Rehasense Trackwheel – Wheelchair Attachment

Item Description:
The trackwheel is a carbon fibre 5th wheel attachment made by Rehasense, that attaches to the footplate of a manual wheelchair to lift up the front casters and make the chair perform better off road.

Source of Item:
Loaned From Rehasense UK

* The opportunity to trial this product was kindly gifted by Rehasense UK in exchange for a review, but all opinions are my own. *

Diagnosis:
Not Disclosed

Personal Opinion:
A fifth wheel attachment makes a manual wheelchair much more versatile and is a low cost way of allowing your chair to access more terrain. Using the trackwheel makes going over grass and rough terrain possible when without it the small front casters would be constantly getting stuck on every bump. It means you don’t have to spend your time scouring the ground for any potential hazard that may tip you out of your chair, but instead can enjoy propelling along while looking at the view. It also makes the ride more comfortable, as it has a large pneumatic 12-inch wheel which soaks up vibrations compared to solid casters. I have taken to using the trackwheel whenever I want to go out in my chair somewhere that doesn’t involve tight spaces. Even when the pavements seem smooth, the trackwheel means you don’t need to worry about every curb and can go over grass without a second thought. If you intend to go to the local park I would recommend pairing it with a set of off-road wheels to make the terrain easier.

It can take a moment to get used to propelling in such a manner that you stay balanced and “on” the trackwheel and don’t fall to the side. This is easiest when you are going at a reasonable pace, and it can prove tricky to get going on a hill.

The trackwheel is fairly lightweight thanks to its carbon fibre body – it’s lighter than its main competitor the freewheel. It just felt a little less ungainly to use than the freewheel and was easier to pick up while seated in my chair.

The trackwheel is great when it is attached to your chair, however, when you want to go into a shop it becomes a hindrance due to its length. It can be easily taken off your chair but then you need to find something to do with it. The freewheel comes with a perch that allows you to store the freewheel on the back of your wheelchair when not in use, which comes in handy (although it doesn’t actually fit many chairs). The trackwheel user experience would be greatly improved by adopting a similar system to allow you to store it quickly when not in use. There is a perch available to buy, but it does not come as standard which is an oversight in my opinion.

The trackwheel is relatively easy to set up – it involves screwing some pieces together so that it fits your footplate and tightening various screws until you find your perfect fit. It is a little bit of an involved process, but you only have to do it once and it doesn’t involve getting out the hacksaw to cut shims down to size like when setting up a freewheel. This also means that it can be easily resized to a new chair without having to buy new pieces.

The trackwheel has a dual arm version that attaches to the down tubes of the wheelchair rather than the footplate that allows it to be securely attached to folding chairs. This looks to be more secure than the freewheel’s folding adaptor which is known to fall off sometimes, though I have not personally tested it.

Overall, the trackwheel is perfect for any manual wheelchair user who wants to make their chair a little better offroad. It is a well engineered product and lots of little details have been taken care of to make it easier to use e.g. the inner tube valve is bent such that it is easier to attach a pump to. It would benefit from a way to store it on your chair when not in use, but I would highly recommend making sure you try it alongside the freewheel when looking for a 5th wheel add-on.

For more information about this attachment along with other Rehasense reviews, simply click the links below!

– Rehasense Trackwheel Video Guide

– Rehasense ICON 60 Review

– Rehasense PAWS Review

– Rehasense Introductory Blog