For Friends

Posted on: Tue, Dec 4 2007 6:24 AM

Posted by: jesslintch Posts: 1

I'm trying to make my home accessible for my boyfriend.  Has anyone had expereince with portable suitcase ramps?  Can you recommend a brand or a place to buy one?

Posted on: Thu, Dec 6 2007 10:17 AM

Posted by: Debbie Posts: 3,878

hi jesslintch, it's nice to have you here and you must be glad your honey is coming home, is he a sci? i am and you could call your local medical supply place and they could direct you if they don't sell them. i don't know where you live so i couldn't look up a place. i hope that you and your boyfrined will come back after he is setteld. there might be questions you have that people on here canhelp you with whatever his disability is. tell him we said hi to you both and hope to meet him as well. best of luck to you and have a great homecoming!

Posted on: Thu, Dec 20 2007 8:33 AM

Posted by: GlennDane Posts: 46

 A few years ago I purchased a 3' Aluminum Folding ramp off of eBay and it has worked great for me.  I take it with me when I travel to Aruba so I can get around where there are no curb cuts and get into bars/restaurants/shops that may have a step.  I would recommend a folding ramp that folds once in the middle.  3' seems just about right for 1 step and if you are brave two steps.  I have gone up some very steep inclines in my powerchair. 

Posted on: Thu, Dec 20 2007 11:55 PM

Posted by: Wheelin Rev Posts: 837

jesslintch,

I just started a serious search on this subject tonight. Googling with the terms ("Wheelchair Ramp" +portable +steps +slope) yields quite a few results. I don't want to endorse anything yet because. like you, I am just beginning my search for something to meet my needs.

I have been using some of the criteria presented on this page in quantifying what I should be looking at:

http://www.discountramps.com/ramp-site-evaluation.htm

The page gives a lot of good things to consider. My quest began tonight when my two muscular son-in-laws "thought" they could lift my powerchair and place it in the back of a Ford E350 Extended 17-passenger van with the rear-most bench seat removed. We were going to do some last minute Christmas shopping and I wanted to be able to shop under my own power with my new Pride Mobility Q6000 powerchair.

With just two well-built men, the 350 pound chair was too much for them to even get it 1 inch off the ground. So we are now looking to purchase, like you said, a folding ramp; that can get this bad-boy rolled up into the van.

Let's stay in touch and compare notes if you'd like. Best wishes to you in your quest for a suitable solution.

Dave

Posted on: Fri, Feb 1 2008 8:55 AM

Posted by: Barb1949 Posts: 130

Hi Wheelin, Rev,

Your chair looks like mine but not sure if they are exactly the same type .  Mine is a pronto but i couldn't find the 6,000 on it.  You made need a wheelchair lift to get it in a van i am not sure if ramps will work or not.  i have a backpacker for my minivan.  i have a electric scooter i use outside that it lifts.  My backpacker has ramp like bottom to it where you line wheels up like you would a ramp i was told not to use my wheelchair on it because it would damage the wheels.  My van is 6 yr old and i don't want at ths time to put anymore money into it if i don't have to.  i plan to get a van hopefully that laready has all the stuff in it like hand controls for me to drive and a lift or ramp.  The ramps i've seen are mounted right to the van and fold out and in with remote controls.

Have any of you seen the new hand controls i am not really with it yet on the new technology but the hand controls i have seen in new mobility mag. looks like buttons you push to drive your car , van or truck.  but i haven't actually seen them yet.

Also i am not sure if your aware but United Cerebral palsey has a low interest loan you can get .  Mine is through a credit union and i got it two years ago at 5;25% which is cheap here in michigan.  i got it to have work done on my mobile home to make it more accessable.  i had a roll in shower put in .  A wheelchair lift for outside that lifts me from the ground level to level with my deck to come in the house.  When the Ambulance came a few years ago that was a life saver.  i also had a new awning put on over my porch so i don't get rained on trying to get in my house.

Hope this helps someone.

Barb

Posted on: Fri, Feb 1 2008 10:03 AM

Posted by: Wheelin Rev Posts: 837

Barb1949:

Your chair looks like mine but not sure if they are exactly the same type .  Mine is a pronto but i couldn't find the 6,000 on it.

Barb, my chair is from Pride Mobility / Quantum Rehab in Pennsylvania and is the model Q6000.

Barb1949:

You made need a wheelchair lift to get it in a van i am not sure if ramps will work or not.

My DME delivered the Q6K in a minivan using a 6 foot "suitcase" folding ramp. When the chair is NOT occupied, it can be driven up and down ramps at much steeper angles than if it were occupied. The seat also needs to be tilted with the head rest lowered to clear the top of the minivan. In my situation, I can still do a standing transfer to get into a vehicle which will enable my wife to drive the chair into the back of a van (which we do NOT have yet). For the time being, all of my outside-the-home trips to malls and such require me to use a manual chair which I must be pushed in due to minimal arm strength. As my condition deteriorates over the years, I may eventually require a heavy-duty lift equipped van since my chair weighs about 325 pounds and I weigh another 200 pounds. As you indicated, when that day arrives for me, the specs of a ramp would need to be carefully considered due to the combined weight. Based on a realistic angle to drive up, I suspect a ramp would be too long to be practical and therefore will opt for a lift solution.

Barb1949:

Have any of you seen the new hand controls i am not really with it yet on the new technology but the hand controls i have seen in new mobility mag. looks like buttons you push to drive your car , van or truck.  but i haven't actually seen them yet.

That sounds like "drive by wire" technology. 

Barb1949:

Also i am not sure if your aware but United Cerebral palsey has a low interest loan you can get .

And that is valuable info for many as well. Many of the organizations have benefits such as the loan that you mentioned. In my case, the Muscular Dystrophy Association helped me to obtain a manual wheelchair and they also help cover maintenance costs for my equipment each year. God bless these organizations and their donors!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Dave