Which cars are suitable for a wheelchair hoist?

Car hoists for wheelchairs are not suitable for all makes and model of car so it is important that you check the compatibility of your car for a hoist.

Many factors can influence which cars are suitable for a wheelchair hoist, such as the opening shape and dimensions of the car boot, the size of the mobility scooter, and the ability to collapse certain parts of the mobility scooter.

Often a model of car can seem to be a large vehicle, but the shape or dimensions of the boot opening make it unsuitable for some, or all car hoists to be installed. The car boot opening being high from the ground, the sloping shape of the tailgate, and the internal features can all prevent a car hoist from being suitable.

Manual wheelchairs are lighter than most mobility scooters but often are more difficult to load due to the dimensions. If folded, they can become tall and thin, meaning that the height available within a car can be restrictive unless a van-style vehicle is chosen.

Powered wheelchairs are often wider than a mobility scooter, sometimes creating issues due to the width of the vehicle.

Even though these aspects of wheelchairs can make lifting them into a car difficult, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a solution isn’t possible.

Jeff Gosling manufacture the Apex Assist Boot Hoist which is a 4-way powered car hoist which can load up to 150kg (depending on the vehicle). This style of hoist is the most commonly chosen as it operates up/down and in/out and can take the weight of many of the wheelchairs available.

One of the key benefits of the Apex Assist Boot Hoist is the reach it can obtain out of the vehicle and down towards the ground. This is especially beneficial if you are wanting to load a folding powerchair that collapses down into a flatter shape.

If your car is not suitable for this style of hoist, it may be that a smaller car hoist which requires more manual operation and can take a smaller load will be possible in your preferred car.

The wheelchair hoist fitter near you will be able to advise on your combination of vehicle and wheelchair. If you do not know any hoist fitters near you, please get in touch and we can advise about your local installer.