Under Vehicle Lift Swap

This is a more direct "before & after" comparison to Josh's lift swap...it is NOT intended to discount the "Sport Truck" or the package "Ryno Mobility" offers...their removal of the threshold and floor-to-ceiling-height keeps driving a truck a viable option for many.

"With" Under Vehicle Lift (UVL) and full suspension lift...

"Without" UVL and 4" of suspension lift...

"With"

"Without"

"With"


"Without"

"With"

"Without"

Help! We need a used TiLite Rigid-frame Wheelchair!

We have a new application for manual chair users and we need a chair for mock up...as the TiLite chairs seem to be quite popular, we are hoping one of you has one you would be willing to part with (please send a picture and your price to sadarnell@sbcglobal.net )...or, better yet, purchase the truck in the next post for yourself (unless you would prefer a four-wheel-drive)!

Ryno Mobility Corporation Re-vamp

Most guys, and some girls, who have experienced a disability that requires serious modifications to allow their driving...have asked their respective evaluator, "What are my options...can I drive a truck?" KVB Manufacturing had the Elaine-Anne Lift (they have recently shut their doors due to health reasons and I would ask that everyone who reads this - take a few seconds to send good thoughts their way...they are wonderful people) and Braun Mobility brought out the "Sport Truck" on a Dodge frame - an example of which is pictured below -

An amazing option - although outside my financial realm, which provided me the freedom to voice my opinion, "I absolutely hate the Under Vehicle Lift (UVL) hanging underneath it!"

I had heard Braun would not be re-engineering the "Sport Truck" with the body change (2001 was the last year for this body style for half-ton trucks, 2002 for 3/4 and 1 ton trucks)...but a newer version soon came out in very capable hands. Edward Pic and Jim Ryback successfully made the transition onto GM-based platforms, keeping the dream a possibility for countless others -

Plus, options with Nissan trucks, four-wheel-drives, dualies, and - most recently - a Dodge "Megacab" -

...wonderful options, each of them - and most are still available, but there remained that UVL under there - which requires four to six inches of suspension lift.

One owner of a Ryno conversion, Mr. Josh Woodcock, approached us wanting to eliminate his UVL - his family is in the logging business and the environment wreaked havoc upon the inner workings of his wheelchair lift...the following pictures are the result -

His family removed the UVL and took out four inches of the suspension lift.

Fellow Co-founder, David Gotter, rehabbed the driver's area - got things sliding that were supposed to slide, etc. - and installed our DMS-5 (a new version modified for manual wheelchairs) lift system -

The DMS-5 uses a single hydraulic cylinder - power up/gravity down - with a linear actuator for swinging in and out...the narrower version accommodates the larger push rims on manual wheelchairs, and the required bracketing for our receptor "channels" adds about four pounds to the chair -

...the DMS-5 in the lowered position - and then...Josh...taking delivery of his truck -

...locked into the EZ-Lock...moments later he closes his doors using our air system (when the doors are closed and latched, the air is dumped and the doors swing freely by utilizing the factory handles).

Josh's "new" truck!

...of course, if there still remains in you the want to have something even less modified...you have Further OPTIONS...

May 2009 issue of PN now available...

Please pick up your copy of the May issue of PN/Paraplegia News to read about our success at the NMEDA conference earlier this year.

DMS Demo

Superman returns: The historic passage of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act

I'm sure that every one of the other subscribers to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation's email newsletter list shared my joy in reading today's announcement from President and CEO Peter Wilderotter trumpeting this news. "Today we applaud the United States House of Representatives for passing the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act (CDRPA - Title XIV of H.R.146), included in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act. The legislation was named for the late Christopher Reeve and his wife Dana, whose courage and grace in the face of adversity, coupled with their extraordinary activism, were an inspiration to millions around the world. The landmark legislation, which enjoyed bi-partisan support and passed in the Senate on January 15, 2009 will promote collaborative research, rehabilitation and quality of life initiatives for millions of Americans living with paralysis and spinal cord injuries. Today is a day of celebration for the paralysis community and we commend Congress for quickly passing this much needed legislation, which honors the spirit and legacy of Christopher and Dana Reeve. There is no better tribute to their dedicated efforts, and they would be so proud, yet humbled, to see this tremendous achievement. We look forward to the President signing this bill into law. On behalf of the Reeve Foundation and millions of Americans living with paralysis, I would like to thank Congresswomen Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) as well as Congressmen Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) for initially sponsoring this important health bill and for their tireless efforts.Their extraordinary leadership and dedication was instrumental in passing this historic legislation...."

Peter's letter goes on to detail the Act's three components, which aim to support and enhance paralysis research, rehabilitation, and quality of life programs. It's a day to celebrate, and honor the many amazing people behind this coming to pass, including Christopher Reeve himself.

DMS-4 Demo

Demo of our DMS-4 Pickup Truck Wheelchair Entry System, 2009 winner of the Adaptive Driving Alliance New Technology Award for Innovation in Engineering and Technology for the physically challenged.

Music courtesy of Saam Gabbay (www.saamgabbay.com).
Thank you Saam!