Mobility scooters are wonderful for people with difficulties in getting about. It helps people maintain their independence, perform daily tasks such as grocery shopping and improves the quality of life. One of the greatest benefits of your CareCo mobility scooter is that you can carry items with you – items that might otherwise be cumbersome, heavy or too bulky. Without one, it may be out of the question for one person to carry on their own with or without mobility issues. However, it’s easy to get carried away and put too much weight on the vehicle. This is how you operate yours safely.
What happens if you Overload your CareCo Mobility Scooter?
There are several potential problems when you put too much weight or cause an imbalance in the vehicle. It’s not like a car where the weight in the boot distributes the weight of the engine at the front.
- It can put strain on the suspension, potentially leading to a breakdown and damage to the wheels and support frame
- It can put too much strain on the motor, leading to a blowout and expensive repairs
- It can also put a strain on the chassis and other mechanical parts, leading to damage to the frame. This is dangerous and expensive and could lead to a write-off
- Poor weight distribution leads to poor control of the vehicle including accidents, insurance claims, damage to your vehicle and to other people
- Your insurance could be void if it is later revealed your vehicle was carrying too much weight or had a bulky item that restricted your control of the vehicle
Read the Instruction Manual
The first and most obvious thing to do is to read the instruction manual on maximum recommended weight load. This will vary by model type. Travel CareCo mobility scooters are lightweight and won’t take as much weight as a larger, heavier roadworthy vehicle. If you never exceed the weight capacity, you are unlikely to experience problems. The weight load recommendation ensures safe use that will not put a strain on your vehicle beyond normal capacity. Adhering to it will extend the life of your vehicle.
Think About Weight Distribution
A few bags of shopping shouldn’t be a problem but if you’re carrying more than you would normally carry then make sure you pay extra attention to distribution of the load. You don’t necessarily have to overload it in terms of weight to experience these kinds of control problems. Sometimes, all it takes is the wrong balance – too heavy on the back or the front. Problems will become most apparent when going around a corner or travelling on a gradient of any significance. Any weight on your vehicle acts as ballast (to stabilise it). If this is a problem, purchase a scooter saddle bag to spread the load better.
Secure Your Load
Use bags, baskets or straps to secure your shopping or any other load. If anything falls off because the load is loose or precarious, it can hit people or vehicles or cause accidents as cars swerve to avoid the obstacle. You will be liable for any damage caused by anything that falls off your mobility scooter, no matter how small. Take a look at our CareCo mobility scooter accessories range for items to help you transport items in safety.
Never Carry anything too Wide
Overloading your CareCo mobility scooter is not just about the weight or the distribution, it’s the size of the thing too. A lightweight item can be dangerous if it’s long enough. Even minor fluctuations in weight at the ends can cause you to unbalance. In simple terms: if you won’t carry it on a motorbike or a cycle because it’ll make you too wobbly, then don’t carry it on a mobility scooter.