Lightweight travel scooter

[Deleted User] · 22 August 2019 at 4:54AM

#41 Post is very helpful with links, thank you sunshine 62. The Junior model is interesting as the lady's height is only about 4' 10" - will look for more You Tube clips as have not seen one suitable for short people before.

Crimson

50Twuncle · 22 August 2019 at 2:30PM

sunshine62 wrote: »

I purchased this scooter, with lower gearing and an extra battery, for my husband back in 2010.
I chose it specifically because I could manage the handling and transport of the scooter (he was already not able to do so) ie pick it up and carry it up a few steps or onto a bus or easily lift it into the car, partially folded or not, depending on the vehicle.

https://www.travelscoot.com/ (lots of info if you scroll all the way down on the different pages)

It is:
- light weight
- fold-able = very portable
- reliable
- has a great customer service ethic
- the batteries are approved for carriage by airlines.

He did find that, due to the inherent limitations of Parkinsons, he, not the scooter, felt rather unstable when going too quickly (!) over cobbles as there are no armrests to lean against. His version also does not have a motorised reverse gear so he just pushed back with his feet. Apparently newer versions now have motorised reversing abilities.

Here is a blog which is just chock full of great information: http://mytravelscoot.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html Start at February 2009 as she is learning all the tips and tricks of TravelScoot ownership. (from TravelScoot website)

While it was initially an expensive purchase, it was an absolutely brilliant piece of equipment for while it met his needs. It has now been passed onto another family member as hubby needs a lot more physical support to remain upright so we have moved on to one of the largest scooters on the market -- it actually comes with DVLA registration!

My top tip -for any mobility issues- would be to go to a local mobility shop (or several) to try out different brands and models, both new and used. If you see a scooter user while out and about, ask the person using of their experiences. Also check to see if any DWP benefits / Motobility payments can be applied to providing the scooter.
There's also a good, depending on where you live, used mobility equipment market online if one searches enough.

Good luck

Interesting but these scooters are £2000 +
And come from Europe, so servicing and more important, any warranty issues, may not be straightforwards (especially after 31th October)

LinW13 · 23 August 2019 at 11:39AM

I am planning to buy a Class 2 scooter - 4mph max for pavements and shops use. I have already got a hoist in the car boot and plan to keep the scooter there and take the lithium battery indoors for charging.

So here are a few points I've picked up on.

Batteries.
Please think about where you are going to charge the battery.
Will you need to remove it from the scooter?
If yes, can you manage to carry a battery weighing 20lbs, or would you need a lithium one weighing about half that?
All batteries need changing eventually. Lithium ones are costly.

VAT exemption.
Don't forget about this - it is valuable.
Online, check if the price you see is with or without VAT.
Products are exempt from VAT if they are specifically for use by us disabled peeps.
You have to self-certify and give the name of your condition. Mine is osteoporosis.

Government help.
Always worth checking out if you qualify for an allowance.

About using buses.
Are you going to stay in your scooter, or just carry it onboard?
I'm not sure it would be practicable to dismantle the scooter for bus travel. So how small is it? Does it fold up? How small is it folded?
Here is a link that explains a bit more about it all.
https://adaptationstation.co.uk/pages/bus-friendly-mobility

What else?
About the Travelscoot. It comes in at about 20 kilos or about 40 lbs depending on extras fitted. It comes apart, then folds like a pushchair. It costs about £2500 new and about £750 for replacement battery. Cheaper on eBay. Difficult to try before you buy as new ones come from Germany.

An alternative lightweight is the Supascoota - comes apart and folds. They have a range of models - with SLA and/or lithium batteries. Take a look at the videos on Youtube. This is the company that imports them to the UK. Again cheaper on eBay.
https://www.cavendishhealthcare.co.uk/portable-mobility-scooters

If a scooter does not fold but does dismantle, what does the heaviest part weigh? Can you manage this?

