Mobility scooters

[DonB]

We have just started to research buying a mobility scooter for my wife, and we know nothing! We own a Chausson 717GA, garage model, and you might think size and weight is not a big issue, but we also carry a Honda 125 scooter and will continue to do so. So we are thinking about a lightweight folding type, the kind that comes to bits and not the automatic folding type because it is easier to pack and lift several smaller parts rather than one big lump. As so many motorhomers carry mobility scooters it seemed a good idea to ask you all for any thoughts or advice you may have.

[Den]

Hi Don

 

My mother in law uses a whisper scooter which easily comes apart and each section is not to heavy.

My wife manages quite easily.

Quality is very good and the turning circle is excellent.

Den

[flicka]

There have been numerous bad teviews regarding those mobility scooters.

I would suggest that you explore alternatives but those that do breakdown into separate components will make life much wasier, especially where the battery can be placed within the Motorhome, enabling easier charging.

 

[Den]

My mother in law. 85 and an amputee has a large 8mph scooter and 2 Whispers.

1 upstairs and 2 downstairs.

When we take her out the whisper is extremely good.

She has gone through 2 whispers, but she uses them constantly and her life without would be very difficult.

She has tried other small scooters but always goes back.

She does replace batteries occasionally , but that’s like having a car serviced.

[Mikeandthewife]

Hi Don

In your search you need to balance the fact the lighter the scooter the less mileage you will get from it, due to the diminishing size of the battery to keep the weight down, so be cautious dont just purchase purley on weight value, just think, if your venturing out for the day siteseeing from your camping spot, taking into account there will be inclines/hills along the route, you need to know you'll have enough power to get you back to your van again.

We had the same dilemma, we wanted a scooter that we could take away with us in our van for days out and also use for outings when in our car.

I can highly recommend Pride mobility scooters, my wife has the Go Go Elite Traveller LX, it breaks down very easily (into 4 parts), fits into the garage of our Hymer and also into the boot of our car, we also got the model with the 17amp battery, you get 15 miles out of it, so worth a few pounds more. If you do choose this range I would not get the three wheel version though, because it can be unstable.

From a purchasing point of view, I can also recommend CareCo, their prices are quite good, but more to the point they get good reviews. I hope this has helped, feel free to ask if you have any questions.

Mike

 

 

[StuartO]

There are an enormous range of mobility scooters ranging from lightweight folding types to ruggid and powerful off-roaders and they vary widely in weight and cost as well - not to mention a lively market in used scooters. The lightweight folding types will only be useful on relaively smooth, firm surfaces, such as on pavements and inside shops, and they will have a relatively short range before needing recharging - but perhaps enough for shopping trips etc when you use the MH to get to the car park.

 

If you want to be more adventurous and use a scooter to make a road journey of several miles to visit a town or get to the shops then a bigger, more powerful scooter will be desireable. The user's weight is a factor you need to consider. It's also worth bearing in mind if you tour abroad that the speed limit for scooters on the roads is higher in France than UK - 15mph rather than 8mph. There are some sold in UK which are switchable to the Continental speed range but not many, so maybe you look at what available in France.

 

There are lots of specialist dealers who will carry a wide ranging stock of new and used machines so you could go there and pick their brains as well as try some out. Finally if you want to transport both a scooter and a mobility scooter you should perhaps consider using a trailer to transport them rather than overload the MH itself. I recently bought an 8 foot box van trailer and fitted it out for a combination of luggage, cargo, a mobilty scooter and there is also room for bikes and perhaps a motor scooter too. I have had plenty of experience towing a trailer with the MH and it has never been a problem. You have lots of options, depending on what you want to achieve.

[hallii]

From the Gov. site " You do not need a licence to drive a mobility scooter or powered wheelchair, but you may have to register it. Only certain types can be driven on the road.

Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs come in 2 categories:

‘class 2 invalid carriages’ - these cannot be used on the road (except where there is not a pavement) and have a maximum speed of 4mph

‘class 3 invalid carriages’ - these can be used on the road, and have a maximum speed of 4mph off the road, and 8mph on the road

You do not need to register a class 2 invalid carriage.

You must register class 3 invalid carriages.

You must be 14 or over to drive a class 3 invalid carriage."

 

H

 

[flicka]

Following on from Stuartd's post.

The mobility scooters that are intended for shopping / flat surfaces are often fairly useless on caravan sites where they will encounter loose surfaces i.e. gravel & wet grass.

Trying to push a mobility scooter & it's occupant through gravel can be a strenuous task.

 

[DonB]

Thank you all for your helpful advice. We now have information coming from several companies and feel a little bit more able to ask the relevant questions. Lots to think about! We think that if we have a good clear out we can carry the Honda and a mobility scooter based on our last visit to a weighbridge, as the van is plated at 4100kg, and this model you cannot fit a towbar according to the manufacturer.

[Will86]

The scooter I use almost daily is the heavy type that has a 30 mile battery, some are exotic with lots of extras such as springs back and front. Two people would find it difficult to lift this one, if a ramp is used and arranged at a steep angle it cannot drive up even if empty. A lift could be fitted. I paid £2,600 bought from a mobility shop in Crawley. Some are twice that price, mine has no springs and is quite OK. I've not tried the more expensive one's.

 

One snag that can arise when sharp dips or bumps are met, if either front wheel suddenly slows or snatches, the steering can lurch to left or right, so common sense is to read the path ahead all the time and to grip the handlebars tight when seeing a problem. It can be used on the road at 8mph and be assured that is fast ... and don't forget turning sharp can tip you over even with 4 wheels. The 3 wheeled type are far more scary and in my view best left alone.

 

There is a battery level indicator but I avoid going below 1/2 full however more recharges reduces the battery life

[tonyishuk]

Consumer group Which has some information on mobility scooters. Maybe more if you take out the one pound introductory offer, and cancel within 30 days.

 

https://search.which.co.uk/search?w=best%20buy%20mobility%20scooters

 

 

Rgds

[Will86]

I don't read that as very helpful. Where are you going to use it and what the path conditions are like outside your door is most important. Its like buying any costly product, by talking to as many owners as possible is the only ... only answer.

 

For 'Which' to state that they have decided on the best buys is a pretty dumb comment, it depends on the users age and ability and mental capacity to operate the machine safely, I also use a stair lift occasionally because its fitted for Mrs Will to use. They too have their differences.

 

One person in a supermarket I asked freely admitted he had bought several mobility scooters before deciding what was the best A comment that is widely publicized within these pages !

 

Don't be fooled by what you read, a salesman is a salesman whether he's selling chewing gum or a Sherman tank.

 

And another note never believe experts, I was accepted as one in my work over 40 years, lie with a smile, it always works.