
So You are Looking for Power Wheel Chairs
Making the right choice is vital
Factors to consider
when choosing power wheel chairs
1. How is the wheel chair
to be used? Will you want to use it indoors, or will it be required for both indoor and outdoor use.
2. How far will you need to
go between battery charges? You need to know how far the battery will take you between charges. If you like the
wheel chair, but the battery is inadequate for your needs, you may be able to fit a different
battery.
3. Check out the tyres that
come with the chair. The best type are ‘flatproof’ especially if you are looking to use the wheel chair out of the
house. A puncture in this case could be catastrophic.
4. Will you need to be able
to fold the wheel chair to get it into a car?
5. How heavy, how large are
you, because you will need to ensure the chair can cope with your needs. There are wheel chairs for the obese, but
equally for the child.
6. Are you left handed or
right handed, because you will need to check that the hand controls can be moved to the left arm rest if you are
left handed.
Costs of Power Wheel Chairs
Power Wheel Chairs will cost between $1100 and $20,000, but obviously the more features you require,
does drive up the cost, and you may have to pay for extras like cushions, food trays etc. You may well however
qualify for financial help to meet the cost, and you need to check this out.
Types of Power Wheel Chairs
Here we will look at brands and prices of some of the best power wheel chairs under the
following categories
1. Portable/Travel Power
Wheel Chairs.
They come apart easily, or fold for easy transport and storage
Best Buy is the Drive GEO Power Chair at $1199, designed as a Captain’s
Chair, easy to take apart, under 20 inch turning radius, battery save power down. This is an affordable chair
designed for indoor and out door use with a range of up to 10 miles, and solid tyres. Very good value for
money.
Worth looking at The Wildcat Foldable Power Wheel Chair at $1599, The
Pride Go-Chair Travel Power Chair at $1449, and the CTM FoldingPower Chair with Drop In battery at $1720
2. Indoor Use Power Wheel
Chairs. Have a tight turning
radius, and compact design. The Best Buy is the Alante Jr. Power Chair at $1499. It is designed as a
Captain’s Chair, can be used outside as well, and can be moved manually, turning radius under 28 inches, and a
battery range of 15 miles with excellent maneuverability. Worth
looking at are the Drive GEO Power Wheel Chair at $1199, also the
Compact Mid-Wheel Drive Power Chair at $1810, and also the Zip’r PC Power Wheelchair at $1699
3. Indoor and Outdoor Use
Power Wheel Chairs with larger wheels and
heavier build for outdoor versatility.
Best Buy is the Renegade Power Wheel Chair at $1722, with very
comfortable Captain’s Chair, low centre of gravity for stability, estimated range 20 miles, sponge tyres, can climb
20 degree incline, but check out the Sunfire General Electric Wheel Chair at $2999, the Pride Jazzy 600 Power Chair at $3499, and the Everest Power Wheel Chair at $1899
4. Heavy Duty Power Wheel
Chairs with increased weight
capacity and strength for larger users and heavy terrain use.
Best Buy is the Pride Jazzy 1650 Bariatric Power Chair at $7799, with a
650 lbs weight capacity, XL seat sizes, reinforced frame, anti tip wheels and reinforced springs, pneumatic tyres
and a 15 mile range but check out the BCW Heavy Duty Power Chair at
$5900, and the Sunfire General Electric Wheel Chair at $2999 and
the Golden Compass Heavy Duty Power Chair at
$4299
There is the right Power Wheel Chair for your needs at the
right price
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