Forester or Rav4

[masoth]

The carrier plus chair is apprx 470mm above roof line.Macca

OK. So what is the clearance/height requirement , all up height of garage door?
You're looking for 'best' traction partly because of driviing difficulties, higher than usual seating for ease of entry and wide door space for the same reason. Does your garage pernit the chair to be lowered - is there sufficient space to the side, and is the roof of the garage high enough when the chair and lifting device operates?

If I am being too inquisitive feel free to tell me to B/off.

soth

[masoth]

Tassie, I don't want to name the huge international company but they are replacing all the Klugers Australia wide.
I've been Toyota for 23 years, and am about to buy two more.

soth

[TassieKiwi]

Tassie, I don't want to name the huge international company but they are replacing all the Klugers Ausatralia wide.
I've been Toyota for 23 years, and am about to buy two more.

soth

Sounds nasty - should I sell mine immediately then?

[masoth]

Sounds nasty - should I sell mine immediately then?

Obviously not! You are having a good run and are satisfied. I reported something I know to be true - the company in question is, by the way, staying with Toyota because of satisfaction and the 'unbreakability' factor.

soth

[macca2]

Garage door a lowest point has 1975mm clearance. Say about 1965mm.
Hoist plus chair = 470.
Therefore car can be no more than 1495mm in height.
Will need about 950mm over car to unload chair in garage. Not a problem if I have the ceiling boxed out about 300mm into the ceiling space and about 1000mm x 1000mmm where the hoist will sit when the car is in the garage.
Questions are not a problem, it is way problems are solved.
Thanks for your interest
Macca

[masoth]

Late news, March will bring news of a six cylinder RAV, and vehicles will be available a few months later. Good news for those who have observed the underpowered RAV4 doesn't 'cut the mustard'.

soth

[Ashore]

Garage door a lowest point has 1975mm clearance. Say about 1965mm.
Hoist plus chair = 470.
Therefore car can be no more than 1495mm in height.
Will need about 950mm over car to unload chair in garage. Not a problem if I have the ceiling boxed out about 300mm into the ceiling space and about 1000mm x 1000mmm where the hoist will sit when the car is in the garage.
Questions are not a problem, it is way problems are solved.
Thanks for your interest
Macca

Foresters are 1595 in height tho otherwise would be ideal

Rgds

[masoth]

Sorry Macca, but I'm stumped regarding more vehicle ideas because of the height limitation, which seems to indicate you are stuck with a sedan, with the low seating arrangement remaining a problem.
Next consideration is an alteration to the garage entrance - is that out of the question?

soth

[macca2]

Thought of that but cost to lower floor, fit new door and adjust levels of driveway and patio are prohibited.

[journeyman Mick]

Macca,
just wondering if it's possible to get past the height issue by getting the wheelchair partly lowered before you drive into the garage? You may need to get some modifications done to the controller but this would be far less expensive than the structural alterations you have mentioned.

Mick

[macca2]

Thanks Mick......measurements are with the chair folded and laying on it's side on the rack.

Macca

[journeyman Mick]

Macca,
I've not really watched one in action, but I assumed that the mechanism lowered the folded up chair down off the roof. I was wondering if its travel could be halted when it was part way down so that there was minimum extra height above the car's roof. Probably not possible for all sorts of good reasons, but I had to ask, just in case it made a really simple work around. I'm guessing that even if it were possible then you'd probably end up with the chair sticking out sideways from the car and getting in the way width wise and also obstructing your view.

Probably a bit extreme, but it is possible to raise and lower a vehicle with aftermarket hydraulic or pneumatic systems

Mick

[Waldo]

I am not looking to go bush bashing.
Just want a good reliable small wagon with the added safety of 4X4.

G'day Macca2,

I'm going to get blasted for this, but so what.

A 4x4 is a 4x4 and in my book there's only 2, the Landcruiser and the Patrol. Anything less is for running around town in (fair go, WB ran up to B/ville and back in one, but I'd think he's one of the very few who use it for a dual purpose) and if that's all the use it's going to get - then stick to a sedan.

If you've got a 4x4 it's for off-road, you don't care if it gets dings, scratched or dirty. A 4x4 doesn't really give you more security in a crash, they have a higher centre of gravity and are more prone to rolling - especially on the tar and if you don't know how to drive a 4x4. They might protect you, but in Toorak or Armidale you're going to wipe out the car or kid you hit.

A small wagon will give you no more saftey than a sedan.

I'll now sit back and wait to be flamed.

A further edit: Having read through to the 4th page I finally found why you were choosing a larger car for your needs. So it's more really a size issue than anything else.

[macca2]

G'day Waldo

I was not looking at a 4x4 as such. It so happens that the small "soft roaders" have the seat height I was looking at at the time.

Added to this the Forester has a 5 star crash rating, and constant 4 wheel drive which is a added safety feature in the wet or on gravel. It also sits and drives more like a car. It was never my intention to get a "real" 4x4 to tool around the city.

However because of headroom in the garage I am now looking at other vehicles that will do what I require, (albeit with a lower seat height) as even the Forester is too high in the roof line.

Thanks for your input
Macca

[Waldo]

G'day Macca2,

Pity about the Forester then with the height to your garage, because they are respected for their build quality and saftey rating.