am i getting too big for a 16 wide chair?

[rollin64]

hopefully i'm gonna be approved for a new chair soon. i've been using 16 wide for the past 11 years but have gained a couple of pounds in the last few years and don't want to get a chair too small.

i have 1" rear wheel spacing and when sitting i have about 1" on each side between my hip and tire. is this too tight?

[brucec]

another consideration is how wide your doors and other accesses are? in a wider chair you might have problems getting through places you once didn't

[Jim]

I would fight like hell to lose the weight, things become much tougher on our bodies when we are overweight.

[Brianm]

Originally Posted by rollin64

i have 1" rear wheel spacing and when sitting i have about 1" on each side between my hip and tire. is this too tight?

Sounds about right to me. If you have trouble with cloths rubbing on the tires, use side guards.

[rollin64]

yea jim, believe me, i'm trying to lose a few. what got me was when i had that pressure sore. i started eating the hell outta peanut butter and jelly sandwiches plus drinking all them protein shakes.

if 1" on each side is okay then, GREAT. i've always heard that your chair was supposed to fit you like a glove. i was just wondering if being this tight was the norm. i'm 5' 10" tall, about 168 lbs. not really overweight, i've just got more meat on my bones than i had 5 yrs ago.

does anybody ever go with more rear wheel spacing than 1" or would that be bad on the chair?

[ala]

I am in a similar circumstance. My last two chairs have been 16 inches, but I noticed that I hang over the cushion a little too much now. Measuring my hips and the fleshy spread that ensues when I sit, I come up with a measurement of at least 18 inches. My original plan was to get a new, long overdue chair, with an 18x16 seat, zero camber, and plop the same size Stimulite on it. I have since reconsidered.

After doing some reading and talking with some TiLite reps, I have decided to squeeze my 18 inch ass into a 17 inch space. If I need side guards to hold me in, then so be it. I will still be using an 18 inch cushion, so the side guards may need to be offset. It will only overhang the frame by a half inch; I think this looks okay. With 1 inch wheel spacing, all this cushion and ass squeezing will make for close fit. But I will be able to minimize my chair’s width, and I like being able to breeze through doorways without worrying about marring the jambs. I can even allow for a 2 degree camber now.

There are two schools of thought on chair width measuring. One says to measure hips and then add space for clothing etc. The other says the chair should fit (as you said) like a glove, the tightest comfortably possible. I subscribe to the glove theory. A wheelchair is a prosthetic device, not a piece of furniture.

I currently have 1.5 inches of space on one of my chairs. More spacing will do no harm to the chair and most chairs, including TiLites, allow for adding more spacing by adjusting the axle sleeve. All the wider spacing has done is make my old chair wider since my pants still often rub and get wet without good side guards. Cloth guards just don't cut the mustard.

[wtf]

Originally Posted by ala

I am in a similar circumstance. My last two chairs have been 16 inches, but I noticed that I hang over the cushion a little too much now. Measuring my hips and the fleshy spread that ensues when I sit, I come up with a measurement of at least 18 inches. My original plan was to get a new, long overdue chair, with an 18x16 seat, zero camber, and plop the same size Stimulite on it. I have since reconsidered.

After doing some reading and talking with some TiLite reps, I have decided to squeeze my 18 inch ass into a 17 inch space. If I need side guards to hold me in, then so be it. I will still be using an 18 inch cushion, so the side guards may need to be offset. It will only overhang the frame by a half inch; I think this looks okay. With 1 inch wheel spacing, all this cushion and ass squeezing will make for close fit. But I will be able to minimize my chair’s width, and I like being able to breeze through doorways without worrying about marring the jambs. I can even allow for a 2 degree camber now.

There are two schools of thought on chair width measuring. One says to measure hips and then add space for clothing etc. The other says the chair should fit (as you said) like a glove, the tightest comfortably possible. I subscribe to the glove theory. A wheelchair is a prosthetic device, not a piece of furniture.

I currently have 1.5 inches of space on one of my chairs. More spacing will do no harm to the chair and most chairs, including TiLites, allow for adding more spacing by adjusting the axle sleeve. All the wider spacing has done is make my old chair wider since my pants still often rub and get wet without good side guards. Cloth guards just don't cut the mustard.

Good post, I believe in the same theory. I squeeze my fat ass into a 16 inch, side guards hold in my goodies.

[Garyis]

Originally Posted by ala

After doing some reading and talking with some TiLite reps, I have decided to squeeze my 18 inch ass into a 17 inch space. If I need side guards to hold me in, then so be it. ...........It will only overhang the frame by a half inch; I think this looks okay. With 1 inch wheel spacing, all this cushion and ass squeezing will make for close fit. But I will be able to minimize my chair’s width, and I like being able to breeze through doorways without worrying about marring the jambs. I can even allow for a 2 degree camber now.

Aging has us all making adjustments to just about all aspects of life. I've used 16"X16" chairs for 33 years - next up - a 17" W - 16" D. Have to be comfortable. Adding 1" to the overall width won't make a noticeable difference in appearance and clearance wise, but it will keep the sides of my hips/pelvis from pressing against the clothing guards. However, I draw the line at 17".

18" Never!

[Liz321]

Originally Posted by wtf

Good post, I believe in the same theory. I squeeze my fat ass into a 16 inch, side guards hold in my goodies.

Ditto.
As you loose muscle tone you'll spread. Told the DME that wanted me to go to an 18 no way. Your sense of balance will be all off as well. I like feeling tight and compact. I'd check your skin to ensure there isn't any pressure.

I'm not too thrilled with my TiLite my feet keep falling off, but thats another issue.

[GL]

Good Morning
How I measure /fit myself is basically a few this criteria and for me it works

I sit in the possible new chair and on each side I use my hands Fingers 1/2 "roughly for free extra space on each side of my skirts

Then My Camber /Wheel nubs is the tricky part
I use between 3/5 degree Camber
I am very fussy to the chair through my Door openings Degrees camber
I also use clothes side guards
Generally this measurment sequence for my reference and it works for me

I'll read other posts as they come
Good luck
GL