Transporting Your Scooter

The ability to transport your scooter will allow you to maximize the use of your scooter and the independence it provides. The best option for transporting your scooter is highly dependent upon your vehicle, type of scooter, your budget and the physical capacity of the transporter. There are four basic ways to transport your scooter:

1. Disassemble - With the introduction of the travel scooters, the option of disassembling a scooter for transportation has become very feasible and cost effective. Ease of assembly and weight of the heaviest component are critical for consideration and must be compatible with the physical ability of the transporter. Depending on your vehicle, this may be your only viable option. Depending on your scooter model, you will want to be careful not to forget to disconnect the 9-pin control cable and battery harnesses before disassembling.
2. Ramp - A portable ramp is a durable, economical option to get your scooter in and out of a van for transport. There are many different types of ramps with varying features. Be certain to choose the proper ramp for your scooter and your environment. Once the scooter is in your vehicle, be certain to use straps or a tie-down mechanism to secure the scooter safely in place. Also, be aware of how much the ramp weighs as it will potentially be handled often.
3. External Scooter Lift - This is typically an electrical scooter lift system designed for installation onto the outside rear of your vehicle. There are many models of external lifts with a broad range of prices and capabilities. The external lift may be platform style or boom arm style with a docking device.
   • The platform type external scooter lift transports the scooter via an external platform that extends from the rear of a vehicle. The platform will rest flat on the ground while the scooter is parked on it. Straps or an automated hold down arm will typically secure the scooter onto the platform and an electric motor will then elevate the platform to a safe height for transportation. Most platform style scooter lifts are fully automatic, however be sure verify this with the specification information.
   • The boom arm style external scooter lift is typically used to place and transport scooters in the bed of a truck. The boom arm will swing away from the truck bed to reach the scooter and a docking device is used to attach the scooter to the boom arm. An electric motor will elevate the scooter and then the boom arm can be maneuvered to place the scooter safely into the truck bed. It is important to note that boom arm style scooter lifts require varying amounts of physical assist so it is recommended to review the specifications carefully.
4. Internal Scooter Lift- The internal scooter lift is designed for transportation of the scooter inside of an automobile, typically a van or sports utility vehicle. It may be installed in the side or in the rear of your vehicle. As with external lifts, there are many models of internal scooters lifts with a broad range of prices and capabilities. Your decision to choose an internal lift may be dependent upon how you utilize the inner space of your vehicle and if you feel like you have enough room. The mechanics of an internal lift are similar to those of an external lift in that you have both the platform style and the boom arm style options.
   • The internal platform scooter lift operates like the external scooter platform lift with the exception that the platform will be automatically guided to the inside of your vehicle. Most internal platform style scooter lifts are fully automatic, however be sure verify this with the specification information.
   • The internal boom arm scooter lift is also similar to the external boom arm scooter lift with the exception that the boom arm will guide the scooter into the vehicle. This option requires varying amounts of physical assist so it is recommended to review the specifications carefully.