Another suggestion is a lightweight folding powerchair. The ground clearance can be quite impressive. Here you can see what is available.
https://www.johnpreston.co.uk/powerchairs/folding-electric-wheelchairs

Ground clearance can be a concern - some are very low to the ground. Almost all of them can stop working if the electrics get wet. Solid tyres never have punctures but give a firmer ride. Pneumatic ones can be difficult to blow up and a puncture might leave you stranded. You can get foam/gel filled pneumatics.

Most scooters have electro-magnetic brakes - take your hands off the throttle and it stops dead. Some have brake levers like a bike - you need to squeeze the levers to stop - my hands are not strong enough for that - are yours?

Also, it seems to me that the lighter and smaller a scooter is, the more careful you have to be about stability. I've been out and about in a manual wheelchair and I can tell you that pavements are not as flat and smooth as you think. And don't get me started about cobbles - cheaper than a massage chair but definitely an acquired taste.

A lot of local mobility shops sell ex-demo scooters or second hand ones taken in part exchange. It is always worth checking them out.

Finally, good luck in your hunt for a touch more independence - at a reasonable price!

Best wishes,
Lin

beanielou · 23 August 2019 at 2:35PM

LinW13 wrote: »

I am planning to buy a Class 2 scooter - 4mph max for pavements and shops use. I have already got a hoist in the car boot and plan to keep the scooter there and take the lithium battery indoors for charging.

So here are a few points I've picked up on.

Batteries.
Please think about where you are going to charge the battery.
Will you need to remove it from the scooter?
If yes, can you manage to carry a battery weighing 20lbs, or would you need a lithium one weighing about half that?
All batteries need changing eventually. Lithium ones are costly.

VAT exemption.
Don't forget about this - it is valuable.
Online, check if the price you see is with or without VAT.
Products are exempt from VAT if they are specifically for use by us disabled peeps.
You have to self-certify and give the name of your condition. Mine is osteoporosis.

Government help.
Always worth checking out if you qualify for an allowance.

About using buses.
Are you going to stay in your scooter, or just carry it onboard?
I'm not sure it would be practicable to dismantle the scooter for bus travel. So how small is it? Does it fold up? How small is it folded?
Here is a link that explains a bit more about it all.
https://adaptationstation.co.uk/pages/bus-friendly-mobility

What else?
About the Travelscoot. It comes in at about 20 kilos or about 40 lbs depending on extras fitted. It comes apart, then folds like a pushchair. It costs about £2500 new and about £750 for replacement battery. Cheaper on eBay. Difficult to try before you buy as new ones come from Germany.

An alternative lightweight is the Supascoota - comes apart and folds. They have a range of models - with SLA and/or lithium batteries. Take a look at the videos on Youtube. This is the company that imports them to the UK. Again cheaper on eBay.
https://www.cavendishhealthcare.co.uk/portable-mobility-scooters

If a scooter does not fold but does dismantle, what does the heaviest part weigh? Can you manage this?

Another suggestion is a lightweight folding powerchair. The ground clearance can be quite impressive. Here you can see what is available.
https://www.johnpreston.co.uk/powerchairs/folding-electric-wheelchairs

Ground clearance can be a concern - some are very low to the ground. Almost all of them can stop working if the electrics get wet. Solid tyres never have punctures but give a firmer ride. Pneumatic ones can be difficult to blow up and a puncture might leave you stranded. You can get foam/gel filled pneumatics.

Most scooters have electro-magnetic brakes - take your hands off the throttle and it stops dead. Some have brake levers like a bike - you need to squeeze the levers to stop - my hands are not strong enough for that - are yours?

Also, it seems to me that the lighter and smaller a scooter is, the more careful you have to be about stability. I've been out and about in a manual wheelchair and I can tell you that pavements are not as flat and smooth as you think. And don't get me started about cobbles - cheaper than a massage chair but definitely an acquired taste.

A lot of local mobility shops sell ex-demo scooters or second hand ones taken in part exchange. It is always worth checking them out.

Finally, good luck in your hunt for a touch more independence - at a reasonable price!

