Are you looking for a power wheelchair that can safely and securely carry up to 450 lbs or more? The selection of power wheelchairs available at Electric Wheelchairs USA has exactly what you need!
No matter your size, shape, mobility needs, or weight requirements; we offer a wide range of options – from well-known brands such as Merits and Pride Mobility. With modern designs equipped with comfortable seating and state-of-the-art features like power leg rests and height adjustable seats, finding the perfect model to fit all your activity needs has never been easier through Electric Wheelchairs USA!
According to data published by The State of Obesity, the obesity rate among our nation's adults was nearing the 40% mark between the years 2015-2016. This means over 90 million American adults suffer from mobility difficulties owing to being overweight.
Today we'll be helping you choose the best power wheelchair for heavy people, so let's not waste any time and get down to business!
What To Consider Before Buying A Heavy-Duty Wheelchair?
When trying to pick a heavy-duty power wheelchair, there are certain points you need to take into account to land the best possible purchase:
Wheelchair Weight Capacity
First and foremost, you must pay close attention to the wheelchair weight limits, also known as, the weight capacity. This corresponds to the maximum allowed weight that a wheelchair can support while maintaining proper performance.
Since we're discussing power wheelchairs with the highest weight capacities, you'll find options on our list going as heavy as 700 pounds of capacity.
However, you should note that the closer the rider's weight to the maximum weight capacity, the more likely the speed of the wheelchair to be compromised. Heavy-duty wheelchairs are built to resist such an impact.
Seat Comfort
One of your top properties while deciding on a power wheelchair should be focused on the comfort level provided by its seat.
Consequently, when we mention comfort, we'll need to talk about padding. Currently, almost all brands of power wheelchairs offer padded seats, but there are some models out there equipped with extra layers of padding to appease people seeking additional comfort.
Padding is also rather crucial if you're going to be using the wheelchair frequently for extended periods.
Drive Range
Measured in miles, the drive or travel range is the maximum distance a power wheelchair is capable of covering on a full, single battery charge. Simply, the range is how long you can ride the wheelchair before it gives out.
Generally, you'll find electric wheelchairs with an average travel range of 10 mph (miles per hour), some types can reach up to 20 or 25 mph.
You'll need to estimate your daily mileage so you can find a model that delivers adequate range.
Speed
Typically, the speed of your power wheelchair should match the average speed of walking so you can keep up with your friends and family.
Humans walk at an approximate speed of 3 to 4 mph, and electric wheelchairs usually offer a top speed of 2 to 5 mph. This means that finding a suitable model should be easy enough.
Turning Radius
Finally but just as important, you should check the maximum turning radius of the electric wheelchair. The turning radius determines how sharp a power wheelchair can turn. This is a particularly critical aspect that affects how easy you can move around corners and tricky edges. Basically, the tighter the turning radius of the wheelchair, the better its maneuverability.
Anyway, lets get into helping you choose choose the best power wheelchair for heavy people, so let's not waste any time and get down to our top picks!
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Top 5 Bariatric Power Wheelchairs in 2024
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1. Merits P183
Kicking off our list, the Travel Ease P183 from Merits is a folding power wheelchair designed to facilitate indoors as well as outdoors navigation.
It comes with a 12 Volt battery that offers a maximum speed of 4 mph, as well as a maximum travel range of up to 25 miles per single charge. The Merits P183 power wheelchair can hold an impressive weight capacity of 700 pounds.
It features a turning radius of 27 inches, offering adjustable armrests and footrests. The Merits Travel Ease power wheelchair weighs 190 pounds, with a battery tray that can be folded for extra portability.
At 26 inches the seat is extra wide and can support almost any body type with ease.
The 37 inch turning radius allows for easy maneuvering around tight corners and small spaces.
Both the front and rear tires which are 9-inches and 12.5 inches respectively and are foam filled. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about flat tires.
The wheels are fitted with auxiliary brakes to offer added safety.
