Guest guest Posted May 19, 2001 Report Share Posted May 19, 2001 You're so right, I wish I's done that. C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2001 Report Share Posted May 19, 2001 Hi All, Owen here, Just my thoughts on van purchsing. My wife and I have been in the process of looking for a van that will meet our needs. We decided to rent different configurations brands / equiptment. We haven't made a discision yet. But I can tell you in the long run I think it will be cheaper renting and trying out. We'v weeded alot of the vans out this way. Happy Trails, Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2001 Report Share Posted May 19, 2001 Owen and others Lamar here, Good suggestion if there is anywhere in the US that has a selection. As for me, Let's see,, I could drive about 500 miles south and rent one (if they had one in when I got there) but would have to return it there. Then if I didn't like it I could drive just 250 miles north and rent another kind. For others I would have to go further. I have been trying for nearly a year to find somewhere I can SEE and sit in an electric wheelchair similar to the Jazzy 1170 and have not been able to find a dealer with one. I have been to over 20 dealers in three states and called over 100 others. Even Pride can't tell me and they say they do not have a showroom at the factory. Not just the jazzy, but any wheelchair for a larger person. You get the " we will order it for you, just fill out the paperwork " but then when it comes it is yours. I got the same deal about a portable ramp to load my scooter. " here are pictures " " we will have it shipped to you--just pick it out. " Then if I did locate one elsewhere any future service would be a problem, especially under warranty. " you will have to take it back to where you purchased it " (I have that T shirt and don't need another one. ) I encountered the same with getting things for my late mother about 10 years ago. We had to finally buy hand controls sight unseen and then try to find someone that would attempt installing them. No way to evaluate which one would be best. She ended up with a 7000.00 electric wheelchair that caused her to have extreme back pain if she sat in it over 15 minutes. The seat was not right for her so she had to stay in her manual chair. Tough luck, she got a few hours use for the approximate 3000 it cost her out of pocket. So I can't even find a place to compare wheelchairs, portable ramps, hand controls,etc. Even seeing various kinds of vans would entail thousands of miles of travel. I would be very hesitant about getting a custom modified van. I know you could get service at a dealer for the engine etc., but not any of the special modifications. I would imagine it would entail taking it several hundred miles back to a dealer. I do have another question for any of you, What do you do about financing something like a modified van? I have checked with area banks, including national chains, and they have no " book " showing either new or used ones. They say they will only finance the book value of the vehicle and the special modifications would lower that because it would make any resale more difficult. To be honest, I don't have 20,000 plus to just hand over and assume most of you would have to get financing. If you did, what route did you take? The bank did tell me that I could get a home equity loan to do it with, but that is the only route I have found. ----- Original Message ----- From: Owen egroups Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2001 11:48 AM Subject: [] Re: Vans Hi All, Owen here, Just my thoughts on van purchsing. My wife and I have been in the process of looking for a van that will meet our needs. We decided to rent different configurations brands / equiptment. We haven't made a discision yet. But I can tell you in the long run I think it will be cheaper renting and trying out. We'v weeded alot of the vans out this way. Happy Trails, Owen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2001 Report Share Posted May 19, 2001 Lamar and others, Owen here, Actually what we do is when we go on a vacation we contact one of the Wheelchair Getaways franchises and the deliver the vans to us at the airports. I would guess they would deliver them to your home if they are in your area they have a web presence. We have went to Florida and to Arizona. We live in the Chicago area and the have stores / ??? here. There are other companies that do rent vans you just have to find them. Last summer there was a Disability Expo here and there were all kinds of vendors with there products on display and they encouraged people to try what they had here. There were several different wheelchair booths. I found a back back for my scooter there. We were able to get into and out of several vans at that time and were able to come up with a short list. I hope you will be able to find something in your area. Maybe there will be an Disability Expo in your area. I'm hoping there is going to be another Expo for the disabled here this year. You questioned financing. My wife and I plan to use a home equity type of loan. The main reason for that is so we can write off the interest on the payments. Your are not able to do that with a conventional auto / consumer loan. From what I understand the interest on the first $100,000.00 of a home equity loan is tax deductible. It doesn't matter what it is used for. I hope this is of some use to all. Happy Trails Owen Lamar son wrote: > Owen and others > Lamar here, > > Good suggestion if there is anywhere in the US that has a selection. > As for > me, Let's see,, I could drive about 500 miles south and rent one (if > they > had one in when I got there) but would have to return it there. Then > if I > didn't like it I could drive just 250 miles north and rent another > kind. > For others I would have to go further. > > I have been trying for nearly a year to find somewhere I can SEE and > sit in > an electric wheelchair similar to the Jazzy 1170 and have not been > able to > find a