An awesome invention is now going viral on social media. It is called The Rig and this is an off-road wheelchair that has the capability to go anywhere. An estimated one percent of the world’s population, or approximately 65 million people, have mobility disability. This is the total number of people who are in need of a wheelchair. There are several types of wheelchair available on the market. There’s the manually-operated type and the power-driven type. Unfortunately, most of these are restricted to smooth-surface terrains only.
But as Chappelle would say, “modern problems require modern solutions“. If regular wheelchairs can’t be driven on rough, uneven terrains, why not make one that can? Zack Nelson decided to take it upon himself when he designed a wheelchair that will take his wife anywhere. An all-terrain chair with wheels that can move along rocky, snowy, sandy and grassy grounds. While it’s true that there are all-terrain wheelchairs on the market, not all can actually afford to have one because they cost as much as a car.
This Man Designed An Off-Road Wheelchair For His Wife
Zack’s wife Camby Kaylor is paraplegic and has been using a wheelchair since she suffered a spinal cord injury. She was an international equestrian vaulting athlete and got in a training accident in 2005 when she accidentally fell from her horse. Since then, Camby can only go as far as her wheelchair can take her. This inspired Zack to make an improved version of a wheelchair so his wife can anywhere she likes. By splicing together two electric bikes and placing a comfy seat in the center, he worked on completing the ‘Not-A-Wheelchair’.
“The toughest challenge when developing ‘Not-A-Wheelchair’ is the price. We wanted to create something that is affordable for everyone. Finding quality components, and a simple enough design at the cheapest price possible took quite a bit of time,” Zack said. “But I think we have something now that everyone will be able to enjoy, at a fraction of the cost of other ‘off-road wheelchairs’ currently on the market.”
With this wheelchair, Camby is able to go on outdoor adventures like before. Furthermore, the four-wheeled construction makes it look more like a vehicle than a medical-grade mobility device. To make hiking more enjoyable, it also features a rear rack mounting system to hold coolers, picnic essentials, camping gear and other stuff. The couple wanted to help other people with a mobility disability. So, they decided to mass-produce the unique wheelchair so people can also enjoy it as much as Camby has.
Camby Using The Rig On A Rocky Terrain
This battery-operated wheelchair, which they later named The Rig, has a range of 10-20 miles with one battery and 25-35 miles with two batteries. It measures 5 feet long and 32 inches wide with a weight capacity of 225 lbs. Although it is strong, its power also has its limitation as an off-roader. While it has the ability to transit all flat terrains, it can’t possibly perform as a mountain climber.
Here’s what people have to say about Zack’s invention
Before the pandemic, Zack and Camby were able to take The Rig to Hawaii for testing and you can find out more information about the wheelchair on their website and Instagram page.