Is your Wheelchair REALLY Weatherproof?
Absolutely!!!!!!! We believe you and I should not be limited because of the weather conditions. When it rains “able-bodied” people still go to work, run errands, visit friends, pick up the kids from school, etc.
Our competitors want to see our rain reports to prove our claim. We can provide those…PLUS, our 3-year warranty covers ALL weather conditions: rain, mud, snow, slush, puddles, and everything else.
BOTTOMLINE: If you drive our competitors chairs in the rain and they STOP working, they will charge you to buy all new electronics! We will not, it’s a warranty issue for us here at FOLD & GO. By the way, we have never had a weather conditions warranty claim on our chairs. (this is where we drop the mic)
FOLD & GO IP Rating: IP66
6 – Total protection from dust / No ingress of dust
6 – Protection against high pressure water jets and temporary flooding
Why Does the FOLD & GO not have a Reclining Feature?
The reason is simple…SAFETY. When you are sitting in a wheelchair that only weighs 60 lbs, once you recline the backrest, that positions your upper body weight off the back end of the chair. This unbalance will cause the wheelchair to tip over (and anti-tip bars will NOT stop that weight transfer).
We are well aware of other folding electric wheelchair companies that have added this feature trying to compensate for their “stick straight” backrest shape. However, keep in mind that those companies are owned by Healthy People who never use the wheelchairs they sell. Also they do not understand how dangerous it is to recline in a chair weighing less than 100 lbs. The reclining feature is something you see on every “Big Bertha” chair on the market today. Those wheelchairs weigh 300-500 lbs and can support an adult reclining while not tipping the chair over.
Will It DRIVE through Mud?
Yes! All the electrical components are cover in weatherproof housing. We have tested our chairs to the max in our personal life. We drive through puddles, and out into the rain. Just because we are in wheelchairs does not mean we have to sit and wait for the rain to stop before we can go outside. Able bodied people run in the rain all the time, now it’s our turn.
Will It DRIVE through Puddles?
Yes! All the electrical components are cover in weatherproof housing. We have tested our chairs to the max in our personal life. We drive through puddles, and out into the rain. Just because we are in wheelchairs does not mean we have to sit and wait for the rain to stop before we can go outside. Able bodied people run in the rain all the time, now it’s our turn.
Will It Go in Sand?
No. Most wheelchairs do not perform in deep soft sand. If the sand is firm, then the wheelchair can drive across that particular style of sandy beach.
Will It DRIVE through Snow?
Yes! All the electrical components are cover in weatherproof housing. We have tested our chairs to the max in our personal life. We drive through puddles, and out into the rain. Just because we are in wheelchairs does not mean we have to sit and wait for the rain to stop before we can go outside. Able bodied people run in the rain all the time, now it’s our turn.
What does the 400-pound weight capacity of the chair truly mean?
It means the TOTAL weight capacity of the chair. This total weight includes the weight of the person using the chair, plus ALL their gear. For example, if some has a walker, oxygen tank, purse, personal backpack, cooler, or any other gear, this additional weight needs to be included in the TOTAL weight capacity of the chair. Also, if you have someone that uses the Kidz Kart, the weight of the child on the Kart also needs to be included in the TOTAL weight capacity. In conclusion, this means that the weight of the person using the chair, any gear they add, or any possible child weight additions SHOULD be included in the TOTAL weight capacity of the chair. Anyone using their chair over the TOTAL weight capacity, could see battery and motor issues, along with frame breakage due to excess weight. Excess weight damage to chairs is noticeable and NOT covered by your warranty.
Is it OK to Take Apart the Electronics?
No, it is NOT recommended to disabled or take part any of the electronic components: joystick, CPU, motor wheels, and batteries. This will break the waterproof seal and void your warranty. Once the seal is broke, water can drip into the electronics and cause your chair to not operate correctly.
Why Doesn't the FOLD & GO have the electronic folding feature?
Some of our Competitors have an Electronic Folding & Unfolding Feature on their wheelchairs. All you do is Press a Button and the chair Magically folds up all on its own. We have chosen NOT to add this feature because the folding actuator adds an additional 15-20 lbs of weight to the wheelchair. The purpose of a Folding Electric Wheelchair is portability. We believe a disabled person should to be able to LIFT the chair by themselves to load into a vehicle. Once you add 15-20 additional pounds to our 60 lbs wheelchair, it no longer remains portable.
Can I use my Electric Wheelchair in the Shower?
