Something to fix to Citroen C4 GP roof bar for support

[Jethro_uk]

Sadly SWMBOs MS is not being kind, and transfers to/from the car are becoming problematic.

The main problem being spasmy legs which refuse to behave.

Before we go down the route of changing car for a true WAV, it's worth looking at possible aids ...

The car we have is a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso 2016 model. When we chose it, boot space was more an issue (to take a wheelchair and a power scooter), and transfers were no problem.

Which is why - amazingly and annoyingly - we missed the fact that this car lacks a passenger grab handle. Moreover (according to the dealer) it's not possible to fit one.

There are vehicle adaptation specialists, I know, but before engaging their premium services, I wonder what DIY options are available.

The biggest help would be something to grab with the right hand that can support a transfer. SWMBO has very good upper body strength to compensate for the draggy legs.

It's important to note that this particular C4 has a full length roof bar each side which HAS NO GAP UNDERNEATH. In this respect it has changed from all previous models. (I shouted that because Googling suggests 99% of solutions will apply to older models).

Now it is possible to get a roof rack bar solution which fits and potentially could be used as an anchor point for a strap. However I am wondering if there might be a more simple single clamp, or bracket which could fix to the roof bar ? Or, failing that, some sort of frame which could be carried in the car, placed on the roof, and brace against the roof bar to support a transfer.

I am wary of splashing out too much money (which we don't have) as the progression of this disease is also causing problems with domestic layout (passim) and wheelchair suitability all of which are interlinked, so choosing the wrong solution is an expensive way to waste money. (We hacve a garage full of things that did the job - once).

[Bob Eager]

I saw an advert the other day for a portable grab handle that fitted into the door catch loop. No idea how good it is or whether it would be suitable for your car.

There seem to be quite a few; here's one:

[Jethro_uk]

Thanks for that, but not suitable - the "U" bit on the car is too small :(

(Tried one at a mobility aids superstore)

Now, if only there was somewhere in the UK that still did engineering :(

(It *really* grates to say that living in Birmingham)

[Jethro_uk]

In case someone else has the same issue, I am experimenting with the Thule flush roof bar fitting kit 4202

£40 is worth a punt (with DSR etc).

Beware of dealing with Citroen - they appear to have delegated their online support to a chatbot - it just ignores your pained explanations of why you are contacting them, and points you back to the website.

[Harry Bloomfield]

Jethro_uk presented the following explanation :

If one side has a grab handle, likely both sides have the brackets to install grab handles, but maybe hidden by the roof lining. All then you would need is to get the handle from a scrap yard. If they are handed handles, maybe get one from a European version of the car.

[Bill Wright]

Sometimes it's best to bite the bullet. Look to the future. Cut your losses and change the vehicle.

Bill

[T i m]

Are you thinking of just using one as an anchor for a hand strap? I just fitted the Thule Aero bars to the Meriva and feel the fitting kit still needs the foot to give it anything to work with and probably wouldn't have sufficient strength on it's own (without the bar and the opposite mount / foot) etc? What I'm thinking is the strength is in / between the bar and the feet and the fitting kit just has to hold it down?

It may be a different fitting to that of the Meriva so may well do what you want.

I like Thule stuff and have had their roof bars going back a long time. The ideal set were the solid ally gutter mount - plastic-coated / rectangular steel bars on my Sierra estate. The beauty of that combo was that it was low enough to get stuff on and off the roof easily, the Sierra roof was long enough and the gutter mounts flexible enough to space the bars exactly where you wanted them (unlike the 'Fix point' mountings) and because the car itself was quite long, even 'long things' didn't become an issue with markers and overhangs etc. I'm not sure the 16' Canadian canoe would fit as easily on the Meriva as it did the Sierra and with H&S trying to restrict the width of roof bars these days [1], most boats we used to roof-top would simply fall over std roof bars you get today (but at least don't take peoples eyes out as they squeeze between cars in a car park ...). ;-(

