Powered Stairclimber

Mach109
Mach109 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
edited July 2024 in Housing and independent living
My wife has major mobility issues and I have been looking into the possibility of a wheelchair that can climb stairs.  It sound like something out of a science fiction story but I have seen one which looked really interesting but cost around £35,000 pounds plus!  Definitely beyond our budget...

Can anyone suggest where I could look for such a thing here in the UK which would not cost anything like this amount?  "Googling" does not really seem to come up with much that is helpful.

Comments

  • Mach109
    Mach109 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    I guess the answer might be, "no?"

    So, if not, does anyone know of any shops/businesses that might have a suitable solution?
  • Mach109
    Mach109 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    Good question...  The context is gaining access to somewhere that is not our home.  Thankfully, where we live stairs are not an issue.  In this particular case the staircase involved, the outside staircase to a small block of flats, once had a stair lift!  But the managing agents say now that for safety reasons it would not be allowed.  I haven't pushed this too much - somehow, if it were necessary again - I suspect that their decision would not be upheld if we pushed it further but the climb involves a series of three sets of stairs of a total of fourteen which double back on themselves so a stair lift that would do the job would have to be quite an installation.

    This incredible device (https://www.kmtnavigator.co.uk/articles/introducing-scewo-bro-the-all-terrain-stair-climbing-power-wheelchair/) attracted my attention but it is phenomenally expensive.  It would cost the same as a reasonable electric car.
  • JessieJ
    JessieJ Online Community Member Posts: 928 Trailblazing
    I was looking into them a couple of months ago, as the lift to my flat is down & will be for months. I've found they are about, at a cost, as you did & loved the Scewo, looks like a thrill of a ride. There are several in the US from $8,000 up, then there's shipping. There was also the TopChair which is made in France, that comes in at about €14,000, at least it's nearer! Still expensive & I didn't find any secondhand ones. Hope you manage to find something suitable.
  • Mach109
    Mach109 Online Community Member Posts: 5 Listener
    JessieJ said:
    There was also the TopChair which is made in France, that comes in at about €14,000, at least it's nearer! Still expensive

    Thank you!  I have not come across that one - now on my list.  The Peugeot of a chair in comparison to the Mercedes of the Scewo (wrong country, I know, but I'm not aware of a Swiss car metaphor).

    Please keep them coming...

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