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Getting into the passenger seat of a 4x4

(59 Posts)
Tea3 Sat 18-Sep-21 19:02:04

Does anyone else struggle to clamber into high off the ground vehicles? I think they should be fitted with a let down step like the coaches in bygone days. I take a fold up step when travelling in my friend’s 4x4 ( if I can’t persuade her that I really don’t mind taking her in my little Peugeot) but then she has to get out of her seat to throw in the stool after me, and reverse the process when dropping me off. I’m thinking I could do with a small fold up step on the end of a telescopic pole that I can pull in after me, and fling out the door to open up into the step to help me get out. Does anyone know if something like this exists and is on the market?

Neen Wed 06-Oct-21 20:08:14

Yup I used to like them but with arthritis and lymphadema, and now ageing ( 54 ) , I find Graham's range rover a pain to pull myself up in to. Not my cup of tea but it's a good job we are all different or everyone would be driving the same make and model.

Tea3 Wed 06-Oct-21 18:19:33

Hetty58 I’ve just looked back and seen it was you. Thank you!

Tea3 Wed 06-Oct-21 18:16:47

grandtanteJE65

Does you folding stool have a handle that can be raised to carry it by in the middle of the seat?

Mine does, so try tying a stout piece of washing line firmly to the handle.

Place the stool end on to the vehicle so you can place one foot on either side of the handle, which you raise before stepping onto the stool.

Once in the car seat, haul in the stool and collapse it.

I haven't tried this, but I am fairly confindent it will work.

I’ve tried this with a length of braid. It’s ok to get in but hit and miss trying to get the stool to open when lowering to get out. I’m currently experimenting with string threaded through a stout upturned plastic flowerpot after reading a suggestion on this thread about using children’s tub stilts. I think the poster was joking but it certainly gave me the idea for the flowerpot and I’m very grateful!

grandtanteJE65 Wed 06-Oct-21 14:34:45

Does you folding stool have a handle that can be raised to carry it by in the middle of the seat?

Mine does, so try tying a stout piece of washing line firmly to the handle.

Place the stool end on to the vehicle so you can place one foot on either side of the handle, which you raise before stepping onto the stool.

Once in the car seat, haul in the stool and collapse it.

I haven't tried this, but I am fairly confindent it will work.

Aveline Mon 27-Sep-21 16:01:00

Tea3 several of makes of these vehicles have retractable 'running boards*. DD had them on her Range Rover.

Audi10 Mon 27-Sep-21 15:44:53

Nope no trouble getting in or out but I’m quite tall with long legs 5 ft 8 , I like the higher vehicles, it’s the blooming low ones I have trouble with especially if have to bend down to get in the back

DiscoDancer1975 Mon 20-Sep-21 17:01:14

We have the opposite problem. We’re both tall, so stooping down into small cars has never been good. My husband struggled with his back. We did have a VW Passat. Looked lovely...but you really needed to limbo dance to get in and out of it! We had a people carrier for our large family, and naturally prefer the bigger cars.

Tea3 Mon 20-Sep-21 16:43:13

MerylStreep

When is someone going to put a retractable electric step on these vehicles as we have on our motohome.

Sounds just the thing Meryl.

MerylStreep Mon 20-Sep-21 16:17:32

When is someone going to put a retractable electric step on these vehicles as we have on our motohome.

Tea3 Mon 20-Sep-21 16:06:47

Georgesgran

It’s the same with a low slung sports car (a dear departed distant memory). As the owner, there’s a knack to using the door sill with the right hand to push up and out, but I’ve had to physically drag the odd passenger out! Most undignified.

Impossible for me. I can get in but it crucifies my back to even just stay there for a couple of minutes.

Tea3 Mon 20-Sep-21 16:03:53

Hetty58

I like travelling higher up. I have few problems getting in - and getting out is easy, unlike a lower ones.

