Mobility scooters are a great companion for handicapped people to have more freedom at home and outside. But there are several types of mobility scooters and finding the right type is important since this is a big investment.
Here we’ll introduce you to 7 major types of scooters so you can easily find the best mobility scooter out there for maximum comfort and ultimate maneuvering ability with good speed.
Types of Mobility Scooter – Detailed Discussion
1. Compactable Travel Mobility Scooters
People who need mobility vehicles that are portable and durable enough to carry them around private and public places will find a vast array of practical modern designs in the fields of mobility scooters.
Mobility scooters can be easily disassembled due to how lightweight the parts are; the scooter is foldable, this make it easy to shrink them into handy and compactable shapes. Some are designed with an auto-folding model, which helps fold the entire scooter just with the press of a button.
The scooter is made with lightweight material to allow easy transportation. It’s powered with a lithium-ion battery and made from aluminum frames; these features contribute to how light the scooter is compared to others.
The manufacturers of this scooter sacrifices comfort in place of accessible transportation. So don’t expect to see a captain seat or deluxe on a travel scooter.
If you want to start your mobility scooter for a protracted time, and don’t want to fold or disassemble the scooter, we recommend going for a full size or mid mobility scooter, which we will look into shortly.
2. Mid-size Mobility Scooters
This scooter is built for both outdoor and indoor purposes. They come with large wheels which makes them perfect when used outdoors, due to their maneuverability, the scooter can also be used indoors in malls, stores, coffee shops, and restaurants.
Most mid-size scooters are transportable too. Although, it’s a bit difficult to find a mid-wheel mobility scooter that is foldable, but most mid-wheel scooter can be disassembled into a lightweight piece which can be conveyed in trucks.
3. Full-size Mobility Scooters
The full-size scooter is not just built for indoor independence, but it’s designed to also perform excellently when used outdoors too.
It comes in a model of 4 mph, three-wheel scooter, and with a 20-mile battery. The 10mph, which is a four-wheel scooter comes with a 30-mile battery model. The scooter Can carry up to (135-225 kg (300 -500 Ibs)
If you have a large apartment and would love to use your scooter indoors, this will be an ideal match. It moves with decent speed and comes with a durable battery.
4. All-Terrain Mobility Scooters/Heavy Duty Mobility Scooters
This is recommended for unpaved areas like a golf course, farm, or gravel paths. It is specially designed to operate in such environments.
Ground clearance is one of the major factors that distinguish the standard mobility scooter from the heavy-duty scooter. The term ground clearance explain the level of space that exists between the part of a mobility scooter and the ground (aside from the wheel).
Scooter with higher ground clearance can go through larger obstacles easily. They are also known to come with undercarriage and wheels that are reinforced and durable enough to withstand strains. So if you want a scooter, you can use off-road and trail, the heavy-duty scooter will be an ideal option.
The scooter is designed in a luxury model with the capacity to carry 225kg (500 pounds). They come with batteries that have a large range, alongside additional technology to promote users’ comfort.
5. 3-Wheel and 4-Wheel Scooters
Here are some pros and cons of 3 and 4 wheel scooter to have you evaluate which will serve your needs best. Since most times, people pounder on questions, like which of the scooter will serve best. Let’s take a moment and explore some pros and cons.
6. 3-Wheeled Scooters
The three-wheel scooter is used to maneuver. They are built to have a sharp turning radius and will occupy less space than the four-wheel scooter. The scooter can go through extreme corners with great ease than four-wheel scooters.
If you want a transportable scooter, then we recommend going for the three-wheel scooters. And if you prefer foldable scooters, the three-wheel can be disassembled easily, due to the piece is made from.
Although the scooter is built to be 100% stable and safe, the three-wheel scooter, when it comes to stability, ranks a bit lower than the four-wheel scooter. The fact remains that four-wheel scooter ensure more safety and reduce the risk of topping over.
Those who prefer scooters with enough footrest area will want the four-wheel scooter. Three-wheel scooters are known to come with less space due to its deck that is designed to narrow in line with a single wheel.
7. 4-Wheeled Scooters
The four-wheel scooter is recommended for those who want more stability and safety. The scooter is less likely to topple over than the three-wheel. Since it designed with four-wheels it ensures more stability.
The four-wheel scooter comes with more accommodating foot space; as a result, it gives more comfort.
The four wheels, makes the scooter a perfect choice for tall users or those on the big side.
FAQ
Q. 1: What is the purpose of a mobility scooter?
Ans: The mobility scooter is specifically designed for users who can walk and manipulate themselves off and on a seated object. Different from a wheelchair, a mobility scooter doesn’t necessarily have to be used inside buildings.
Q. 2: Who qualifies for a mobility scooter?
Ans: If you’re not strong enough to use a walker or cane, or can’t use a manual wheelchair, then it possible you might want to check out the power-operated scooter that is manipulated with the use of a joystick. However, the power wheelchair demands your ability to safely get in and out of its seat and your ability to sit upright and operate the machine using the joystick.
Q. 3: What are the rules for mobility scooters?
Ans: Scooter and wheelchair are limited to 10 km/h on a clear road. Those that use mobility scooters are most times labeled as pedestrians, and must adhere to road rules. It is advisable not to have your mobility equipment driven roads where nature strip or footpath is available.
Q. 4. How many miles can you do on a mobility scooter?
Ans: Most mid-range scooter can go up to 4mph. With increased battery power, the device can cover up to 15 to 25 miles with a single charge (although this depends on the model you’re going for and the durability of the battery it has).
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