Please NO! Our WeatherPROOF chair is designed to be driven in the rain and water OUTSIDE your home.
It’s not a question about waterproofing, but about the chemically treated water contained in your shower faucet. This treated water will corrode & rust the metal frame and electronics. Keep in mind the plumbing inside your home can be full of calcium, lime, salt, and many other chemicals that can cause permeant damage to the electronics and metal frame material of our wheelchair. Also our cushions are not designed to repel everything that may be rinsed off your naked body during a shower: shampoo, conditioner, body wash soap, dirt, exfoliated skin, and whatever else!!!
This is the reason WHY medical companies build “shower chairs” out of plastic, with absolutely no electronics or batteries. These shower chairs can be found on Amazon for around $50.
Is it OK to use Power Tools to Tighten my Bolts?
No, it is NOT recommended to use power tools to tighten your bolts during Monthly Maintenance on your FOLD & GO. We include a Tool Kit with each chair that allows you to tighten all the bolts on your chair. We have designed the Tool Kit to be arthritis friendly. Using power tools causes two problems: (1) it strips the bolts, (2) it over tightens the bolts so you cannot fold or unfold your portable wheelchair. Repeated over tightening may also lead structural damage on the chair. We have seen customers tightening their bolts with impact drills, those power tools have enough torque to drive a bolt/nut through the frame of their chair. It is for these reasons that we do not recommend using power tools to tighten the bolts on your chair.
When is it recommended to charge battery or batteries?
Our chairs come with Lithium-ion batteries like a smartphone, computer or tablet. We recommend fully charging the batteries only when they get low. The 7 lights on the joystick will indicate when it is low. Our batteries have a life cycle of 1,000 charges. If the batteries are charged every day, in less than 3 years you will be through 1,000 charges. If the batteries are charged only when they get low, for instance once a week, then the battery life can double that to 4-5 years.
Is your battery approved for airplane travel?
Your FOLD & GO battery is purposefully designed to meet all FAA and IATA regulations for domestic and international travel. You can drive your chair right down to the opening of the aircraft. Please watch our airport travel video to tips on traveling with your chair. This video contains actual footage of us using our chairs at the airport.
What is the safe storage temperature range for the batteries?
0° to 140°
-20° to 60°
Can I charge my wheelchair in other countries?
Yes! Our battery charger has an Input: ~100-240V 50/60Hz 65W — This means the FOLD & GO WHEELCHAIR is compatible with multiple voltages. Our chairs can be brought just about anywhere in the world, and any difference in voltage is basically irrelevant. The wheelchair (or charger) adjusts itself to whatever voltage it receives. The only issue is whether or not the plug can physically interface with the socket. The appropriate travel plug adapter is all that’s needed.
- U.S./Canada are 110-120 Volts
- Europe/Worldwide are 220-240 Volts
How will I know when it's time to purchase new batteries?
There are 3 Stages to determine when your batteries are near the end of their lifespan.
- STAGE 1: Overall Top Speed Decreases – When the chair is fully charged it will have a top speed of 4 MPH. Then as your batteries drain of power your overall top speed decreases.
- STAGE 2: Decrease in Total Driving Miles per Charge – When the batteries are new, you can average around 16 miles per charge. Then as your batteries get older the overall miles per charge decreases. Instead of charging your chair once a week, you find yourself needing to charge every couple of days and or even daily.
- STAGE 3: Chair Randomly Turns Off – This is the Final Stage of battery life. As you drive your chair it randomly turns off, even though your battery level shows fully charged. You can still turn the chair back on, but then as you continue to drive it will turn off again, and again, and again. If you are experiencing this Final Stage 3 – please call SERVICE to order new batteries and charger for your FOLD & GO.
What type of Outlet Should I use to Charge my Batteries?
Your FOLD & GO Charger should be plugged into a standard 110 outlet or 220 outlet. Do not use a GFI Outlet (include a breaker), Light Switch/Plug Combo Outlet, or add a surge protector or extension cord. Keep it simple. You only need to plug the charger into a standard wall outlet.
Can the batteries remain on the charger overnight?
Absolutely! If you want to charge your chair overnight, that is totally fine and does not damage the batteries. Your FOLD & GO batteries will be fully charged in as little as 5-hours.
When the chair is not in use do the batteries drain or go dead?
No! Our batteries do not draw when the chair is off. If you use your chair and then store it for 1 day, or 1 week, or 1 month, or 1 year. When you go to use the chair again, the battery level will be in the exact same spot as when you last drove the chair.
