Folding power wheelchairs are designed to be compact and portable for travel purposes, but if the user and the items they're carrying weigh above a certain amount, it can be difficult to find a folding wheelchair that will carry them. A heavy duty folding power wheelchair can be a viable solution, but its weight capacity is lower than a heavy duty power-base wheelchair and its weight and size are greater than other travel wheelchairs.
If you travel frequently and pack your wheelchair in a vehicle or airplane, a folding power wheelchair is a convenient wheelchair to take with you. They are designed to be disassembled into manageable, compact pieces. The heaviest piece of a disassembled folding power wheelchair usually weighs about 80 pounds, more or less, making it easy for one person of reasonable strength or two people to lift. Basic folding power wheelchairs can usually carry about 250 pounds, but it's still possible to travel conveniently if you and any personal items or luggage you're carrying weigh more than that.
Even heavy duty folding wheelchairs generally don't have a weight capacity of over 300 pounds, with 400 pounds being the highest capacity. These wheelchairs are not as portable as other travel wheelchairs, with heavier disassembled pieces that are difficult to lift without two or more people.
A heavy duty compact folding motorized wheelchair is not your only option for traveling. Depending on how often you travel, you may want to rent a wheelchair when you arrive at your destination. You don't have to worry about buying an expensive power wheelchair just for traveling, and you can rent a wheelchair to get around in the airport. If you are traveling by car with a traveling companion, a transport wheelchair is an option. They are cheap, lightweight, and take up very little storage space.
If you're willing to give up the extra storage space gained by using a folding wheelchair, you can use your everyday wheelchair for traveling. It may take up much more storage space in a vehicle, and, assuming you're traveling in a car that hasn't been modified for wheelchairs, you may need to bring a multi-fold ramp to get into the car, which also takes up considerable space.
If you travel frequently and due to your weight or your need to carry heavy items you need a more durable device, a heavy duty folding power wheelchair is a good investment, though it may be hard to come by.