How about a pair of these? (yes - I am joking)

www.toysmegastore.co.uk/gb/tub-stilts-children-walk-stilt-jumping-stilts-balance-trainers-with-ropes-toys-feet-outdoor-sports-1-pair-random-color/p-45554841-90999421?language=en&ac=toysmegastore&utm_source=organic_shopping&utm_medium=organic

H.mmm I wonder if a slightly higher version of these can be found. They could be the answer! Thank you Hetty58.

Tea3 Mon 20-Sep-21 15:56:30

SuzieHi

Dunelm sell a folding step around £5 it would be perfect as it has a handle on the top to pick up & put in footwell

Thanks Susie. I’ve a couple of these stools I use around the house, and experimented with using them to get in my friend’s 4x4 (she is probably still laughing now). I tied braid to the handle to haul them in, and drop them down when I needed to get out. Sadly they didn’t open out on descent.

welbeck Mon 20-Sep-21 15:55:33

i don't think that dunelm one would be safe in this situation.
and is specifically for indoor use on even ground.
don't risk it.
could the driver line the vehicle up next to a high kerb on rising camber.

Hellogirl1 Mon 20-Sep-21 12:12:51

My daughter got a folding step stool from B&M for me, it was £3.99.

FlexibleFriend Mon 20-Sep-21 11:12:42

www.dunelm.com/product/large-grey-step-stool-1000152740?defaultSkuId=30658311

ExDancer Mon 20-Sep-21 10:58:09

I can't find the step stool suggested by Susie on the Dunhelm webpage, and I have the handle that clips on the door lock post is only useful for getting out.
As for needing an SUV, its pretty difficult to manage without one if you live halfway up a mountain on a farm in Cumbria, two miles from the nearest bus route. And there are quite a number of farmers on Gransnet.

Georgesgran Mon 20-Sep-21 10:40:44

It’s the same with a low slung sports car (a dear departed distant memory). As the owner, there’s a knack to using the door sill with the right hand to push up and out, but I’ve had to physically drag the odd passenger out! Most undignified.

ExDancer Mon 20-Sep-21 10:36:18

I'm under 5ft tall and really struggle to get into my husband's Discovery. As I age our muscles weaken, our ability to jump decreases - it happens. We all lose height as we age and it can only get worse.

Hetty58 Mon 20-Sep-21 10:24:44

I like travelling higher up. I have few problems getting in - and getting out is easy, unlike a lower ones.

How about a pair of these? (yes - I am joking)

www.toysmegastore.co.uk/gb/tub-stilts-children-walk-stilt-jumping-stilts-balance-trainers-with-ropes-toys-feet-outdoor-sports-1-pair-random-color/p-45554841-90999421?language=en&ac=toysmegastore&utm_source=organic_shopping&utm_medium=organic

Aveline Mon 20-Sep-21 10:07:04

O can get into DH's Range Rover (obviously I have a high slung bum) but my problem is shutting the door afterwards. It has to be opened wide to get me in but I have to use my stick to hook around the handle to close it. (DH has to pull a trailer before anyone mentions why we've got this vehicle)

SuzieHi Mon 20-Sep-21 09:29:51

Dunelm sell a folding step around £5 it would be perfect as it has a handle on the top to pick up & put in footwell

Lucca Mon 20-Sep-21 05:01:49

Sorry the quote thing didn’t work I was replying to callistemon saying 4 x 4 cars are useful if you live on a farm

Lucca Mon 20-Sep-21 04:58:15

Or if you just feel the need to be flash. Where I live there are hundreds of the things dropping one child off ten feet from the school door

FlexibleFriend Sun 19-Sep-21 22:42:42

I get measured every 6 months at hospital and I haven't shrunk at all and certainly haven't grown. Always exactly the same measurement. I can't get in an ordinary car as my legs don't bend. I need a large high vehicle or I'm stuffed.

MadeInYorkshire Sun 19-Sep-21 17:59:22

I have shrunk 2 1/2" over the last decade, was always 5ft 5 1/2" and am now 5ft 3"!