Strongback Heavy Duty Wheelchair

Bariatric capacity. Standard doorway. Bariatric wheelchairs tend to solve one problem and create another. You get the weight capacity, and you get a chair too wide for your own hallway, with a flat sling back that leaves you aching by mid-afternoon. The Strongback Heavy Duty is rated to 375 lb and measures 31 in across, which is home-compatible: it passes through a standard 32 in interior doorway. It carries the same patented frame-integrated ergonomic backrest as the rest of the range, and drum brakes are standard. It is self-propelled: 24 in quick-release rear wheels with ergonomic hand rims. Free shipping, 5-7 days Free anywhere in the contiguous U.S. on orders of $249 or more, and most chairs arrive within 5-7 days. Need it faster, or shipping to Hawaii, Alaska or Canada? Call us for a quote. 30 days to try it If the chair is not right for you, you have a full 30 days from delivery to send it back for a refund. See how returns work Key features Capacity Rated to 375 lb, the only ergonomic wheelchair we know of at that capacity Access 31 in overall width, which passes through a standard 32 in interior doorway Safety Drum brakes standard, giving the attendant progressive braking rather than on or off Ergonomics The patented Strongback backrest, built into a reinforced frame rather than dropped for it Mobility Self-propelled on 24 in quick-release rear wheels with ergonomic hand rims Talk to a person Not sure which model fits? Call us at (757) 349-7790, 10am to 3pm ET Monday to Friday, or email usa@strongbackmobility.com. We will help you check measurements, compare models and work out what suits your day. What it feels like to use It fits the home you already have. At 31 in overall width the Heavy Duty passes through a standard 32 in interior door, so bathrooms, bedrooms and hallways are open to you without widening a doorway or settling for a narrower chair. The backrest does what it does on every other Strongback. Award-winning ergonomic design, shaped into the frame, holding your lumbar curve. There is no reason a higher weight capacity should mean a worse chair to sit in, and on this one it does not. The person pushing has real control. Drum brakes are standard, operated from the push handles. Unlike a parking brake, which is on or off, drum brakes give progressive braking. On a ramp or a slope, that is control rather than a decision. You push it yourself. This is not a transport chair. 24 in quick-release rear wheels with ergonomic hand rims, a double crossbar for rigidity, and a center of gravity set for a heavier user. The backrest A flat back panel rolls the pelvis backwards and pushes the head forward. For a larger user, sitting in that position for hours is not just uncomfortable, it makes breathing harder and shoulders sorer. The Heavy Duty carries the same shaped, frame-integrated backrest as the rest of the range. It is part of the frame rather than a cushion strapped on afterwards, and it fills the hollow of the lower back to keep the ribcage open. It is the same award-winning ergonomic design, and the same curve, that has been in every Strongback since the first one. Rated for users up to 375 lb 375 lb / 170 kg, tested to ISO 7176-15 for static, impact and fatigue loading. That is the highest capacity in our range and, as far as we know, it is the only ergonomic wheelchair rated to it. The reinforced double-crossbar frame is what pays for that number. Static stability is at least 7 degrees, the reference test being ISO 7176-1. The Heavy Duty frame carries a 2-year warranty. Every other model in the range carries 5 years, and the shorter term here reflects the loads a bariatric frame is asked to carry. Built for the loads it carries The front castors are 7 in, an inch larger than the 6 in castors on the rest of the aluminum range. The footrests are reinforced and still swing away and detach by hand. The desk-length armrests are shortened at the front, which lets the chair pull right up to a table or kitchen counter instead of stopping at the edge. The anti-tippers double as a tipping-assist lever for whoever is pushing, and come off by hand. It is not a light chair in absolute terms, and it is not meant to be, but at 27.8 lb it is light for its capacity. Weights and measurements Measurement Figure What it means Frame Reinforced aluminum, double crossbar The second crossbar is what carries the higher rating. Aluminum keeps the weight down without giving up strength, and it will not rust. Propulsion Self-propel 24 in rear wheels with ergonomic hand rims. An attendant can also push from behind. User weight limit 375 lb / 170 kg Tested to ISO 7176-15. The highest in the Strongback range. Weight (without footrests, wheels and anti-tippers) 