Car buying advice for wheelchair rack?
August 12, 2015 6:03 AM Subscribe
Sadly, my wife now needs a wheelchair. We are wondering what type of vehicle to get with our very limited budget. A custom-built van is impossible for us financially, so we are thinking for now we'll get a car or SUV that can have a trailer-hitch mounted storage rack for a wheelchar (like this). What makes and models would be best for this? Is there another option? More details below.
This is a question about buying a car, not really about how to make my wife's disability more manageable.
Limitations: Very restricted budget, around $2000-$3000 (US). We do have access to Seattle's robust and inexpensive used car market, although our small town 100 miles away seems to have at least ten SUVs in that price range, so we may not even need to travel. I would love to hear if anyone has been in the same position, and how their wheelchair rack worked out over time. The wheelchair in question is a heavy motorized unit that weighs several hundred pounds. Extra complications: Needs to have room for our two English Bulldogs in the back seat, so a pickup truck is probably out of the question.
-- Of these types of vehicles, are there any that are easier to maintain and have better/cheaper parts availability. For example, I think I read in another post that a blocky early to mid-90s Jeep Cherokee's systems and up well over time and are fairly simple to replace. I'm not sure if that is true, just an example of the things we are trying to consider. For instance, in general how would you choose between a 1995 Chevy Blazer, a 1999 Tahoe and a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder-- all with the same general price?
-- How well does the storage rack into the single standard two-inch trailer hitch really work in practice? It seems like it would be easier to drive and work with than towing an actual small trailer for the wheelchair, which is something else people also do with these types of wheelchairs.
-- This would be our first small SUV, so what do we need to know? What are the hidden or less visible costs of operations and maintenance that we might not be thinking about.
Thank you for any advice you can give.
This is a question about buying a car, not really about how to make my wife's disability more manageable.
Limitations: Very restricted budget, around $2000-$3000 (US). We do have access to Seattle's robust and inexpensive used car market, although our small town 100 miles away seems to have at least ten SUVs in that price range, so we may not even need to travel. I would love to hear if anyone has been in the same position, and how their wheelchair rack worked out over time. The wheelchair in question is a heavy motorized unit that weighs several hundred pounds. Extra complications: Needs to have room for our two English Bulldogs in the back seat, so a pickup truck is probably out of the question.
-- Of these types of vehicles, are there any that are easier to maintain and have better/cheaper parts availability. For example, I think I read in another post that a blocky early to mid-90s Jeep Cherokee's systems and up well over time and are fairly simple to replace. I'm not sure if that is true, just an example of the things we are trying to consider. For instance, in general how would you choose between a 1995 Chevy Blazer, a 1999 Tahoe and a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder-- all with the same general price?
-- How well does the storage rack into the single standard two-inch trailer hitch really work in practice? It seems like it would be easier to drive and work with than towing an actual small trailer for the wheelchair, which is something else people also do with these types of wheelchairs.
-- This would be our first small SUV, so what do we need to know? What are the hidden or less visible costs of operations and maintenance that we might not be thinking about.
Thank you for any advice you can give.
I don't know exactly how much that sort of powered chair weighs, but I'd worry about how well/safely a smaller truck would handle with several hundred pounds cantilevered out behind it. Downward pressure on the hitch effectively lightens the front end, and this effect would be worst with lighter/short-wheelbase vehicles. According to this page (http://howto.curtmfg.com/Pages/index.cfm.24.html), class III hitches needed for tounge weights over 350# are typically installed on full-size pickups and SUVs, not smaller models.
posted by jon1270 at 6:52 AM on August 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by jon1270 at 6:52 AM on August 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
In the short term, see about paratransit in your area. I know it generally sucks, but maybe it could buy you some time to save up or consider your options thoroughly.
Try to anticipate your wife's future needs and prognosis. If her condition is likely to be progressive--for example, if she won't be able to transfer from the wheelchair to the car seat--you're better off getting a vehicle she can roll into now. Many people don't want to do this out of pride, but it will save you money and aggravation in the future.
