[floto612]

Hello Team, floto612 here wanting to spread some great news.
You may have all seen a thread regarding a Spyder Trailer Hitch, by Mel's Moster Garage.....well, I figued if a small shop can build a hitch for a Spyder, they should be able to make a wheelchair holder!

So, I picked up the phone and called to Mel's Monster Garage, and sure enough he is more than happy to help out.

I will be finished my first attempt at building my own 'wheelchair hanger' within a few weeks. My plan is to ryde down to Roseville Michigan (only 5 hours away for me), show them what I did, and ask if they can make it better and prettier. Maybe even somethng for those in rigid wheelchairs as well......and the response was so positive!

My email traffic is increasing on questions for this mod.....I explained that I can make up pretty much anything, but making it look 'pretty' is a trade I have yet to be educated on. Some can sing, some can paint, some build things 'pretty'......have a look at their website, call them if you wish. He is very interested in helping us with, what I have coined 'the wheelchair hanger'.


e-mail adress: [email protected]
website is www.melsmonstergarage.com

There are websites out there, that show wheelchairs being attached to motorbikes, using their trailer hitches....so, answers are there. Me, I prefer to have my wheelchair on my left slightly rear side. Thereby, not intruding with tail lights, brake lights, turn indicators and alike. Just me, but my goal was to end up with a modified for handicapped use Spyder, without anyone being able to recognize that fact.

Keep well, think spring for crying out loud....I'm under 4 feet of snow up here and no hope for ryding until late April !!!!

 

[Hawkeye]

I thought the same thing when I saw the trailer hitch. If there is a way to build the hitch, then there has got to be a way to fabricate a folding chair holder. I think the key is just finding the mounting point to build from. The design of the actual chair holder is almost secondary. There are probably quite a few that would work fine. Did you see the two pictutes of examples I posted in the other thread?

I agree with your concept of a left side mount. I was sorta visualizing the rear axels of both the bike and chair being kinda lined up, with the chair being just high enough to give okay ground clearance.

Good luck to you and Mel. Trust me, there are a lot of folks who appreciate your efforts and will be watching for any news.

Now if we could just get the delivery date of the semi auto trans model moved up. The current November 2008 means it will be at least another year of just deaming for me.

Oh well... one of the 1st things you learn when starting to use a chair, is patience.

Good Luck...

Joe

 

[floto612]

getting closer on the wheelchair hanger

Hi Joe, and fellow followers of this project.....

My brother is machining up a bracket for me, that I designed by copying the bracket that holds the right rear passenger foot peg. Ok, you are asking why....well, this peg assembly will fold in the proper direction, when mounted on my plate, on the left side of my Spyder. Ya, confusing, but when I have photos this week, it will all become understandable.
I ordered everthing from the rear right peg assembly, short of the forged mount itself......so, pin, peg, pad, spring, ball, dent plate, pin clip.....got everything yesterday, good thing all this stuff was already in stock at BRP. Used the on line viewable parts catalog which has all the part numbers on it...quite nice, when you can amaze the parts girl at the dealership, by simply rhyming off valid BRP part numbers!!!
Ok, my line of thinking here is to have now TWO Spyder foot pegs on the LEFT rear side of the bike. Each folding out in apposing diretions, not only is it easier for me to reach while on the Spyder, but having this folding action wil hide the pegs when not in use. Each foot peg, I will adapt an elongated 'candy cane', which will serve to hook the frame of my folding wheelchair, once hooked I can simply fold up the wheelchair and secure the top of the wheelchair seat frame to the grab rail of the Spyder. Again, having photos of this completed will help.
Using the hitch from Mel's Monster Garage, will have a downside.....the hitch is on mounted on the swing arm......so the vibration and moment travel of this swing arm may really effect a wheelchair hagning from it. As spring finally comes and I ride down to see 'Jimmy' at Mel's Monster Garage, we will find a solution for this I'm sure. Stay tuned team.

 

[Hawkeye]

Kool. I'll keep watching to see what you come up with.

Joe