20 replies to this topic

[Grumpy]

Specifically the A4, Top End Crossfire T6/T6A, or Top End Terminator. I'm getting a new chair soon and the local V A hospital here does Invacare, so I need some info either good or bad on these chairs. Been a wheelie for almost a year and a half, so I like the idea of adjustabilty until I find that sweet spot where I'm comfortable and stable. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[ems]

I have a Topend Crossfire, so far I'm loving it. It rolls sooooo smoothly! Its alot better built than my Quickie Ti. My friend has the terminator, same as mine with the extra bar at the bottom, rolls jsut as nicely and its 4 yrs old ;)

[Grumpy]

Thanks for your input ems. I've read reviews on these models, and some are great, some are awful. It's hard to get a feel for the quality of a chair from just a handful of reviews. How easy is it to load/unload your chair from a car and what does it weigh?

[ems]

I have a folding back and its a cantelever frame, so its jsut a small L shape when loading in the car, not actually sure on its true weight sorry. Its the new model I know that much, same as the terminator, they have upgraded it slightly.. biut like the TIlite, they have redesigned the castor pots so you cant lose your plastic bits!

The folding back on the quickie was awful and with a couple of weeks it was rattling so I drilled though and bolted it shut! This seems much more solid than the Quickie, but I;ve found I dont need to fold the back down to put it in the car so I have locked this one shut again ;) I dont mind putting up pics if you like.. its still clean ;)

[monkeyman]

I've had a Top End Terminator Ti for the past 4 years and it's been a great little chair for me, very light, maneuverable. Had a problem with the folding backrest at about year 3 but took it the dealers and its pretty much fine again. Not that adjustable, you can adjust the back angle, camber bar and footrest, but thats it... enough for fine tuning i would think.
I'm now waiting on new chair, going back to RGK because they build chairs truely to fit the individual so found my old RGK more comfortable. Saying this my Terminator has served me well and i'd recommend it.

Cheers Stevie

Edited by monkeyman, 10 February 2009 - 05:06 PM.

[Grumpy]

Thanks monkeyman. For ems and monkeyman: How far back does the backrest adjust? I want to try a low back with a lot of adjustment to overcome some spine curvature so I can sit up straight without falling forward.

[ems]

I take it you mean height wise....

If you go to this site ... the invacare site you can click on a chair to go to the specifications, brochures.. and better still the order form so you can see what options measurement wise you can get on each chair....

http://www.topendwhe...hairs-cid1.html

On the crossfire you have the options of adjustable backrest heights, or you can have it fixed a certain height.

8" – 11"
10" – 14"
12" – 16"
14" – 18"
16" – 20"

On the forth page of the order form there is a weight chart, and a weight listing of all components ;)

Edited by ems, 10 February 2009 - 07:14 PM.

[Grumpy]

ems, I actually meant how much can you adjust the angle of the back. I don't want 90 degrees, I wanted to be able to have it set more reclining.

[ems]

Ahhh, sorry,I know what you mean, I have mine at 85 degrees facing inwards and loosen the uphostery for that hugging effect ;)

theres a cam on the backrest which rotates....
....page 33
http://www.topendwhe...42008132410.pdf

[Grumpy]

That helped. Never thought about looking at the owner's manual . Thanks.

[ems]

heheh no probs..remember that it is 90 degrees to the chair, so if you have bucket on your chair, 90 degrees will look like its tipping back ;)

[oldwheelz]

Been using a A-4 titanium for five years and have had no problems. I do have to replace the bearings on the caster axles every year.

[Grumpy]

Thanks, oldwheelz, I've been leaning toward the A4 or A4 titanium (depending on which one the VA will pay for) because it has a higher weight rating. I'm a shade over the 250 lb limit on most chairs. I've read in other places that the A4's ride rough, is that true? Also, from the research I've one, the A4 looks to be very adjustable. This is desireable because I haven't found my "sweet spot" yet. Can you give me any more pros/cons? Thanks again.

[Jaret]

I am on my second A4 - just got it in December. I like it a lot. I got a higher back on the second one for more support. Mine weighs about 36 lbs with the cushion. I am 6'3" and 230 lbs. Over time I have had to change some small parts but the chair held up over time. The first one lasted 7 years. I like the adjustable camber tubes - just release a lever and you can move the tubes in or out. I also like the ability to switch the camber to another angle. Good Luck.

[twisted_ophelia]

I had an A4 and I hated it. No matter what seating my OT and I tried on that thing, it for whatever reason caused my spine to constantly ache worse than it usually does. I felt jarred around in the thing and the chair just always felt awkward to me even though it was obviously measured to fit me perfectly.

