Taking a Scooter or Power Chair With You in Covington and Mandeville: How I Compare Vehicle Lifts
Before endorsing a lift for a scooter, I will need two precise details: The device and the vehicle. When determining weight and fit, I need to know if the mobility device is a scooter or power chair. For the vehicle, I have to take into consideration the rear clearance, the cargo opening, the hitch, and where the device is allowed to travel. Until I have those two matched up, I will not compare the various lift models.
This is the method I employ for the customers I assist in Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, and Slidell. Rather than choose a carrier based on a single value, we can evaluate the vehicle and mobility device together, through 101 Mobility of New Orleans.
First, we will need to determine the location where the scooter or power Chair will be transported; this will greatly aid us in the decision-making process.
Will it be an outside carrier or an inside cargo lift?
An outside carrier brings the mobility device along directly behind the vehicle; an inside cargo lift brings the device into the rear cargo area of the vehicle.
There is no ‘best’ answer to this; it is based on a number of factors.
With an outside lift platform, I am concerned with the weight and the rear clearance; I will also consider the distance to the cargo area, the weight of the rear hitch, and the impact of the new equipment on the parking process.
With an inside cargo area lift, I will consider if the vehicle has the required opening and clearance for the mobility device and lift; the mobility device will take up space in the cargo area of the vehicle.
That distinction matters when comparing a scooter carrier in Covington versus a power chair lift in Mandeville. The answer to the question, “Which lift carries my scooter?” is more complex. The correct answer is, “Which lift carries this scooter with this vehicle in the way I need to use it?”
Hitch, Rear Clearance, Parking, and Garage Constraints
In the case of lifts, the work is done after the lift has been installed.
If I am looking at an outside carrier, I will check the receiver hitch and how far past the vehicle the carrier extends. I will also ask how you park your vehicle and if you have frequent access to the rear of your vehicle.
Garage use is also an important part of the equation.
An outside carrier adds equipment to the back of the vehicle, so the length of the vehicle is important when parked. If the carrier has a folding platform, I will also need to consider how that platform folds in order to clear the garage and normal parking routes.
There is also the matter of having access to cargo.
The Bruno Out-Sider, for instance, has an outside carrier that has a swing-away option, which moves the carrier to the side to allow for access to the trunk, hatch, or cargo area. This solves one problem, but still requires checking the vehicle, hitch, scooter, and available space.
With an inside lift, the problem is more about the cargo opening and the available space in the cargo area. I also need to consider how the lift affects the interior of the vehicle.
This is why I ask about your real routine before suggesting equipment.
Which Vehicle Lift for a Scooter or Power Chair Do I Compare?
The 3 lifts compare for vehicle transport in 3 different ways.
| Vehicle Lift | Where the Device Travels | Published Capacity | Important Fit Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruno Out-Sider | Exterior platform | 350 lbs | Must have a class II, III receiver hitch, and must accommodate the vehicle and mobility device. |
| Bruno Curb-Sider VSL-6000 | Inside vehicle | 250 lbs | Requires an opening in the cargo area and a vehicle specific install |
| Bruno Curb-Sider VSL-6900 | Inside vehicle | 400 lbs | 29 inch opening and telescoping lift head to help clear bumpers and wider devices |
| Harmar AL100 | Exterior platform | 350 lbs | System designed for scooter fit, hitch position, platform, and wheelbase |
| Harmar AL100HD | Exterior platform | 400 lbs | Vehicle and scooter still need to fit the system |
Bruno Out-Sider
The Bruno Out-Sider is a lift for scooters, power chairs and other devices.
101 Mobility lists 350 lbs. capacity and a 28.5 inch platform.
It is designed for class II or class III receiver hitches.
It folds automatically for storage when not carrying a device.
A swing away access is optional for cargo area access.
Depending on the vehicle and device, there are situations where the Bruno Out-Sider is a viable option but a 350 lbs load capacity in and of itself is certainly not sufficient for determining that compatibility exists.
Bruno Curb-Sider
Other designs lift mobility devices into the vehicle, and the Bruno Curb-Sider is no exception.
With vehicle specific bases and device specific docking, the system will raise, lower, and rotate the scooter or power chair.
The published capacity of the VSL-6000 is 250 lbs, while the VSL-6900 has 400 lb capacity. 101 Mobility states a minimum opening height of 29 inches for the Curb-Sider line.
This would be the design of choice to keep the mobility device in the vehicle, in the cargo space, so long as the device fits. The costs and benefits relate to the opening and geometry of the device and the use of the cargo space.
Harmar AL100/AL100HD
Yet another exterior platform option is the Harmar AL100/AL100HD.
