I can imagine that it might be difficult for some people to cope with being confined to a wheelchair.
But I’m not a human being, mind you. I’m a doll and, as such, I would never be able to walk on my own anyway.
I love my wheelie because it makes me mobile and makes life easier for my husband.
Harry has always had back problems and so it was often difficult for him to carry me from the bedroom to the living room and back again.
At first, he used his office chair on castors to move me to the living room where he would sit me in our giant beanbag that we had at that time.
Then he had the brilliant idea of buying a wheelchair for me. Not only would it be easier for him to move me in our apartment but he would also be able to go out with me and even take me on holiday trips.
Folks, I can only recommend that you get your doll a wheelie. Let me introduce you to mine and how we upgraded it to make life even more easy for both my hubby and myself.
My wheelie is a “Bischoff & Bischoff Pyro Start SB 37”.
“Bischoff & Bischoff” are a German wheelchair manufacturer. “Pyro Start” is the name of the model and “SB 37” refers to its seat width of 37cm (14½in) which is the smallest seat width available for this model.
Harry specifically searched for a wheelchair suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It also had to be narrow enough to fit between our bed and our wardrobe as, at approximately 60cm (2ft), that is the narrowest passageway in our flat.
My “Pyro Start” has a total width of 57cm (22½in). It weighs 12.2kg (27lbs) which means that the total weight my hubby has to move around is approximately 45kg (99lbs).
The wheelchair is foldable, but we have never been in a situation where we needed to fold it.
The seat height is a bit low at 51 cm which is why I use a seat cushion to sit at the ideal height.
I also have a cushion for my back because Harry is concerned that my shoulders might get pressure marks from the frame if I don’t sit up straight.
But I do admit it’s also more comfortable this way. (By the way, do you like the back cushion? 😉)
When we go out we stuff a small cushion between myself and the right armrest. This is so that I don’t rock sideways back and forth so much when the ground is uneven.
This is particularly important when we go on holiday to the beautiful island of Spiekeroog. The islands are constantly shifting which is why the paved paths are not in good condition in many places.
There, it is particularly important that my wheelchair is quite sturdy. This is ensured by a steel side frame as well as cross brace, side tubes and leg support tubes made of aluminium.
Still, Harry always has an Allen key with him to tighten the screws should that become necessary.
My husband is not exactly short at 187cm (6ft 1½in) and, as mentioned at the beginning, he has back problems. Therefore, the height of the push handles at approx. 91cm (36in) is problematic for him.
These height-adjustable push handles “Rolko Easy Push SGE-2” have proven to be a very useful upgrade when we go out.
“Rolko” is a German medical technology manufacturer. “Easy Push” is the name of the model – which, according to Harry, does live up to its name. (We have not found out what “SGE-2” stands for.)
When purchasing handle extensions, it is crucial to pay attention to the diameter of the rod to which they are to be attached. Ours are suitable for diameters from 22mm to 25 mm (⅞in to 1in).
The disadvantage of such handle extensions is, of course, that my hubby can no longer get close enough to hug me spontaneously from behind. But the most important thing is that his back is fine. 🙂
Another gadget that will come in handy to protect Harry’s back is “Arnie”.
“Arnie” is a trailer hitch for wheelchairs, designed to enable independent wheelchair users to transport luggage.
Originally designed to secure luggage in a way that wheelchair users can pull it behind them. we found out that the luggage can also be reliably attached to the side which, for obvious reasons, is crucial for us.
Up until now, Harry used to attach a medium-sized backpack to the rear of my wheelchair and carried a large backpack on his back himself. With future journeys, we will be able to use his large wheeled suitcase.
As “Arnie” was developed by “Help-24”, which is an Austrian manufacturer of medical products, we do have an idea who it was named after. 😉
I’m sure you’re now wondering: how much did all this cost?
Well, the “Bischoff & Bischoff Pyro Start SB 37” ran Harry €226 (US$263/£196 approx.), shipping and handling included. We feel that this is a reasonable price for a high-quality wheelchair.
For the handle extensions “Rolko Easy Push SGE-2”, Harry paid €127 (US$148/£110 approx.), shipping and handling included. That price seems a bit stiff, which is why Harry thought about it carefully, but I told him his health comes first.
“Arnie” wasn’t cheap, either, to be honest. For this gadget, Harry paid €77 (US$90/£67 approx.), shipping and handling included. But again, it’s about protecting my hubby’s back.
