Installing indoor and outdoor mobility scooter lifts on your vehicle
When it comes to transporting your scooter; you will have to look at mobility scooter lifts. Mobility scooter lifts generally come in two different types; Exterior elevators and interior elevators.
Outdoor Mobility Lifts
Outdoor mobility lifts are designed to fit on a vehicle’s hitch. If you don’t have a hitch on your vehicle; You can consult a mechanical shop to have one installed for you. Be sure to let them know what you will be using the hitch for so they can install one that will work with your lift. An outside lift is an easy option if you want to outfit your van with a mobility scooter lift.
An outside lift will allow you to drive your scooter onto the platform that is mounted to the hitch, get off the scooter, and then lift it off the ground to ride. You may want to consider purchasing a cover for your scooter because you will be traveling outside of your vehicle and exposed to inclement weather. The mechanical parts will also be exposed to dust and road grime. The exterior lift is easy and can be less expensive to install.
Indoor Mobility Elevators
A lift that goes inside your vehicle is a platform mobility scooter lift. This lift is designed to go inside a pickup truck or SUV. It can be placed in the rear (if you have rear access) or side compartment (door) of your vehicle.
For rear access installation, lower the deck to the ground, drive your scooter onto it, get off the scooter, and then use an electric remote control to raise the unit into your car.
If getting off the scooter and into your car is a problem for you, a side lift will probably work better for your needs. This lift will allow you to mount your scooter on the lift and get into your vehicle while still sitting on the scooter (as long as your vehicle has enough headroom).
When buying electric mobility scooter lifts you will need to consider the vehicle you have and the compatibility of the lifts with it. You should also look at a quality manufacturer. Hammond Manufacturing is known for quality construction of elevator components.
Many people find that their vehicle will need a substantial modification when installing a lift. This is not an easy task and most leave it to an experienced professional. You will probably want an experienced technician who has installed mobility scooter lifts in vehicles before. There are shops specializing in the installation of lifts. This type of shop will have all the knowledge and experience to install your lift correctly and to your specifications. They will also be able to point you in the right direction in choosing the right lift for your vehicle and any modifications you need. Installation prices will vary and your insurance may or may not pay for it. If your insurance does not cover the facility, check with your local social services agency for help. Organizations for the disabled and seniors can help you with the cost.