Best wishes,
Lin

This is a major concern.
When I first stated looking I was advised against a lightweight one for this reason.

50Twuncle · 23 August 2019 at 3:23PM

beanielou wrote: »

This is a major concern.
When I first stated looking I was advised against a lightweight one for this reason.

Also - avoid 3 wheel / close together dual front wheels - stability can be a problem

beanielou · 23 August 2019 at 3:36PM

50Twuncle wrote: »

Also - avoid 3 wheel / close together dual front wheels - stability can be a problem

Thank you

50Twuncle · 25 August 2019 at 11:56AM

LinW13 wrote: »

I am planning to buy a Class 2 scooter - 4mph max for pavements and shops use. I have already got a hoist in the car boot and plan to keep the scooter there and take the lithium battery indoors for charging.

So here are a few points I've picked up on.

Batteries.
Please think about where you are going to charge the battery.
Will you need to remove it from the scooter?
If yes, can you manage to carry a battery weighing 20lbs, or would you need a lithium one weighing about half that?
All batteries need changing eventually. Lithium ones are costly.

VAT exemption.
Don't forget about this - it is valuable.
Online, check if the price you see is with or without VAT.
Products are exempt from VAT if they are specifically for use by us disabled peeps.
You have to self-certify and give the name of your condition. Mine is osteoporosis.

Government help.
Always worth checking out if you qualify for an allowance.

About using buses.
Are you going to stay in your scooter, or just carry it onboard?
I'm not sure it would be practicable to dismantle the scooter for bus travel. So how small is it? Does it fold up? How small is it folded?
Here is a link that explains a bit more about it all.
https://adaptationstation.co.uk/pages/bus-friendly-mobility

What else?
About the Travelscoot. It comes in at about 20 kilos or about 40 lbs depending on extras fitted. It comes apart, then folds like a pushchair. It costs about £2500 new and about £750 for replacement battery. Cheaper on eBay. Difficult to try before you buy as new ones come from Germany.

An alternative lightweight is the Supascoota - comes apart and folds. They have a range of models - with SLA and/or lithium batteries. Take a look at the videos on Youtube. This is the company that imports them to the UK. Again cheaper on eBay.
https://www.cavendishhealthcare.co.uk/portable-mobility-scooters

If a scooter does not fold but does dismantle, what does the heaviest part weigh? Can you manage this?

Another suggestion is a lightweight folding powerchair. The ground clearance can be quite impressive. Here you can see what is available.
https://www.johnpreston.co.uk/powerchairs/folding-electric-wheelchairs

Ground clearance can be a concern - some are very low to the ground. Almost all of them can stop working if the electrics get wet. Solid tyres never have punctures but give a firmer ride. Pneumatic ones can be difficult to blow up and a puncture might leave you stranded. You can get foam/gel filled pneumatics.

Most scooters have electro-magnetic brakes - take your hands off the throttle and it stops dead. Some have brake levers like a bike - you need to squeeze the levers to stop - my hands are not strong enough for that - are yours?

Also, it seems to me that the lighter and smaller a scooter is, the more careful you have to be about stability. I've been out and about in a manual wheelchair and I can tell you that pavements are not as flat and smooth as you think. And don't get me started about cobbles - cheaper than a massage chair but definitely an acquired taste.

A lot of local mobility shops sell ex-demo scooters or second hand ones taken in part exchange. It is always worth checking them out.

Finally, good luck in your hunt for a touch more independence - at a reasonable price!

Best wishes,
Lin

I have an issue with the stated warranty of the JohnPreston power wheelchairs - stated as 3 months on some models - surely UK law should cover them for 12 months minimum ?
Fair enough - you can extend the warranty to 12 months - for an extra payment (PLUS VAT !)
VAT should not be payable under any circumstances on disabled equipment
It is a minefield out there !

TiagoF · 26 October 2019 at 3:40PM

I bought an efoldi power chair from Britannia Mobility to my dad and so far, he loves it. I know it's not really a scooter but it's quite fast too.

Lightweight travel scooter

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