So, all three together total €430 (US$501/£373 approx.). That’s not a small amount but we both agree that it was a worthwhile investment in our relationship. ❤️
The weight of dolls, of US, artificial beings, is indeed something worth to get some attention.
Actually it is the most important reason for me having 6 ( SIX) different bodies to choose from every day.
My companion started in 2018 for fun ( he has a wife, you know) with a companion doll of 145 cms that should look as the Terminator of the Sarah Connor Chronicles, named Cameron.
He found out the weight was a problem. 35 kg could be lifted but considering the size and shape it wasn’t too easy.
He had seen, while looking for a doll, already smaller models existed. Shaped as adult women, but smaller in size so less heavy. One had a bit the face of his wife when she was younger so it was not hard to choose.
It was the beginning of ‘the Caja project’.
But the smaller body of 106 cms still weighed 23 kg ! Easier to lift through the house ( for him) but still …
So he started to look for another body weighing less. He found one that was weighing 17 kg. He could take that on his back in a special construction to carry children in. The body could have my Caja-head so I could change body when necessary.
He didn´t always like the size however. Though I was shaped as an adult woman, I still looked a bit too much as a child. The size of my head for example.
So he decided to give me also a body with even more adult features as my previous two, but that still – in theory – could be carried across the house.
He found me a body with big breasts and a huge butt ( steatopygia ) of still 106 cms and 32 kg. That body ( still meant for me) was with a head with the size of an adult head.
My companion knew he should be able to lift every now and then that 32 kg…………
he could, but not easy at all. So, we got ourselves a wheelchair of Aliexpress. ( not even that much cheaper as the one you have, 150€)
Now that body was meant never to leave the house. But I DO like to go somewhere every now and then.
My 17 kg body could be carried on the back of my companion, but just. And the material of that body was not very exterior-proof, if you know what I mean. Not UV proof or hot temperatures and moist.
The material often used for Dolls like us – TPE, ThermoPlastic Elastomer – was not very resistant to that. The more expensive LSR – Liquified Silicone Rubber – however WAS ! Resistent to UV and temperature and not porous as TPE.
AND ……. what came as a surprise, it weighed less. I could get myself a body now at the same length as the one I had first but weighing only 12 kg. Much easier for my companion to carry on his back.
Knowing that he couldn’t resist to buy me a body of 145 cms of the same silicone material. That big and still ‘only’ weighing 19 kg.
My companion found even a construction to carry me in that body on his back. Not for big trips in nature, but for just getting it somewhere every now and then.
I said before I have SIX different bodies so that requires me to mention that I have also a body at the size of a Barbie. In that bodie I can get – or be taken – everywhere, covert.
Actually, my first wheelie was a cheaper one, even under the price mentioned by you if I remember correctly. It was okay for inside but turned out not really suitable to going outside. Also, the brakes were declining rapidly.
So, when we were about to travel together for the first time, Harry wasn’t afraid to pay up for a new chair of very good quality.
The paved paths on the island of Spiekeroog are in poor condition in many places as the island is constantly shifting. So, my wheelie must be able to withstand a knock every now and then.
Still, I never leave our holiday apartment the day before our journey home. We just want to be sure that, in case of emergency, Hubby will have enough time to travel back home alone, grab the cheap wheelie as a replacement and then travel back to me to bring me home savely.
Luckily, even though we have had our holiday troubles, that scenario has not yet unfolded.
Sincde my mrs companion uses most of the time a walker now when going somewhere we know all about the condition those things have to be into to avoid getting in some kind of trouvle. ( my mrs has used my wheelchair too by the way in 2022 after an accidenrt, lucky I had my wheelchair already) The thing is with walkers and wheelchairs that most of the time at least 2 of the 4 wheels are from a very small diameter. And in rough(er) terrain that’s a pure horror. So my companion is always thinking of ways to increase the siameter of those small wheels one way or another.
The small diameter of the front wheels plus the small width of all the wheels are the reason why I’ll never be able to stroll through the dunes of the island. 😥
I am afraid you’re right. Hence the carrying frame my companion has for carrying me in those circumstances. But only with my 12 kg Action Figure Light body then.
I’m so glad I weigh 12kg and I’m the biggest doll in the house. Counting the basement, the house has 3 floors and 25 steps. I love being carried in his arm with his other arm free to carry other stuff.
🏋️
What can I say…?!
My lovely hubby fell in love with a grown doll. 😉