Off-road chair

Addition to manual wheelchair that allows driving on rough and uneven surfaces

User with off-road chair on a sandy beach
User with off-road chair on a sandy beach

An addition with a large front wheel with a broad tire can be screwed onto a manual wheelchair in the same place where the small castors usually sit. All tires have a deep tread. The user tried different front wheels that are mounted in various ways: the current solution takes 5 minutes to switch (when not sitting in the wheelchair).

Users comments
The user loves the outdoors. Since it is difficult to move around with a manual wheelchair on uneven terrain, she developed this solution. She tested different variations, see pictures.

Users should be aware that although the design works well, it overturns a little more easily than usual. The adaptation should be done at the user’s own risk.

Paid for by
In part by the Swedish Social Insurance Agency as an aid; improvement developed with a grant from HI

Whose idea
User

Editors comments
See also spinalistips.se/en/tip-extra-wheelchair-wheel or bespoken.me/photo/trike-in-field (last checked November 2020)

User with off-road chair in snow on the mountains
User with off-road chair in snow on the mountains
User with off-road chair on a mountain trail
User with off-road chair on a mountain trail
User with off-road chair. Photo: Jonas Arneson
User with off-road chair. Photo: Jonas Arneson

Tipsare: Caroline

Caroline lives in an apartment and is working. She has a congenital disease (Ehlers-Danlos syndrom) which gives her fluctuating problems and pain in all her joints. Since 2000 she is using a wheelchair outdoors. She has homehelp 27 hours a month.