The Folded Chair Has to Fit the Car You Actually Drive: Measure the Trunk Before the Trip Gets Planned

You probably bought or borrowed the chair before anyone asked whether it goes in your car. Now the outing is on the calendar, the chair is sitting in the hallway, and you are not sure it fits. Run these checks before anyone gets lifted and before a trip is planned around a chair that does not go in.

Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.

Measure the folded chair, not the box

Get the folded length, width, and height with the wheels on. Some chairs fold smaller once the wheels or footrests come off, so note both numbers. If there is a removable cushion or battery, decide whether it stays in the car or comes out every time, because that changes how long loading takes in the driveway.

Measure the opening, then the inside

The trunk opening is often narrower than the trunk floor, and a hatch or lift gate can sit lower than the top of the folded chair. Measure the opening at its narrowest point, the height of the sill from the ground, and the depth of the trunk with the back seats up. Then check whether the rear seats fold, and whether the space still holds the chair when the cooler or grocery bags are where they usually go.

Do one practice load in daylight

Load the chair once before you need it. Count the steps, note whether you have to lift it above your waist, and watch whether it slides or shifts when you turn a corner. If you will be doing this alone, decide now where you will load, such as a flat driveway or a parking space with room for the rear door to open fully.

Decide what to do if it does not fit

If the chair will not go in, you have three real options: a chair with a smaller fold, a second vehicle for outings, or a plan that uses a ride service for trips that need the chair. Ask the equipment supplier which of these they can help with, and write their answer on the same card as your trunk measurements. The Local Help for Caregivers in St. Louis page is a starting list if you need to look for ride options nearby.