Auto fold scooter….discuss

[WeirdOxygenGirl]

Does anyone own an auto folding mobility scooter? I am returning to driving after Christmas and want as much independence as possible, so thought this must be the best option.

Any recommendations of models/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Badbessie]

Auto fold scooters can be expensive and in reality not that light to lift. I have a mobility scooter to get round the village but have been looking at options for taking one in the car. I found most of the lightweight folding scooters less than steady when going out and about. To be honest on anything else other than a flat surface I felt I could tip over. Whilst at the coast I hired a scooter for the week and spoke to the dealer about the best type for a car and he said come and have a look at this. He showed me the boot of his car and to one side was a small hoist which extended picked up my scooter and lifted it into the boot. All I did then was fold the handle bar down. Take the seat off and I could have drove away. There are other options to mobility other than folding scooters and less expensive.

[sassy59]

Pete has a folding scooter by Drive and he wouldn’t be without it. It folds easily but does weight 27kgs so not lightweight. Pete loves to use it and feels very safe on it, he’s not lightweight either. It was purchased online. The scooters are expensive and not for everyone. Xxxx

[SORRELHIPPO]

It can depend on the area you want to use it in. Some areas have virtually no "kerb drops", where the pavement has a slope in it, down to the road, for crossing the road. Worth checking out the main area you will use it in, and then trying one out, before you purchase. Do not forget, if you are going out and about on this, it is worth getting hold of a RADAR key, (through disabilityrightsuk.org ) so you can access disabled toilets easily, (every time I call them this, I see a loo limping down the road using a walking stick!)

[WeirdOxygenGirl in reply to SORRELHIPPO]

Great advice thanks

[MoyB in reply to WeirdOxygenGirl]

I got my RADAR key from our local tourist information place. It cost me £5. xx Moy

[Jansybelle]

My husband has a scooter and wouldn’t be without it. When we had a car we were able to take it into five pieces and put it in the boot although the battery is rather heavy. I could not have done it on my own. The lightweight ones are rather expensive. As well as having copd and heart problems he also has severe arthritis in one ankle so cannot walk very far. We use the scooter to go to our local shops and some taxis will take them for a longer journey into town. Without it he wouldn’t be able to go out at all.The one we have cost about £800 two years ago. After use it has to be fully charged overnight. Hope this is some help to you.

We do have to look for the drop downs to cross the roads, not every road has them so have to use people’s run ins for their cars.

[Bevvy]

My next “car scooter” will be an auto folding one. I think my current scooter (a Luggie) is on the way out. Sadly that make do not do a automatic fold up scooter. Mine is manual.Having said which I certainly couldn’t lift a scooter in to my car but use a hoist which takes all the strain away.

I intend to use careco.co.uk who I have used over the years and I find very helpful.

[NUTZ2140]

Morning, I have a small auto fold scooter which I get through my pip payments, I had a hoist fitted in my car which lifts my scooter in and out. I cannot remember the name of the scooter but if you google Motability it will show you where their shops are. 😁👍

[WeirdOxygenGirl in reply to NUTZ2140]

Thanks 😊

[Bingo88]

I agree with everything said. Although I have not got a scooter. I have helped a friend with picking one and doing the research. Only thing I would say is the lighter the scooter the better you are with 4 wheels. Good luck. Brian

[Katinka46]

I have an eFOLDi tricycle. I posted a cartoon here about it two months ago, 'My New Toy'. To be honest I don't use it as much as I hoped I would. We live too far from any shops for me to use for that and we haven't been out as much as we used to because of Covid, but it would be perfect for visiting NT places, gardens, bird reserves. It is not as stable as I was hoping on rough ground. It folds up and weighs 17k. I can get it in the car on my own. When I bought my latest car I insisted on having one with the boot that is flat, straight in, no rim, because I needed to get my husband's wheel chair in easily, and so it is perfect for getting my eFOLDi in too. If you scroll down in my posts you will see the cartoon and the very helpful comments that others made. One member asked about carrying oxygen, in the picture you can see the pannier thing behind the seat. It was expensive. There are a lot on the market, I think the manufacturers suddenly realised that with an ageing population that still wanted to get out and about it was rich pickings, as it were.

I hope you find what you need,

All the best

Kate xx

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to Katinka46]

Sorry to know you don’t use your bike as much as you hoped, though it’s true none of us are going out much anymore. It’s disappointing it’s not as stable over rough ground as you thought. I think some of these things are advertised for off road use by manufacturers who assume they’ll actually only be used for going around a garden centre. Hopefully soon we’ll be able to go out a bit more and you’ll get some better use of your trike 🏍

[Joy123]

I have one, I use in garden and out and about. As others have said they can feel a little unstable on kerbs, even if pavement cut, I wouldn’t go out alone on it as if I hit a small lump then I need a drag/push. I’d recommend it for shopping though. For further stability make sure it has 4wheels. My Daugher/Son/Granddaughter can lift mine into car boot but I can’t. I thought about a hoist, very expensive and, in my car, would virtually fill the boot plus, I wouldn’t go out alone using scooter anyway. Mine weighs 21 kilo, can’t recall what it’s called, need to get instruction book out to tell you this. Joy. x

[WeirdOxygenGirl in reply to Joy123]

Thank you Joy very helpful. I will mainly use it for hospital appts and shopping.

[dantredan]

I have 2 Scooters, a small TGA Eclipse that I can get in and out of my Hyundai SU V with the help of a fitted hoist. Very useful when shopping but doesn't have any suspension( rather bumpy ride) and only has 3" ground clearance, not good for getting up or down kerbs. My second is an Invocare Orion, lovely comfy ride, 8 mph and 30 mile range, but it secondhand with 1453 miles on the clock for £1750. the hoist I bought was second hand and all in Including fitting cost me £800. Brand new I was quoted £1500. There are some very good secondhand deals out there.

[WeirdOxygenGirl in reply to dantredan]

Thank you, I think an autofold is the way for car use as you said. I also will be using a Hyundai SUV. I will use another scooter for any other terrain, quite a few good ones second hand as you advised.

[younginmind]

I have a Ranger mobility scooter which is used to get out & about instead of the car, but of course would need a van to transport it! So have just purchased a Scooty 'boot scooter', which weighs 17 kg including battery, is small, has 3 wheels, the rear wheels can be extended for stability when using outside, being small it does not have the same capacity for slopes/hills but fine on the flat, all the lightweight scooters use lithium batteries which are not cheap, another alternative is the Travel Scoot, but speed is 4 mph max, whereas the Scooty can be set at 3/6/8 mph. It is also no prob to fly with, you just have to give the details to the airline & there is no charge. Hope this helps.

[natswright]

My Scooter splits into 5 parts, and each can be lifted into the car. I manage this ok, with the limitations Long Covid has placed on my body. You'll fined these scooters much cheaper too!