Pedal Extensions

[Casper46]

Has anyone used pedal extensions and if so what make.

I have driven for a living all my working life. I am 5ft tall with size 3 feet. I have always struggled reaching pedals unless I jam myself up to the steering wheel. We have invented all sorts of false floors and wooden extensions but it’s doubtful that we were entirely legal with some of them.
We are buying a Carthago on a Auto Mercedes and I doubt that I will manage without proper extensions. If the seat is high enough for me to see clearly then my feet are dangling over the pedals. We then have the problem that if himself wants to drive ( very rarely) we then have to strip out whatever Heath Robinson item I am using.
Our present E Line on a Fiat has not been a problem.
All ideas appreciated except hanging me from the ceiling and putting weights on my legs.

 

[pappajohn]

 

[Norfolk Nige]

Have you thought about a hand control conversion?

 

[Just smiffy]

There are indeed pedal extenders but how easy they are to take out for others to drive I don’t know…

 

[Just smiffy]

Have you thought about a hand control conversion?

This would be the answer as you can drive with the “push/pull” hand controls whilst the pedals are still there for others to drive…

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[Just smiffy]

 

[Gingernuts]

Have you thought about a hand control conversion?

Aye that’s what I thought too

 

[TheBig1]

There are diabled pedal adaptions that hinge out of the way to allow other able drivers to do so normally. Think it was Jeff Gosling that did them

 

[TheBig1]

Pedal Extensions - Des Gosling Mobility

Pedal extensions bring the original pedals closer and can be installed into both automatic and manual vehicles.

www.desgoslingmobilityltd.co.uk

 

[TheBig1]

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[TheBig1]

Generic extenders from Amazon
Amazon product ASIN B0BQ394T8V

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Dr Jones Dr Jones

 

[Guigsy]

The issue is often made worse in motorhomes because the swivel seat adds to the height of the seat base.

 

[Lenny HB]

I would think you will be OK my wife is 4'10" and can drive our Ducato without any problems

 

[Guigsy]

I would think you will be OK my wife is 4'10" and can drive our Ducato without any problems

I think Ducatos are built for munchkins. I'm pretty short and I don't have a ton of room. Not sure what Mercs are like though.

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[Lenny HB]

I think Ducatos are built for munchkins. I'm pretty short and I don't have a ton of room. Not sure what Mercs are like though.

Probably depends on the seat I don't think I could drive mine with the seat right back

 

[Reallyretired]

My last mh was a Mercedes and swmbo could not get anyway near reaching the pedals. With the seat back even I couldn't reach and I am 6ft 3inch.

 

[Bleau’s]

We are looking at changing ours and have discounted the merc for that reason her indoors can not drive it so looking at new shape fiat

 

[andykim]

The ducao steering wheel only goes up and down telescopically vertically, I would prefer it to be a more horizontal so the steering wheel sits lower in the lap but hey I'm only the end user!

 

[Casper46]

View attachment 791781

Tried those, they look daft with my bikini.
Mind you I look daft in a bikini without boots.

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[Tea Bag]

Hi.
Pedals and Legs... Being bused into Istanbul from the airport. Verticaly challenged driver ( But GOOD ) Every time we hit a bump,the seat lifted him up off the pedals and dumped him back down again onto them.. .... BUT...Amid continual blasts of other road users horns as he progressed taking no prisoners... It was his Hand gestures out of the window. Hand palm upright with all fingers tips up at the end and the look on his face................. Priceless.
Tea Bag

 

[Roby2008]

This would be the answer as you can drive with the “push/pull” hand controls whilst the pedals are still there for others to drive…

Hand controls for those that can use the legs is a nightmare, not intuitive at all ( I drive herselfs car and it aint easy), not to mention it´s expensive, I had a basic push/pull one installed in my Merc a few years ago for her, cost over €1500 just for a lever that prods the accelerator and brake.
Pedal extensions would be easier.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Out of interest given all the discussion on pedal extensions.

How are they viewed by the insurance industry?

If the extensions are solely because of being short in stature are insurance companies ok with that.

I as as SWMBO says she struggles to reach the pedal in our Rapido on a Merc Sprinter base.