dealer with one. I have been to over 20 dealers in three > states and > called over 100 others. Even Pride can't tell me and they say they do > not > have a showroom at the factory. Not just the jazzy, but any > wheelchair for > a larger person. You get the " we will order it for you, just fill out > the > paperwork " but then when it comes it is yours. I got the same deal > about a > portable ramp to load my scooter. " here are pictures " " we will have > it > shipped to you--just pick it out. " Then if I did locate one > elsewhere any > future service would be a problem, especially under warranty. " you > will > have to take it back to where you purchased it " (I have that T shirt > and > don't need another one. ) > > I encountered the same with getting things for my late mother about 10 > years > ago. We had to finally buy hand controls sight unseen and then try to > find > someone that would attempt installing them. No way to evaluate which > one > would be best. She ended up with a 7000.00 electric wheelchair that > caused > her to have extreme back pain if she sat in it over 15 minutes. The > seat > was not right for her so she had to stay in her manual chair. Tough > luck, > she got a few hours use for the approximate 3000 it cost her out of > pocket. > > So I can't even find a place to compare wheelchairs, portable ramps, > hand > controls,etc. Even seeing various kinds of vans would entail > thousands of > miles of travel. I would be very hesitant about getting a custom > modified > van. I know you could get service at a dealer for the engine etc., > but not > any of the special modifications. I would imagine it would entail > taking it > several hundred miles back to a dealer. > > I do have another question for any of you, What do you do about > financing > something like a modified van? I have checked with area banks, > including > national chains, and they have no " book " showing either new or used > ones. > They say they will only finance the book value of the vehicle and the > special modifications would lower that because it would make any > resale more > difficult. To be honest, I don't have 20,000 plus to just hand over > and > assume most of you would have to get financing. If you did, what > route did > you take? The bank did tell me that I could get a home equity loan to > do it > with, but that is the only route I have found. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Owen > egroups > Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2001 11:48 AM > Subject: [] Re: Vans > > > Hi All, > > Owen here, > > Just my thoughts on van purchsing. > My wife and I have been in the process of looking for a van that > will > meet our needs. We decided to rent different configurations brands > / > equiptment. We haven't made a discision yet. But I can tell you in > the > long run I think it will be cheaper renting and trying out. We'v > weeded > alot of the vans out this way. > > Happy Trails, > Owen > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 19, 2001 Report Share Posted May 19, 2001 In a message dated 5/19/2001 8:49:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time, ofriewer@... writes: > Just my thoughts on van purchsing. > My wife and I have been in the process of looking for a van that will > meet our needs. We decided to rent different configurations brands / > equiptment. We haven't made a discision yet. But I can tell you in the > long run I think it will be cheaper renting and trying out. We'v weeded > alot of the vans out this way. > > Happy Trails, > Owen > > OWEN what vans have you weeded out? I'll tell you right now Astro will not > do it. I like my windstar.. jenny > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2001 Report Share Posted May 20, 2001 Owen and others, Lamar here, That's what I mean, I looked at the site and the closest places are over 200 miles from me, but would possibly be good for someone near a place. Same with other companies. I heard that there is a Disabilities Expo this fall or winter in Atlanta and will try to go if I can find out details. That would be about 250 miles, but an easy drive. As to the chair, even the company could not tell me where I could see one. You need to check Publication 936 or your tax person. There are many limitations on how much of a home equity loan can be deducted. It depends on when the first mortgage was taken out, the amount of the first mortgage, etc. In general the first 100,000 can be counted (for married filing joint), but that includes any outstanding mortgage. http://ftp.fedworld.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf page 154 has a rough chart (this is a PDF document and you will need Adobe to view it.) I know beyond any doubt that I would get a Caravan (Voyager or Town & Country) or The GM mini van, or possibly the Windstar. I have a very difficult time getting into and out of an Astro or full size van and have no feet and leg room once I am in. I currently drive a 93 Grand Caravan with nearly 120,000 miles on it and love it. I would much rather drive it than my Caddy. Unfortunately the newer models do not have as much front seat and leg room but would do. I will likely keep driving what I have and any replacement will be a used mini van. My CMT is progressing rather rapidly, and in my family the pattern tends to be rather uniform. Most get to where they can't transfer into a vehicle. If and when I get to the point I can't load my scooter or chair (if I am able to find a chair), I will probably have to go into an assisted living home anyway. ----- Original Message ----- From: Owen Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2001 02:29 PM Subject: Re: [] Re: Vans Lamar and others, Owen here, Actually what we do is when we go on a vacation we contact one of the Wheelchair Getaways franchises and the deliver the vans to us at the airports. I would guess they would deliver them to your home if they are in your area they have a web presence. We have went to Florida and to Arizona. We live in the Chicago area and the have