Re: [QUAD-L] TDX5 Joystick?

[greg]

I love my mid wheel, turns in place. My 1st chair was 21st Century, read wheel, LOVED it, but only because is was 14mph. Im getting a new chair now, but insurence wont cover seat elavators, or speed package. Can be as much as 6, or 7,000. I have to have the seat raising to transfer. Greg >   > 8:27 AM (7 hours ago) >   > to greg, wheelchair, quad-list > I am thinking of getting a new power chair. I like the mid-wheel > Permobil. Have any tried a  rear wheel drive or front wheel drive?  > I live in a small house so do not have a lot of room to turn etc. > What is the better chair for a small area? Thanks for any help.  > Rose > > Hello Rose > > About a year and a half ago I got a Permobile F5 VS (vertical > standing) front-wheel-drive power chair with sip and puff controls > (because it is a standing chair there is no other option). > Personally, I've had a fair amount of mechanical issues with it, > but that's another story. As I understand it is a new model for > them, and they're working out the kinks. Well it's been slow my > wheelchair provider and Permobile have been and are still working > on it. With no additional charges from either company. > > In the past I've had Invacare's, first one was real wheel second > one was mid-wheel. I much preferred the mid-wheel in every way, > handling, traction/going over stuff, tight spots/areas etc. > > The front-wheel-drive that I presently have now goes over stuff > better than anything I've had. I think probably because there is no > front wheels except the drive wheels, so the drive wheels don't > have push the smaller wheels over first in the drive wheels being > bigger tend to climb over things better. If you happen to look at a > VS on their website there are wheels in front but they do not go > down to floor level until you go into the standing option, for > stability. > On my VS I believe the backend may stick out further than a regular > front-wheel-drive (you could check their website). Because the > backend is out so far you really have to watch the cornering > because it likes to run into everything, corners, chairs, cars, you > name it. > However and take corners of front-wheel-drive works differently > than the mid-wheel. It turns sharp enough but instead of swinging > wide to take the turn you come in close and take a sharp turn. Say, > you are going down the hall of the house and the bathroom door was > on the left, you would stay close to the left wall and then take > pretty much of 90° turn. But if you don't get close enough to the > left wall your backend hits into the right wall ( think of a woman > with a BIG bustle on her dress). > With that in mind, say you drive up along the kitchen counter on > your right side close enough to reach or see something. When you go > to leave the counter and try to go to the left, your backend likes > to run into the kitchen counter that you're trying to get away from. > > With my front-wheel-drive I had to get used to the backend feeling > kind of squirrely/snaky at higher speeds. > > My Permobile and I've heard of others has a nice backrest with nice > support of back and sides, but as with most chairs you have to get > all the way back in the seat. > > I would suggest that if you like the mid-wheel or believe you would > like it, I would go with that. > But that's just one guys opinion. > Good luck, Randy