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
.
