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The Watercooler
SO approached in mall yesterday by a
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 99840" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>On the ramp issue - husband made a ramp for me, which folds. He actually made a model version using Meccano, just to get the idea right first. And that way, I can get my wheels into our van all by myself. The ramp folds down into a quarter the size and then lifts up and sits behind the "beast".</p><p></p><p>by the way, my wheels are an electric scooter, those mobility things you see old folks tootling round on, in the old folks' homes. I can get off an walk, I carry my crutches on it as well.</p><p></p><p>What we do - I unfold the ramp so it is sitting on the edge of the van boot. For this to work, you need the floor to be level to the edge of the door, not have a lip on it of 6" or more like some vehicles do. The ramp is hinged in the middle, so it bends (supported underneath by fold-out struts) to accommodate the varying heights of the car floor from the ground. If your truck is higher than most vans, you might need to create a longer ramp so the slope is not too great.</p><p></p><p>We then put the scooter into low gear and walk it up the ramp, unloaded (we DO NOT RIDE IT UP). We then fold up the ramp and stow it behind the scooter, using occy (octopus) straps (those stretchy things) to hold it in place. husband designed handles on the ramp, to lift it when folded as well as to hook the straps through.</p><p></p><p>To get the scooter out - we set up the ramp again and still in low gear, walk the scooter out carefully backwards. </p><p></p><p>Before the ramp, it took two people to lift the thing into the vehicle, and it was really hurting me to try to assist. I would twist my knee or my wrist, just from having to lift and then turn. Not good. And if I had to go on my own into the city, for example - I would need someone to help me get the scooter loaded and unloaded. I don't think I'd be able to do this now.</p><p></p><p>My scooter is allegedly able to be taken apart, but it's such a hassle we rarely do it. Now I can load/unload on my own and I love it. I have to drive to the train station, but once there I can manage to unload all by myself, then I can catch the train to anywhere in Sydney and drive straight on and off (once I alert the train officials to meet me with their ramps).</p><p></p><p>Seriously, husband's design is something you should be able to either make yourself, or get someone to make for you, adapting it to your own specs. He made it out of aluminium sheet. If you want, let me know and I'll get him to give you the measurements, plus any improvements he suggests (from the mistakes we made first time round - it's always the way).</p><p></p><p>We also found our ramps to be MUCH cheaper than anything available - nothing like ours was on the market at all. </p><p></p><p>And as for the insurance fraud - go get him!</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 99840, member: 1991"] On the ramp issue - husband made a ramp for me, which folds. He actually made a model version using Meccano, just to get the idea right first. And that way, I can get my wheels into our van all by myself. The ramp folds down into a quarter the size and then lifts up and sits behind the "beast". by the way, my wheels are an electric scooter, those mobility things you see old folks tootling round on, in the old folks' homes. I can get off an walk, I carry my crutches on it as well. What we do - I unfold the ramp so it is sitting on the edge of the van boot. For this to work, you need the floor to be level to the edge of the door, not have a lip on it of 6" or more like some vehicles do. The ramp is hinged in the middle, so it bends (supported underneath by fold-out struts) to accommodate the varying heights of the car floor from the ground. If your truck is higher than most vans, you might need to create a longer ramp so the slope is not too great. We then put the scooter into low gear and walk it up the ramp, unloaded (we DO NOT RIDE IT UP). We then fold up the ramp and stow it behind the scooter, using occy (octopus) straps (those stretchy things) to hold it in place. husband designed handles on the ramp, to lift it when folded as well as to hook the straps through. To get the scooter out - we set up the ramp again and still in low gear, walk the scooter out carefully backwards. Before the ramp, it took two people to lift the thing into the vehicle, and it was really hurting me to try to assist. I would twist my knee or my wrist, just from having to lift and then turn. Not good. And if I had to go on my own into the city, for example - I would need someone to help me get the scooter loaded and unloaded. I don't think I'd be able to do this now. My scooter is allegedly able to be taken apart, but it's such a hassle we rarely do it. Now I can load/unload on my own and I love it. I have to drive to the train station, but once there I can manage to unload all by myself, then I can catch the train to anywhere in Sydney and drive straight on and off (once I alert the train officials to meet me with their ramps). Seriously, husband's design is something you should be able to either make yourself, or get someone to make for you, adapting it to your own specs. He made it out of aluminium sheet. If you want, let me know and I'll get him to give you the measurements, plus any improvements he suggests (from the mistakes we made first time round - it's always the way). We also found our ramps to be MUCH cheaper than anything available - nothing like ours was on the market at all. And as for the insurance fraud - go get him! Marg [/QUOTE]
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SO approached in mall yesterday by a
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