Segvator question

[BillK]

I just purchased a dual Segvaor - it is absolutely incredible - well made and is cool - (the plug on my Navigator is not working so I have to crank it by hand till I get the plug fixed - but that is ANOTHER story :)).

Now - the Segvator, like almost every other chair carrier that I have seen, has contact points that hold the cart/Seg in place once you raise the carriage. The problem is that these contact points are about 3/4 inch in diameter and squash the dickens out of the new gel foot pads and are obviously going to make a hole in them.

I am wondering if anyone else has seen/had this problem and has a solution to it?

I am thinking some "plates" that could sit in between the contact points and the foot pads? But you would need some way to make the contact points stay inside or on top of these plates?

Anyone good at configuring? I have contacted Segvator and will post any results that they have for this perceived problem...
Thanks
Bill

[KSagal]

I would love a segvator, but have not yet found the money needed...

However, my first reaction to your post would be for you to get those little disks that are designed to be placed under the legs of your furnature to protect your carpet... They look like little saucers, with felt on the bottom.

I would think you could just place them on the seg in the right place, and when lifted into place, they would sink a little into the comfort pad, but distribute the weight enough to not damage anything. They would be effectively squashed into the mat far enough to preclude their movement.

Good luck.

[BillK]

Karl -
You da man!
Absolutely!
What a great idea - I never even thought of that - I was thinking about a 6 inch or so oblong plate that had a "foot rest" in it for the contact to sit in. . .

BUT - your idea is cheap easy and will most likely give enough surface area to mitigate at least some of the damages.
Thanks,
Bill

[DarthSegVator]

Bill,

The Locking Arms can be gently bent up or down to your specific needs. You also don't have to raise SegVator all the way up (clatter sound when the motor reaches its' limit up or down) as long as the Segway is held snugly in place.

A couple of thinner pieces of aluminum (or similar non-rusting metal) could work too - maybe a 3 x 3 inch square underneath each Locking Arm?

I have been hauling around an XT and an x2 for sometime without a problem. Again, you can adjust the Locking Arms fairly easily.

Send me an email via the SegVator site and we can discuss further if you like.

[BillK]

I sent all contact information yesterday to the Segvator site. Call when ready.
Thanks
Bill

[DarthSegVator]

SegVator has multiple settings for different models.

The Roller Assembly on the Locking Arms has two settings: Long for the i2 and short for all other models. The i2 geometry is different from the rest, hence the longer setting to properly fit into the curve of the LeanSteer shaft.

Here is a photo of the long i2 setting:

527

Here is a photo of the short setting (all other models):

528

This should take care of the issue with BillK and his i2.

[BillK]

Several comments here -
1. The Segvator is wonderful! Period.
2. The support from the manufacturer is EXCELLENT!
3. I DID install the pulley incorrectly and it is MUCH better where the manual says that it should have been.

With all that said - in order to firmly hold the Segwayon the trailer you must raise the Segway to the point where the hold bown "buttons" push on the mat that you stand on. If you have the old mats then no worries as it cannot be crushed.

HOWEVER - if you have the newer soft/gel mats then it crushes those mats flat and puts a hole (indentation) in the mat. I have not yet mitigated that damage by purchasing the chair cushions that Karl suggested, but I will.

My only comment is that if you purchase a Segvator:
1. you will be happy you did
2. you will like the support
3. unless the manufacturer does something to make the hold down buttons larger youw ill want to kludge something up yourself.

Again - if this is read negatively by ANYONE then you are reading it in a way that was not intended - this is merely informatonal only. (and my opinion only)
Thanks
Bill

[DarthSegVator]

BillK,

I'll work on this as this is a first with the gel "comfort" mats that we've encountered.

Probably something like a 2 x 2 aluminum plate that will pin/bolt onto the Locking Arms in place of the rubber feet.

I'll call you when I have something for you to try out.

[BillK]

Thank you!
Again - this is showing all the participants on this board the excellent service that I have encountered so far with your company.
Bill

[BillK]

I have had several conversations with the manufacturers of the Segvator and they are woking on a "gel foot pad" friendly adaptation to the Segvator - here are some pictures of my Sevcator waiting for an SUV to attach to :)
http://www.bdmafamily.com/Segvator/index.html
Note in picure 722 a closeup of the "button" that actually pushes down on the gel foot pads.

Once you lower the Segvator to drop off your Segs then you can just pull the pin and slide the entire Segvator out and let it sit on the ground - when you want to pick it back up you back your car up to it and slide it into the hitch and put the pin in - then lift your Segs after loading them and you are off on another adventure.

If you are considering a Segvator - let me encourage you to get one - they are well made and work well and easily. They make travelling with our Segs a lot more fun.
Bill

[BillK]

Because I said I would do so (not to continue to flog the horse :)) I am posting a link to pictures of what the Segvator hold down does.
http://www.bdmafamily.com/Segvator1/index.html
Notice in the picture that you see round cicrles - I purchased these at Lowe's. They are the "moving heavy equipment pads". They are VERY durable and very thick. They are meant to take a refrigerator sitting on them - and you can easily see from these pictures that the hold down "foot" from the Segvator makes an impression on them that lasts.

These pictures were taken about half an hour after I took them off the Segvator.
Bill

[KSagal]

I do not own a segvator (but would love one) but isn't the amount of pressure on that hold down determined by the amout of lift force that you use to bring the platform up to it? If you want the pressure to be less, then why not just don't lift so hard?

I don't know the controls, but maybe the plan would be to bring up the seg to the stopper till the clutch kicks in, then go back down a half inch.

Let us know.

