Wheelchair access 4WD???

knightstyle

Hi all, My aged father now uses a wheelchair and mum cannot lift it in and out of the car so I am looking for a small automatic with a ramp to put the unoccupied wheelchair in the back. They live in the country and need a 4WD to pass other cars on the narrow roads where they live.
I have contacted several car specialists but no luck so thought I would ask the experts!

fivetide

My grandparents used a plank to slide in and out! Can you look at a small, lightweight wheelchair?

The alternative is speaking to motability about an adapted car or looking for one that has already been done and is coming up for sale.

Not sure why they need a 4x4 to "pass other cars" especially on narrow lanes. Grannie a bit of a rally driver?

5t.

scheming_gypsy

Rav4 or a Vitara, fairly small and should be able to use a ramp to get the wheel chair up.

Lum

I have this problem with my GF's wheelchair. We're solving it by spending a few grand on a much lighter chair so that I can lift it, rather than changing/adapting cars.

Depending on the reasons why your mum can't lift it, this may be something worth considering?

fivetide

Lum wrote: »

I have this problem with my GF's wheelchair. We're solving it by spending a few grand on a much lighter chair so that I can lift it, rather than changing/adapting cars.

Depending on the reasons why your mum can't lift it, this may be something worth considering?

Same thinking as me.

I have met several people who get a chair in/out themselves. The way to do it is to have a lightweight chair they can put behind their own seat ( decent two door coupe helps -chap near us used to have a Supra!)

Also, for narrow lanes etc what about the Fiat Panda 4x4? Plenty of grip but non of the bulk. I'd hope it might be a bit more fuel efficient too.

The only thing is you'd have to avoid looking at it. Not the most attractive of cars.

5t.

UncleZen

knightstyle wrote: »

They live in the country and need a 4WD to pass other cars on the narrow roads where they live.

It is possible to pass other cars with a 2WD.

scheming_gypsy

fivetide wrote: »

( decent two door coupe helps -chap near us used to have a Supra!)

.

i could barely get shopping in the back of mine!

UncleZen wrote: »

It is possible to pass other cars with a 2WD.

i've got a feeling they're probably dirty track country roads which are pretty narrow and includes a bit of 'off roading' to get passed. As the parents are elderly they'll want to reduce the risk of getting stuck.

fivetide

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

i could barely get shopping in the back of mine!

.

Imagine something you can almost put up and down (like lightweight buggies these days).

He'd slide in the seat, collapse the chair and just stow it behind his seat. It was a very slimline bit of kit. Probably cost him a mint* though!

5t.

*no not a Polo/softmint etc before anyone makes a quip

vikingaero

A friend of mine has a Motability Ford Galaxy (not 4WD but the principle can be applied elsewhere) because his wife is in a wheelchair. Because she uses a heavy electric wheelchair they have an electric lift mechanism in the boot of the car.

knightstyle

Thanks everyone for the replies. They need a 4WD as the narrow lanes are tarmac but the passing places are mud, lots of people get stuck in them. The wheelchair needs a battery and motor as my father can no longer propel it with his arms and my mum has a bad back and can't push him more than a few yards. So they really need something like this with 4WD.
http://www.wheelchair-accessible-vehicle.co.uk/view_mobility.aspx?id=78

Lum

Tricky one. Chances are it'll have to be a custom job.

That said, they do make a 4WD version of the Renault Kangoo which, presumably, you could do the same conversion as that one has?

Another vehicle maybe worth considering for this conversion is the Mitsubishi Delica which is basically an MPV based on the Shogun chassis/drivetrain. Problem is the floor is likely too high.

Low floor and 4WD suitable for the muddy passing places are somewhat mutually exclusive, unfortunately.