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Getting into the passenger seat of a 4x4

(58 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?

Josianne Sat 18-Sep-21 19:07:07

Try a folding dog ramp?

Tea3 Sat 18-Sep-21 19:14:26

Thanks Josianne. I was thinking of something that could be folded/collapsed into the footwell of the passenger seat and that I can get in and out myself. I’m thinking something the size of a large tin on the end of a walking pole would be enough to break up the distance between road and footwell.

LauraNorder Sat 18-Sep-21 19:22:26

Eight inch heels ?

FlexibleFriend Sat 18-Sep-21 19:27:23

No, I'm only 5'2" and disabled but have always found a 4x4 incredibly easy to get in to. Maybe it's the way your doing it. Basically the seat is pretty much bum height so stick your bum in first and swing your legs up.

Blossoming Sat 18-Sep-21 19:27:48

I’m short. We’ve had two 4x4s and both had a step-up (a kind of built in ledge) and grab handles. I was OK getting in, but getting out I just had to slide off the seat and wait for my feet to hit the ground!

Hellogirl1 Sat 18-Sep-21 19:35:04

My bum will never reach the seat, so bum first doesn`t work for me. If no step or stool available, I cling onto the side of the door, and after about 4 attempts, my leg just about gets high enough to get one foot inside. After that, the rest is easy.

Tea3 Sat 18-Sep-21 19:35:49

‘Bum height’! I think my bum is level with the door sill on my friend’s vehicle. Clearly there are lower slung 4x4s than the ones I’ve encountered Flexible Friend.

Tea3 Sat 18-Sep-21 19:40:31

Hellogirl1

My bum will never reach the seat, so bum first doesn`t work for me. If no step or stool available, I cling onto the side of the door, and after about 4 attempts, my leg just about gets high enough to get one foot inside. After that, the rest is easy.

And does the driver finds it hilarious as you struggle in?

rosie1959 Sat 18-Sep-21 19:57:38

My son had running boards put on his range rover so the kids could get in

Coolgran65 Sat 18-Sep-21 19:58:24

My husband drives a Toyota Rav which is grand for my bum level. I’m 5’6”. But I think my left leg is a bit weak and I have to use my left arm at the thigh to help it in. Getting out is no problem as I also just turn my legs out and slide ‘gracefully’ until my feet touch the ground.

My own car is a little Toyota Yaris so no problems getting into that.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 18-Sep-21 19:58:53

I am 5’2” have had a 4X4 for the last 14 years, my Mum was 5’ she used to put one foot in the car one hand on door handle and we pushed her up. This worked up till 3 weeks before she died.

Callistemon Sat 18-Sep-21 20:37:48

FlexibleFriend

No, I'm only 5'2" and disabled but have always found a 4x4 incredibly easy to get in to. Maybe it's the way your doing it. Basically the seat is pretty much bum height so stick your bum in first and swing your legs up.

Not all are bum height and perhaps I'm not as Flexible as you ?

Some are fine but DD has a Land Cruiser and I find I have to haul myself into that.
The Rav is smaller.

FlexibleFriend Sat 18-Sep-21 21:00:46

Never been in a Rav so wouldn't know tbh. Both my sons drive large 4x4's and never had a problem with any of them. My bum must be really pert.

Jane71 Sun 19-Sep-21 08:12:46

I’m interested to know why so many of you have 4x4’s. Do you all tow caravans?j

GrannyGravy13 Sun 19-Sep-21 08:42:23

Jane71

I’m interested to know why so many of you have 4x4’s. Do you all tow caravans?j

No caravan here, horse boxes and large family

Spice101 Sun 19-Sep-21 08:52:39

I have trouble getting into the higher cars. Bought one of these and find it great.
www.aidacare.com.au/products/daily-living-aids/assisted-living/handy-bars-for-car
They are portable so you can have it in your bag and so eliminate the driver getting in and out to retrieve the stool.

Grammaretto Sun 19-Sep-21 08:59:24

Jane71 this also puzzles me!
Just as we should be encouraging public transport, electric cars and smaller cars for congested streets there seems to be a rash of massive cars around where I live.

My own family is guilty too DS and DiL drive a big car (it is a hybrid) and I also have difficulty getting in and out.

There's a grabrail but the car was designed in Sweden for giants. shock

Teacheranne Sun 19-Sep-21 09:11:40

I had five children and never felt the need for a huge 4x4! I drove a people carrier, a Ford Galaxy, which had two extra seats in the boot area. We also towed a caravan with it.

Where I live, young mums drive big 4x4’s on the school run, it seems like a competition to own the largest one!

Grammaretto Sun 19-Sep-21 10:29:09

One reason given is the space required for the bulky car seats.
When ours were young they had seatbelts but even with a baby seat, we could just squeeze in with granny too.
I guess it's to do with safety which is a good thing.

Callistemon Sun 19-Sep-21 10:34:31

Jane71

I’m interested to know why so many of you have 4x4’s. Do you all tow caravans?j

It's fairly essential if you live in a farm and/or go camping out bush.

Callistemon Sun 19-Sep-21 10:34:48

On a farm

Callistemon Sun 19-Sep-21 10:35:59

And tow a boat

Grammaretto Sun 19-Sep-21 10:43:58

"It's fairly essential if you live in a farm and/or go camping out bush"
A fairly niche market among GNetters I would have thought smile

Callistemon Sun 19-Sep-21 10:49:10

?
Jane71 said I’m interested to know why so many of you have 4x4’s. Do you all tow caravans?j

So I was explaining why DD had one, which I find difficult to climb into.

I thought I was answering her question.