[oldwheelz]

Too bad we couldn't get one set up right and try it for a month. Everyone likes and needs different things or we'd all have the same chair. It took some trial and error to find the back I liked but that was a personal thing. I got it with under mount wheel locks. I bought a old A4 for a spare and it had high mount locks which are now on my main chair. There is a lot of adjustment on it so you should be able to dial it in. Only my opinion.

[Grumpy]

Thanks to everyone for your inputs and opinions. I think I'm going to try the A4 and see how that works.

[edlee]

Given your weight,,, like me,,,, for a light rigid , adjustable chair,,,, the A4 will probably be your best bet. I have the titanium A4,,, and after 4 months, I'm pretty happy with it.

Nothing broken or worn or loose,,,,,yet.
ed

[Santa Cruz Soul Surfer (LRO)]

Out of rehab, I too received a inva A4 and it was a good chair! It was fully adjustable, fairly light and quite durable as well! I'd recommend it to anyone as there first chair...That is, until they get to the point where they know what they want in a custom chair and are ready to move on to something more permanent.

[WildKat]

Grumpy, on Feb 9 2009, 10:09 PM, said:

Specifically the A4, Top End Crossfire T6/T6A, or Top End Terminator. I'm getting a new chair soon and the local V A hospital here does Invacare, so I need some info either good or bad on these chairs. Been a wheelie for almost a year and a half, so I like the idea of adjustabilty until I find that sweet spot where I'm comfortable and stable. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I have a Top End Crossfire Titanium. I've had it for almost 2 yrs now. It's great. Nothing has broken so far (I'm pretty rough on it), and I've only ever had to make sure the screws were tight once I got eerything adjusted the way I wanted it. The Crossfire T6 is the non-titanium version of it.

The only thing that's adjustable on mine (by choice) is the axle and it's very easy to adjust (not like my old Quickie GT). Don't even get me started about what a piece of my Quickie was!

I'd say a Top End chair is a great choice. You might also want to look into the ergo seat option. It lets your pelvis sit straight and does wonders for your posture. I have it on mine and will never have another chair without it! I'll attach a pic so you can see what it's like.

[Bagpuss-wheels]

WildKat, on Feb 21 2009, 09:18 AM, said:

Grumpy, on Feb 9 2009, 10:09 PM, said:

Specifically the A4, Top End Crossfire T6/T6A, or Top End Terminator. I'm getting a new chair soon and the local V A hospital here does Invacare, so I need some info either good or bad on these chairs. Been a wheelie for almost a year and a half, so I like the idea of adjustabilty until I find that sweet spot where I'm comfortable and stable. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I have a Top End Crossfire Titanium. I've had it for almost 2 yrs now. It's great. Nothing has broken so far (I'm pretty rough on it), and I've only ever had to make sure the screws were tight once I got eerything adjusted the way I wanted it. The Crossfire T6 is the non-titanium version of it.

The only thing that's adjustable on mine (by choice) is the axle and it's very easy to adjust (not like my old Quickie GT). Don't even get me started about what a piece of my Quickie was!

I'd say a Top End chair is a great choice. You might also want to look into the ergo seat option. It lets your pelvis sit straight and does wonders for your posture. I have it on mine and will never have another chair without it! I'll attach a pic so you can see what it's like.

Hey WildKat,

Love the look of your chair - just a question for you - how much 'bucket'/'dump' do you have (and what seat depth have you got) please? I'm having difficulty getting my new chair built with the 5 inches of bucket I need. I'm 5ft8in tall and have an 18.5inch deep Roho Quadtro cushion. I keep getting told that 5 inches is 'excessive' and that they want to make the frame with 4 inches of bucket maximum. I've also been told 'why don't add a wedge' (despite my saying that I want to get rid of the wedge I've got to use for my current chair (which is rubbish and part of the reason I'm getting a new chair or I'd have just had the Yamaha JW-II wheels put on my current chair. My current chair is !). I can't see the difference between adding a wedge and having the frame built to the correct angle in the first place other than the convenience and less weight without the wedge (and making it easier to get into the chair from the floor as you don't have to try to get up so high.)! I don't want to use the wedge at all - I don't have the shoulder strength to push myself up high enough from the frame to get over the wedge [i]and the cushion to get on top so I don't 'curl' the cushion. (I need the 5 inches of bucket because I don't have the physical strength to keep myself in the chair without it. I also don't want to have straps or a harness tying myself into the chair either.)

I'm not having an ergo seat - the company making my chair don't offer it. I am having Frogs Legs with 5x1.5inch soft roll castors as I need the additional suspension because I'm having Yamaha JW-II add-on, push-assist wheels. (The frame is a rigid box-frame as opposed to a cantilever frame because of the need for strength and stability from the frame and the box-frame will have more strength in the welds than the cantilever frame with the Yamaha push-assist add-on power wheels on the back end.

Thanks,
Cat
>v,,^<