacked.   What is the matter with people?  A disabled person's  car is their legs.  Why would anyone want  to  do such a thing?   Is there a way you can keep camera surveillance on  the new car (plus hoist), visible enough to deter any repeat? Will the police crime prevention give advice?

Once, someone I knew bought a decommissioned  black cab, because he could drive his chair into it.  He could get passers by to click the ramp into place and take it off.  On good days he was still able to cling to the  bodywork and a crutch, and get into the cab to drive himself,  but otherwise his wife drove. (They did have difficulty finding  the correct insurer though, because cabs are not on the Fish drop down, but cab insurers  won't insure non-cabbies!)

dthegunner

Thanks Newborn, yes we have been with Fish for some years.  I tried a black cab once but hated the driving position as there is very limited legroom.  I have arranged for the car parking area to be camera'd but it feels like shutting the stable door after horse has bolted!   Trouble is if the camera properly visable then it is also vulnerable to attack.  I am currently looking at the Nissan X-Trail (looks like a massive boot) and the Mitzibushi Shogun.

Thanks to everyone for your advice.   I am not entirely new to the disabled scene as I chair the local branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.   My wife's problems stem from a RTA in 2003 but the effects  are getting worse and she is deteriorating fast. 

exdvr

Hi @dthegunner......I have the Berlingo automatic with a hoist which allows me to fit a Kymco Mini Comfort scooter in sideways, still giving full use of the 5 seats.  I'd suggest looking round the second-hand market as there isn't a great choice on Motability and their Advance Pigments are becoming ridiculous.

newborn

exdvr Your Freudian mistype said it all, about Motability and their Advance Pig ments. !

exdvr

Can't even blame that on predictive text !!