The controller is programmable and it can also be swung away to free up the space in front of you.
The P183 is rear-wheel driven and when folded it has an overall width of only 15 inches.
The battery tray is also foldable, a feature which improves portability tremendously.
The footrests of the P183 are the swing away type or alternatively you can opt to elevate the leg rests.
Pros:
- Comes with an extra wide 26"seat to support just about any body type with ease
- Offers an impressive 25 mile battery range
- Both tires are foam filled, so you don't have to worry about flats
- Weight capacity of an impressive 700lbs
- Offers a 37" turning radius
- Folds easily
Cons:
- Limited storage space on chair
- Not designed for rough terrain driving
- Only comes in one color option
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2. Pride Jazzy 1450
With a butter-smooth front-wheel-drive system and a swingarm suspension, the Jazzy 1450 mobility scooter from Pride is a true example of stability and reliability.
This Pride Mobility power wheelchair can support a rider's weight up to 600 pounds. It features a top-notch performing motor operated by two 12 Volt batteries that deliver a maximum distance of 15.7 miles on a single charge.
The Jazzy 1450 power chair reaches a top speed of 4.5 mph and offers a turning radius as tight as 26.5 inches. You can pick from 2 color options: candy apple red or viper blue.
The motors on this unit are high-performance and very efficient. They can handle most terrains with ease.
The unit is equipped with big 14-inch tires that are 4-inches wide. The tires are front-wheel drive, adding to the power to tackle different terrain.
It also has 9-inch rear caster wheels and 4-inch front anti-tip wheels which offer more stability and support.
To enhance support even more, there is a large footplate with dimensions 12 inches x 14 inches. This footplate is heavy duty and can be flipped up and out of the way to make getting in and out easier.
The armrest can also be adjusted and can be flipped up to get in and out easier as well.
The total unit weighs only 336 lbs with the heaviest piece at 195 lbs. When traveling on slopes it can climb up a 6-degree incline with ease.
Pros:
- Comes with 9" rear caster wheels and 4" front anti-tip wheels for added stability and support
- Has an extra large footplate that is 12" x 14"
- The seat size ranges to accommodate any type of person and even goes up to 32" x 28" as the largest seat size available
- Faster than most other bariatric power chairs on the market at 4.5 mph
- Covered by an extensive warranty that includes 18-month coverage on drive motors
- Includes one year of in home service for the first year of owning the unit
Cons:
- Limited storage space on chair
- Not easy to transport in small vehicles
- No canopy options
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3. Golden Technologies Compass HD Bariatric Power Chair GP620M
For all you adventurers out there, the Golden Technologies Compass HD mobility scooter offers a sturdy way to tackle rough terrain with 450 lbs. of weight capacity plus an improved chassis design for maximum stability and maneuverability!
With its comfortable captain's seat featuring an exclusive folding flat hinge design, transporting this power chair is easy as can be - so throw your gear in and get ready to explore like never before!
For those of us with mobility challenges, we know how difficult it can be to get around on our own. Fortunately, there are a range of high-tech off-board charger accessories available that make it easier and safer for us to navigate our daily lives! From elevating leg rests to specialty leg supports, swing-away footrests and even a footplate extender, these convenient tools help improve comfort and ease while providing added convenience in an easy yet stylish design.
Ready to explore? With this unique Golden Technologies Compass power chair, you can now travel farther than ever before! The adjustable seat posts and flip-up armrests keep your ride comfortable while the sliding seat bracket ensures a perfect fit. And with its fully adjustable footplate – it's time for an adventure like never seen before!
Pros:
- This power chair offers an impressive 450 lbs. weight capacity
- features both front and rear adjustable seat posts and padded flip-up armrests
- Accessories available: elevating leg rests, specialty leg supports, swing-away footrests, footplate extender
- Exclusive slide seat mechanism for easy seat removal and attachment
Cons:
- Limited storage space on chair
- Needs a dedicated storage space when not in use
- Only comes in red and blue color
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4. Merits P710
The Merits Atlantis Power Chair serves plus-size patients with outstanding support and stability. It features four-seat posts with a heavy-duty frame to boost durability.