Cheers, T i m

[1] I might be able to get wider bars in the old square steel pattern but the ally aero bars use a slot to fit the foot / mounting kit and I'm not sure the depth of the slot (along the bar from each end) would be long enough on the next_size_up to fit between the existing feet (without modification that is and I'm not sure what the implications of that would be in the even of 'an issue'). ;-(

[Jethro_uk]

TX - the aim is to use it as a footing, and I am prepared that it may need the bar to brace the arrangement ... however if that is the case, I would question the design, as how can the force required to keep the footing in place be maintained by a static bar without a distorting force across the roof ?

Watch this space :)

[Jethro_uk]

No - not even blanked off holes. The only way to fit is to drill.

[Jethro_uk]

It's plan B :( but that involves

a) trailing around every dealer and chancing your arm with their "accessibility" (last time, 3 dealers in a row had arranged special events which meant it was impossible to get a wheelchair around)

b) dealing with dealer-speak (i.e. designed to move the metal rather than answer the customer) meaning a whole load of "we'll have to get back to you about that"

c) back to (b) when it's clear they misunderstood the question

d) getting into a bunfight about test driving an automatic (I already know some dealers that point blank refuse, which helps narrow things down).

e) losing a %age of the deposit on the existing car

and that's before the fact that a WAV will potentially present many more problems in getting around, needing a bigger parking footprint (as it it's easy at the moment).

As alluded in the OP, we're also having to look at housing adaptations and (more immediate) wheelchair suitability. All of which factor into vehicle choice.

Life is very much a differential equation at the moment. And not in a good way ;)

[Jethro_uk]

Tx to all for comments and food for thought :)

[Peter Parry]

Would something like this help?

[T i m]

I think the assumption is that the roof (or the rack mounting points) are 'stiff, as is the bar / foot combination, therefore when you bolt those two things together you end up with something quite strong / rigid.

On the Thule fitting kit supplied for the Meriva there are just 4 little steel hollow ended blocks bolted to the cars roof structure within little covered 'hatches' and the feet themselves only grip these blocks with one fixed and one adjustable metal 'pincher'. The actual metal these are made of was only 1.5 - 2mm thick and it all seems pretty frail till you clamp everything up.

I think the whole thing is designed to survive a front impact of the car at 30 mpg with 75kg on the rack (or some such).

We have used it a lot recently with 27kgs worth of folding boat and the mast / spars etc. Not only the 100+ miles when we first collected it (nice to be able to do 70 mpg and not worry about a trailer ) and several shorter trips since.

Good luck with it etc. ;-)

Maybe a hook-in wrist strap or handle that you attach to a slightly extended roof bar (assuming you can put it in the right place to be of use to yours Mrs) but not so extended as she hits her head on it when using it? I think they also make telescoping extension tubes ... ?

Cheers, T i m

[Peter Parry]

Try

and get in touch with your local group of tame engineers.

[Jethro_uk]

Tx

[Jethro_uk]

bartm-car-transfer-aid

That's the same item Bob suggested upthread.

It *would* be a useful aid, but the tip of the bar is too big to fit into the "U" bracket on the Citroen (and, from Googling sites which allow comments some other cars).

Now if I had that dream workshop, it would be work of a minute to grind the tip by 2mm to let it fit in safely.

But the dream workshop (well a motor repair workshop with oxy-acetylene, MIG, TIG, arc welders, lathe, bench grinder, 3 tonne press, any amount of vices and clamps along with assorted vehicle spares and specialist tools, dies, taps, air wrenches, ratchets, saws, chisels (and the 200 psi compressor to power them) was left behind when I moved to Brum.

It's love, innit :)

[Peter Parry]

The West Midlands Remap group has the odd lathe or two, many angle grinders and a few hundred years experience so should be able to help.

It's probably best to phone.

[Jethro_uk]

Tx again that's SWMBOs job for tomorrow ....