scooterama go-chair rental

[KPeveler]

Ok, do you think scooterama counts the "pride go-chair" as a power chair or a scooter? they call it a scooter, but it is joystck driven. however, the seating and everything is just like a scooter... just curious if you think they would rent this to people who don't use a powerchair at home...

 

[Mickiethepooh]

If it is like the model I have it is a powerchair. THe only way to know if they will rent you one if you don't already use a powerchair is to call and ask.

 

[KPeveler]

I just emailed them, and they said anyone can rent it... not a bad idea for those of us who cant use a thumb-driven scooter!

 

[Mickiethepooh]

Just be aware if the person is not already very familiar with it, it is MUCH harder to operate and control than a regular 3 wheel scooter. It would be very challenging to do lines in it especially change backs.
As I say I have this very chair at home, bought it at a fantastic price by the way.

 

[KPeveler]

thats part of why i am looking at renting it at some point - i would like to see if i can handle joystick-controlled vehicles...

I cannot use a thumb-controlled scooter like most are - my fingers hyperextend, and i actually hurt myself by trying to push on the little lever the whole time... also i cannot hokd my arms out in front of me to steer if there is no support - another problem with the traditional scooters...

just getting ideas!

 

[SueM in MN]

Most companies won't rent the joystick driven chairs to people without experience, because, as was already mentioned, they are a lot harder to get the hang of driving.
Power wheelchairs are actually one thing that looks a lot easier to drive than it actually is. I am pretty experienced with driving my DD's power wheelchair from the side, when I sat in it to try to drive it, I thought it would be easy, I was wrong. DD laughed at me a lot.

A few pointers:
-the joystick controls both the power and the speed. The farther over you push the joystick, the faster it will go in whatever direction you are pushing the joystick.

-if you have ever used a computer joystick, a wheelchair joystick works the same way. The joystick is actually sending instructions to a computer that sends power to the motors. Each of the back wheels has its own motor; when you push the joystick straight forward, each motor is sent the same amount of power/speed. When you are turning, one wheel is getting more power/speed.
Actually, thinking of a joystick or mouse and the cursor on your computer are a good way to think about it.

- you don't need to push hard or apply a lot of force. A power wheelchair can be driven with only the amount of force in your little finger.

- pushing hard doesn't make it go any faster or make it go over an obstacle any better.

-it's often difficult to go completely straight in a power wheelchair. If you are not pushing directly straight forward, the wheelchair won't go straight forward. When my DD was trialing a new power wheelchair before she got her new one, she had a lot of trouble going straight. A big part of the difficulty seemed to be that the trial chair was a little too wide for her. Just to reach the joystick, she had to reach a bit to the side, which made it really hard for her to go straight.
Easy to turn, though.

-power wheelchairs don't have brakes you can apply in the same way a car does. It stops because you are no longer pushing the joystick, and the computer is no longer sending power to the motor.

-the more you practice, the more comfortable you will get.

Brochure for rhe gogo chair.I don't know how you are traveling, but if you are traveling by bus, I would definately transfer to a bus seat. Because it is designed to be taken apart to put in a car, it doesn't look like it has any good, sturdy spots for tieing it down in the bus.

 

[KPeveler]

I most likely will not use the go-chair this trip, but it is an option for those of us who cannot use a scooter (there aren't many of us, i know)... I will have a rental car on the trip, so no buses for me!

I know the power chair is a lot harder than a scooter, and I most likely will not use it this trip, but I still like investigating all options. think i am going to stick with my manual this time.

Thanks for the info everyone!