How to get a wheelchair into a tiny car......a MINI.

BlogpostPublished: Aug 04, 2008Views: 177

How do you get a wheelchair into a small space? My wheelchair is 23.5lbs with OUT the wheels , arm rests , or wheelchair cushion. We have a VERY small car......a MINIcooper! To make matters worse for space......we like having our music LOUD so we have a HUGE speaker. If the MINI is a rockin don't come a knockin cuz we can't hear you. :P The speaker is about 150lbs solid oak and Mike (my friend and caregiver) pushes it back a bit. Still not enough room you say? 1st off many modern wheelchairs fold MUCH smaller than they used to. This is how to fold up my chair. Pulling the string releases the back so it will fold down. Push the big button in the center of my wheel and it release the "hub" from the axle so the large bulkier wheels used to push with can be easily removed with NO tools. Once it's in pieces it can be easily placed into small trunks OR MINIcoopers. So that's how MY wheelchair folds. There are wheelchairs out there that fold up even smaller (so small it can fit in overhead compartment for carry-on luggage in most airplanes and are even lighter then mine less than 20lbs.

maxi king ∙ Sep 25, 2009

$\:wub\:$ That is realy interesting!Did he took the backseats out?Because it looks like the speaker is where normaly the seats are!And he got bit tyres on it!I gess he loves his car!?Hey I love the other car,looks old and big!Hehe I know what Karie means!Nowone in my family like my music!Anyway thank you for sharing this!And I'm glad you have friend around like that!TC Irmtraut $\:wub\:$

Karie ∙ Aug 20, 2008

Or we take it apart and stick it in the back of my MINI convertible. This doesn't leave room for anyone in the back, but no one really sits there anyways. Hiedibear doesn't like to ride in my car much. She doesn't like listening to the Carpenters or music I like. It's torture to her. Mike is my hubby...he picks on my poor sweet Miss Molly and says she isn't a REAL MINI because she isn't a JCW MINI Cooper S (faster than mine, obviously). Mike...is a brat (choicer words would be used, but this IS a G-Rated site!)

Ame-C ∙ Aug 19, 2008

Heidibear were you driving that little mini?? This looks so familiar my friend also use a wheel chair, and when we first met 11 years ago I drove a fiat Uno, and the wheelchair fitted in perfectly. Now it is impossible as I drive a Audi TT, so I have a little back-up car, Golf 4. He also drive a 4x4 and a pick-up truck with no special fitted features, he uses a stick as most cars in South Africa is manual(it is against the law for him to drive like that). He often gets sick and I have to take him to the doctor, but he is my best friend (soulmate)., and I won't swop his friendship for anybody.

hiedibear75 ∙ Aug 5, 2008

In case anyone is wondering the cushion was underneath me and it's a ROHO Quatro Low Profile......but next time I think I'll get a High Profile version.......more padding for my bony butt. $\:P$ Mike took the pictures with his cell phone.....I was busy......sitting (IN the car) as usual. $\;\)$ :P