Choosing a Mobility Scooter – What to Look For

For those who cannot do life’s daily activities or those who have trouble walking mobility scooters are great to help assist with those issues. You can get a scooter designed solely for indoor or outdoor use, but if you want to go anywhere and everywhere, there are scooters that can accommodate that. In order for a mobility scooter to perform at its peak, the user must follow the user rules and construction guidelines. The comfort of the rider of a mobility scooter is dependent on how the base unit is constructed.

The mobility scooter’s base units can be called a platform or base plate and are the bodies of the scooter. Aluminum or steel usually make up the base unit and then a fiberglass floor is used to support the steering column which consists of the seat, feet, battery, and tiller. The drive train is also included in the mobility scooter’s base unit. The turning radius, the size of its wheelbase, the ground clearance, and overall dimensions determine the mobility scooter’s maneuverability in the indoors and out.

You should carefully look at the safety features and stability of the base. You should be able to turn without tipping and climb a curb in your scooter. The scooter should be supported and stabilised by the anti-tip wheels that come with the base. A mobility scooter that is meant to be used outdoors will be able to handle rugged terrain due to its rear wheel drive and will have rear anti-tips so the scooter can go up steep hills.

The drive train of the mobility scooter determines whether it is front or rear wheel drive. If your scooter is used only indoors or outdoors on paved surfaces it will most likely have front wheel drive. A front wheel drive scooter has a motor placed over the front wheels and only makes those wheels move. The motors are usually smaller and do not use chains or belts in front wheel drive mobility scooters because of how the motors and wheels are arranged. Since the front wheels are responsible for pulling the rider and the scooter it makes impossible to handle steep hills and curbs.

Motors that connect to the rear axle by a chain, bet, or a trans axle unit are used on rear wheel drive mobility scooters. Unlike front wheel drive scooters, the rear wheels push the weight of the rider and the mobility scooter. You will get better traction in these models because the weight of the rider, motor, and batteries is directly over the rear wheels. You will have better ability to climb because of the better traction and higher powered motors of rear wheel drive scooters. These rear wheel drive scooters can go faster, go longer between battery charges, and hold a greater amount of weight. Some models of mobility scooters will not be suitable for indoor use because they are less maneuverable due their wider wheel base.

Get your free mobility scooter quote today by calling 01952 61 31 31 or by requesting a call-back.