[BillK]

You are totally correct in your statement. The amount of pressure is determined by how "tight" I hold the Segways.

Now - if I do not put a fair amount of pressure on them then the LeanSteer handle "flops" around when I go over bumps with the car or go around corners - so I try to make it rather firm so that it is pressing firmly against the "pulley".

In doing that you have an approximately one inch dot that presses down on the foot pad of the Segway.

The gel pads immediately, with almost no pressure, indent.

The guys at Segvator know about this and are working on a fix - they had never seen the gel pads before and their design works a treat on the old foot pads.
Bill

[safety1st]

Bill

How about using the regular style pads when you load them and then put the comfort mats on when gliding?
I'll send you some NEW regular style pads if you would like, I only have about 300 of them.

David Ford
D/FW Segway

[BillK]

I could do that as well - if you have an extra set of those (remember that I have TWO Segs) that would be lovely -

Thank you for your excellent support!
Bill

PS - for those who it will not be obvious to - David Ford is the dealer that I purchased my Segs from - and this is the typical excellent support that I have gotten from him so far.

[safety1st]

Bill
I'll be going to Austin in the morning and I'll take them with me (for both units). If you would like to meet me in Temple, I'll be through there about 7:30 or I'll be back through around 2:00, or I can just have them send them to you. You can reach me on my cell.

David Ford
214-504-8905

[headtow]

I understand the only way to purchase is thru a Segway store and my store in Long beach is having a hard time? Can and would any store order for me and drop ship to my address?

[wwhopper]

I understand the only way to purchase is thru a Segway store and my store in Long beach is having a hard time? Can and would any store order for me and drop ship to my address?

1.877. SEGWAY.4

We order them each and every week, and drop ship all over the country.

It is a GREAT product!

If you do not want to go the extra money (though it is well worth it) We also have the Segway Hauler from Segway, with the adaptors for the Gen Two Models.

[BillK]

I purchased mine through Segway of Annapolis - great to do business with. They gave it to me half off (not really - just wanted to mess with them) :)

First of all you will love it - it is the only way to travel with a seg as it makes it a no brainer to load and unload.

If you have I2's you wll notice that you cannot load them with your commuter pack on - you have to take it off first.

The charging unit will charge ONE but if you put two on it at the same time it just screams.

The whole charging unit thing I have not figured out yet - you have to leave the box open to the air in order to have them plugged in - this means that while you are driving the cover is flopping (or bunjee'd) and if it rains you are hosed cause the transformer will get wet.

Now - while I am throwing rocks at the design I will admit that the option to charge while you are driving is drop dead cool and I never would have thought of it and if I had I would be VERY proud of the way it is implemented (it is just not quite right yet <grin>). The plugs go in VERY tight - I had to cut the plastic cover so that I could plug mine in.

If you go overnight someplace and take your segs into the hotel you will want to remove the trailer hitch and store it inside your vehicle as it comes apart VERY easily and could/would walk off. (You simply push a button and the arms come off.)

On a scale of 1 to 10 where ten is get one now - I put this purchase at at least a 9 - it has made all the difference in my using mine for fun in lots of places instead of just near my house.
Bill

[DarthSegVator]

I understand the only way to purchase is thru a Segway store and my store in Long beach is having a hard time? Can and would any store order for me and drop ship to my address?

Anyone who used the website to get more information, please resend. A technical glitch prevented messages since August 1st.....argh!

headtow...I did get a call from Susan and returned it. Never heard back.

[wwhopper]

I purchased mine through Segway of Annapolis - great to do business with. They gave it to me half off (not really - just wanted to mess with them) :)

First of all you will love it - it is the only way to travel with a seg as it makes it a no brainer to load and unload.

On a scale of 1 to 10 where ten is get one now - I put this purchase at at least a 9 - it has made all the difference in my using mine for fun in lots of places instead of just near my house.
Bill


Bill, thanks for not telling them about the "Hooter's Girl Installation Team" we sent down to put the Segvator together and train you on how to use it. ;-)

Glad you are enjoying the unit!

[Tom Lempicke]

We are 3000 miles into a 5000 mile trip with our Segvator and two I2's. So far it is performing perfectly. When I say shake down I am referring to the roads here in the Northeast. We are currently in Prince Edward Island and drove through New York State, Pennsylvania and Mass. in order to get here.

We have lost three of the little rubber "Feet" that press on the foot pads but otherwise no problems whatsoever.

A good product that works the way you think it should.:)

[BillK]

So - is the dirt on PEI still RED? I took a white car that came back red once :)

Do you have the new gel pads or the standard foot pads?

Jere with Segvator called me today and we have a plan to check out the transformer on mine - he says it should handle two I2's with no problem - and he has been very good about support for the product.

PS - are you going to Fundy? The reversing Falls? Cabot Trail? (HIGHLY recommend the Cabot - incredible scenery - but the black flies will eat you alive.)
Thanks
Bill

[dynk]

So - is the dirt on PEI still RED? I took a white car that came back red once :)

Do you have the new gel pads or the standard foot pads?

Jere with Segvator called me today and we have a plan to check out the transformer on mine - he says it should handle two I2's with no problem - and he has been very good about support for the product.

PS - are you going to Fundy? The reversing Falls? Cabot Trail? (HIGHLY recommend the Cabot - incredible scenery - but the black flies will eat you alive.)
Thanks
Bill


My dad was born and raised in Grand Anse, New Brunswick. It is on the Bay of Fundy. Beautiful place and should be great for the Segways. Enjoy!:)

[BillK]

My dad was from Cape Breton. Beautiful country.
Bill