Re: Ramp for van

[Guest guest]

Chrystal - check with the dealer for rebates from the manufacturer of the car

for getting the van disable accessiblity...

Also check with your social services and any philanthropic organizations for

donations to help pay for the cost of the ramp. Good luck!

Ramp for van

Hi guys it's Crystal just wanted to let everyone know I got my

scooter 2 days ago it's really nice. Thing of it is though this thig

weighs 300lbs no joke! the two men that delivered it coulnt eve move

it they had to drive the thing out of the truck. This thing came with

no lift or anything and it does not disesemble to fit in the trunk o

my car. My car is a 2000 Buick Centry I've only had it for 6 months

but I'm going to go in where I bought it and the dealer knows my

family so he is willing to help but I guess I'm gonna go tomarow and

see abou trading my car fo a van.

Afterwads though i have to worry about a ramp for the van has anyone

delt with this before? if so who or what company was it? I'm waiting

to hear back but I know I'm getting my Mediaide back soon. In the

mean time i have 3 other insurances. I was just woundering if anyone

could help me if they have ever delt with th same thing.

Thanks

Crystal

To learn more about EDS, visit our website: http://www.ehlersdanlos.ca

[Guest guest]

> Hi guys it's Crystal just wanted to let everyone know I got my

> scooter 2 days ago it's really nice. Thing of it is though this thig

> weighs 300lbs no joke! the two men that delivered it coulnt eve

move

> it they had to drive the thing out of the truck. This thing came

with

> no lift or anything and it does not disesemble to fit in the trunk o

> my car. My car is a 2000 Buick Centry I've only had it for 6

months

> but I'm going to go in where I bought it and the dealer knows

my

> family so he is willing to help but I guess I'm gonna go

tomarow and

> see abou trading my car fo a van.

Crystal -- I " D start at this stage with a visit to the nearest

bussiness that DOES accessablity modifications instead - ONE

example of a product you may want to consider instead is getting

the small " trailer " OR bumper mounted " lift " aparatus that you

park the scooter on --and it lifts it up to drive away holding / or in

the case of the trailer you drive on to the trailer and it's towed

behind . -BOTH are much less expensive and that car is heavy

enough to accomidate from what I recall . ( Both have a cover you

place on the scooter on rainyday's ect ) . Both of these assume

you can walk a short distance to enter the van .

Van's do have a rebate program for modifications but scooters

are BIG in many cases and really displace a LOT of seating

room PLUS the costs of raised roof / droped floor ect bring them

up into VERY PRICY options .

It's a bit after the fact here ---but generally when your condiering

the need to bring along an electric chair /scooter --it's best to

start with evaluating the choice of electric " chair " within the

context of what vehicle your going to use to transport it too -- then

chose with the van OR trailer =bumper mounted lift ect in mind .

( I've learned the hard way with this myself --having started with

scooters -then progressing to a full tilt /recline chair weighing

about 500 pounds but with a smaller profile in lenght . )

Vans are built out too fit the specific scooter or chair needs --

there is now a very lightweight fiberglass platform ramp for

example that works well with chairs and doesn't require the big

moter assembly's I've seen put into a " normal sized van " with

kneeling down ability -- LESS expensive than the more modified

vans that have raised roof /droped floor ect -and could be put into

a van with a REAR entrance for scooter use if you need to ride on

-- I DON " T think this would work for a scooter due to lenght

/turning radius if you wanted side door entrance though - you'd

need to measure the lenght of the scooter since turning radiius

wouldn't work out well in my experience .

There is also a portable aluminum ramp you could consider IF

someone will always be with you --they weigh quite a bit /

required some real dexderity to use frequently best done by an

aide in MY experience ( I've used one for a few years with

dificulties and NOW with the eds diagnsois it makes more

sense why it was soo troublesome ! )-- these do work well for

occational use - with aide assistance -but I wouldn't sugest them

if you'll always be taking the scooter .

MOSt bussinesses that DO addpative modifications instalations

will have free consultation avaialbe to help you learn what

choices may work out well given YOUR situation . they are

scattered around- I hapen to live an hour from one /so have had

the experience of going there quite a bit /and helping others near

me with the experince of evaluating what will be best for their

needs . Thus a bit of experience trying out different vans / car

bumper lifts ect too . The climate where you live will affect the

choice ranges you'll want to consider ==as well as the need to

ride into the van OR load one outside on the trailer or bumper lift

ect too --its more complex to evaluate than just having a scooter

--- the other variables like being able to walk a bit matter too .

I'm not sure what help that may be -- except to add that while the

small portable /break apart scooters MIGHT be a good solution

to consider getting as well --they don't PROVIDE the seating /nor

shock absorbtion ability ect better for MY needs - so didn't prove

a great stop gap either.

I would head for that addaptitve modifications dealer before

trying to sort through this on your own though --the van dealers

ARN " T apt to have the insight /experience you'll need - in fact they

usually know LITTLE beyond perhaps a taped program the van

manunfacter offers to show HOW it can be modified --they won't

KNOW what modifications YOU " LL need .

If you need help finding who is the van /car addaitive technology's

modification source in your area --try calling your Indepedant

living center to inquire . You can find the ILC listing for most

locations at http://irlu.org

-then open the interactive list of states or provinces ect there at

their site .

in Paradise ( electric chair user who CAN walk some - but

who uses a chiari for almost all community activities ect ) .