powered tricycle attachment with manual wheelchair - WAV options?
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Snowbelle
Community member Posts: 44 Courageous
Hi,
I was wondering if anyonehas any ideas on adaptations that would allow me to get a powered tricycle attachment with a manual wheelchair into & out of a vehicle?
(I can't manage lifting it in & out & detatching & reattaching it as much as I'd need to)
I thought if there was a powered ramp & tailgate, that I would be able to get in & out fine.
Unfortunately when the demo car came, I struggled to get up the incline of the ramp (front-wheel spinning, made it up 1 out of 4 times), and trying to get out was even more of a disaster - breaks weren't strong enough & as the lowered floor channel in the vehicle wasn't completely straight, with the breaks not being strong enough I kept going diagonally down the ramp & over the edge of it.
The ramp angle of the demo WAV was <11 degrees, so I'm guessing it's unlikely I'll find one with a flatter ramp.
He mentioned you can get a winch - I'm wondering would that help me get up into the vehicle?
Can a winch provide traction when exiting the vehicle to make-up for my brakes not being strong enough?
Unfortunately they can't bring me a demo vehicle with a winch
He also mentioned the possibility of putting handrails either side of the lowered floor chanel to help pull wheelchair up/ lower down ramp - I don't know how practical that would be as I'd have to chose between using the throttle/breaks or the handrail.
I know a platform lift would probably solve the problem, but I think the vehicle size would then be too big for me to feel comfortable driving it.
I'd really appreciate any ideas or suggestions.
(Demo vehicle was a VW Caddy up-front passenger)
I was wondering if anyonehas any ideas on adaptations that would allow me to get a powered tricycle attachment with a manual wheelchair into & out of a vehicle?
(I can't manage lifting it in & out & detatching & reattaching it as much as I'd need to)
I thought if there was a powered ramp & tailgate, that I would be able to get in & out fine.
Unfortunately when the demo car came, I struggled to get up the incline of the ramp (front-wheel spinning, made it up 1 out of 4 times), and trying to get out was even more of a disaster - breaks weren't strong enough & as the lowered floor channel in the vehicle wasn't completely straight, with the breaks not being strong enough I kept going diagonally down the ramp & over the edge of it.
The ramp angle of the demo WAV was <11 degrees, so I'm guessing it's unlikely I'll find one with a flatter ramp.
He mentioned you can get a winch - I'm wondering would that help me get up into the vehicle?
Can a winch provide traction when exiting the vehicle to make-up for my brakes not being strong enough?
Unfortunately they can't bring me a demo vehicle with a winch
He also mentioned the possibility of putting handrails either side of the lowered floor chanel to help pull wheelchair up/ lower down ramp - I don't know how practical that would be as I'd have to chose between using the throttle/breaks or the handrail.
I know a platform lift would probably solve the problem, but I think the vehicle size would then be too big for me to feel comfortable driving it.
I'd really appreciate any ideas or suggestions.
(Demo vehicle was a VW Caddy up-front passenger)
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Comments
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Hi @Snowbelle I’m Emma, I’m going to tag @Richard_Scope to see if he can provide some advice but I would suggest if possible asking the car company if they can provide a vehicle with a winch or at least an appointment to work with you to find a solution. You need to know if your powered tricycle can safely come down a ramp with a winch so, it’s not great if they can’t test a few options out at the very least. Please let me know how you are getting on.
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Thanks @emmarenshaw . It's my first time looking at purchasing a WAV so all new to me.
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@Snowbelle That’s alright. We’ve have and have had WAV’s ourselves as a family, so I know enough to know that they should be helping you if they can. There will also be other members with similar experiences who may be able to give you some advice too. Please give me a shout if you need anything else at all.
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Hi @Snowbelle
Good to meet you. That is one of the downsides to having a powered front attachment. They don't have much power to get up steep-ish inclines. When I had a hand-cycle attached to my wheelchair I lean as far forward as possible when going up ramps. This was to try and create grip. I'm not sure how mobile you are in your chair but it is difficult doing that every time! You probably need a longer ramp, this would reduce the gradient and make it easier for you. The manufacturer should be able to accommodate that change.Scope
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