stores / ??? here. There are other companies that do rent vans you just have to find them. Last summer there was a Disability Expo here and there were all kinds of vendors with there products on display and they encouraged people to try what they had here. There were several different wheelchair booths. I found a back back for my scooter there. We were able to get into and out of several vans at that time and were able to come up with a short list. I hope you will be able to find something in your area. Maybe there will be an Disability Expo in your area. I'm hoping there is going to be another Expo for the disabled here this year. You questioned financing. My wife and I plan to use a home equity type of loan. The main reason for that is so we can write off the interest on the payments. Your are not able to do that with a conventional auto / consumer loan. From what I understand the interest on the first $100,000.00 of a home equity loan is tax deductible. It doesn't matter what it is used for. I hope this is of some use to all. Happy Trails Owen Lamar son wrote: > Owen and others > Lamar here, > > Good suggestion if there is anywhere in the US that has a selection. > As for > me, Let's see,, I could drive about 500 miles south and rent one (if > they > had one in when I got there) but would have to return it there. Then > if I > didn't like it I could drive just 250 miles north and rent another > kind. > For others I would have to go further. > > I have been trying for nearly a year to find somewhere I can SEE and > sit in > an electric wheelchair similar to the Jazzy 1170 and have not been > able to > find a dealer with one. I have been to over 20 dealers in three > states and > called over 100 others. Even Pride can't tell me and they say they do > not > have a showroom at the factory. Not just the jazzy, but any > wheelchair for > a larger person. You get the " we will order it for you, just fill out > the > paperwork " but then when it comes it is yours. I got the same deal > about a > portable ramp to load my scooter. " here are pictures " " we will have > it > shipped to you--just pick it out. " Then if I did locate one > elsewhere any > future service would be a problem, especially under warranty. " you > will > have to take it back to where you purchased it " (I have that T shirt > and > don't need another one. ) > > I encountered the same with getting things for my late mother about 10 > years > ago. We had to finally buy hand controls sight unseen and then try to > find > someone that would attempt installing them. No way to evaluate which > one > would be best. She ended up with a 7000.00 electric wheelchair that > caused > her to have extreme back pain if she sat in it over 15 minutes. The > seat > was not right for her so she had to stay in her manual chair. Tough > luck, > she got a few hours use for the approximate 3000 it cost her out of > pocket. > > So I can't even find a place to compare wheelchairs, portable ramps, > hand > controls,etc. Even seeing various kinds of vans would entail > thousands of > miles of travel. I would be very hesitant about getting a custom > modified > van. I know you could get service at a dealer for the engine etc., > but not > any of the special modifications. I would imagine it would entail > taking it > several hundred miles back to a dealer. > > I do have another question for any of you, What do you do about > financing > something like a modified van? I have checked with area banks, > including > national chains, and they have no " book " showing either new or used > ones. > They say they will only finance the book value of the vehicle and the > special modifications would lower that because it would make any > resale more > difficult. To be honest, I don't have 20,000 plus to just hand over > and > assume most of you would have to get financing. If you did, what > route did > you take? The bank did tell me that I could get a home equity loan to > do it > with, but that is the only route I have found. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Owen > egroups > Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2001 11:48 AM > Subject: [] Re: Vans > > > Hi All, > > Owen here, > > Just my thoughts on van purchsing. > My wife and I have been in the process of looking for a van that > will > meet our needs. We decided to rent different configurations brands > / > equiptment. We haven't made a discision yet. But I can tell you in > the > long run I think it will be cheaper renting and trying out. We'v > weeded > alot of the vans out this way. > > Happy Trails, > Owen > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2001 Report Share Posted May 20, 2001 , We are leaning toward a Ford Windstar. We are going to have a device installed to lift my scooter into the back of the Windstar. Bruno makes a crane like device that swings out and the you hook it on to the scooter and push a button and it lifts the scooter up and swings it in to the vehicle. I have never used the Bruno crane. We decided to go that route because there is less actual modification of the van. I'm hoping that when we would get another van the crane could be transferred to the next one. We have used the full size Ford and Dodge vans with the wheel chair lifts. I was not thrilled being lifted that high on my scooter. We feel they are to big, and noisy with the lift rattling around in them. Last year on our trip to Sadona AZ. we had a Dodge Caravan with a lowered floor and a ramp that tilted down and then the right side of the van would kneel so you can ride the chair/ scooter out of the van. Its probably OK out there in AZ. I live in the Chicago area and during the winter it not unheard of to get over a foot of snow at one time. I'm sure the van with a lowered floor would bottom out and get stuck. Happy Trails Owen Mommy2Adam@... wrote: > In a message dated 5/19/2001 8:49:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > ofriewer@... writes: > > > > Just my thoughts on van purchsing. > > My wife and I have been in the process