Motorized wheelchair
scooters
Motorized wheelchair scooters or mobility scooters
have become increasing popular over the last 10
years. These
scooters are better than power wheelchairs because of their
steering advantages. It is more akin to a car
or bicycle which is more natural to most people than a
joystick. In
addition, mobility scooters tend to be cheaper than power
wheelchairs.
Mobility Scooter
Benefits
Scooter users like mobility scooters because they
help conserve the user’s stamina. Scooter users tend to be
those who can walk, but only for limited
distances.
Also, they are great for keeping scooter users active as
they increase their traveling range when the scooter is used
and conserve the energy of the rider. Plus, they help some users
Scooter Industry
Information
The industry is made up of several companies who
produce mobility scooters:
Rascal Company, Pride, Invacare, Drive, Golden
Technologies and others. The two most popular
companies are The Rascal Company and Pride who have been
battling it out over the top two spots. Each of these
manufacturers tends to let a retailer sell the product
directly to you the consumer. This separation of the
manufacturer to the consumer has led to some complaints by
consumers who have dealt with less than reputable
dealers.
Mobility Scooter Types
Most models come in 3 and 4 wheel
versions. The 3
wheel scooters after easier turning and maneuverability
whereas the 4 wheel versions provide more stability and are
stronger.
Generally, you can find a version of both for most mobility
scooter models.
Pride Scooters
Pride makes a number of different
models. The
current number is at 14 different scooters. Popular scooters from
Pride include the Go-Go scooters and Celebrity
Scooters. Most
of their scooters offer max speeds of at least 4 mph and
traveling distances of up to 20 miles. These traveling distances
are very good for the scooter
industry.
Rascal Scooters
Rascal offers more variety in their scooters as
you can find convertible, foldable and more standard type
scooters.
Rascal scooters are interesting because of their
solid
performance and function numbers. Some of the scooters can
go up to 8 mph and a number of them have a maximum incline
of 10 degrees or better. This feature is greater
for traveling up steep driveways and ramps.
Prices & Retailers
Prices vary for these scooters depending on the
model; however, most new scooters can cost anywhere from
$800 up to several thousand dollars. There are a wide variety
of dealers for the main companies; however, some with a
major online presence include Happy Scooters, Wheelchair
medical, American Wheelchairs, The Scooter Store, 1800
Wheelchair, Spin Life, and Urban
Scooters.
Buying Questions and
Decisions
Due to the wide variety of mobility scooters
available, it helps to keep some things in consideration
when deciding what scooter works best for
you. Here,
are few questions you should be asking yourself before
deciding on a scooter:
1.
How much traveling will I need to do? If you are doing a great
deal of traveling, it would be wise to purchase models that
break down more easily or purchase a lift for your
car. Some
models are even suited to be taken on airplanes so be sure
to look around.
2.
What is the scooters traveling range
max?
This is an important consideration if you believe you
will be using your scooter a great deal. Scooter charging times
generally take 4 to 6 hours so it pays to get scooters
that offer you up 20 miles in distance before a
recharge.
However, if you will not be doing that much driving, this
may be a feature you are willing to sacrifice for a
little more speed and/or comfort.
3.
Will it be easy to store the scooter? Storage of scooters can be
a concern depending on your living arrangements and
needs. Ideally,
most would prefer lighter scooters that are 150 lbs or less
if they will need to lift it at all. In addition, foldable
scooters from Rascal may be the answer for those who want to
reduce the space the scooter takes up when not in
use.
4.
What are the weight capacity limits of the
scooter? A
number of scooters are made to handle weights of anywhere
from 300 to 500 lbs. This is an important consideration when
taking into account your own weight and groceries or other
items you may need to carry. Most of the scooters can
be found under the title “bariatric
scooters.”
These questions should help you start thinking
about what really matters to you in your scooter function
and performance. Check back in this section for additional
articles as we explore how the scooters match up and which
scooters are the better ones for certain performance and
function features.
*To find out about one mobility
scooter company and what they offer, check out
Rascal
Electric Scooters.
|