Hi, new here. Couldn't find anywhere to introduce myself, so this will have to do. Older guy, retired Army, 40% disaility rating for arthritis of the spine. And, of course, the VA doesn't know what type of arthritis, so I asked them to check what kind. They told me I did not have rheumatoid or osteo arthritis. So, I asked them to check for another type. Wound up going for retesting eight more time, and was told eight more times I do not have rheumatoid or osteo arthritis. I coped for years, then in 1995 the back, and headache, started really kicking again, and I wound up with 100% SSD. Been using canes I made, for a number of years now. Recently my back has been aggrevated more. I don't use a wheelchair, and honestly do not anticipate using one. However, there are a couple of pick-your-own-parts junkyards close, and I am just plain not up to walking around in them anymore. They don't allow four-wheelers, etc., there, so I figure if I can make an off-road wheelchair they won't say no to me using that. Buying one is out, first because they are expensive, and second because none I saw really match my wants/needs. Almost forgot, it will have a small gas engine; yes, could go electric, however, would have to hunt down the parts, and pay a lot. I can get a small, running, used engine, very cheap, possibly even free, or a new one for around $100. And if it quits, I can just yank the engine, and replace it, simply, fast, cheap.
OK, I'm calling this project a off-road wheelchair, altho it might be more accurate to call it a power chair. But my design, I call it what I want. It will be an off-road design, because it will be used mainly for junkyard crawling, which are mainly dirt pathways, which are lined with ruts and bumps, I do not consider my proposed design as particularly suitable for really rough terrain, could be but that is not my goal.
What I'm after here is comments/input, from actual wheelchair users, of their thoughts on what/how I've got this planned out, and how they thing my ideas will work. For parts I have available: One pocket bike with engine, two three-wheel ATVs, one lawn tractor, one moped, some 8 or 10 foot pieces of angle iron. After tons of research, the only thing I will actually be using is one of the three-wheel ATVs. I could use the angle iron for the frame, drill holes, and bolt it together, the frame will be that simple, however I will get some square steel tubing, and weld it. The basic design will be two wheels in front, and one in the rear, steering will be with a lever on each side of the seat, with the grips horizontal, with throttle, and brake lever(s). Engine under the seat, with jackshafts to limit top speed to about 10 MPH tops. I'll use a centrifugal clutch, so it will be one speed, and a lot simpler than trying to figure out a transmission, and a whole lot less cost than a CVT would be. Keep it simple, keep it cheap. I figure that I should be able to put this together for around $200-300, max, depending on just how much I would have to buy; add around $100 more if I had to buy a small welder, which I do not have to.
Now comes the interesting part.
ONE: I can make it rear drive, with the one wheel, and steer with two wheels off the lawn tractor and ATV wheels and tires; the tires are at least 8 inches wide at a guess, forgot to measure them.
TWO: Make it rear drive, AND make the drive wheel the steered wheel also.
THREE: Make the two front wheels drive wheels, and make the rear wheel steer. Right now this is my preferred choice. I think that this will be the simplest route, as well as the fastest.
I'd appreciate your thoughts on this project, anti as well as pro. Thanks.
OK, I'm calling this project a off-road wheelchair, altho it might be more accurate to call it a power chair. But my design, I call it what I want. It will be an off-road design, because it will be used mainly for junkyard crawling, which are mainly dirt pathways, which are lined with ruts and bumps, I do not consider my proposed design as particularly suitable for really rough terrain, could be but that is not my goal.
What I'm after here is comments/input, from actual wheelchair users, of their thoughts on what/how I've got this planned out, and how they thing my ideas will work. For parts I have available: One pocket bike with engine, two three-wheel ATVs, one lawn tractor, one moped, some 8 or 10 foot pieces of angle iron. After tons of research, the only thing I will actually be using is one of the three-wheel ATVs. I could use the angle iron for the frame, drill holes, and bolt it together, the frame will be that simple, however I will get some square steel tubing, and weld it. The basic design will be two wheels in front, and one in the rear, steering will be with a lever on each side of the seat, with the grips horizontal, with throttle, and brake lever(s). Engine under the seat, with jackshafts to limit top speed to about 10 MPH tops. I'll use a centrifugal clutch, so it will be one speed, and a lot simpler than trying to figure out a transmission, and a whole lot less cost than a CVT would be. Keep it simple, keep it cheap. I figure that I should be able to put this together for around $200-300, max, depending on just how much I would have to buy; add around $100 more if I had to buy a small welder, which I do not have to.
Now comes the interesting part.
ONE: I can make it rear drive, with the one wheel, and steer with two wheels off the lawn tractor and ATV wheels and tires; the tires are at least 8 inches wide at a guess, forgot to measure them.
TWO: Make it rear drive, AND make the drive wheel the steered wheel also.
THREE: Make the two front wheels drive wheels, and make the rear wheel steer. Right now this is my preferred choice. I think that this will be the simplest route, as well as the fastest.
I'd appreciate your thoughts on this project, anti as well as pro. Thanks.
Off-road Project
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