While mobility scooters have already solved the big mobility problem for people with mobility challenges, they can only achieve short distances. Bringing it on the road is out of the question, of course, but what can users do when they want to go on long distances?
In this article—I’ll show you a ‘hack’ that mobility scooter owners can use to visit long distant places. Even with the limitation of their machine: It’s hitching a ride on other cars! Yes, I can see all the questions that have popped up in your head: ‘Is it safe?, ‘Can all cars do it?’, and ‘Is that even possible?
Yes! Mobility scooters can ‘hitch a ride’ on vehicles (other than taxis) if users wish to travel long distances. As more people use mobility scooters, other vehicles adapt by having features that can safely bring them to long destinations.
Fortunately, the prices of mobility scooter carriers are lowering over the years, making them accessible to more people. With this continued trend, more mobile scooter users can enjoy the pleasure of car trips, without any hassle.
Can Mobility Scooters Fit Inside a Car?
There are two types of mobility scooters: collapsible and lightweight, and the other is heavier and cannot collapse. But whether they can fit or not inside a car’s trunk, vehicles can now carry any of these two types easily using simple add-on equipment.
How Can Cars Carry Mobility Scooters?
Ramp
Lifting a mobility scooter in the car is doable but requires added effort and increases the chance of accidents. Another safer and easier choice is using a ramp so that a mobility scooter user gets in the car more safely.
Inside Hoist
Vehicle owners can put a lift inside their car with a hoist that can swing outside to bring mobility scooters inside the vehicle. Since it’s not an automatic device, vehicle owners should carefully guide its mechanism to keep the mobility scooter and its user safe.
Hitch
High-quality hitches have more strength and can carry heavier loads, but they can make a car ‘longer’ because of the load it holds at the back. With this problem, finding a parking space will surely turn into a headache, that’s why car owners should consider this carefully.
Hybrid Lifts
Car owners must permanently put this device at their vehicle cargo to maintain its stability and keep the mobility scooter safe. They can use it by extending the platform through the open trunk and lowering it to accommodate the mobility scooter once installed. Next, a car owner must raise the platform and retract it (or make it go back) to safely store the mobility scooter inside the vehicle.
Hitch-Mount SUV Lift and Truck Mount: Advantage and Disadvantage
| Advantage | Disadvantage | |
| Hitch-Mount SUV Lift | Perfect for mobility scooters that are too big for a car’s trunk. | It can carry up to 400 pounds of weight, but small cars may not keep up. |
| Truck Mount | It doesn’t expose mobility scooters outside—ideal for weather-intensive environments. | Some trunk mounts, even if they are made for big mobility scooters, may not still be able to carry other models. |
we have an article on how to lift a mobility scooter into the car boot here.
Two Types of Mobility Scooter Carriers
They come in manual and electric, and while both are effective, the electric variant requires less effort from the lifters. Manual carrier, which is ideal for small cars, is lighter and cheaper and requires users to load the scooter on a platform using a ramp.
If a mobility scooter carrier is too high or too low for the car—vehicle owners can quickly adjust it depending on what’s best for them. If the users do not know how to adjust it, they can check its instruction or call the manufacturer for help to prevent possible damages.
Conclusion
Now, a mobility scooter’s size and weight are not an issue anymore when transporting them in any type of vehicle. Thanks to the convenience of easy-to-use devices, safe and easy ways of transporting mobility scooters are now possible
Citation
How to Transport a Mobility Scooter
How to Transport a Mobility Scooter (2)
Choosing Between a Hitch Mount SUV Lift vs Trunk-Mount
Swing Arm and Platform Style Mobility Scooter Lifts
Transporting Your Mobility Scooter or Power Chair Inside Your Car’s Trunk
