Transporting Your Mobility Scooter Or Power Chair Inside Your Car's Trunk
If you can carry your scooter or wheelchair in the trunk of your car, you'll benefit in a few different ways. First of all, your investment in your scooter or chair won't be risked by things like weather, dirt and road debris that can fly up and hit it as the vehicle moves. You'll also have more room inside your vehicle because your mobility device will be out of the way in your trunk. It also prevents all the weight of the scooter from hanging on the back hitch of your vehicle in the bumper area, but instead distributes it better over the rear axle.
The biggest obstacle to being able to transport your scooter or wheelchair in the trunk is that very often the scooter simply won't fit properly. Even some chairs and scooters designed to be folded up with removable parts to make them smaller won't fit into some smaller trunks. The width of the trunk needs to be wide enough so that the scooter or wheelchair can be loaded, and it has to be wide enough to also accommodate the post of the boom lift that's used to lower it in. Boom lifts are simple devices that lift the scooter or wheelchair with an arm that swings so that it can turn and then lower it into the trunk. A good example of this type of lift is the Ameriglide Mini Universal Lift 200. For this specific lift, not only does your trunk width need to be wide enough to accommodate your mobility device, but you need to add another 4" to accommodate the boom lift. Also, don't forget that in most cases you'll need to remove the seat of your wheelchair or scooter before you load it into the trunk. And if it's possible to tilt the base of your device before you lower it into the trunk, often it will fit more easily.
A hitch lift is another type of boom lift. This mounts onto the hitch of your vehicle to lift your mobility device up and over before lowering it into the trunk. Then you remove the lift itself from the hitch to put it away, as well. This is a space-saving device that many people find convenient, and removes the need for the extra space to accommodate the boom post as in the previous example. The Ameriglide In-N-Out Mini Universal Lift 200 is a great example of this type of hitch lift.
Hitch size is an important factor when purchasing a lift. Different vehicles have different requirements today, as they can be constructed in vastly different ways. The size of a vehicle isn't as important to its weight capacity as how it's constructed. Your vehicle will have a recommendation for a maximum hitch size, and this will tell you how much weight your hitch can handle and whether a hitch lift is a good option.
Learn more about hitch types, sizes and weight capacities.
An inside trunk lift is a great option for a car as long as you carefully measure, and don't mind removing the seat to store elsewhere. In fact, this option is so popular with many that you may wish to consider trunk size when you purchase your next vehicle so you can use this type of lift. If you can't store your 4-wheel scooter or electric wheelchair in your trunk, then there are many other options listed below that make work in your situation.
Call And Talk To Our Vehicle Lift Specialist For Free Help - 1 (800) 346-1699. We vow to take our time to help you purchase the right lift for your needs.
Back to Inside Vehicle Wheelchair Lifts And Scooter Lifts Transporting Your Mobility Scooter Or Wheelchair In A Truck
