Should I buy a 3-Wheel or 4-Wheel Mobility Scooter?

For individuals who cannot walk, a mobility scooter or an ambulatory device is essential. Today, there are many types of mobility scooters, each one has different features and accessories, and even the prices vary tremendously. For the beginner who is buying a first mobility scooter, this can get all very confusing. Essentially, there are two basic types of mobility scooters- three or four wheel scooters. Both have some pros and cons. The key differences between the two are following

Better mobility: one of the distinct advantages of owning a 3-wheel mobility scooter is that they are a lot easier to maneuver in close spaces. Four-wheel mobility scooters are slightly larger and are not able to turn or maneuver easily in narrow alleys, elevators or in apartment buildings. Three wheel mobility scooters are more compact, smaller and are preferred for individuals who live in small apartments

Room for Leg. The lack of a 4th wheel offers more leg room for individuals who own a 3 wheel mobility scooter. It can be tiresome sitting on a scooter for a few hours and thus the 3 wheel scooter allows one to stretch the legs.

Compact: The majority of 3 wheel mobility scooters are small and compact. This gives the 3-wheel scooter a major advantage over the 4-wheel mobility scooter. Beside easy use in tight spaces and narrow lanes, the 3-wheel scooter is also great for use in crowded shopping malls, supermarkets and in congested alleys.

Stability: While 3 wheel mobility scooters are great, they do have one big disadvantage. Unlike a 4-wheel scooter, the 3 wheels scooters are not always stable. The stability is fine when one drives slow and along flat roads. The stability does come into play when one goes around corners, over bumps, and potholes. In addition, when someone heavy uses a 3-wheel mobility scooter, the vehicle can become unstable. In such scenarios, a 4-wheel scooter may be more appropriate

Durability: While both scooters are durable and built with solid stainless steel framework, the 4 wheel scooters are more suited for the outdoors and can be driven on all types of terrain. The 4 wheel scooters also more sturdy and can handle the environment a lot better than the 3 wheel scooters

Space: As predicted, the larger 4 wheel scooters have more room and thus can carry more weight. The latest 4 wheel scooters also have extra spaces to carry baskets both in the front and back.

Bulk: The four-wheel vehicles are significantly more bulky and bigger than the 3 wheel mobility scooters. For this reason, they may not be suitable for use in crowded places like shopping centers, plazas, or congested supermarkets

Cost: Because the 4 wheels mobility scooters are slightly bigger, they are also more expensive. There are some basic 4-wheel mobility scooters which are not expensive, but they may not have all the accessories. The basic scooters usually start at about $700 but the fancy one with gadgets and accessories can cost about $1,000-$1,300

Before you buy a mobility scooter, go and check one out; test drive it to determine if this is suited for you. Make sure it is comfortable, stable and whether it suits your living environment.

For more on mobility scooters, visit www.medexsupply.com

Mobility Scooters 101 Part 2

Make sure that the scooter you buy can be transported. If you use your scooter at work then you need to carry it in your car. If it is a large bulky scooter, you will have a hard time transporting it. Most of the latest designs of scooters have folding features which allow you to fold and store the scooter in the trunk of the car. For a frequent traveler, this feature is a major requirement

Get a scooter which is easy to use. The old mobility scooters had long handles and access to many parts can be difficult. Never buy a scooter without first trying it. Sit on it, ride it, and get the feel. The other feature of a scooter one needs to asses is how it operates; is it stable, can you maneuver the scooter in tight spaces and corner and can it go up an incline?

Further, for those who live in apartment, the mobility scooter must be capable of going backwards and turning in tight spaces. Always make sure the scooter is stable on all planes.

Comfort should be another feature to look for when buying a scooter. Make sure that the handlebars and seat height is adequate. Some large scooters also come with removable parts for easy transport. Most large scooters have many more features and are stable but can be difficult to store/transport. The more fancy scooters come with padded seats and many even have a back rest. The more accessories you add, the more expensive the scooter becomes.

For those who work or shop, one needs to get a scooter which can carry luggage. If you go grocery shopping, you need to the scooter to safely carry the bags. Determine what weight you can carry on the scooter. Most current scooters can carry a weight of 300-350 pounds. Some scooters even have a baggage comportment near the handlebars.

Cost: The cost is a major factor when buying a scooter. The least fancy ones cost around $600 and the more expensive one go above $1000. If you do not know what you want, go browse online and write to the reps. The last thing you should do is buy a scooter in a rush and find out that it does not have any of the above features

For more on mobility scooters, go to www.medexupply.com