The population is aging in every region and almost every country around the globe due to increasing longevity, and likewise sales of electric wheel chairs are growing annually. Along with the aging population comes the need for better mobility products so that people can remain independent for as long as possible. Relatively new products like electric wheel chairs are now in much greater demand than ever before; even within the category itself, the need for improvements in ease of use and safety is driving constant innovation.

In the past, a patient could easily secure an electric wheelchair using government funding, but since that is no longer the case, it is often necessary for patients to find used electric wheelchairs for sale. When money is tight, purchasing a used motorized wheelchair for sale can be an excellent alternative. However, there are some important considerations to make before deciding on a purchase, many of which are the same as for brand new wheelchairs. When looking through the used motorized wheelchair for sale ads, knowing exactly what to look for is key to choosing the right one based on both needs and price.

Electric Wheelchair Options

Medical equipment companies offer an amazingly complex array of electric wheel chairs. Many medical supplies companies provide durable medical equipment wheelchairs, electric wheelchairs that are sturdy and easy and safe to operate. Some of the well known brands are :

• Pride Mobility
• Sunrise Medical
• Invacare
• Permobil

Durable medical equipment wheelchairs are available in a multitude of different styles and sizes, including:

• standard manual wheelchairs
• electric wheelchairs( like the Pride Jazzy Power Chair)
• lightweight wheelchairs
• heavy-duty reclining wheelchairs
• pediatric wheelchairs
• super-wide, deep seat wheelchairs
• shower wheelchairs

Different types of each wheelchair are made based on:

• Weight capacity
• Oversized and heavy-duty chairs are available, with extra width in the seat and weight capacities up to 500 pounds for obese or bariatric patients.
• Smaller and more lightweight chairs are available for children and smaller adults.
• Colors, footpad , seating materials and of course whether to buy a new or used electric wheelchair.
• Additional options will vary depending upon a person’s medical and physical needs. There are special elevating leg rests to help people who have circulation problems with their legs. There are holders for oxygen tanks for people who need to carry portable bottles with them. There are also specialty seating options for patients who have sores or ulcers or are prone to them.

Types of Electric Wheelchairs

The electric wheelchair or powerchair has come a long way from the original motor powered wheelchair that was used 20 or 30 years ago. These days there are many different types of electric wheelchairs and the new powerchair can go 6 mph for a solid 20 miles before the battery needs to be re-charged. But there are many additions that can be added as well and these additions also include comfort setting in order to avoid “pressure sores” that can occur when a quadriplegic or a paraplegic sits without moving hour after hour and day after day.

There are now additions that include functions:

• Tilt
• Recline
• Leg elevation
• Seat height elevation
• Pressurized cushion seat

There are also other additions that can be purchased along with the powerchair as the ease and simplicity of use is now able to get a battery charger to simply plug directly into the battery without removing it and it will then make a signal when it is fully charged. Other additions include a seat elevation that can be operated by the user that will allow him/her to reach up to 5 feet as the seat can elevate from the chair if the person wants to reach something that would normally be out of reach.

Effective New Additions

Compared to the mobility scooter that is designed for the same kind of person, the powerchair has more options available as well as the many different additions that can be added.  Some new additions that have been added over the last few years to these powerchairs are the fact that it can now be so easily disassembled and be transported very easily in a vehicle. This is a major advantage as the original powrchairs were extremely heavy and not designed to be disassembled at all.

Sensitive And Effective Control Of The Chair

The controls are extremely sensitive and they cater for various forms of disability that include a puff/sip control which allow the user to control the powerchair with his/her chin as well as blowing or sucking from a tube which gives very sensitive control of the chair and can result in complete maneuverability for a quadriplegic person.

Future Wheelchair Technology

Traditionally the powerchair has a joystick operator that can be placed on the left or the right arm of the wheelchair. The result of all this is that the new powerchair can be used outdoors and indoors just as effectively as the mobility that is allowed will be able to include some rather rough terrain outdoors as well. There has been ongoing research that is looking at using a similar technology that is used by the military when they are transporting injured soldiers.

The end result will be a powerchair that will be able to detect hazardous terrain and automatically adjust their control settings in order to maneuver more safely. This is the kind of ongoing research that is been done on a permanent basis and will no doubt result in a more user friendly and more adaptable powerchair. The firs electric powered wheelchair was invented by George Klein who used to work for the National Research Council of Canada, to assist injured veterans during World War II.

You Will Need To Select The Drive Type For Your Electric Wheelchair

Rear-Wheel Drive

All wheelchairs used to be rear-wheel drive, and this older technology is really very stable in most cases. Going up hills in a rear-wheel drive chair can sometimes be a problem if the grade is too much for the chair. There are anti-tip tubes on the back to prevent it from tipping over that way, but they can cause mobility issues also. Rear-wheel drive chairs have the highest top speeds that are available at about six miles per hour, and also the largest turning radius. An example of this type of chair would be the Jazzy models manufactured by Pride Mobility Products.

Front-Wheel Drive

This type of wheelchair is sold by Permobile, Inc. in Woburn, Mass, among other manufacturers. In these chairs, the drive wheels (those connected to the motor), the drive wheels are actually in front of the seating area.

The set-up is extremely stable for uneven ground, and climbing and descending hills or wheelchair ramps. Of the three types of electric wheelchairs, this type will climb forward over little impediments best. Since so much of the chair is behind the person, care should be taken when turning and they must be aware of what’s in back of them. This type of chair is often compared to how a lift truck drives. The speed on a front-wheel drive chair is slower than rear-wheel drive for safety, as the back end tends to slide at higher rates of speed. Overall turning radius is between 25 inches and 28 inches, so it’s possible to turn in tighter spaces.