There are used wheelchair vans available; try contacting your local wheelchair van dealers and asking them.
posted by Soliloquy at 7:47 AM on August 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
Try to anticipate your wife's future needs and prognosis. If her condition is likely to be progressive--for example, if she won't be able to transfer from the wheelchair to the car seat--you're better off getting a vehicle she can roll into now. Many people don't want to do this out of pride, but it will save you money and aggravation in the future.
There are used wheelchair vans available; try contacting your local wheelchair van dealers and asking them.
posted by Soliloquy at 7:47 AM on August 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Folks, thank you for your kind and thoughtful responses, but I would like to steer you back to the original question of "Which car should I buy?" We are many months into this ongoing disability story, and well aware of our limited paratransit local services, and well aware that we absolutely can't afford a full conversion van. We are making the best of a bad situation, and this imperfect solution is all we can do. We are already connected with our local service group, and feel like we have "considered the future" as well. Really just looking for advice on what car or SUV would fit our needs and have lowest long-term cost of operation as far as maintenance and mileage goes.
posted by seasparrow at 8:46 AM on August 12, 2015
posted by seasparrow at 8:46 AM on August 12, 2015
See also: CraigsList and eBay for used wheelchair vans being sold off quickly (and at discount, sometimes) by the relatives of people who can't use them anymore. There are also several websites devoted to re-homing used vans with lifts. It will be worth getting a wheelchair van against the day when it's more difficult for your wife to transfer between the chair and the vehicle. Also, check with a tax advisor about whether some of the expenses may be deductible as medical equipment, e.g., the cost of the lift equipment if you pay to convert a vehicle.
posted by carmicha at 8:54 AM on August 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 8:54 AM on August 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
Take your question to the knowledgeable folks at wheelchairjunkie.com. They are very likely to have specific and local answers to your question. Good luck.
posted by firstdrop at 9:27 AM on August 12, 2015
posted by firstdrop at 9:27 AM on August 12, 2015
I'm not great with vehicles and my experience is tangential. That being said there are a couple things you're going to want:
Wishing you the best of luck.
posted by mce at 9:40 AM on August 12, 2015
- A pretty heavy hitch - a light hitch wasn't meant for 300lbs+ of frame and batteries.
- A transfer plan - the best vehical choice may well be the one your wife can get in and out of. If she is self transferring now that helps. If not (or she isn't likely to reamin so during the expected lifetime of this purchase) than the logistics may change. When my mother's RA got really bad my parents had a little more leeway on thier budget and went with the vehical that had a seat height that most closely matched her standing height. Seriously that factor that meant the most to them was requiring the least up&down.
- Seating - does she have custom seating for her chair? Will she require such? Will the new vehical satisfactorily accomodate using said seating in the cabin?
Wishing you the best of luck.
posted by mce at 9:40 AM on August 12, 2015
Limitations: Very restricted budget, around $2000-$3000 (US).
in general how would you choose between a 1995 Chevy Blazer, a 1999 Tahoe and a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder-- all with the same general price?
When you're dealing with vehicles in this price range, the condition and history of particular cars/trucks available to you is a lot more important than generalities about the model. We might say that Toyota makes a great, highly reliable car, but that doesn't mean you should buy one that has 250K miles on the clock and suffered a couple of major accidents.
I'd suggest you start by finding out how much the chair and rack actually weigh. Then, do some research and list vehicles that can handle that much tongue weight given an appropriate hitch. Then you can start watching the classifieds, either locally or in the city, for those models you know will work. When you find a likely candidate, have it professionally inspected before you make an offer.
posted by jon1270 at 6:21 PM on August 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
in general how would you choose between a 1995 Chevy Blazer, a 1999 Tahoe and a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder-- all with the same general price?
When you're dealing with vehicles in this price range, the condition and history of particular cars/trucks available to you is a lot more important than generalities about the model. We might say that Toyota makes a great, highly reliable car, but that doesn't mean you should buy one that has 250K miles on the clock and suffered a couple of major accidents.
