WheelchairDriver

Hi
Just new to the site and new to wheelchairs. I have a manual chair at present but I am desperate for a off road chair also suitable for indoor use. I have trawled the net and I still keep coming back to this one. Apart from the ridiculous price, I wonder how comfy that seat would be. I am arranging a test drive but what can you tell in a couple of hours. Does anyone know if companies will loan for the weekend ? I just love how it folds in half and then it can go in the boot of a car or even on a plane.

Has anyone tried or own one of these wheelchairs? I would be most grateful to hear your thoughts.

Last question can you suggest any magazines or shows which may help me with my choice.

Thanks so much & I have found this site invaluable!!

Gill

http://www.trekinetic.com/GTE.php

I have never used one. I would probably squash it...

This gives the game away:

The GTE is the first off road and everyday power chair that you can fit into virtually any car. It's also one of the lightest in the world at 36kg all up*

A decent powerchair BATTERY with enough energy and reserve to work on good surfaces weighs much more than that on its own. That tells me plenty before go any further.

All of this types of chairs are really intended for a niche market. They "work" ok outdoors, but not really off road capable in the way you would like. And the batteries will soon expire. As long as you don't expect too much you will likely be happy. But an all day powerchair to live your life from its not.

Hub motors are always lacking in torque, the small batteries and controllers are really not adequate in an all day indoor/outdoor powerchair, construction is less than substantial for serious all day every day use. Its more toy than substantial powerchair.

For occasional use and for some limited off road where you are not too heavy, or don't expect all day use from tiny batteries then it might suit.

The huge wheels are encouraging from the point of view of off-road use, but those anti-tips and the footrest are damned close to the ground. I don't think that one of those would even get past the abysmally designed pram ramp at the end of my street, let alone stay out of the way "off road". And I'd be concerned about torque to get you out of a pothole, and range to get you back to your car after the fun is over and it's time to go home. Those batteries look a bit small.

Falco

I exchanged e mails regarding the low level footrest suggesting an elevating one was not that difficult to add - buy a chair and modify it yourself was the response. If I was going to build my own then I would not choose such an expensive donor as this for the start point. Light weight / large wheels were the only upsides - cost and shortage of power the major downsides.