new project in the works

[cody]

I sure appreciate the idea's and the offers, they mean a lot to me, I spent yesterday afternoon checking out different options, I'm still somewhat mobile just can't walk well or balance as good as I want too so getting in and out of the bus is still manageable, I'm thinking that a hoist of some sort that will attach to the wall by the door and swing out, with a cable winch that will lift the chair up and then I could swing it in thru the door onto the floor would be the way to go, got a speed bump dealt to me, now I've either got to climb over it or roll around it lol.  For now I'll keep the chair in a bay but at some point I'll need it inside, just trying to solve some problems before they become a way of life, I won't give up bussing because of a minor thing like this.

[captain ron]

Cody, I'm glad you have a good attitude about it, that makes a big difference. The lift I have designed in my head will be useful in many ways. It will lift you into the bus, or just the chair, It can be used to haul groceries into the bus and also be a hand/grab rail and not be intrusive to the opening of the bus. I'm going to build one regardless just to see if it will work then hopefully be able to market them as most bus owners are older and could use one in their bus in the future

[DrivingMissLazy]

Have you looked at the lifts for the electric chairs and scooters advertised on TV? I installed one of these in the back of my suburban for an electric cart. Only three bolts. Works great and it picks the cart up and then swivels almost 180 degrees to get it inside the vehicle. Are you by chance able to qualify for an electric scooter from VA or Medicare or your insurance?
Richard

[cody]

I checked with medicare on this, they basically told me if I can afford the bus I can afford whatever I need for whatever handicapper equipment I need.  I told them I'm not asking for a handout from them, that I'll pay for what ever I need, just like I alway have done, wow, were they a trip to talk too lol.  I was just contacting them for idea's lol. This is new and somewhat unknown territory for me so I'm checking into a lot of different possibilities.

[CS]

I checked with medicare on this, they basically told me if I can afford the bus I can afford whatever I need for whatever handicapper equipment I need.  I told them I'm not asking for a handout from them, that I'll pay for what ever I need, just like I alway have done, wow, were they a trip to talk too lol.  I was just contacting them for idea's lol. This is new and somewhat unknown territory for me so I'm checking into a lot of different possibilities.

Cody
Let the sales folks at the chair/lift company check your eligibilty, they seem to be able to cut through the "BUROCRAP" and get things done better than the common mortal.

[DrivingMissLazy]

If you have medicare and your doctor will sign that you need it, then do as CS recommends and let the scooter sales staff do the work. They do not even have to know it is going in a bus.

This is the way I handled it for my wife and no problem. I do not know if they can get the lift approved or not. I never tried for that as I had one from my sister.

Richard

[JimC]

Cody,
There is a company in my town that builds mobility carts and the equipment that loads them into the vehicle. (Bruno Independent Living Aids) A very large family owned and operated company. I think they have 8-10 engineers on staff, I would be surprised if they didn't have something that would bolt in.

I'm not all that far from you, it might be worth a trip down here in the bus to see what they can make up. I have talked with some of the engineers when they were helping the local high school kids build a robot for competition, they are really neat people. I would be glad to set an appointment with them for you.
http://www.bruno.com/
Keep it in mind,
Jim

[niles500]

"I won't give up bussing because of a minor thing like this"

That's the spirit - and why should you give up something you enjoy - NOT

FWIW - here is what some young engineers that i know did -

The Tank: Travis Watkins used to love going to the beach and golf course with his dad. But when his father came down with Lou Gehrig's disease and had to use a wheelchair, off-road outings stopped. Travis and his teammates invented a device with wide ATV tires and a system of rollers so a wheelchair can travel into sand and mud and along wooded paths. Mark Chase, Robert Burn and John Hopkins also worked on the project.[Last modified May 13, 2005, 09:48:04]
Floridian headlines

Unfortunately they sold the patent to a SLOOOOOOOW moving company -