We can’t show dozens of options for caster wheels and forks that you can easily put on your manual wheelchair. There is only one well-known third-party caster company: Frog Legs. Otherwise, there are a variety of caster wheels and caster forks available from wheelchair manufacturers — think of these as original equipment manufacturer parts for cars. They’re made to go on a specific chair brand, sometimes a specific chair model. Many of them are very similar, but you have to know details like caster barrel type, fork length and caster barrel-to-floor height to know whether forks from another manufacturer will work on your chair.

So, think of this Gear Guide as less of a catalog and more of an explainer of what to look for if you want to replace, swap or upgrade your current caster forks and/or wheels. We’ll take all the help we can get — so let us know if you see anything we missed or find a better price. And be sure to check out our handrims, wheels and power assist guides as well.

Replace

This is the simplest option of the three. If you like your current caster fork and wheel setup, finding replacements is straightforward. Going through the durable medical equipment provider where you got your wheelchair is the most obvious solution. The company has service technicians to make sure you’re getting the right equipment and can bill insurance.

But maybe you don’t want to deal with the hassle of appointments, billing and potentially multi-month wait for a simple parts replacement. Wheelchair manufacturers typically don’t sell directly to consumers, so the quickest, easiest option is to check the major online DME websites like DME Hub, Spinlife, Living Spinal, Rolling in Paradise or others. Caster wheels are easy to find. Use a tape measure to check your caster diameter and width. Plug those into Google and you should have multiple options to choose from. They’re all very similar, so don’t be afraid to go with the lowest price.

Replacement forks can be harder to find, depending on the brand of your chair. But even if your preferred online DME store doesn’t have your particular forks listed on their website, it’s worth calling or emailing. If they sell your brand of wheelchair, they can likely get replacement forks for it. As long as you know your wheelchair brand and model and the size of your casters, they should be able to find you what you need. Pro tip: We’ve had great experience with the customer service at DME Hub.

Swap

There are a few reasons you might want to change your caster wheel size or fork style, such as smoother rolling over rough terrain or easier cleaning of hair away from your bearings. But switching sizes and styles does complicate things a bit. Here are some different options and what you need to know about them.

Caster Wheels

Caster wheels for ultralight, manual wheelchairs are typically available in diameters from 3 inches to 6 inches. The bigger the wheel, the better the roll-over capabilities on cracks, gravel or dreaded pine cones. Sports wheelchairs use small, Roller-blade-style casters because they’re fast on smooth surfaces and stable at high speeds. People who spend a lot of time outdoors or off pavement often want a larger-diameter caster so bumps and debris don’t pitch them out of their chairs.

The problem with big casters is that they can flutter at high speeds, and they have a wider swing radius. If you have a narrow chair, be careful about switching to larger-diameter casters as they could hit your feet when they swing in. You may also need new forks if you increase your caster diameter, depending on the length of your current forks.

Changing your caster height can also change your front-end height. That might be a good thing, but it does offer its own set of complications. For a detailed breakdown of seating position considerations, check out “Modifying for All-Purpose Wheeling.” For those who don’t want to change their caster diameter, a wheel at least 1.4 inches wide will typically roll over rough ground better than a narrow wheel of the same diameter. You may need new forks to go with those casters though, depending on your current chair setup.

Forks

Standard manual wheelchair forks have two arms, and the caster goes between them with a bolt and spacers. They are available in a variety of lengths and widths. Changing your fork length can also change your front seat height, increasing dump and changing your backrest angle. Even a 0.5-inch change in front seat height can noticeably affect your chair’s feel, balance and pushing characteristics.

Some manufacturers offer single-sided forks, which feature one arm, usually with an integrated bolt. A screw and cap secure the caster wheel on the other side. Single-sided forks look slick, they collect less hair (there’s only one side for it to get caught in), and they make it easier to pull your caster off for cleaning. Usually, you only have to remove a single Allen screw — no mucking around with spacers and multiple wrenches. The downside to single-sided forks is that you can bend them more easily than standard forks if you happen to slam into a sidewalk crack or otherwise put a lot of force onto them. It’s not common, but it does happen. Frog Legs single-sided forks fit chairs that have the caster barrel bearings in the frame. TiLite single-sided forks have the bearing in the fork.

Upgrade

If you are looking to upgrade your stock caster forks, all the same considerations apply as with swapping out your caster wheels or forks. You or your DME supplier need to know your caster barrel type and the distance from your caster barrel to the floor. Here are a few upgraded caster fork options to consider.

Frog Legs

Shock Absorbing Forks

These are the classic suspension caster forks. They have a rubber damper that is designed to reduce jostling over rough ground, bumps and cracks. These forks are made out of aluminum and can be ordered with wheel diameters of 3 inches to 6 inches. They will only fit in caster barrels with integrated bearing.

Best for:  Wheelchair users who regularly roll over rough ground or who have issues with spasms or nerve pain that is worsened by vibrations.

Pricing/Availability: Frog Legs Shock Absorbing Forks retail for $299 but can be found $279 at Living Spinal.

Phase II Forks

Frog Legs Phase II Forks are an updated version of their classic suspension forks. Phase II Forks feature lighter-weight composite forks and a wedge damper. Frog Legs says the new damper rides like a solid fork on smooth surfaces yet absorbs bumps when needed. Phase II Forks are available with caster wheel diameters of 3 inches to 6 inches.

Best for: Wheelchair users who regularly roll over rough ground or who have issues with spasms or nerve pain that is worsened by vibrations.

Pricing/Availability: Frog Legs Phase II Forks retail for $499, but can be found for as low as $279 from Living Spinal.

Box Wheelchairs

Off-Road Recoils

The Off-Road Recoil caster combines a suspension caster fork with a 3-inch diameter by 3-inch wide caster wheel. The super wide caster wheel rolls easily over rough terrain and provides better float on soft surfaces. The caster wheel surface is tapered so when you’re rolling on smooth ground only a small portion of the caster touches, decreasing rolling resistance. These caster forks are used by many of Box Wheelchair’s WCMX riders, including Aaron Fotheringham, so you know they’re meant to take some abuse. They are only available for wheelchairs with caster barrels that have in-frame bearings. There is no adjustment on fork length or wheel placement, so if your caster barrel-to-floor height is shorter or taller than 6.5 inches, they will change your front seat height.

Best for: Wheelchair users who regularly roll over soft ground or who have issues with spasms or nerve pain that is worsened by vibrations. WCMX riders.

Pricing/Availability: Off-Road Recoils retail for $1,095 but can be found as low as $799 from Living Spinal.

TiLite

Glide Suspension Forks

Glide Suspension Forks are made specifically for TiLite chairs. They are similar to other suspension forks — smoothing out vibrations and easing passage over cracks and bumps — while offering a compact shape. They come in three different damper densities to fine tune the suspension, and three different wheel positions to accommodate varying diameter casters and caster barrel heights.

Best for: TiLite users who regularly roll over rough ground or who have issues with spasms or nerve pain that is worsened by vibrations.

Pricing Availability: Glide Suspension Forks are available for $201.75 from DME Hub.

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