27.8 lb / 12.6 kg The frame alone. This is what you lift into the car. Total Weight (frame, wheels and footrests, anti-tippers excluded) 39.2 lb / 17.8 kg The chair as it rolls. The shipping box is not included. Seat width 22 in / 56 cm Measured between the inside faces of the clothing guards. The Heavy Duty comes in this one width. Seat depth 19 in / 48 cm Measured from the backrest to the front edge of the seat. It sets how much of your thigh is supported, which is what stops you sliding forward over a long day. Overall width 31 in / 80 cm Fits through a standard 32 in interior doorway. Rear wheels 24 in Quick-release, with ergonomic hand rims. Off in about two seconds, no tools. Front castors 7 in One inch larger than the 6 in castors on the rest of the aluminum range. They carry the chair over thresholds and door frames, and they are what makes the chair turn. Brakes Drum brakes, standard Operated from the push handles, giving the attendant progressive braking rather than on-off. The push-to-lock parking brake at each wheel is unchanged and works independently. Armrests Desk-length Shortened at the front so the chair pulls up close to a table or counter. Footrests Reinforced, swing-away, detachable Come off without tools. Unfolded (L x W x H) 43 x 31 x 35 in / 109 x 80 x 88 cm Set up and ready, footrests deployed. Folded (L x W x H) 31 x 13 x 35 in / 80 x 32 x 89 cm Everything still attached. Taking the wheels and footrests off makes it smaller still. Static stability At least 7 degrees The chair resists tipping on a slope of at least 7 degrees. The reference test is ISO 7176-1. Frame warranty 2 years Seat, footrests and auxiliary parts, 12 months. The 12-month component term is the same on every model; only the frame term differs. Weight is the frame alone, without footrests, wheels and anti-tippers: what you lift into the car. Total Weight is the chair as it rolls, frame plus wheels plus footrests, with anti-tippers and the shipping box excluded. The Heavy Duty weighs 27.8 lb as a bare frame. Frame, wheels and footrests together weigh 39.2 lb, excluding anti-tippers and the shipping box. We publish both, and we say which is which. A bariatric frame is heavier by design, and we would rather tell you the real number than quote you the lightest one we can measure. Always ask what a stated weight includes. Find your seat width Measure the widest point across your hips and thighs while seated, then add 1 inch (2.5 cm). That is your seat width. Seated hip width Seat width Strongback model Weight capacity Under 15 in / 38 cm 16 in / 40 cm Comfort S 300 lb / 136 kg 15 to 17 in / 38 to 43 cm 18 in / 45 cm Comfort M, Comfort Flip, Excursion M 300 lb / 136 kg 17 to 19 in / 43 to 48 cm 20 in / 50 cm Comfort L, Excursion L 300 lb / 136 kg 19 to 21 in / 48 to 53 cm 22 in / 56 cm Heavy Duty 375 lb / 170 kg Between two sizes? Go up, not down. A seat that is slightly wide is comfortable. A seat that is slightly narrow is not. The Heavy Duty comes in one seat width: 22 in, the widest we make. It suits seated hips of 19 to 21 in. If you measure 17 to 19 in, the Comfort L will fit you and costs less. Call us at (757) 349-7790 and we will size you over the phone. Read the full measurement guide Which Strongback is right for you Model Choose this if Frame Propulsion Seat width From Comfort S You need a 16 in seat, or the standard frame swamps you Aluminum Self-propel 16 in / 40 cm $909 Comfort You lift the chair often and want the most adjustable ride Aluminum Self-propel 18 or 20 in $949 Comfort Flip You transfer sideways to a bed or car seat every day Aluminum Self-propel 18 in / 45 cm $999 Excursion Someone else pushes you most of the time Aluminum Attendant-pushed 18 or 20 in $889 Heavy Duty You need a 22 in seat and a 375 lb capacity Reinforced aluminum Self-propel 22 in / 56 cm $1,199 Seat width is the nominal class, measured between the inside faces of the clothing guards. Shipping and returns Shipping is free and it is quick. Free anywhere in the contiguous U.S. on orders of $249 or more, and most orders arrive within 5-7 days. For Hawaii, Alaska, Canada or expedited delivery, call (757) 349-7790 or email usa@strongbackmobility.com and we will quote it. If you are a veteran, see purchase options for veterans. You have 30 days to change your mind. If the chair arrives in perfect condition and simply is not right for you, you have a full 30 days from delivery to return it for a refund. Ask us for a return authorization first, keep the original packaging, and send the chair back unused. Return shipping is at your expense, and a return that reaches our warehouse without an authorization number cannot be refunded. This applies to chairs bought here on strongbackmobility.com. If you bought from Amazon