Inexpensive Wheel Chairs

[BeerMe]

We will be in Orlando for 7 weeks in the fall and will be in the parks quite a bit. Rather than renting a wheel chair I was thinking about buying an inexpensive one from someplace like Wal-Mart. I've seen them there for under $150. Has anyone had any experience with these? My wife is under 150# and would be in and out of one but can't walk all day. TIA.

 

[powellrj]

most of the ones I have seen at Wal-mart or drug stores are transport chairs. They require someone to push you. I bought one on Amazon to keep in the car and it wasn't very expensive, but its a regular wheelchair.

http://www.amazon.com/Transport-Fol..._1_5_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1460235722&sr=1-5

 

[Jaya]

Are you planning to buy one when you get to Orlando or buying one before you leave? The cheaper folding ones from Walmart aren't as comfortable as a regular wheelchair and aren't as easy to push over uneven surfaces. If you're bringing one from home, you might check into Goodwill or other thrift shops. I've seen some used ones as cheap at $25. You can transport them on the airline for free, I believe.

 

[BillSears]

Don't forget a seat cushion. Even if your wife will be getting in and out a cushion will make her time in the chair much nicer.

 

[mamabunny]

What Bill said ^^^

A gel cushion can make a WORLD of difference.

And for you - or whoever will be "powering" that wheelchair, I would bring along an inexpensive set of bike gloves to help prevent blisters. I speak from experience.

 

[BeerMe]

Don't forget a seat cushion. Even if your wife will be getting in and out a cushion will make her time in the chair much nicer.

I already thought of the cushion. I don't want to carry a WC all the way to FL. It's over a 1,200 mile drive, but maybe we will.

 

[stitchlovestink]

How about Craigslist in your area?

 

[xlxo]

A warning about cheap wheelchairs.... WEIGHT!

When buying a transport chair..... the aluminum ones cost much more. But we found the weight savings worth it when loading into cars, taxi's and planes. Some of the newer ones can double as a rollator.

http://www.airgomobility.com/Products-TC-Flip-More-E.asp
http://www.amgmedical.com/site/our_products_results.asp?trouv1=700-830

 

[GranJan]

I have one that doubles as a rollator and I don't recommend it. It's the Drive Duet. We took it on a road trip trying to consolidate equipment. It's OK as a rollator but being pushed in it is scary. Every little bump nearly tipped me out. My husband said it was more difficult to push than the transport chair we have.

 

[SMD]

I've seen some cheap transport chairs that seemed like they were going to rattle apart when pushed on the pebbled surfaces in DL. Not to mention all of the bumps and dips on the smoother paths. And I've seen some that don't have armrests where it really looked like the rider was going to fall off. I think if you can't find a used one you'd be better of buying a chair with decent wheels to absorb some of that and then trying to resell it used to recoup some of your cost. You may also want to contact medical supply places about a long term rental, as opposed to the usual rental companies people use on vacation.

 

[BabyFu18]

Like the poster above I think if you don't want to buy a better chair (not a transport chair) I'd look into a rental from a medical supply company, sometimes they have loner chairs they will rent out for however long you need them. They could have everything from general wheelchairs to semi custom ones that they will rent out to you and they might be more willing to work with you to get you what you need than vacation rental companies.