of looking for a van that > will > > meet our needs. We decided to rent different configurations brands > / > > equiptment. We haven't made a discision yet. But I can tell you in > the > > long run I think it will be cheaper renting and trying out. We'v > weeded > > alot of the vans out this way. > > > > Happy Trails, > > Owen > > > > OWEN what vans have you weeded out? I'll tell you right now Astro > will not > > do it. I like my windstar.. > > jenny > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2001 Report Share Posted May 20, 2001 Owen and All, Just a thought, for those of you who can not afford to have an expensive lift put on your vehicle, my dad had a local welder put a sort of cage with a fold down ramp on the back of their vehicle. He rides his electric wheelchair to the the car door and gets in, then my mom just uses the joystick control to guide the chair to the ramp in the back and up onto the cage, folds up the ramp and even covers the chair with a vinyl cover that she made for it. They didn't want to have to buy a new vehicle or spend a lot of money (because daddy is having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that he has a " disease " that he can't control). Anyways, the man did a good job, it looks nice and it only cost them $300. Also, their vehicle is pretty small, it's a 2-door Suzuki Sidekick. Works great for them anyways. ----- Original Message ----- From: Owen <ofriewer@...> < > Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 11:24 AM Subject: Re: [] Re: Vans > , > We are leaning toward a Ford Windstar. We are going to have a device > installed to lift my scooter into the back of the Windstar. Bruno makes > a crane like device that swings out and the you hook it on to the > scooter and push a button and it lifts the scooter up and swings it in > to the vehicle. I have never used the Bruno crane. We decided to go > that route because there is less actual modification of the van. I'm > hoping that when we would get another van the crane could be transferred > to the next one. > > We have used the full size Ford and Dodge vans with the wheel chair > lifts. I was not thrilled being lifted that high on my scooter. We feel > they are to big, and noisy with the lift rattling around in them. Last > year on our trip to Sadona AZ. we had a Dodge Caravan with a lowered > floor and a ramp that tilted down and then the right side of the van > would kneel so you can ride the chair/ scooter out of the van. Its > probably OK out there in AZ. I live in the Chicago area and during the > winter it not unheard of to get over a foot of snow at one time. I'm > sure the van with a lowered floor would bottom out and get stuck. > > Happy Trails > Owen > > Mommy2Adam@... wrote: > > > In a message dated 5/19/2001 8:49:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time, > > ofriewer@... writes: > > > > > > > Just my thoughts on van purchsing. > > > My wife and I have been in the process of looking for a van that > > will > > > meet our needs. We decided to rent different configurations brands > > / > > > equiptment. We haven't made a discision yet. But I can tell you in > > the > > > long run I think it will be cheaper renting and trying out. We'v > > weeded > > > alot of the vans out this way. > > > > > > Happy Trails, > > > Owen > > > > > > OWEN what vans have you weeded out? I'll tell you right now Astro > > will not > > > do it. I like my windstar.. > > > > jenny > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2001 Report Share Posted May 31, 2001 Lamar, I test drove a Windstar and felt cramped (I am 5' 1 " ). My Dodge has plenty of room. I do agree, the newer vehicles tend to box in your legs more. Vantage Mobility International had an optional driver seat that goes back further & turns 90 degrees for easy transfer. VMI has a web site at www.vantagemobility.com. There is a dealer in Albany GA. Is that close to you? They can probably offer suggestions on financing. Someone finances these things or very few would be sold. Alice in CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2001 Report Share Posted July 12, 2001 Hi Lamar, I sorry to hear about your accident. Happy to hear you got out with just scratches. I hope you visited a hospital to make sure everything is OK! Every time I have have a bad car accident it seems my CMT gets worse. Probably the trauma of it all. Happy Trails Owen Lamar son wrote: > I had a little accident in my van last Saturday while visiting Alice > in SC. > See http://home.rose.net/~lls/car.jpg Luckily I was not badly hurt > but am > still sore and stiff. A few scratches on my scalp where my head went > through the windshield. Needless to say I had to fly home. Alice > and her > family were great to me even though it really changed the plans for > her > birthday dinner. > > I am rally glad it was in a Caravan. Chrysler's mini vans have extra > reinforcement in the sides like cars. Other makers classify them as > trucks > and avoid the requirement. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2001 Report Share Posted July 12, 2001 Lamar, Did you have baked or mashed with your T-bone? Looks like mashed! I hope your feeling better. Regards, BC ----- Original Message ----- From: Lamar son <lls@...> <mailto:Undisclosed-Recipient:@mail.rose.net> Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 5:25 PM Subject: [] Vans > I had a little accident in my van last Saturday while visiting Alice in SC. > See http://home.rose.net/~lls/car.jpg Luckily I was not badly hurt but am > still sore and stiff. A few scratches on my scalp where my head went > through the windshield. Needless to say I had to fly home. Alice and her > family were great to me even though it really changed the plans for her > birthday dinner. > > I am rally glad it was in a Caravan. Chrysler's mini vans have extra > reinforcement in the sides like cars. Other makers classify them as trucks > and avoid the requirement. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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