 

[Just smiffy]

Hand controls for those that can use the legs is a nightmare, not intuitive at all ( I drive herselfs car and it aint easy), not to mention it´s expensive, I had a basic push/pull one installed in my Merc a few years ago for her, cost over €1500 just for a lever that prods the accelerator and brake.
Pedal extensions would be easier.

Wow.. that’s expensive, I pay £550 for my push/pull hand controls and they are hand made for and fitted to my car/van in a day while I wait at the workshop. Because they’re made for the car they are unobtrusive for anyone driving…

 

[Just smiffy]

Out of interest given all the discussion on pedal extensions.

How are they viewed by the insurance industry?

If the extensions are solely because of being short in stature are insurance companies ok with that.

I as as SWMBO says she struggles to reach the pedal in our Rapido on a Merc Sprinter base.

Any adaptation would have to be fitted by an accredited fitter/company for the insurance to cover the vehicle , many moons ago I used to make my own controls (being an engineer) but not now as it would invalidate the insurance.

I would imagine if someone fitted a pedal extension and the insurance wasn’t informed and it was proven an accident was caused by the failure of the extension then as you know your Fiddlesticksed… if the insurance was informed of the pedal they ask if they were fitted by an accredited company and you have the receipt…

Years ago before the 1986 disabled act I had to go to a specialist insurance company for disabled drivers and get loaded for it, which in a way said that you are a bigger risk and can’t drive properly although you have passed the same driving test as everyone else…‍

There are lots of companies that do disabled adaptations and I’ve tried a few but I stick with my trusted people who I’ve been going to for decades as they make them to spec… in their workshop I’ve seen a van that a girl with no arms or legs drives her van from her wheelchair with her mouth and puffs of air…

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[Roby2008]

Wow.. that’s expensive, I pay £550 for my push/pull hand controls and they are hand made for and fitted to my car/van in a day while I wait at the workshop. Because they’re made for the car they are unobtrusive for anyone driving…

This is Germany, can´t do anything that is not approved by Tüv, certified by them and entered on the equivalent to the V5, herself has the ´Gas ring´ on the steering wheel in her car and that setup was close to €6000, fortunately that's paid for by the health insurance, downside is that it´s a one time thing when you have a new or max 1 year old car, if we do the MH then it´s from my pocket......

 

[Roby2008]

Any adaptation would have to be fitted by an accredited fitter/company for the insurance to cover the vehicle , many moons ago I used to make my own controls (being an engineer) but not now as it would invalidate the insurance.

I would imagine if someone fitted a pedal extension and the insurance wasn’t informed and it was proven an accident was caused by the failure of the extension then as you know your Fiddlesticksed… if the insurance was informed of the pedal they ask if they were fitted by an accredited company and you have the receipt…

Years ago before the 1986 disabled act I had to go to a specialist insurance company for disabled drivers and get loaded for it, which in a way said that you are a bigger risk and can’t drive properly although you have passed the same driving test as everyone else…‍

There are lots of companies that do disabled adaptations and I’ve tried a few but I stick with my trusted people who I’ve been going to for decades as they make them to spec… in their workshop I’ve seen a van that a girl with no arms or legs drives her van from her wheelchair with her mouth and puffs of air…

Herself is a journalist and as part of a program she was filming we did a visit to Paravan here in Germany who do some amazing stuff, she got to drive a Tesla operated from the back seat with a joystick, they are also working with LIDAR etc to have semi-autonomous vans for disabled drivers.

 

[Norfolk Nige]

Hand controls for those that can use the legs is a nightmare, not intuitive at all ( I drive herselfs car and it aint easy), not to mention it´s expensive, I had a basic push/pull one installed in my Merc a few years ago for her, cost over €1500 just for a lever that prods the accelerator and brake.
Pedal extensions would be easier.

Basic push pull on the Merc is £675. The Guido simplex electronic accelerator is £2500. I had that fitted this year on the new van.

 

[Roby2008]

Basic push pull on the Merc is £675. The Guido simplex electronic accelerator is £2500. I had that fitted this year on the new van.

Cheaper to visit Blighty next time I think , that´s the negative of our insurance based health service here, it pushes the prices way up......
She didn´t have the GS system last time, something similar, I have an old GS system in my shed from her previous car, weird one with servos that pushed the pedals.
Plus the Push/Pull lever system that fits a Merc CLK if anyone wants it, I have a manual A3 at the moment.