Challenging Ramp Building Project

[pararich]

I've decided that the thicker the "stone layer", the worse the traction. Wheels start kicking up stone instead of moving the chair. Then, the wheels start digging holes in the ground. I've not yet sorted out whether small stone ("pea gravel") might be better than the ~1" chunks we have. And, I'd like to see if fatter tires might make things better.

Driveways are concrete, here -- but nowhere near as long as yours appears to be!

You might look into laying down two parallel rows of 12" square "pavers" -- with centerlines spaced as far apart as your wheels are located. A neighbor did this to widen his driveway and it's navigable (though feels like you're riding a roller coaster as he didn't level the underlying soil, first).

My power chair tires are kind of narrow. The tread is worn out. I'll look into getting better tires.
I've thought of using pavers. That's a good idea to use 2 rows of separated 12 inch pavers.
My drive is about 170 feet long. I figure it's about a 9% grade for 130 feet. That means it rises 12 feet in that distance. Not good when there's ice coating the drive.
I'm not looking forward to the cold months. I might like it in Arizona!

[pararich]

I live on a private road so the residents have to maintain the road. One of the residents is a paver. He was going to pave with asphalt millings but the source fell through.
I'm interested in the DGA that you mentioned.
I'll post some picture of the ramp as far as I got with it. I'm taking a break from building since it's useable now. I'm hurting a bit from the labor and from an accident when someone was trying to get me down steps in my wheelchair. He pushed me forward without moving his feet down onto the next step. He tried to break his fall pushing my head forward violently. Still I get angry thinking about it. My back's already broken. I'd like to preserve my neck! Tomorrow I see a chiropractor and see what he says.

[pararich]

[pararich]

[pararich]

[automation]

My power chair tires are kind of narrow. The tread is worn out. I'll look into getting better tires.

Yeah, I've thought of something really wide but unsure of the physics involved (will it put extra strain on the drive shaft as the load appears to move outward).

I've thought of using pavers. That's a good idea to use 2 rows of separated 12 inch pavers.

The downside is you have less room for error while driving it. If the surrounding stone is "soft", then slipping off a paver could be an unwelcome hassle.

My drive is about 170 feet long. I figure it's about a 9% grade for 130 feet. That means it rises 12 feet in that distance. Not good when there's ice coating the drive.

Yikes! I'm thinking about the 50 ft driveway that I shoveled (snow) as a kid. At 170 feet, I'd just say "We're stuck here until March!"

[I also learned the value of a south facing driveway as the neighbors across the street rarely had to chop ice while I had to do it every snowfall!]

I'm not looking forward to the cold months. I might like it in Arizona!

Damn! Another "winter visitor"!

Of course, the heat is legendary. And, seems to start sooner (it warmed up in February, this past year) and last longer (it was touching 100 as recently as last week). But, all in all, I find the heat easier to tolerate than the numbing cold (Chicago before this).

And, the clear skies has a profound effect on you that you don't realize until you become accustomed to them and REALLY notice when its overcast for a day. After TWO days, I find myself downright irritable!

OTOH, I used to roll my eyes when I watched folks "drop everything" to watch it rain ("Rain? Really? You find this exciting??"). Now I find myself staring into it like I've never seen it, before -- and smiling. (cf that scene in Pleasantville).

Finally, the clear, BLACK nights are delightful for watching the many meteor showers. I've not had anything "take my breath away" in decades -- but THEY do it routinely!

[pararich]

Yeah, I've thought of something really wide but unsure of the physics involved (will it put extra strain on the drive shaft as the load appears to move outward).

I just want to replace with the same good traction tires that Permobil supplied with the chair.

The downside is you have less room for error while driving it. If the surrounding stone is "soft", then slipping off a paver could be an unwelcome hassle.

I'm thinking some kind of paving is best for me.

Yikes! I'm thinking about the 50 ft driveway that I shoveled (snow) as a kid. At 170 feet, I'd just say "We're stuck here until March!"

[I also learned the value of a south facing driveway as the neighbors across the street rarely had to chop ice while I had to do it every snowfall!]

My drive is North facing. It has become ice before.
Damn! Another "winter visitor"!
Sorry!
Of course, the heat is legendary. And, seems to start sooner (it warmed up in February, this past year) and last longer (it was touching 100 as recently as last week). But, all in all, I find the heat easier to tolerate than the numbing cold (Chicago before this).

And, the clear skies has a profound effect on you that you don't realize until you become accustomed to them and REALLY notice when its overcast for a day. After TWO days, I find myself downright irritable!

OTOH, I used to roll my eyes when I watched folks "drop everything" to watch it rain ("Rain? Really? You find this exciting??"). Now I find myself staring into it like I've never seen it, before -- and smiling. (cf that scene in Pleasantville).

Finally, the clear, BLACK nights are delightful for watching the many meteor showers. I've not had anything "take my breath away" in decades -- but THEY do it routinely!

The clear skies and the black nights sound great!

[automation]

Finally, the clear, BLACK nights are delightful for watching the many meteor showers. I've not had anything "take my breath away" in decades -- but THEY do it routinely!

The clear skies and the black nights sound great!

We get ~11 inches of rainfall (no snow) annually. Usually, from significant -- but short lived (hours!) -- storms ("Monsoon Season").

As luck would have it, cloudy and overcast (but just "drizzel") for the past two nights -- just in time to block the view of the Orionids!

Grrrr...