Hi all, I was wondering how many of us drive and if you do drive what kind of car do you drive and what hand controls you use ? I drive a 2006 Mitsubishi Pagero with the accelerator ring hand controls, they are expensive but they give you much more freedom when you drive. We got a 4x4 because we love getting off the beaten track. Just have to learn to do my for to wheelchair transfers better before we can go camping.
Butiki, nice ride!!! Accelerator ring takes more hand control than I have, and also more money! I am driving a 2008 Honda Element with Veigel hand controls, Classic with Commander. Element great for ease of getting in and out, also with chair. Veigel controls are elegant and do not require a lot of hand strength. Push to brake, twist to accelerate: design allows for some interplay. Hand control locks to changes gears. Also use pedal guard, to prevent feet from interfering with operation of pedals by hands, and a fast-clipped nylon strap to keep my legs from blocking/knocking the hand control. I use MPD Palm Grip Steering, love it! Hand controI, pedal guard, and steering grip can be disabled in about 30 seconds for AB to drive, Will try to attach photos...
Wow that looks great wavewolf! How are you finding the hand controls? Are they easy to use?
DJ, It IS great! Hand controls are far more sensitive than the usual type (looks like pipes), geared to be so. So it takes a little getting used to, but so much less tiring than others. It would be usable for some quads, I think. I rotate my forearm and lean side of hand on control to accelerate, larger motion is easier for me with some weird deficits in controlling movement of hands. Braking is intuitive, and pushing forward is not difficult--if you have power assisted brakes on car, not much effort required. Steering is precise and no grip strength needed with the attachment I have, and it is very lightweight so you do not need a counterweight. I trained on the usual left-mounted, pipe-style controls for 14 hours, well coached. After installation of Veigel, I had 2 hours to adapt to right-mounted controls before being road tested by state evaluator. For me, used to driving manual, steering with left hand and accelerating/braking with right hand was much more intuitive, so not difficult to adjust.
I ordered Veigel from Germany, but now they are available in states. Mechanical installation was required to be done in state-certified shop, and I did the electronics. Shop could not read German, and I had gotten the schematics from Veigel and Honda ahead and figured it out. Wire harnesses from the Commander unit were fitted to Honda parts under dashboard--bit of a workout for me to get to them! For AB use, Veigel control folds down with a lever release handle, and pedal guard can be pulled off, with a minimal exertion and moderate grip. Getting the pedal guard reinstalled is tricky, mainly it must line up right and having a small LED light nearby is handy--lighting can be wired into dash lights with switch added.
I am so jealous reading this post.. ....i will be able to get an adapted hand controlled car next year. I cant wait till i have the freedom to be indepndent,,
wavewolf your vehicle looks amazing and Butiki...pics would be great too!
I drive a Chevy Uplander mini van. I use standard hand controls...push forward to brake and pull down to accelerate. I have a knob on my steering wheel. A special plus is the factory equipped speed control.
I drive a Chevy Uplander mini van. I use standard hand controls...push forward to brake and pull down to accelerate. I have a knob on my steering wheel. A special plus is the factory equipped speed control.
Joe
Thanks for sharing Joe! What is the purpose of the speed control? Is it like a speed limiter?