Basic Mobility - The Farm / Ranch Pickup Truck

Assistive Technology Notes – The Farm / Ranch Pickup Truck

The trusty pickup truck is a widely used piece of farm or ranch machinery. According to Wikpedia¹, a pickup truck or pick-up is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area. Whether used to haul feed to livestock or tools to the field, to make trips to the dealership for purchasing repair parts, or just to relax in the cab while having lunch, the pick-up is a staple on the North American farm and ranch landscape.

Pick-ups can be purchased in many different configurations. Generally, trucks are classified by hauling capacity (i.e., compact to full-sized), by cabin size/style (i.e., standard to crew cab), or by rear cargo area (i.e., short to extended bed). With today’s truck popularity, anyone can purchase a pick-up with nearly every standard “automotive comfort feature or accessory” (i.e., color, engines, power windows, cruise, etc.). Indeed, a fully loaded pick-up can cost thousands of dollars.

Today for a farmer or a rancher with a disability, the ability to modify the pickup to meet specific disability needs is more feasible than attempting to modify any other piece of farm machinery. This is due, in part, because pickups are also popular off the farm or ranch. Because of this larger personal vehicle market, an assistive technology product market has been created and sustained for pickups.

If a farmer or rancher requires assistive technology adaptations for a pickup, there are many companies and sources of information online to assist them in their search. The National AgrAbility Project (NAP) assistive technology product database (ATPD) has an entire category called “Truck Modifications²”. Likewise, several other online assistive technology databases, such as AbleDATA³, offer entire categories on “Transportation” which includes products to enable people with disabilities to drive or ride in cars, vans, trucks and buses. Breaking New Ground’s “The Toolbox” has a product category specific to “Trucks/Off-Road Vehicles⁴”. If these resources are not helpful, a farmer or rancher can always search the entire Internet using their favorite search engine.

Most major automobile and truck manufacturers offer financial assistance programs for purchasing and modifying one of their vehicles. If a farmer or rancher is interested in buying a new pickup, he or she may wish to check first with local dealerships about such incentives, and/or read about them at various web sites⁵. Organizations, such as “Disabled Dealer”, may offer pre-owned vehicles that others have modified but are longer need⁶.

For a farmer with a disability who needs to get in and out of a wheelchair to enter the cab of the pickup, perhaps the most dangerous issue to negotiate is the “transfer” itself. Pickups tend to sit higher above the ground than the wheelchair, making transfers more difficult. Depending upon a farmer’s physical ability and whether he or she can transfer with or without assistance, it is important that proper safety techniques be followed. Using the correct procedures will reduce the risk of secondary injuries due to slips/falls, bumping body parts upon entry/exit, or tearing/scratching the skin when transferring. The preferred method of transfer occurs on a level surface, across equal elevation points of access, and under ideal weather conditions. However, when working on the farm, these conditions rarely exist. Even when a farmer or rancher has the ability to self-transfer under ideal conditions, that same farmer or rancher may need assistance under different circumstances. A ramp, lift, or simple transfer-board may be needed when attempting a wheelchair-to-truck (or tractor) transfer to work in the farm shop, around the farmstead, or in the field. Therefore, the importance of training by qualified therapists can not be emphasized enough. Transfer training should include “real-world” transfers, in situations likely to be encountered on the farm or ranch. If transfers are not executed properly nor performed safely, none of the other modifications or adaptations are very useful if the farmer sustains secondary injuries.

To facilitate easier transfers, most companies that offer pickup modifications have some kind of transferring seat system. For example, Figure 1 shows Access Unlimited’s Easy-Reach⁷ seat. The unique feature in this seating system allows the entire seat to extend away from the pickup truck to allow for a safer transfer. Other companies offer similar systems.

Color picture of a pickup truck showing the passenger seat extended out and down for easier acccess for a wheel chair user.
Figure 1 Access Unlimited Easy-Reach power seat system.

In addition to seating systems, there are many choices of hand controls for brake and gas pedals, as well as other controls the farmer may wish to change for ease of access when driving. Depending upon specific needs, the farmer or rancher may benefit from a simple “spinner knob⁸” or traditional hand controls, such as the Monarch Mark I-A⁹, to a more “all-in-one” control such as the Mini-Touch⁷ 6 or 12 Function Vehicle Control Pad. The Mini-Touch can place the turn signals, hi-lo beams, and other vehicle controls at the driver’s fingertips, by mounting the control pad wherever it is convenient for the operator.

Other pickup truck adaptations or modifications include a variety of ramps that allow for vehicle entry while remaining in the wheelchair or scooter, various seat cushions that can be used on-top or in place of a standard seat, added hand holds, mirrors, and cameras that improve visibility while driving in reverse. There are also steps or lifts to make the truck bed or cargo area more accessible. For example, Bruno offers a system called the “Out-Rider⁵” vehicle lift, that allows the farmer or rancher to stow a scooter or wheelchair in the pickup truck bed, using a fully-automatic lift arm. A hand-held controller allows the operator to lift and safely store a mobility system.

For hauling and accessing the rear cargo or pickup truck bed, several companies offer specialized product lines. For example, the Ezy-Lift¹⁰ can easily lift 1000 pounds onto the cargo area of the pick-up. This might be an option when hauling pallets of feed, fertilizer, or medium-sized rectangular bales of hay. Other companies offer modified pickup truck liftgates that can be lowered to the ground to facilitate loading and unloading of the cargo area.

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In This Issue
Section 1: Client Story Section 2: Focus Section 3: Assistive Technology Notes	Section 4: State Project Feature Section 5: References Section 6: Contacts