Mobility Scooters

Pollik

Guest
A recent thread got me thinking.

How many members have to deal with disability (their own or co-travellers)?

I am not in this situation quite yet, but looking ahead, I am wondering how to deal with loss of mobility...how best to carry a scooter if internal space is limited, climbing the step into the habitation area....that sort of thing.




Polly
 
I'm in the mobility business, scooters and powerchairs. I think everyone needs a different solution dependant on their disability, but if I was to generalise I would suggest a trailer, they are available quite cheaply and are lower than standard trailers making it easier to load and unload.
 
mobility scooters

the better half has a very serious mobility issue.

but we are holding off getting a scooter,because in our opinion they can make you very dependant on them.

we have talked to people with them and some say the same.

so we are waiting till the missus can't be mobile without.

ther's a guy over the road with one, he potters about the garden on his own but if he goes next door he goes on his scooter.

he has put a load of weight on as well.
 
im a crip and i wouldnt use one, i dont even use my stick...

its hard enough pulling a girl with how bad my back is all the time without advertising the fact..........

even on my very bad days, i wouldnt use one, not a chance, would rather be stuck in the house.
 
Pollik said:
A recent thread got me thinking.

How many members have to deal with disability (their own or co-travellers)?

I am not in this situation quite yet, but looking ahead, I am wondering how to deal with loss of mobility...how best to carry a scooter if internal space is limited, climbing the step into the habitation area....that sort of thing.




Polly
Click to expand...

With respect Polly, wouldnt you be best dealing with it if it happens?, take each day as it come and i'm sure you would cope with most situatiuons xx
 
cooljules said:
im a crip and i wouldnt use one, i dont even use my stick...

its hard enough pulling a girl with how bad my back is all the time without advertising the fact..........

even on my very bad days, i wouldnt use one, not a chance, would rather be stuck in the house.
Click to expand...


what a very grim outlook on life you have CJ,
 
I am due to get a disabled blue badge tomorrow, not something I wanted but I am having increasing difficulty walking. Also waiting to get some crutches to try to help, it is something that has been getting worse over the past year. Don't want to have think about a mobility scooter, I tend to think too many people are using them when they really don't need to.
 
My wife uses a mobility scooter and it's given her a new lease of life when we're out in our motorhome. No longer does she have to rely on me telling her what a view looks like and showing her the photos. As long as the ground is reasonably level we can see and do things together like we used to when she was mobile. Ok she's never going to get it over somewhere like a lake district fell or mountain, but you'd be surprised just how far off road they can go before getting stuck. It also means she gets to carry the picnic in the bag on the back!!

The model she has is called a GoGo Elite Traveller XL, it is rated for a maximum 23 stone rider weight and has a stronger gearbox and motor and larger wheels than most car boot type scooters. The tyres are also solid so no worries about punctures.

Her scooter breaks down into four parts for travelling in our van, the main chassis is stored under the bed and the rear axle / motor assembly and battery box go in a floor locker, and the seat is stored on the bed when we're driving. At night the chassis and seat are stored in the cab area, or if we are on a camp site, fully assembled outside under its cover.

I reckon my wife has got the best bit of the scooter though, it's me that has to do the assembling and dismantling and lifting and driving our van. All she does is sit on the scooter and drive it!!
 
cooljules said:
even on my very bad days, i wouldnt use one, not a chance, would rather be stuck in the house.
Click to expand...

Stuck in the House with the Ugly Dog ?? yeah Pull the chain.

Chasing pretty young ladies CJ .............. More your style I reckon, And good luck , if you should be fortunate to catch a couple and you cant cope. I;e scared of the hounds .........send em in my direction :lol-061:

As Maingate says a friend in need is a pest :D:D:D

Channa
 
I put off using a scooter for years. I have numerous permanent problems and struggle to walk more than very short distances so always tended to use the car (I have a Smart as a run around). A recent stroke meant doctors stopped me driving for a month so I promptly went out and bought a decent Pride Class III scooter. Best thing I ever did and wished I'd done it years ago as it's opened up whole new areas for me to explore.
I'm converting a Peugeot Expert into a single berth camper (my wife isn't interested) and am ensuring room to carry the scooter inside for everyday use but will use a trailer for when camping. Folding ramps make loading into the van or the trailer easy.
It took me a long time to accept my mobility limitations and it was only after a stern lecture by a Police Sergeant friend when he realised I hadn't already applied that I got a Blue Badge - I'm now on my 3rd.
FWIW I don't get DLA / Mobility as I have't applied - again pride is stopping me as my GP has said my conditions would qualify.

Paul H
 
useful tool

Both my partner and myself use mobility scooters, I only use mine when I have to, my partner all the time. We did our own conversion and the layout design was made with carrying mobility scooters in mind, got some fantastic lightweight ramps for loading and unloading. Had some metal ramps that we could hardly lift so choose well. For mobility scooters, I had an expensive one but found a company selling on ebay out of Leicester, less than a grand, heavy duty for us larger souls, 8 mph. I bought two of these from ebay, one for my partner and one for her mother, seem great for the price and has a 1100 watt motor, most only have 800. Horses for courses on puncture proof tyres, I have them, very hard ride, my partners has inner tubes and has a much softer ride.
It up to you on whether you become reliant on scooters is upto yourself, a simple tool that makes the difference of enjoying a visit somewhere or struggling in pain and not getting around. There are trailers being produced for them or platforms fixed on the towing eye if you wish to carry external. 4mph versions normally have a very limited range of around 10 miles, 8 mph class 3 versions, 20 miles plus range depending on battery size and can be driven on the road and require free Road Tax disc!
 
I have been reading all the posts on here. I am most impressed with all you folks. There is a beautiful world out there, with the greatest respect I take my hat off for your determination to enjoy life no matter what.
 
Opinion seems to be starkly polarised!

I am looking at the problem now because I am continuing to think of changing my van and scooter needs might influence my choice.

We are already finding that, although my partner's mobility is not severe enough to qualify for a blue badge, it is sufficient to severely limit exploring larger towns.

We did think about trailer, nearly bought one, but decided it would hamper parking.

Thanks for all the comments. I think there is a market here for an entrepreneur to create a MH friendly solution.





Polly
 
Have you tried applying for a blue badge? Apparently the section filled in by my doctor seems to suggest that my mobility problem is temporary (hope so & I would happily return the badge), this is despite it getting worse over the past couple of years to the point I can maybe manage about 20-30 yards without stopping for a rest on a good day. Trying to manage with crutches but still a struggle, due to have an MRI scan next week hopefully to diagnose my problem.
 
hi. i wear calipers on both legs. i use a dax /monkey bike when away in the truck. gets me around and you can ride it into many more places than in uk.
at home i park one of my others m,bikes just outside the front door . if i have to walk more than a couple of houses away i use that.
no good to let pride take over , just think out of the box .
get loads of grief when parking either a m,bike or my mini artic in a disabled parking place. just lift a trouser leg .then get told disabled drivers shouldnt drive m,bikes or trucks. cant win.
i do take pride in being a disabled class one lorry/coach driver . but try and explain it to the walking brain dead.
some try and tell me i cant have my unit as my disabled taxed vehicle.
cj. i,m not worried about my disability ,my good looks ,charm and nice personality make up for it. and i,m not at all vain. ha ha
dont let them get you down.
cheers alan.
 
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