For people who use a wheelchair, a soft beach, a muddy trail, or a few inches of snow can mark the edge of where they can go. The Trackchair AXIS 40 is designed to move past that edge. Instead of wheels, it rides on two rubber tank-style tracks, and it is built specifically to carry a rider across terrain that stops a conventional chair.
The AXIS 40 is the improved-performance model in the Trackchair lineup, hand-built in Marshall, Minnesota, by ATZ Manufacturing. The company has been making tracked wheelchairs since 2009.
Where the idea came from
The Trackchair started as a parent’s project. In the fall of 2008, Tim Swenson set out to restore his son’s access to the outdoors and sketched a simple concept: a wheelchair on tracks. The first version was assembled from a bent tube frame, two snowmobile tracks, a salvaged boat seat, and some original engineering.
That basic principle — spread the rider’s weight across tracks rather than wheels — is what lets the current chairs cross sand, mud, and snow, and move through water up to 10 inches deep.
How the AXIS 40 performs
The AXIS 40 is driven by 3.4 combined horsepower PMDC motors that Trackchair says are exclusive to the AXIS line, paired with a frame streamlined to reduce rolling resistance and extend range.
The headline performance figures are modest by design. Top speed is approximately 4 mph (about 6.4 km/h), and range is up to 7 miles (roughly 11 kilometers) on the standard AGM battery setup of two 12-volt batteries. The chair has a zero turning radius, so it can pivot in place, and it uses an RNET CJSM2 control system with a 20-amp charger and a dual-port USB charger built in.
One feature the company highlights is tilt-on-the-fly: the rider can adjust seat tilt forward or backward while moving. Beyond comfort, this lets the user shift their center of gravity when climbing or descending, which helps stability and control on slopes.
Size, weight, and fit
The AXIS 40 is a substantial machine. It stands about 42 inches tall (107 cm) and 58 inches long (147 cm), with an estimated weight of 495 pounds (about 225 kg). Ground clearance is 4.75 inches (around 12 cm), and it runs on tracks measuring 6.5 by 90 inches (roughly 16.5 by 229 cm). Rated weight capacity is 350 pounds (about 159 kg).
Fit is adjustable across six independent points. The model comes in three seat widths — the AXIS 4018, 4020, and 4022, corresponding to 18, 20, and 22 inches (about 46, 51, and 56 cm) — all sharing a 19-inch seat depth and a 40-inch total width (about 102 cm). Standard equipment includes Comfort Company arm rests, cushion, and backrest, a flip-up adjustable footrest, a lap seatbelt, fully adjustable flip-up arms, and a zinc primer coat to resist rust.
Buyers choose from a long list of frame colors at no extra cost, with premium camo, splash, and custom finishes adding $321.
Built to be customized
The chair is sold as a platform that owners outfit for their activities. Trackchair’s accessory list includes a fishing rod holder ($165), a gun scabbard ($295), an LED headlight ($245), an oxygen tank holder ($295), an attendant control with mount ($750), and a snow plow kit specific to the AXIS 40 ($1,100), among many others. Support items such as head and trunk supports and a four-point harness are also available for riders who need more postural support.
Significance and limitations
The AXIS 40 sits in a niche but meaningful category: equipment aimed squarely at outdoor access for people with mobility challenges, a group that includes many veterans and people with spinal cord injuries.
The trade-offs are inherent to the design. At roughly 495 pounds, the chair is heavy and generally needs a ramp, trailer, or dedicated carrier to transport, and the optional carrier adds $900. The 7-mile range and 4 mph speed suit recreation and short outings rather than long-distance travel, and the chair is built for off-road and outdoor use rather than as an everyday indoor wheelchair. It is also a significant purchase, which is why the company maintains a funding-information resource and a dealer network for fitting and service.
Pricing and availability
The Trackchair AXIS 40 starts at $19,400, plus shipping and delivery charges, with most standard frame colors included at no additional cost. It is sold and serviced through Trackchair’s authorized dealer network rather than directly online; buyers configure a chair through the company’s online builder and then work with a local dealer for sizing, purchase, and maintenance. A full specification sheet and owner’s manual are available on the product page.
Product page: Trackchair
