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Looking to buy a mobility scooter? It can be daunting to get your head around all the different types or functions of a mobility scooter. Standard or delta tiller? 3 or 4 wheels? Travel or pavement scooter? What is off board and on board charging? All these questions can be very confusing and make choosing the right mobility scooter very difficult. At CareCo we are happy to release our Mobility Scooter buyers guide for 2015.
Types of Mobility Scooters
Travel Mobility Scooter A Travel Mobility Scooter is a scooter that has been especially designed so that it can be transported and store with the upmost of ease. For instance many Travel Mobility Scooters can either be broken down or folded down allowing you to quickly and easily store the Mobility Scooter in your car boot, all ready to take with you wherever you may want to go.
Pavement Mobility Scooters If you don’t require a mobility scooter that can be broken down or folded then you may want to consider a Pavement Mobility Scooter. These are Mobility Scooters that generally have better performance than a Travel Mobility Scooter. For instance a Pavement Scooter will be able to travel further than a Travel Mobility Scooter. Pavement Scooters also tend to have more features such as lights and rear view mirrors.
6-8 Mph Mobility Scooter Sometimes referred to as Road Legal Mobility Scooters, 6-8 Mph Mobility Scooters are able to travel on roads. This allows them to travel at a much faster speed as they are not limited to the maximum speed of 4 mph which apply to mobility scooters travelling on the pavements. 6-8 Mph Mobility Scooters tend to be able to travel far greater distances than other any type of mobility scooters. They also have more features such as suspension and advanced dash displays to improve the experience you have while travelling.
Tiller Bars
Standard Tiller Bar A standard tiller bar is the handle fitted to the tiller of the mobility scooter which allows you to steer. These tiller bars are designed so that they can be gripped easily even by those who may suffer from aliments such as arthritis. Just below the handles is a widget that lets you accelerate and decelerate the speed of you mobility scooter. This has been designed so that even if the user only has the use of one hand they can still operate their mobility scooter.
Delta Tiller Bar
While similar in their function to standard tiller bars, the delta tiller bar can provide greater control over a user’s mobility scooter than the standard one. This aids those with limited strength in their hands as the D shape of the tiller is easier to turn. Furthermore due to having two independent levers to operate the speed of the mobility scooter it is easier for people with the use of one hand to use these tiller bars.
3 Wheel or 4 Wheel Mobility Scooters
There are distinct advantages to having either a 3 wheel or 4 wheel mobility scooter. A 3 wheel mobility scooter provides you with a greater turning circle that gives you more control over your mobility scooter and allows you to navigate obstacles and tight spaces. A 4 wheel mobility scooter comes you more secure and is less effected by vibrations when travelling. They also tend to be fitted with larger batteries giving them greater performance than a 3 wheel mobility scooter.
On board and off bard charging
On board charging means that you can charge your mobility scooter with the battery still attached to the scooter. This is helpful as it means that you do not need to disassemble your mobility scooter in order to charge it. Off board charging is where you remove the battery of your mobility scooter in order to charge it. This can be useful as you do not need to bring your mobility scooter into your home to charge it where it may be disassembled in your car or if stored outside, such as in a garage. Some mobility scooters come with both on board and off board charging.
Other features
There are also other features that some mobility scooters possess to look out for:
- Swivel seat – Seats that swivel to enable easier access when getting into your mobility scooter.
- Front & Rear Lights – When it is dark you should always use your lights to see others and also to be seen by others
- Suspension – This provides reduced vibrations to ensure a smooth ride when on the go
- Battery indicators – Shows you how much charge is left in your mobility scooter to stop you running out of battery life when travelling
- Speed adjustment – Some 6-8 Mph Mobility Scooters can be switched from a road scooter to a pavement scooter whereby the maximum speed of the mobility scooter is reduced to 4 mph (the maximum legal speed when travelling on the pavements)
- Solid or pneumatic tyres – solid tyres are puncture proof however pneumatic tyres reduce the vibrations felt by the user when moving
If you need any further help picking out a mobility scooter with all the features that you require than we are always on hand to help. Simply call us on 0800 111 4774 and we will be happy to help you further! Visit our mobility scooter shop and watch our reviews to learn more. See also:
