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From: Smitty on 6 Jul 2008 05:31
There is a new wheelchair currently being produced in Australia, it is
different from any other wheelchair I've ever seen and it is the best
solution for independent access into a vehicle.
It doesn't require transfer at all - you drive from the wheelchair and best
of all it is crash test approved.

I have a Mercedes Benz Vito van with this chair fitted and I love it - the
simplicity of it is the key.
Everyone who sees it says why hasn't anyone thought of that before?!?

see www.baribunma.com.au for details.


"Ray Fischer" <rf31(a)verizon.net> wrote in message
news:0h6Pj.4893$WU.1896(a)trndny08...
> Thanks. Mine is a Toyota Sienna. It's a side ramp, the same configuration
> as yours'. The difference is that I come in forward and back out later to
> exit down the ramp. I'll try it the way you suggest and see if I can then
> be in a postion to slide over into the driver's seat. I also don't
> understand how to transfer over to the driver's seat with my wheelchair
> facing toward the passenger side but I'll try and see if can manage that.
>
> RF
>
>
> "Burgerman" <burgerman(a)ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:xTJKj.56987$jH5.21235(a)newsfe3-win.ntli.net...
>> "Ray Fischer" <rf31(a)verizon.net> wrote in message
>> news:1YwKj.3225$N62.2236(a)trndny07...
>>>
>>> "Burgerman" <burgerman(a)ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>>> news:CKKIj.7021$h65.4822(a)newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
>>>> "Ray Fischer" <rf31(a)verizon.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:YawIj.12662$gS1.8134(a)trndny07...
>>>>>I use a power wheelchair and a Toyota Sienna Minivan. When I drive
>>>>>s;pnr I use a remote to open the ramp; I drive up the ramp and transfer
>>>>>into a swivel driver's seat. I can't use an EZ lock since my wife and I
>>>>>share the driving and I'm unable to lock down the chair myself. If
>>>>>we're only going a short distance on local roads I sit in the
>>>>>wheelchair in the back (with the car seatbelt around me in the
>>>>>wheelchair. Obviously driving with a very heavy loose wheelchair in
>>>>>the car is very unsafe.
>>>>>
>>>>> Does anyone know of any easy way I can lock down the chair when
>>>>> transfering into the driver's seat alone?
>>>>>
>>>>> RF
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I still dont understand why you cant use an ezlock - they are just
>>>> drive in and clunk its got you! And a single button to push to release?
>>>> Unless its in the way on the floor?
>>>>
>>>> Otherwise the tie downs and ratchet straps is the only way.
>>>>
>>>> I do the same - but then I always drive from my wheelchair and use a
>>>> ezlock (similar) in the driving position.
>>>>
>>>> The drivers seat can be refitted in about 5 mins if needed.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I drive my wheelchair up into the back of my ramp equiped minvan and
>>> transfer into the drivers seat.
>>
>>
>> This is where the misunderstanding is coming from. You didnt say the ramp
>> was at the rear so I presumed that like the majority of honda, toyota,
>> and chrysler lowered floor rampvans the ramp was in the side door like
>> mine is
>> http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/images-chrysler-dodge/chrysler-minivan-rollx-medium.jpg
>>
>> In which case you would just reverse in, straight into a electric tie
>> down with the chair facing sideways, towards the ramp. Then presumably
>> you transfer sideways to a rotating seat as most people do? (again you
>> didnt say) so you would have been in the correct place to transfer. If
>> you wanted to be seated in your powerchair then it wouldnt be as safe
>> though since you would be facing sideways.
>>
>>>As you surmised there would not be room to manuever onto an ezlock with
>>>my wheelchair in a position where I can transfer into the driver's seat.
>>>The ezlock would also be in the way of me driving the wheeelchair into
>>>and out of the van.
>>
>> Maybe a side ramp is a better solution for you then? A vehicle swap
>> needed!
>>
>>
>> Likewise it's not
>>> possible for me to reach down to use the chains for the recepticals that
>>> are built into the car.
>>
>> Even with a "grabber"? Then you are buggered. The best solution will be a
>> side entry van at great expence maybe.
>>
>>
>> If my wife is with me we wrap the rear shoulder/seat
>>> belts around the wheelchair but I can't do that if I'm alone.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> RF
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>


From: Burgerman on 6 Jul 2008 11:10
"Smitty" <smitty19(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:g4q3cp$11vh$1(a)otis.netspace.net.au...
> There is a new wheelchair currently being produced in Australia, it is
> different from any other wheelchair I've ever seen and it is the best
> solution for independent access into a vehicle.
> It doesn't require transfer at all - you drive from the wheelchair and
> best of all it is crash test approved.
>
> I have a Mercedes Benz Vito van with this chair fitted and I love it - the
> simplicity of it is the key.
> Everyone who sees it says why hasn't anyone thought of that before?!?
>
> see www.baribunma.com.au for details.

It may allow you to use it in an unmodified people carrier but as a day to
day powerchair it wouldnt be much use to me.
It has made too many compromises for the sake of getting low. Length,
distance between the wheels, battery power wasteage due to long wheelbase
and sheer weight over the rear castors while manoevering etc.
And its front wheel drive/steering meaning the rear swinging about behind
you, also meaning if it was fast enough it wouldnt be stable (bit like a
fork lift!) and its got insufficient battery capacity for any serious
speed/use?

But as a wheelchair to drive from its one of only a few choices. Like the
lomax, and adaptachair etc which are at least rear wheel drive. Although
they too suffers from speed and range issues due to battery size.

From: Pete on 7 Jul 2008 18:50
Smitty wrote:
> There is a new wheelchair currently being produced in Australia, it is
> different from any other wheelchair I've ever seen and it is the best
> solution for independent access into a vehicle.
> It doesn't require transfer at all - you drive from the wheelchair and best
> of all it is crash test approved.
>
> I have a Mercedes Benz Vito van with this chair fitted and I love it - the
> simplicity of it is the key.
> Everyone who sees it says why hasn't anyone thought of that before?!?
>
> see www.baribunma.com.au for details.

Quite an interesting concept, how much are they worth?.
From: Smitty on 8 Jul 2008 06:56
> Smitty wrote:
>> There is a new wheelchair currently being produced in Australia, it is
>> different from any other wheelchair I've ever seen and it is the best
>> solution for independent access into a vehicle.
>> It doesn't require transfer at all - you drive from the wheelchair and
>> best of all it is crash test approved.
>>
>> I have a Mercedes Benz Vito van with this chair fitted and I love it -
>> the simplicity of it is the key.
>> Everyone who sees it says why hasn't anyone thought of that before?!?
>>
>> see www.baribunma.com.au for details.
>
> Quite an interesting concept, how much are they worth?.

I paid AU$12,000 for mine. That is for the base only - I fitted a very
comfortable 'recaro-style' car seat onto the base for another AU$1,200.
It seems a little pricer than some of the standard powerchairs but I saved a
sh1tload on vehicle conversion - it cost AU$27,000 including a ricon lift,
remote opening & closing rear door, electric handbrake, mounting brackets
(x2) and flooring. The original drivers seat is modified to fit on the same
bracket so it can be driven without the wheelchair e.g. when being serviced.
This seat is parked behind the passenger seat when I am driving.

As for manouverability, yes the front wheel drive makes the rear castors
swing out when turning and it takes a little getting used to after using
rear wheel drive but I wouldn't go back now - it can do some wicked donuts
;) hehe. Wheelchairs in Oz are limited to 10km/h although I think mine
probably gets 11-12. I can go full speed in any position from fully up to
fully down (being careful not to bottom out) and have never had fishtailing
issues, I believe there is failsafe built into the software too so you can't
go full speed then do a tight turn and get thrown out. Having said that I
nearly lost my girlfriend off my lap trying it out one night....

The two smaller batteries probably do result in a reduced range,
particularly when travelling full speed all the time but it is a trade-off
that hasn't bothered me - maybe because I travel the longer distances by
vehicle and not by chair.

I had a regular rear wheel drive chair but because I am so tall (6' 6") I
could only fit in the tallest taxi vans and the other catch 22 was I
couldn't get my legs under standard tables and desks. My Baribunma chair
can get me down to the level of a sofa lounge, which makes putting shoes and
socks on easier too. It also makes transfers easier as you can always make
them downhill (ie fully up and transfer down to the bed, lower the chair
then transfer back down from the bed to the chair).

This might sound a bit silly, but it's less like a wheelchair and more like
a seat with wheels.


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