or from a retail store, the return goes back to them under their own policy and their own time limit, not ours. See how returns work or request a return authorization. Frequently asked questions What is the difference between the Strongback Heavy Duty and other bariatric wheelchairs? Four things. The backrest is the patented Strongback backrest, contoured to follow the curve of the lower spine, rather than a flat sling that lets the spine round over a long day. The overall width is 31 in, which is home-compatible with a standard 32 in interior doorway, and doorway fit decides whether a chair works throughout a home or only outside it. Drum brakes are fitted as standard rather than sold as a paid upgrade. And the Weight is 27.8 lb once the wheels, footrests and anti-tippers come off. It is the only ergonomic wheelchair we know of with a 375 lb capacity. What is the best bariatric wheelchair for heavy adults? The right chair in this category is decided by three measurements: weight capacity, seated hip width, and the narrowest opening the chair has to pass. Capacity should sit above the user's weight with margin, not at it. The Strongback Heavy Duty is rated to 375 lb with a 22 in seat and the patented Strongback backrest. At 31 in overall width it is home-compatible with a standard 32 in interior doorway, which is the measurement that decides whether a chair works throughout a home or only outside it. Measure your narrowest clear opening against that figure before ordering. How do I know whether I need the wider seat or the higher capacity? They are two separate measurements and you may need one without the other. Capacity is about the user's weight, and the 375 lb rating leaves headroom that a chair rated exactly at the user's weight does not. Seat width is about the user's hips, not their weight. Measure seated hip width against the Sizing Guide: 19 to 21 in points to the Heavy Duty's 22 in seat, while 17 to 19 in is served by the Strongback Comfort L. A user can need the capacity without needing the full 22 in seat, or the reverse. Is the Strongback Heavy Duty a transport chair, or can the user propel it themselves? It is self-propelled. The 24 in quick-release rear wheels are full-size drive wheels with ergonomic hand rims sized for the user to push themselves. A transport chair, by contrast, has small rear wheels with no hand rims and can only be pushed by someone else, like the Strongback Excursion. Drum brakes come standard so a caregiver has real speed control on an incline when they are pushing, but that is a second mode of use rather than the primary one. Will the Strongback Heavy Duty fit through a standard doorway? The Heavy Duty is 31 in wide overall and a standard US interior door is 32 in, so it fits. Clear openings vary from house to house, so measure yours before ordering: open the door to 90 degrees, measure the narrowest clear opening in the home, and compare it against the 31 in figure. Bathroom doors are usually the tightest. If your measurement is close, call us at (757) 349-7790 and we will work through it with you. Is the Strongback Heavy Duty easy for a caregiver to lift into a vehicle? The Weight is 27.8 lb once the wheels, footrests and anti-tippers come off, and that is what a caregiver actually lifts. The 24 in rear wheels release without tools. Complete and ready to roll the chair is 39.2 lb. Folded with everything still attached it measures 31 x 13 x 35 in, which fits an SUV, a wagon or a hatchback comfortably; a small sedan trunk is tight. What are drum brakes and why do I want them? A drum brake sits inside each rear wheel hub and is operated from the push handles. A normal parking brake is on or off. A drum brake can be applied gradually, so whoever is pushing can control speed down a ramp instead of choosing between rolling and stopping. On a heavier chair, where the combined weight of chair and user is greater, that is a real safety difference on any incline. They are standard here, not an upgrade, and the push-to-lock parking brake at each wheel is unchanged and works independently. Why is the Heavy Duty frame warranty 2 years when the rest of the range is 5? A bariatric frame carries loads the rest of the range does not, and the 2-year frame warranty reflects that. The component term is unaffected: seat, footrests and other auxiliary parts carry 12 months on every Strongback model, including this one. Helpful links Sizing Guide Returns and how they work Request a return authorization Warranty claim form Purchase options for veterans Find a Retailer Replacement Parts Still have a question? Call (757) 349-7790, 10am to 3pm ET Monday to Friday, or email usa@strongbackmobility.com. A real person will pick up. Current data: As of September 2026 | A.E.