Guides written by people, for people

Start with the person, not the product. Four honest questions narrow 90% of the field.

• Who does the pushing? If the user propels themselves, you need large 24-inch rear wheels (self-propel). If a caregiver pushes, a lighter transport chair is easier on everyone.
• Where will it live? Apartments, sedans with small trunks and homes with steps all favor folding aluminum frames under 30 lb.
• How long are the sitting sessions? More than 4 hours a day means pressure-care cushioning is non-negotiable — budget for it with the chair, not after.
• How active is the user? Daily independent users benefit enormously from ultra-light rigid frames; the energy saved per push compounds into years of shoulder health.

All you need is a tape measure, a firm dining chair and this page.

• Seat width: measure across the widest point of the hips while seated, add 1–2 inches. Most adults fit 17–19 inches.
• Seat depth: measure from the back of the knee to the base of the back while seated, subtract about 2 inches so the edge doesn't press into calves.
• Seat height: the footrests should give you roughly 2 inches of ground clearance with feet resting flat.
• Still unsure? Text your numbers to +1 (605) 585-4816 and a specialist will confirm the fit before you order — free, always.

Both are brilliant. They're just brilliant at different things.

• Power chairs steer with a joystick, turn in their own footprint and excel indoors and in tight stores. Choose one for full-time use or limited upper-body strength.
• Scooters use bicycle-style tillers and thrive outdoors: farmers' markets, boardwalks, retirement communities and golf courses. They need arm strength to steer and a slightly wider turning circle.
• Travel often? A folding power chair (like the CityFold, FAA-compliant battery) flies with you; a travel scooter (like the ZipMini) splits into trunk-sized pieces.
• Medicare assesses power chairs and scooters differently — ask us for the HCPCS codes and documentation either way.

Replacement batteries are the biggest long-term cost of powered mobility — these habits stretch them to 3–5 years.

• Charge after every day of use, even short trips. Deep-cycle batteries prefer shallow, frequent charges.
• Never leave a chair flat for weeks. Storing long-term? Charge fully, disconnect, and top up monthly.
• Keep charge sessions under 12 hours with the supplied charger — it stops automatically, so overnight is fine.
• Storm-season tip: plug the charger into a surge protector. Midwest thunderstorms and grid flicker are hard on older battery chargers.

No flat-packs of anxiety. Here's exactly how orders arrive.

• Manual wheelchairs and rollators arrive about 95% assembled — unfold, attach footrests, done in ten minutes. A photo guide is in the box and textable to your phone.
• Power chairs and scooters ship fully assembled and charged, delivered by scheduled freight with an adult signature — they call ahead.
• In Sioux Falls, Minneapolis and Omaha our technician does the in-home handover. Everywhere else: a scheduled video orientation call the day you receive it.
• Keep the packaging for two weeks if you can — it makes any warranty return far simpler.

Ten minutes a month keeps a chair young for a decade.

• Monthly: check tire pressure (pneumatic), wipe the frame, and confirm the brakes hold firmly on a slope.
• Quarterly: tighten axle nuts and armrest bolts, clean caster bearings of hair and pet fluff.
• Yearly: book a professional service. Our Sioux Falls workshop or partner technicians in Omaha, Minneapolis, Denver and Kansas City do safety checks, brake calibration and battery health reports.
• Squeaks, wobbles or warning lights? Don't wait. Text us a short video and we'll diagnose it before it becomes a repair.