The AL100 has a capacity of 350 lbs, and the AL100HD has a capacity of 400 lbs. Both of these models use a 27.5 inch by 39 inch platform. Published specifications place a maximum scooter wheelbase of 42 inches and a hitch height of 5 to 18 inches.
The system provides an automatic hold-down foot and provides a rear wheel cradle for scooter securement.
As stated, these numbers help guide our selections. They cannot and do not replace contacting the scooter and contacting the vehicle.
Loading Practice and What You Need to Be Able to Do
Just because a lift is a good match on paper, does not mean it will be a good match if the loading process does not fit your needs.
Understanding who will ultimately use the equipment is very important to me in order to understand how equipment will be utilized.
For an exterior lift, you’ll have to implement a system to get the scooter or power chair on the platform, and have a way to engage the required securement or hold down system. You must be able to control the lift as designed.
With an inside hoist, e.g. the Bruno Curb-Sider, the process is easier. The mobility device is connected to its docking equipment, and the lift does the rest, raising and rotating it into the vehicle.
The point of the design is to make sense in the real world and not just when you set it up.
I’d say the same for not recommending a particular lift.
If the vehicle, hitch, cargo opening, mobility-device weight, or the overall loading process does not match the lift, I’d rather set up a different configuration than use the wrong equipment. An exterior carrier may be better for one combination, while an interior lift may be better for another.
The product should fit the entire transportation routine.
What Happens After Installation?
After the vehicle lift is installed, we show you how to position the lift and engage the required docking and securement devices. We also demonstrate control positioning of the lift to its travel or storage position.
We also discuss the issues and solutions which formed the basis of our original recommendation.
- Can you access the cargo area to place the cargo area lift as designed?
- Will the location of the cargo area lift interfere with normal parking?
- Can the mobility device easily fit in the cargo area?
- Can you describe the expected steps that must be done before you can drive your vehicle?
Did you observe the installation as it was installed on the specific combination of a vehicle and a mobility device that we evaluated before we placed the order for the lift?
If later you have either a question or an equipment issue, even if it is several years later, 101 Mobility can provide you with service and support for accessibility and mobility equipment, including maintenance and repair services.
If you have any questions about the lifts, and you are in Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, or Slidell, you can contact us for a free in-home consultation. We can best help you determine the lift needed for your power chair or scooter and your vehicle if you have the information for both.
What information do you need before recommending a vehicle lift?
I need the exact scooter and the exact vehicle. I need the physical dimension and weight of the mobility device. The hitch on the vehicle also has constraints, and the cargo area dictates the opening and space for the installation.
Can any scooter carrier fit any SUV?
No. There are many constraints and a compatibility check is required. The constraints include the mobility device, the vehicle make, model and year, the hitch and the fit specifications, and the lift.
Is an outside carrier better than an inside vehicle lift?
This question is impossible to answer because there isn’t a clear winner. An exterior platform doesn’t involve loading the mobility device into the cargo area; however, it does add equipment behind the vehicle. An interior hoist requires an ample cargo opening and a sufficient amount of space.
How much weight can the Bruno Out-Sider carry?
The Bruno Out-Sider has a weight capacity of 350 lbs. published. Weight capacity is just one of many factors relating to compatibility, so the mobility device, the vehicle, the receiver hitch, and the platform must be evaluated too.
What is the difference between the Bruno Curb-Sider and Bruno Out-Sider?
As mentioned above, the Bruno Curb-Sider lifts a compatible scooter or power chair into a vehicle’s cargo area and the Bruno Out-Sider carries the mobility device on an exterior platform that is installed behind the vehicle. As always, the vehicle, device, and cargo space must be taken into consideration, along with the hitch and how the device will be loaded.
What is the difference between the Harmar AL100 and AL100HD?
The main published difference is the Harmar AL100/AL100HD is rated at a capacity of 350 lbs. for the AL100, while the AL100HD is rated at a capacity of 400 lbs. Both must be benchmarked to the scooter and vehicle prior to install.
Will a vehicle lift affect how I park or utilize my cargo area?
Potentially, yes. Due to the added equipment, an exterior platform provides rear clearance and access obstruction issues. An interior lift occupies cargo space. I factor in cargo accessibility, rather than evaluating a lift based on its capacity, when recommending a lift in consideration of parking and cargo space in a garage.
About the Author
Jonas Boutte is the owner of 101 Mobility of South Louisiana. He has hands-on training from accessories manufacturers from Bruno, Harmar, Stiltz, Staying Home, EZ-ACCESS, National Ramp, and others. Each of these companies works to promote accessibility and mobility. Jonas helps customers in the Greater New Orleans area; Covington, Mandeville, and Slidell, make informed decisions about accessibility and mobility considering the equipment, property, vehicles, and daily activities.
