Power Chair update

The wheelchair dealer FINALLY came out to our house on March 11th.  We've been waiting since the 12th of February to get a wheelchair demo.

We got to try a Permobile "Street" and an Invacare (hate the name) TDX.  The Permobile is a beautiful machine with big knobby tires and headlights that protrude out on eyestalks.  It looks like it was meant to go tearing down the street.  The TDX, while a dramatic upgrade from the one we are borrowing, looks ready to putter serenely through the hospital.

Looks: Street - 1, TDX - 0

The headlights have another real advantage: safety.  In parking lots, the flashing hazard lights are really visible.  The headlights keep you from falling in a hole when it's dark.  The TDX was seemingly not meant for people who actually have active lives.  There's no light kit we are aware of for the TDX.

Safety: Street - 1, TDX - 0

We knew right away which one we wanted.  It was only fair to put them through some tests.  The first was the in-house navigation.  Both chairs were adult-sized, making them almost wider than Aaron's doorway.  These chairs had excellent tracking and squeezed through the doorways with a half-inch clearance on either side.  They were equal at navigating his room.

Tight Spaces: Tie

The TDX has center drive wheels and can turn in-place.  The Permobile, with rear-wheel drive sort of swings the front end around.  There was no clear winner.  The Permobile's wheels were so knobby though, that it literally shook when driving on hard floors.  The Permobile also twisted up the run at the front entryway.  This is not ideal.

House-friendly: Street - 0, TDX - 1

Now was time for the outdoor challenge.  We knew which would win here and were excited to test them.  Unfortunately we had a fresh inch of snow and being 40 degrees (f) it was rather slick outside.  Aaron had trouble driving the TDX straight down the sidewalk with his gloves on and ran into the slick grass, getting stuck a few times.  I was able to push him out.  This was to be expected from what I had read.  When Aaron drove the Street it tracked much better, but I had Aaron follow where he got the TDX stuck.  The Street got stuck in all the same places!  Inconceivable.  The street also hit the bumps hard, throwing Aaron around when he didn't expect it.  The TDX took them so much better.

Outdoor test 1: Street - 0, TDX - 1

Cheryl came up with a second off-road test: having Aaron drive up into our yard and around some landscaping and spongy ground.  The Street was first.  I had to push it the whole way.  Since the weight wasn't centered over the drive wheels, the unpowered front coasters simply dug into the ground.  The TDX needed only minimal assistance.  We were shocked.  The TDX doesn't look like it should be able to do so well.

Outdoor test 2: Street - 0, TDX - 1

When it comes to price, the TDX is almost entirely free because of my fantastic health insurance coverage.  The Permobile would be some $6000+ out of pocket.

Price: Street - 0, TDX - 1

One of the reasons I wanted to observe both chairs at once was to compare build quality.  The Street hides most of the actuators and wiring under its beautiful cowling.  The TDX just lets it all hang out.  Still the Street seemed more compact, especially considering the almost impossibly huge elevating seat lift it contains.  On closer inspection, the Street's actuators looked small enough to be fragile.  I worried about the durability.  The TDX seemed to have fewer wires going about.  The TDX also had a nice rail system all around the seat allowing for fine-tuned adjustments and easy accessory attachment.

Build: Street - 0, TDX - 1

In review, it came to light that the TDX has quite a sophisticated suspension system.  It gets much of the credit for its unexpected off-road prowess.  The center-wheel drive kept the weight over the drive wheels and off of the coasters.  The Street just wasn't able to compete.  I really wanted to hate the TDX.  Insipid looks, a terrible company name (Invacare, really?) and it took forever and an extra week to get a chair to demo.  The Permobile was available for 3 weeks!  Our current loaner TDX is a dog and hard to control.  See my earlier post about it.  The update, though, is nothing short of remarkable.  Nothing is the same, it's a hugh technological leap forward.

The Tally: Street - 2, TDX - 5

We gave the dealer our order:  A TDX with power tilt, seat elevator (the Street elevator was twice as fast and high though), power recline and power leg rests.  We'll have to do something about the lights.  Maybe there's an after-market kit, DIY instructions, or I'll just have to get out my tools and innovate.

Aaron agreed the TDX is the superior chair, as he gazed longingly at the beauty of the Street.  Maybe there's something we can do about the TDX's looks...