I'd suggest you start by finding out how much the chair and rack actually weigh. Then, do some research and list vehicles that can handle that much tongue weight given an appropriate hitch. Then you can start watching the classifieds, either locally or in the city, for those models you know will work. When you find a likely candidate, have it professionally inspected before you make an offer.
posted by jon1270 at 6:21 PM on August 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
I know it's not what you asked, but I want to make sure you're aware of this other option for you. It's an assisted hoist. I do not know how it compares in price. It would work with SUV's and minivans as well, and it would allow the chair to ride inside the vehicle. If finances are tight, you might also try to determine if you can write off the lift purchase on your taxes. I am certainly not a tax professional, but I believe that if you spend more than 10% of your income on a medical device, which hopefully this would qualify for, you can write off medical expenses. Good luck. Sorry you're going through this.
posted by hydra77 at 7:01 PM on August 12, 2015
posted by hydra77 at 7:01 PM on August 12, 2015
Would it be possible to use a non-motorized basic folding wheel chair when transportation is necessary? Such a chair would fold up and fit in almost any reasonably sized vehicle. An acquaintance manages to be more mobile by using an extra folding chair when traveling.
posted by Cranberry at 12:38 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Cranberry at 12:38 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
My family member who used to use a motorized-hoist-with-a-strap to lift the powerchair into the back hatch, did this with a late-90s Tahoe for many years. He was able to put the chair into the car and then walk with canes to the driver's side door. He was tall and it was helpful to have a tall seat in the car, so the height of the Tahoe was a plus for him - that may not be an issue for your wife depending on her height, whether she'll be walking/standing, whether she can lower herself/raise herself from seated to standing. He had also previously used a sedan with a big trunk, with a strap hoist and a mobility scooter whose steering column could fold down, so that may be an option if the Tahoe seats are too high and her chair can fold up at all.
Drawbacks - The swinging hoist in the back of the Tahoe was a somewhat precarious setup. The car needed to be on really flat ground for the hoist to work well (otherwise the heavy chair could swing out or in uncontrolledly). And of course the walk from the back to the driver's seat was always an opportunity for a fall -- after he fell one too many times, he switched to a rampvan where he could transfer inside the car, and that was much safer.
He worked pretty closely with a mobility center (a private company that installed lifts and ramps and whatnot) over years, so that may be something you'll want to search out - they'll be able to hep you choose and fine tune a setup that will work for her abilities and her chair and your vehicle.
(For the longer term, I would keep an eye on the local listings and with local donated-medical-equipment groups, etc, since lower-cost rampvans do come up from time to time.)
Incidentally - other supplies - over the years he took to having a flag/multiple red LED lights on his chair (since people in parking lots are crazy and sometimes don't see you in the chair), and bringing with him a shortish folding metal ramp, extra transfer board, and even an orange cone to mark off parking spaces when he was using a different car with a side ramp -- just mentioning these in case they're not on your radar yet.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:38 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
Drawbacks - The swinging hoist in the back of the Tahoe was a somewhat precarious setup. The car needed to be on really flat ground for the hoist to work well (otherwise the heavy chair could swing out or in uncontrolledly). And of course the walk from the back to the driver's seat was always an opportunity for a fall -- after he fell one too many times, he switched to a rampvan where he could transfer inside the car, and that was much safer.
He worked pretty closely with a mobility center (a private company that installed lifts and ramps and whatnot) over years, so that may be something you'll want to search out - they'll be able to hep you choose and fine tune a setup that will work for her abilities and her chair and your vehicle.
(For the longer term, I would keep an eye on the local listings and with local donated-medical-equipment groups, etc, since lower-cost rampvans do come up from time to time.)
Incidentally - other supplies - over the years he took to having a flag/multiple red LED lights on his chair (since people in parking lots are crazy and sometimes don't see you in the chair), and bringing with him a shortish folding metal ramp, extra transfer board, and even an orange cone to mark off parking spaces when he was using a different car with a side ramp -- just mentioning these in case they're not on your radar yet.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:38 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by gauche at 6:34 AM on August 12, 2015 [1 favorite]