ATV Options for a Paraplegic

ProKawi24
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Herald, CA, USA
Edited Date/Time 8/16/2022 1:38pm
So many of you know I'm a para and I'm building a home on 5 acres of property. I bought the land with my parents for them to also build their home and next door is my sister and her husband. Up to this point I've been using my brother in law's ATV to get around the property but that requires 1-2 people to help lift me onto it so I can ride. I "can" get myself on it but it's a huge pain in the ass. Technically I'm paralyzed chest-down so I don't really have any core/ab muscles but my upper body is very strong. I lift myself in/out of my Ram pickup truck all the time but my shoulders are pretty shot from old MX injuries and pushing this chair all day for 20+ years.

I want to buy a new ATV once my current house sells but I have no idea what really to look for. Ideally I would like to get something that I can easily get in & out of (or off/on) so I can make quick trips like 50 yards away just to get from point A to point B. I've seen some vehicles online but they are heavily modified for a wheelchair to get into but I don't know anyone around that could make those sort of modifications. My dad is a great mechanic and fabricator but he's very busy with building the homes plus making the changes to any off road vehicle is a very tricky thing. I just wanted to see if anyone here had any existing knowledge of something that might suite me or opinions on how to make it work.

I would also like to get a small tractor to build & maintain an R/C car track that I want to build once the homes are done but again, getting myself on/off the equipment is a challenge and I don't want to always rely on having someone help me. I'm really good at operating a bobcat but again...because of the enclosed caged seating I have to have someone help me get in it. My chair is like 3 feet away from the seat which is way too far for me to transfer into alone.

If you guys have any ideas, opinions, or suggestions on an ATV, Tractor, or off road vehicle for a para I'd appreciate the input. Or any modifications you've seen that I could consider. The best one I've seen so far is a guy who had almost like an elevated platform with a winch that he rolled up on, it lifted him up and he transferred over to the tractor but I was hoping for a solution that would be a little more.....simple.

Thanks guys.
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-MAVERICK-
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Ontario, CA
7/7/2022 9:30pm Edited Date/Time 7/7/2022 9:31pm
If it was me, I'd probably just get a SxS.

As for the Bobcat, I can see how getting in and out would be a pain in the ass without assistance, but Volvo used to make a track skid steer that you could maybe get in and out by yourself.

I don't think they make them anymore, but you could maybe find a deal on one of them. I know JCB also has models with side entry.

1
183Matt
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Location
Mineral, CA, USA
7/7/2022 10:17pm
https://www.equipmentworld.com/equipment/article/14972127/mini-skid-ste…

For a tractor I would look at one of the stand behind skid steers and have a platform made to accommodate your wheels.

For an ATV I would think a SXS or golf cart would be the best. I have an old Yamaha golf cart and for transferring I think something like that would be the easiest.

The Shop

7/7/2022 11:15pm Edited Date/Time 7/7/2022 11:17pm
I don’t know what your budget is, but what about a Bobcat Toolcat? It’s a hybrid side by side AND tractor. The 5600 has a hydraulic dump bed and the 5610 has a 3pt hitch on the rear.




2
sumdood
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San Clemente, CA, USA
Fantasy
7/8/2022 9:28am Edited Date/Time 7/8/2022 9:33am
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057781834817

Have you heard of Chet Dyerson / Wheelchair Modz ? His FB page looks like it hasn't seen any activity in awhile but a google search might turn up something. He's an old OTHG member that started building custom wheelchairs for offroad after his accident. There's some pictures of some of his builds on the FB link
-MAVERICK-
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Location
Ontario, CA
7/19/2022 8:33am
Company out of Quebec builds this thing:

1
ProKawi24
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Location
Herald, CA, USA
8/12/2022 6:53pm
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I'm thinking a side by side might be my best option, be able to get around the whole property and carry some stuff. Could even race it around a bit like I do the ATV now. When I start building the RC track I can just rent a little bobcat and have some help getting in the seat. When my parents were doing some major landscaping on their previous house they put me in that thing and I was ripping around all day getting work done.

My condo finally officially went on the market yesterday, hoping it's not too late to get a great price for it. I was hoping to be listed a month ago but between work, going to the property and cleaning this place out there just aren't enough hours in the day.

I'll give some updates as things keep progressing.
4
Atkinson
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Location
USA
8/16/2022 1:38pm
Something that could be an option, Polaris used to make a wheeler that was called an ACE. It was basically a Sportsman with a single seat in the middle, We actually sold quite a few of them in our area but overall they didn't sell very well and they discontinued them a year or so ago, but you might be able to find a dealer with inventory or a used one. Could work well if you didn't want the width of a side by side.

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