Hello/questions

[Lara]

Hi,

I am new here and browsing this thread. I am a graduate student in social work and an author. I have three dogs and an active life. I was happy to find this site and want to connect with more power chair users. This looks like a great place to do that and I'm happy to meet you all. I woas drawn here first several months ago because I saw the all terrain powerchair. I would like an all terrain chair like the one featured on this site and am willing to put forth this effort. Specifically, I need a powerchair that can handle snow. Do any of you use a tilt/recline system? I do, and am wondering how feasible this is in an all-terrain power chair. I currently live where there is no snow, but I need this capability to see friends in winter and for a possible job later. I can sit in a standard chair but have moderately high spasticity so do best when I am not doing this all day. Can equipment such as what is shown here safely be put on a chair with tilt/recline? I am getting a Quantum Edge by pride in about a month and would want to modify a second one that I get for this purpose. Any recommendations on where to get a safe used wheelchair that could handle this?
I am in the USA. Thanks, everyone.
Lara

[LROBBINS]

Lara,
Are you getting the optional wider tires on the edge? They might do better on snow, perhaps well enough.

Ciao,
Lenny

[Burgerman]

That chair is a very tight mean compact powerful chair. As in its short and narrow and has a very tippy nature that takes all the weight off casters so that snow and sand are not a problem.

But its a bit like a bar stool. A heavy load on top, and a small base. It can tip you out or over the back easily. It suits an active paraplegic like me. If you spent a few years in a sport manual chair doing wheelies up and down curbs, and have the sense of balance and feel then its for you. But like all custom chairs its built for its owner. It would need to be longer, have more forward C of G than mine for most people. Adding a heavy, possibly higher seat would make it less stable than it is now. So would need a longer wheelbase, and be less good in snow or sand.

To build one custom for yourself you need an understanding of what you want, your abilities, to suit your requirements, and an idea of seating and weight. And then build one as you need it.

I have spasticity problems too. Its one reason why I would never want an Edge powerchair. (its a big list!)

its got small skinny hard tyres, or even worse solid puncture free tyres with no suspension on the main drive wheels that your weight is sat on... And the only suspension it has is on the caster wheels. 4 of them, all way too small for the real outdoors.
And it has small batteries, and so to keep a usable range it uses slower 5mph motors, and a smaller controller than really needed. And the programming (mostly steering) on all prides chairs is about as bad as it gets. The only solution to that is an OEM level programmer specific to pride, and they will not sell you or their "dealers" one... So it effectively cant be fixed.

Some info!

Q6 Edge page: http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/quantum ... 6-edge.htm
Programming: http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/powerch ... amming.htm
Why all powerchairs should be off road capable: http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/why-all ... apable.htm
Powerchairs and snow: http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/powerchairs-snow.htm
More: http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/powerchair-stuff.htm

[Martin O Refurbisher]

Lara
welcome. This board has members around the world so its a good idea to go to your control panel and update your profile to give your location. That way what is said to you will be more relevant.

Given what BM (Burgerman = Board owner) has said, how committed to this choice are you? Can you reconsider? There is little point in starting out with something completely unsuitable.

Do you have any help to custom build your own? If so there are enough resources here to help with design and sourcing.

tilt recline and lift/rise are readily available.
Best

Martin