Mid-Wheel Drive

The third type of chair is the mid-wheel drive chair. In these models, the person’s body is right above the drive wheels, and part of the chair in front of you and part in back. It is the most maneuverable of the three different types of chairs, and can turn in a radius between 24 inches and 26 inches. Top speed of a mid-wheel drive chair is about 5.5 miles per hour. An important consideration with these chairs is the terrain it will be used on, as there is the problem of getting hung up on the front or rear guards, which suspends the drive wheels and they will have no ground contact. This is generally only a problem on very uneven ground or when dealing with really steep curbs. The Invacare Corporation in Elyria, Ohio makes a line of mid-wheel drive chairs.

Researching the different types of electric wheel chairs and comparing each type to how it will be used is key to acquiring a set of wheels that will lead to independence, pride, and great quality of life for the person who will be using the equipment. Buying a wheelchair is also a big financial decision and only through proper research will you be able to make the right purchase decision and gain peace of mind.

These pre-owned chairs are typically gently used, but will be purchased at a highly discounted rate as compared to new equipment. Most people selling a used electric wheelchair will have traded up, so the motorized chair they are selling will be a fairly recent model. There are even options where you can rent to own an electric wheelchair.

Tips on Buying used Wheelchairs

Being well-informed on used chairs, both before scouring through the ads, and definitely well before spending any money is very important. This will ensure you make a good judgment as to the value and whether or not the equipment is appropriate for the end-user. A lot of information about second-hand chairs is available in advertising on bulletin boards, newspapers and magazines, on internet websites, and also in newsletters. Also look into physical therapy centers and hospitals and disability agencies, which often know of private sellers. The primary disadvantage of buying a used wheelchair is that in most cases the warranty is not transferrable. However, some providers might offer an extended warranty.

Here Are Some Questions To Keep In Mind Before Buying Used Wheelchairs

• Will the chair be used indoors, outdoors, or both? On what types of surfaces? (Tile, wood, carpet, dirt, grass, concrete, etc.?)
• If the chair will be used outdoors, will it need to be able to climb hills or go over rough terrain? What about large curbs?
• How narrow is the smallest doorway in the home that the chair will need to be able to go through?
• Do you need extra features on the chair? Life for instance standing  up – some wheelchairs have this feature.
• What is the weight of the person? Each model has specific weight limits for best performance.
• Will the chair need to be transported with the person? Most electric wheelchairs will fit easily in a van, but very few can be stowed into the trunk of a car, so if portability is necessary, it should be a key consideration.
• When looking into used motorized wheelchair for sale ads, check out which brands are carried by the provider and also look into reliability ratings on them.
• Does the seller or store offer a guarantee or warranty with the wheelchair?
• What is the age and condition of the wheelchair?
• How will the used electric wheelchair be sent? What are the costs for insurance and for shipping the chair?

Where can you find a pre-owned wheelchair?

Finding a good pre-owned chair is relatively easy. There are a number of websites that have been established solely for the purpose of selling this equipment. Most such sites have good search functionality so that you can look for exactly the type of used electric wheelchair you have in mind. They also sell other equipment, so if you have a need for a wheelchair ramp or wheelchair lift you might be able to secure a package deal for multiple pieces of equipment. Like everything in life, prices are always negotiable even though they are listed on the websites. A good idea is looking for the exact equipment you need, and then calling the company directly to ask what sort of discount they can offer. Some of the websites offer buy back programs, whereby they will buy back the motorized wheelchair from you if you no longer need it. Generally, these wheelchairs will be less than three or four years old, in very good shape, and still in demand by buyers. There is a big market for used electric wheelchairs for sale and by being thorough you are sure to find one that suits your needs.

Wheelchair Rental Programs

Rental programs are available through some companies as well, and renting a wheelchair makes sense if you expect to only need it for five months or less. Owning the chair is usually less expensive if you expect to need it for a longer term and if this is the case you can consider renting to own an electric wheelchair. Some companies will offer the rent to own service on their electric wheelchairs.  Also keep in mind that the upfront fees to rent a chair can be high: there will be a damage deposit, freight charges, and possibly a number of month’s payments due in advance. Rent-to-own programs are becoming increasingly available and offer a portion of the price reduced each month you rent the wheelchair. The company will also handle repairs and maintenance during the rental term.

Wheelchair Resell Option

Some companies will also purchase your equipment from you when you no longer have a need for it. Most will only buy those that are less than four years old and in great condition. Keep in mind here that because a good portion of most wheelchair purchases are paid for by insurance companies, companies will typically only pay about 10% of the original manufacturer’s list price. You may be able to sell it yourself  for more money, if you don’t mind advertising your used motorized wheelchair and showing it yourself.

Buying a used electric wheelchair is not difficult, but it does take some time to research all of your options and decide which model is best for you. It’s important to consider how you will use the chair, and where you will use it, to be certain to get a type that will be well suited to your needs. Simply deciding to purchase the least expensive chair can be a costly mistake if it doesn’t fit your lifestyle. Typically, prices of used motorized wheelchairs for sale will range from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars for some fairly late model equipment, so purchasing a pre-owned set of wheels can be a smart option. Most used electric wheelchairs are for sale because someone has upgraded, so the pre-owned chair may be last year’s model at a bargain-basement price.