Scooter Lifts
Posted on 16. Feb, 2009 by Dave in Mobility Aids
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Scooter lifts are mechanical devices used to lift scooters from one level or from the ground to a vehicle such as a van or a platform. Scooter lifts are used to eliminate the necessity of disassembling and assembling scooters when they need to be stored in a vehicle for travel. This can prove cumbersome because assembly and disassembly of the scooter usually requires an able-bodied person. They were originally called trunk lifts.
Scooter lifts can be made to fit inside most minivans and can be used for rear and curbside loading of scooters. Scooter lifts operate using the battery of the car.
Interior Scooter Lifts
These are mounted on the inside of the vehicle and does its job by lifting the scooter inside for transporting. Interior scooter lifts consist of an arm that swings out of the back of the car or van. The platform of the lift is lowered down using a strap. The plarform is lifted up when the strap is retracted. The arm is then swung back inside the vehicle along with scooter, bringing the scooter inside.One important advantage of the interior scooter lift is that it places the scooter inside, shielding it from the elements.
If you are planning on having scooter lift installed in your van or minivan, it is important that you know the capacity of your van and the changes that may have to be made for the installation. For example, you can expect some chairs in your minivan to be removed to make room for your scooter lift.
If you use both a wheelchair and a scooter, a scooter lift that also has enough power to lift a wheelchair could be the right option for you.
Exterior Scooter Lifts
Exterior scooter lifts are placed outside of the vehicle and is the usual option when the vehicle is so small that there is no room for an interior scooter lift. Exterior scooter lifts are becoming more and more popular these days because they are also easier to install. Most exterior scooter lifts are installed by sliding the model to a trailer hitch receiver and it’s done! There are also tilt-models of exterior scooter lifts that do no require any wiring to the car’s fusebox. This model is also fairly inexpensive compared to the other models. The only disadvantage with exterior scooter lifts is that they expose your wheelchair or scooter to rain, dust, and heat, bad if you are planning long drives in bad weather.
