I have clearly defined needs, looking for your help / opinions ....

[OddDog]

Hi all,

firstly let me clearly define the uses that I have for the beach that I am looking to buy:

1. That is an adapted car for wheelchair user. We will only use telescopic manuel ramps, no lifts or big ramp addons. I need a vehicle with a high floor to roof, for one of my 3 kids who uses a wheelchair. The rails on the floor add considerable flexibility for us, something the caravelle does not have, so we are left with multivan or cali.

This pretty much left us with the V van or a transporter. So many other cars fold down the 3 row sets into the floor, raising the floor too close to the ceiling.

2. Family of 5 looking for an new everyday car. 3 kids (2 are teenagers), and we are changing from a phedra. Big family car needed.

3. My wife travels once a month on weekends, providing me and the kids with a perfect opportunity to have small one night adventures.

I am sure these will grow, and the beach opens a new oportunity to travel as a family. Wheelchair bound kids make any type of holiday, trip, weekender logistically difficult. I was looking for a regular RV/camper, but new family car needs brought the beach into focus. 2 birds one stone type of thing.

4. I will do approx 10,000 to 20,000 km yearly on the motorway for work.


So these are the 4 core uses for us as a family.
1. adapted (really just some hold downs on the floor)
2. Family car.
3. Get some ocasional adventures going .. hoping to increase over time.
4. Dad uses for motorway trips for work.

The beach is an expensive car, so am in no rush to jump the gun. Have already sold my much loved jag xk to help pay for the T6.

So with that all stated, I am very interested in opinions on specs, extras, experience. Anything you may think may be important for me to know before placing the order!

 

[Hotel California]

Hi again OddDog , there are one or two other forum members who use the Cali with a person using wheelchair , but think using a SE /Ocean .
Guess the Q is does the person needs to stay in the wheelchair while driving(seems it is by your info) or can he/she sit in the rear seat. As the sliding door gives good acces maybe there's a oppertunaty to put the wheelchair only in the back witch could makes travel more fun for the person himself...
Certainly there would be loss of space anyhow and with a family of five i think big challange to go camping .

There is a possility to buy latching eyes in the floorrails but to secure a wheelchaire with a person in it , don't know if it all stayes safe.

The Cali sure is a perfect everyday verhicle if needed , and the Beach gives lots of space for everyday use.

 

[OddDog]

My wheelchair bound son is 13, so for short trips the idea is ramp up into the space between the back bench and the 2 front seats.

For long trips, I pick him up, and put him on a seat, either an individual seat in the middle or on the back bench ...

I would use these cheap hand placed and remoable telescopic ramps..

http://www.theramppeople.co.uk/wheelchair-ramps/channel-ramps/premium-channel-ramps

So one of the things we are looking for is exactly this flexibility to be able to choose wheelchair or car chair.

I have asked for tech specks from VW re the rails being able to support and hold down a wheelchair adn pass the specific MOT that is requiered for an adaption.

Re: challenges of camping, yes absolutely, however, we can pretty much do it all, as long as we take a little more time ...

Thanks for the response
Patrick

 

[Borris]

Hello OddDog,
From what you have said I think that the Beach would be the perfect vehicle for all of your family needs. It is very roomy inside, extremely flexible and has good headroom without being too large.
I think that you might find that your best option would be to order your Beach with the three seater rear bench and one single rear swivel seat. If you were to place the single rear swivel seat on the near side there should be sufficient room on the offside for your son to sit in his wheelchair or for the wheel chair to be stowed whilst he sits securely in the swivel seat. Being adjacent to the sliding door I think this space could be ideal. If your son were to sit in the swivel seat facing rearwards he would be in the safest traveling position and the ramps could be stored in the gap between the front passenger seat and the back of the swivel seat.
My mother was wheelchair bound so this was something that I had looked into when we did our extensive research into people carriers. Sadly she is no longer with us. Unfortunately I didn't get as far as looking into tried and tested ways of securing the wheelchair and occupant safely in place. Obviously there are companies that convert vehicles to suit the specific needs of disabled drivers and passengers. I had intended seeking their advice about securing systems. It would also be a wise move to discuss your needs with VW. I am sure that the rail system could be utilised for securing points. I believe the the club shop sells tie down eyes that can be used in the rail system. You would need to check loading limits though.
We have had our Beach for 9 months and it is absolutely brilliant. It is so flexible and can be altered into so many different configurations to suit all family needs. We have lots of grandchildren and our Beach has proved to be just the best vehicle ever.
Good luck.

 

[owen_h]

It looks like wheelchair restraints are available (for the Caravelle at least):
http://www.koller.co.uk/product/wheelchair-restraints/1/excel-aries/16/

Would need to check that the rails in a Caravelle are the same as a California. The T bits in the picture look to have the same profile as the 'legs' of the sliding seat.

 

[OddDog]

Hi Owen,

that is a great find, thank you. Will give them a call tomorrow.

Also my ignorance of the transporter has rasied it head! I did not know that the caravelle had the rail system, I had only seen them with bolt down seats....

 

[OddDog]

Hi Borris,

thanks for sharing your idea, yes I agree that seems like an optimal seat arrangement. Sliding door entrance is seat free, with hold downs on the rails.

Its the flexibility that we most need. We have 4 clear distinct needs. Cali beach just seems to tick all the boxes....

Once we are up and running, I will happily share wheelchair relevant info....

 

[calikev]

Or these https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/shop/product/vw-california-floor-rail-load-anchor-lashing

 

[OddDog]

And another good find, thanks Calikev.

 

[BikerGran]

Hello OddDog,
If your son were to sit in the swivel seat facing rearwards he would be in the safest traveling position

Not sure why it would be safer BUT he would not be facing the same way as the other passengers, and therefore cut off from conversation about what they were seeing - I used a wheelchair for a few weeks and really HATED it when someone hauled me in it backwards because 'it was easier'.

 

[Borris]

Not sure why it would be safer BUT he would not be facing the same way as the other passengers, and therefore cut off from conversation about what they were seeing - I used a wheelchair for a few weeks and really HATED it when someone hauled me in it backwards because 'it was easier'.

As the swivel seat is part of the middle row, if he were to sit in a rear facing swivel seat he would be facing the other rear seat passengers. Therefore he would be in a much better position to hold a conversation with them. I don't know this young man's particular circumstances but the rear seat passengers would also be in a much better position to attend to any needs that he might have. My wife always travels in the rear facing N/S swivel seat when we take our grandchildren out. It has all sorts of positive benefits.

Reference the safety issue, if a vehicle is involved in a frontal collision and you are sitting belted into a rear facing seat then the seat back will absorb much of the energy. If you are sitting in a forward facing seat you would only be restrained by your seat belt. Babies and very young children should always be strapped into specialist rear facing child seats. Their heads are large and heavy in relation to their tiny bodies so it is essential for the child seat to absorb the energy of the crash instead of their necks. The miltary have rear facing seats on some of their troop carrying airliners for the same reason. If the seats are high backed, I think that it is generally accepted that if possible it is safer to travel facing rearwards on most forms of transport............but not the driver.