A folding frame and removable wheels can make a wheelchair easier to store, but different chairs use different mechanisms. Start with the manual for the exact model and version. This guide helps you organise the task and ask the right questions; it does not replace the manufacturer’s folding or wheel-fitting instructions.
Identify the chair first
Find the model and serial label, then check that the manual illustrations match the equipment in front of you. A similar name, colour or photograph is not enough. A previous owner may also have fitted different components. If a release lever or locking arrangement differs from the manual, ask a service technician to identify it before experimenting.
The G-Logic manual documents one Excel configuration, including folding and wheel removal. Use it only for a matching chair. For an uncertain model, start with Van Os Medical’s support route rather than applying a video for another brand.
Have the whole process demonstrated
Ask the supplier to demonstrate folding, unfolding, removing permitted parts and securing them again. Watch once before trying it yourself. Note which actions need the chair unoccupied, where your hands should go and which parts must never be used as lifting handles. Ask for another demonstration of anything you cannot reproduce comfortably.
Request the checks that confirm the frame and wheels are ready for use. A release button returning to position may be only part of the process. Follow the exact confirmation procedure in the manual. If anything is loose, fails to engage or behaves differently from the demonstration, leave the chair unused until it is checked.
Choose a sensible packing area
Set up a clear space away from passing traffic, stairs and sloping ground. Decide where detached components will be placed so they cannot roll away or be left behind. Keep the route to the car or cupboard clear before beginning. Do not attempt to manage the occupied chair and loose parts simultaneously without the help identified in your handling plan.
A small labelled bag can keep removable pieces together during a trip. Check that storage does not place weight on fragile fittings. Wheel bags may be useful for keeping upholstery or luggage clean, but choose an arrangement that does not conceal missing parts during reassembly.
Create your own short checklist
- Correct model instructions available.
- Suitable clear place for the task.
- All removable parts accounted for.
- Frame opened and secured as instructed.
- Each refitted component checked using the manual.
- Nothing trapped in the moving mechanisms.
- Final condition check before the chair is occupied.
Keep your checklist close to the equipment, but do not shorten away a manufacturer’s safety step. It is a memory aid after training, not an alternative instruction sheet. If several relatives help, give everyone the same demonstration rather than passing on an increasingly abbreviated version.
Practise the return journey
People often test whether the chair fits in the boot but forget the reassembly at the destination. Try the reverse process in daylight with enough time. Can you reach the components? Is there a clean place for the cushion? Can the person waiting remain comfortable while the chair is prepared? Resolve these details before a time-sensitive appointment.
For example, a chair might fit beautifully after both wheels are removed, yet unpacking may require more space than is available beside a parked car. Another arrangement could take slightly more boot space while making the complete journey simpler. Compare the sequence, not just the final folded shape.
Know when to stop
Do not hammer a quick-release axle into place, add household lubricants without approval or substitute an apparently similar pin. Repeated sticking, visible wear and uncertain locking need a competent inspection. Record what happened and, if safe, take a clear photograph for the technician. Keep replacement parts matched to the chair identification.
A good routine ends with confidence about the assembled chair rather than merely an empty boot. Allow time for those last checks on every trip, especially when somebody else packed the equipment or a part has been replaced.