It can hold a maximum weight capacity of 600 pounds and comes with a 24-Inch wide seat. You can choose between the 2 types, Captain's Seat or Seat Pan.
The Atlantis P710 Power Chair can reach a speed up to 5mph, as well as a range of 30 miles running on a single battery charge. It has a turning radius of 31.5 inches and is available in red and blue.
The P710 is rear-wheel driven, with a powerful in-line motor and 12 inch drive wheels.
Its extra wide seat and extra high back provides comfort for bariatric users.
With its super high power in-line motor it allows bariatric riders to ride up a 10 degree incline hill with no problem.
This unit comes with pneumatic casters for a smooth comfortable ride. It also has anti-tippers on the wheels and a seat belt for safety.
The armrests are height adjustable and can be flipped back. The backrest is also semi-reclining.
Pros:
- Top of the line weight capacity of 600 lbs
- Can easily negotiate inclines of up to 10 degrees without any issue
- Comes with a 24" extra wide seat and extra high seat back
- Adjusting the seat inclination is simple to do with the lever on the side of the seat
- Comes with an extra wide flip up footplate with a handle hole
Cons:
- Not designed to climb steep curbs
- Limited storage space on chair
- No canopy option
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5. Merits Health P327 Vision Super Power Bariatric Chair - 450lbs
Get ready to experience the smooth power of an upgraded mid-wheel drive mobility chair, made with performance and durability in mind. The Merits P327 Vision Super's reinforced frame and powerful in-line motors give you a reliable ride.
Take your power wheelchair experience to the next level! With a 450 lb weight capacity and an ultra cushioned captain's chair, you'll feel fully supported for any kind of journey.
Choose from 3 different widths (20", 22" or 24") and recline back as far as you like - something that is very rare in chairs of this size - then flip up the armrests for easy entry/exit.
Have you heard about the optional elevating seat for our power chairs? It's a game-changer! Imagine being able to raise your seat 10 inches to reach tall counters or items on high shelves. No more struggling or feeling limited by what's out of reach! It's important to note that this option is only available with the 20" wide seat and has a weight capacity of 400 lbs. Don't miss out on this helpful add-on!
You won't be needing your map when you're riding the P327 power chair - with a fantastic turning radius of just 21", navigating tight corners and crowds is easy-peasy.
Plus, its full suspension (front AND rear) + 12" pneumatic tires give you an ultra smooth ride over any type of terrain - from flat surfaces to speed bumps!
Take your independence indoors or outdoors by exploring every corner at any time!
Pros:
- A solid, sturdy frame that can support up to 450 lbs of weight
- Ultra cushioned captain's chair offers 3 different sizes of width: 20", 22" and 24"
- Offers a turning radius of just under 21", so maneuvering around corners and through crowds of people is a breeze
- Option power elevating seat that raises the seat on the chair 10" (20" wide seat only)
- Offers a top speed of 5 mph
Cons:
- Not designed to climb steep curbs
- Limited storage space on chair
- No canopy option
Wrap Up
Figuring out how to buy the best power wheelchair with high weight capacity can be a real challenge when you have limited knowledge. However, following our article, we’re confident you’ll be making the most suitable choice for your needs and budget.
We also have a special offer that you can benefit from, which will take 5% off your order. Simply enter coupon code POWER5 at checkout to receive the discount. This offer expire this weekend, so don't wait too long. See product pages for details on each product. You can also call us at 800-682-9444 or email me at info@electricwheelchairsusa.com.
Not sure what the difference is between an electric wheelchair vs mobility scooter?
Check out this guide that will break down the difference. Perhaps you are searching for a lightweight folding power wheelchair. Well, we have got you covered there. Check out our staff's top picks of the Best Folding Power Wheelchairs of 2024.
