Sunday, October 30, 2011

Starting Over

This has been a rewarding and a frustrating week:
I got the new trailer painted, but even though I sanded the metal, the "Rustoleum" paint I picked up is not sticking well to the old fenders. It said it would on the label, but so much for labels. I will need to try again with something else.

I bought a brown tarp and a grommet set and Chris installed three PVC pipe as ribs over the trailer. It will look like an old Conestoga wagon. He also attached hardware to the outside to attach the cover (tie it down) and rings to the inside to attach bungee cords that will secure the wheel chair on the inside. We will eventually get the cover on there. The ramp takes priority.

Chris worked hard to finish the ramp for the trailer. This was a challenge both in engineering and in physics. We worked out the engineering part, but the physics part needs to be re-thought. Basically, the ramp needs to be longer in order for the length to height ratio to be decreased. That will allow the chair to climb the ramp with less effort (i.e. we need to extend it).

We made the ramp the way we did (extended it, but not enough) in order to use the original tail gate. The gate needs to be lifted up from the "tabs" at the base and hooks that secure it to the sides. Since we need even more length, that system won't work. It will be too heavy and awkward for me to lift up. So we will need to cut off the bottom tabs and fasten the ramp to the trailer bed with heavy duty hinges. That way it can be raised and lowered without my needing to physically lift the whole thing up above the trailer bed. We may even rig a pulley system to help with the raising and lowering part. That would sure help my back.

The hitch and electrical harness was installed on Thursday. They did a good job, even though it was expensive. But the trailer is so old that the electrical attachment would not marry to the new harness. So I called a friend who is a retired electrician. He came over and took a look. Then he purchased (reimbursed of course) what he needed to fix it. But when checking the lights, not only were the bulbs burned out, the sockets were very rusty. So next day, he cleaned out the sockets and replaced the bulbs. He has also offered to install a power pulley system for the ramp.

So after Chris re-makes the ramp, (he's going to get so tired of this) I will park the trailer at my friend's house for a few days. He suggested that the motor from our old lift chair that is broken
would work for this project. Lord does provide. The chair was donated a few years ago and really came in handy during my recovery from a crushed leg and later knee surgery. But the chair it's elf no longer works. Recycling is really great, but I just hate starting over.

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