My father is in a wheelchair, I need some advice please

[MSG Hall]

My father first broke his back 23 years ago and has had many surgeries on his back since. He has at first used a walker, healed and went to two canes for years refusing to give up. But the last 5 years have been a struggle and he has been going down hill. He had to go back to a walk and due to other ailments and surgeries has been chair ridden the last couple of years. Well we convinced him to give in and get an electric wheel chair (Medicare is paying for it) anyway… he asked my wife (she has a computer) to look for a lift for his PT Cruiser….

I have searched for days now and I can’t find anything that won’t need to modify the car. We can’t afford that. From what I see, no one makes a class II hitch for the car and that would be the very minimum needed to hold the chair up…

Does anyone here have any ideas at all? The car is paid for and with both of them retired, they don’t want another payment. I would buy them another vehicle, but I’m planning on retiring soon myself and with the uncertainty of finding another job, I can’t afford a truck payment… so I’m kinda stuck here…

Any thoughts, ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Bobgorilla]

Most U-hauls install hitches, you might call them and see if they can give you pratical advice. That's the best idea I have this early but I'll think about it some more.

[BILLYL]

Check out ETRAILER

http://www.etrailer.com/fitguide.htm

I don't think you can put a class II hitch on a PT Cruiser. But check above


Bill

[Miriam C.]

The class of hitch is based on the amount of weight the hitch/car suspension can handle. You might call the dealer to find out why a class 2 is not available and then check out some of the body shops to get the changes made.

Not much worse than having that chair come off if jogged.

Good luck!

[mandy]

SFC Hall what how weird is this I am working at a People with disabilities confrence today. They are giving a demo of adaptive equipment I will check into the wheelchair lifts seeing as I am having the same problem with my mother. Can you father get in and out of the chair or is he confined to it. This makes a diffrence as to what kind of lift he can get.

I'll get back to you later with some answers I hope.

Mandy

[billnut]

Shucks no problem there so easy you can put them in a small trunk
Bill

[deputydogrick]

My father first broke his back 23 years ago and has had many surgeries on his back since. He has at first used a walker, healed and went to two canes for years refusing to give up. But the last 5 years have been a struggle and he has been going down hill. He had to go back to a walk and due to other ailments and surgeries has been chair ridden the last couple of years. Well we convinced him to give in and get an electric wheel chair (Medicare is paying for it) anyway… he asked my wife (she has a computer) to look for a lift for his PT Cruiser….

I have searched for days now and I can’t find anything that won’t need to modify the car. We can’t afford that. From what I see, no one makes a class II hitch for the car and that would be the very minimum needed to hold the chair up…

Does anyone here have any ideas at all? The car is paid for and with both of them retired, they don’t want another payment. I would buy them another vehicle, but I’m planning on retiring soon myself and with the uncertainty of finding another job, I can’t afford a truck payment… so I’m kinda stuck here…

Any thoughts, ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Where are your folks located, any where, where any of us can help them?

[sdtripper2]

My father first broke his back 23 years ago and has had many surgeries on his back since. He has at first used a walker, healed and went to two canes for years refusing to give up. But the last 5 years have been a struggle and he has been going down hill. He had to go back to a walk and due to other ailments and surgeries has been chair ridden the last couple of years. Well we convinced him to give in and get an electric wheel chair (Medicare is paying for it) anyway… he asked my wife (she has a computer) to look for a lift for his PT Cruiser….

I have searched for days now and I can’t find anything that won’t need to modify the car. We can’t afford that. From what I see, no one makes a class II hitch for the car and that would be the very minimum needed to hold the chair up…

Does anyone here have any ideas at all? The car is paid for and with both of them retired, they don’t want another payment. I would buy them another vehicle, but I’m planning on retiring soon myself and with the uncertainty of finding another job, I can’t afford a truck payment… so I’m kinda stuck here…

Any thoughts, ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hello,

If I understand you right you want a lift mounted on the back of an PT
Cruiser to lift an electric chair. Your tow capacity for the PT Cruiser is 1000
LBS and the tongue weight capacity would be 10% or 100 LBS.

How much does the chair weigh & the lift combined
No need going on if the chair and lift weigh more than 100 LBS combined.

What do the manufactures of the chair suggest for your TV
as far as the installation

Here maybe, one solution if the chair and the lift together weigh less than 100 LBS.


One piece class 1 hitch made of welded steel.Ideal for small boats, jet skis,
utility trailers, bike and ski carriers. 1 1/4" hitch opening with a
1,000 lb tow and 100-lb tongue rating. Includes ball mount, pin and
clip. EASY installation- NO DRILLING!

Here are some other tow package accessories for the PT Cruiser with a class I hitch.

Given: Class 1 (Class I) hitch
Trailer hitch with capacity of up to 2,000 lbs gross trailer weight and 200
lbs tongue weight. But your PT Cruiser has a max of 100 pound tongue
weight.


If you must have a 2" receiver and the chair and the lift weighs less than
100 LBS you can get an adapter or have one made that will go from a
1 1/4" to a 2"
HITCH/RECEIVER ADAPTER and mount the lift as prescribed by the lifts manufacturer.

Need more help?
Have you tried going to PT Cruiser forums and browsing and asking there
if anyone has done what you want to do? No need to reinvent a wheel

[MSG Hall]

Can you father get in and out of the chair or is he confined to it.
Mandy

thank you... my dad still can walk with a walker...

and yes I was looking at some sort of rear mounted something to hold the chair... with that type of car, I don't know how else it could be....

I think it is hopeless with this car. as stated, the Class I only holds 100lbs. a class II holds 200lbs, and this would be the very minimum for the weight of the chair and the lift/platform... and they don't seem to make a class II for the PT....

I just thought I'd ask here... and thank you all.

[madjack]

http://www.electric-wheelchairs-101.com ... hicles.htm

I found the above link on Google...lottssa lifts but all I saw, used either a class2r3 hitch setup......................

I have no knowledge of the PT but it may be possible to modify it with air shocks/bags to carry the extra weight and then a little adapting/streghtening the hitch/mount, it may still be possible.
madjack