Wheelchair mobility scooters have made life much easier for individuals who are disabled and find it difficult to walk for long periods of time. Getting in and out of a vehicle; however, can make life somewhat challenging for individuals who use wheelchair mobility scooters. In the event that you use this type of equipment, you should consider a wheelchair mobility scooter lift.

A wheelchair mobility scooter lift is a device that is specifically designed to lift scooters and power chairs in and out of vehicles. There are a wide variety of wheelchair mobility scooter lifts available on the market today. In order to choose the model that is right for your own needs, it is important to understand the difference between the many different types of wheelchair mobility scooter lifts.

One of the first things you should consider when evaluating the purchase of a wheelchair mobility scooter lift is the type of vehicle that it will be mounted to because this can make a difference in the type of model that you should purchase. Vans; for example, will typically use one specific type of wheelchair mobility scooter lift. A crane style wheelchair mobility scooter lift is ideal for this type of application. This type of lift works with a crane arm that swings out to vertically lift power chairs. The advantages of this type of lift is that it requires very little headroom and can be mounted on the interior of the back portion of the van.

A tilting or universal wheel chair scooter lift will work well for all types of small vehicles regardless of which type you own, including small trucks and small cars. The platform or bed of this type of lift will actually tilt downward for easy unloading and loading of the scooter.

If you own a pickup truck you might consider a side loading wheelchair mobility scooter lift. This type of lift allows the scooter to be lifted and loaded as well as unloaded from the bed of a pickup truck. In addition, a remote control can be used from the inside of the pickup truck cab, to activate the swing arm of the lift to swing out the scooter and then lower it to the ground. This type of wheelchair mobility scooter lift can generally accommodate up to about 350 pounds and has a swing range of 180 degrees. Some models also include a manual crank backup.

Depending on the type of vehicle which you own, you might also wish to consider a wheelchair mobility scooter lift that mounts on the outside of the vehicle on the hitch. A fully automatic hold down arm allows the platform or bed of the carrier to be lowered for easy access. This type of wheelchair mobility scooter lift will generally automatically fold when it is empty, making it quite easy to use and operate, along with one switch operation. Most such models will accommodate up to 350 pounds and may also include such options as a swing away option that will allow access to the trunk of cars or a two hitch adapter.