Loading into van pictures

[Ric]

Here are some pics of me loading into my van, "The Guzzle" (it drinks, no it gulps fuel). Wheelin Rev wanted these.

That was my friend that put the tie downs in the wrong place, he didn't know any better. Now I know he should put them on the frame, but I can't see the wheels on the chair when I sit in it. I'll ensure he does it correctly from now on http://www.wheelchairjunkie.com/ubb/wink.gif

And I have been rear ended in that van, but the tie downs held from the rear. In a side impact the hooks could come off the casters. We were going 30 mph and got hit by a Ford F-150 going 65. Did $5500.00 in body damage, but the frame is straight http://www.wheelchairjunkie.com/ubb/smile.gif

I usually attach them to a cross member under the chair.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-08.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-09.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-10.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-11.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-12.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-13.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-14.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-15.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-16.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-17.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-18.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-19.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-20.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-21.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-22.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-23.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-24.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-25.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd74/gimpyric/Loading%20Van/LockLoadTheGuzzle-26.jpg

[Patricia]

Very cool pics Ric. Thanks for posting them I enjoyed them. I really like how your van has big wide tires and sits high like a 4x4.

[Ric]

Thanks Patricia, I've been laid up since early November, and today was my first ride in The Guzzle since we added a 3" lift and the 33" BFGoodrich All Terrain tires. It does sit up high, but its got really good shocks, and the tires are heavy duty, so its very stable.

As we were loading you could see the rain clouds coming in. Its raining right now. Need a muddy road to go play on with the van! Light weight off-roading in Alabama. :dft010: !!!

[Wheelin Rev]

Awesome pics Ric. That is one GREAT van!

Thanks for posting. I've gotta get me one of them!

Dave

[KiwiJenn]

ohh nice photos of your van and you Ric:) Do you have any trouble getting in and out of the van in certian areas? or do you have to find a wide park? Out disabled car parks wouldn't cover a wider area for a van and enough room to get out using the side door, lol I would take up too parks.

I'm a bit surprised at where the tie downs are hooked onto your wheelchair though, those don't look like the strongest part of your chair to hook them. I would of thought the frame would be the strongest part for tie downs.

My Arrow didn't come with any tie down brackets (like your Quickie) but when getting my new van there were some tight guidelines about where I should get the chair tied down:029: I 'was' having the chair tied around the base of the seating frame at the rear and at the front the tie down hooked around the castor like it is on your chair Ric. Anyhow I got brackets made for the rear of the Arrow and the tie downs loop through those. At the front the tie down loops right around the front of the frame (near where the castor is) then clips together via a seatbelt type buckle. On my TDX I loop the tie down things around the frame. If in an accident, someone just press's the 'Pree' button and I'm free.

If your interested I can show you a photo of my tdx being tied down.
It's quite interesting how different Countrys have different equipment and ways of using them.

[Ric]

Hey Jenn,

I'd love to see the kiwi version of loading and unloading a chair....

[KiwiJenn]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v60/smilesnz/WheelchairGraphixs/tiedownsfortdx.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v60/smilesnz/WheelchairGraphixs/tiedownfront.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v60/smilesnz/WheelchairGraphixs/tiedownrearsideview.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v60/smilesnz/WheelchairGraphixs/tiedownsrear.jpg

[Noble StoneHeart]

Ric :
My van is not as high as yours , but it does have cool coil over shocks all round, booster springs in back, and before I am done it will have air bags in front too that I can alter as I go down the road from inside the cab, I also have some very meaty skins all way round too ( mudders with ice studs ) now if I only had a motor....hehe actually I finally got one but I am going to make some upgrades before it gets implanted....you know just common sense things like oil pump, shaft for pump, check out the crank ...mic it and put in new mains and rod bearings, timing gears and chain (ROLLER ) so on.trick my heads , manifold just the little things I can do myself. put a B&M kit in the tranny.
Oh yeah , I picked up some of those Q-straints similar to yours, just have to get em installed.....I don`t stay in my chair though I still get to transfer to the drivers seat for awhile yet.....so until I get those tie downs in , I`ll just have to be quick to duck if I make any sudden stops huh ?

[Ric]

Hey Noble,

Sounds like you've got a engine plan! The only thing done to my engine is Synthetic Oil, Mobil 1 0w-20. I've got the mod motor (5.4 liter) with overhead cams.

I want true dual exhaust, some shorty headers, a larger throttle body, and a bucket of money to do it with :dft003:

[Dove]

That's a nice looking van you got there Ric.

[Katy]

Looks like you are living the high life there with that van and that chair. Nice setup. Thanks for posting the pics.

[Pete]

Hi Katy
Ric was the guy that started this forum along with Jenn, they are the admins.

Unfortunately Ric passed away a few months back, though he would have been pleased you liked his pics, i found them interesting as well.

[Katy]

Thanks for letting me know. I didn't know him at all but it is always sad when someone is lost.

I am sure the forum misses him.

Katy

[Wheelchairdude]

very cool! i have a '98 ford econoline, blue, without the hightop. its been having a lot of problems lately, its pretty nice though. we recently got a bus! its the party bus, the engine was seized so a local autoshop donated it to us all we had to do was put a new engine and transmission in. it ended up costing around 6,000 but its worth 30,000+ and is so much fun! we have an awesome sound system, 2 12'' JBL subs and 4 ma audio speakers uptop. green lights in the ceiling. ill post pictures eventually.