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Car Boot Hoists

Car Hoist for Mobility Scooter or Wheelchair

We install a range of boot hoists that are operated via a remote control, powered by the vehicle battery. These boot hoists are commonly used to load either a manual wheelchair, powered wheelchair, or mobility scooter. It is important that you consider the compatibility of size of the boot opening with the mobility aid you are loading so please below for further information.

Boot Hoist

Apex Assist Car Boot Hoist

The Jeff Gosling Apex Assist Car Boot Hoist comes with either a maximum safe working load of 100kg or 150kg. It has the most slimline arm available for this weight category, providing maximum space possible for loading a mobility scooter or wheelchair.

Boot Hoist operation

Operation

The boot hoist attaches to the wheelchair/mobility scooter via specifically installed lifting points. Using the remote control, the hoist arm lifts the wheelchair/mobility scooter and moves it into the vehicle whilst being guided by the user. The wheelchair/scooter is then lowered onto the boot floor and stowed for the journey.

It increases independence by removing the requirement for somebody to physically lift the wheelchair/mobility scooter into the vehicle and the operation can often be carried out by the wheelchair/mobility scooter user themselves.

The design of the boot hoist allows it to reach low down to the ground, enabling it to lift folding powerchairs that are compact once folded as well as more conventional wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

The powerful actuator provides a quiet operation via the large, tactile buttons on the IP66 rated handset.

A demonstration of the hoist operation can be seen on the video towards the bottom of the page or a step-by-step guide is detailed in the below section.

You should always ensure you are completely happy with how the hoist operates before using it.

We would recommend a pre-use inspection to ensure no parts have excessive wear and that all parts are securely in place.

When operating the hoist, ensure all body parts are kept clear of moving parts. Be aware of potential trapping hazards and do not place feet or any other body parts underneath the raised mobility device. Watch the mobility device and keep it steady to make sure it does not hit the vehicle.

Always make sure you are watching the mobility device and hoist throughout the operation.

Operation

This example is for loading a mobility scooter into an empty boot with the conventional lifting clasp attachment.

Boot Hoist switching on

1. Ensure the vehicle is prepped for taking the mobility scooter (e.g. fold down seats if required) and turn on the hoist via the switch on the control box

Up button on hoist control

2. Lift the arm of the hoist to its fully raised state by pressing the up button on the handset

Out button on hoist control

3. Rotate the arm out of the vehicle by pressing the out button on the handset until it stops moving

Down button on hoist control

4. Ensure the mobility scooter is positioned under the hoist arm attachment and press the down button on the handset to bring the lifting clasps towards the mobility scooter attachment

Scooter and hoist arm

5. Continue to lower the hoist arm until the attachment clasps are approximately an inch below the lifting point on the mobility scooter

Attaching lifting clasps

6. Attach the clasps to the mobility scooter lifting points ensuring a positive engagement into the lower portion of the keyhole cut-out

Scooter being lifted by hoist

7. Begin to lift the mobility scooter by pressing the up button on the handset

Rotating scooter

8. When the hoist is in the fully up position, rotate the mobility scooter 90° to orientate it ready for going into the boot

Scooter moving in

9. Begin to rotate the hoist arm by pressing the in button on the handset to move the mobility scooter into the vehicle

Boot Hoist switching on

10. Once the mobility scooter is in the vehicle, lower the hoist arm down until the mobility scooter rests on the vehicle floor by pressing the down button on the handset

Switching the hoist off

11. Turn off the boot hoist via the switch on the control box

Boot Hoist switching on

12. Secure the mobility scooter in the vehicle using the restraint strap system

The hoist draws no power when switched off so we would always recommend turning off the power to the hoist when it is not in use.

Boot Hoist internally

Vehicle and Wheelchair/Scooter Suitability

Your choice of hoist can be limited by the vehicle you choose. This can either be due to the weight limit in the vehicle or the size of the boot opening. Some vehicles are not suitable for any hoist. Therefore, it is important to measure your vehicle to make sure that your wheelchair/scooter will fit, and to ensure that you choose a hoist with the right capacity to lift your wheelchair/scooter.

It may be that you can fold, adjust or remove parts from your wheelchair/scooter to reduce the size to allow it to be loaded into a vehicle. You may also be able to fold down rear seats in the vehicle to create a larger boot area to accommodate your wheelchair/scooter.

We hold a comprehensive database of vehicle and wheelchair/scooter dimensions and can assist you in determining if a specific vehicle and wheelchair/scooter combination is suitable for a hoist.

Height

The height of the mobility device must be significantly less (approximately 100mm) than the height of the boot opening to allow room for the jib arm of the hoist. The boot measurement is taken at the height of the boot opening at its lowest point.

Boot Hoist Height
Length

The mobility device will most likely have to be loaded forward and therefore you need to consider the length of the boot. It is important that you use the shortest distance from the tailgate to the back of the seats. Please take into consideration the sloping seats and tailgate as these can reduce the internal length of the vehicle. Often folding down or sliding forward some of the rear seats will create enough length for a mobility device to fit. It is important to check if there are any gaps left in the boot floor or if there is a step up in the vehicle when the rear seats are adjusted as these can make it difficult to load/unload the mobility device. In a seven seat vehicle you will always have to fold down the seventh seat once the hoist is installed.

Boot Hoist Length
Width

The total width of the mobility device must be at least 200mm less that the width of the boot opening to allow room for the hoist frame. It is highly unlikely your mobility device can be stowed sideways in your vehicle. The boot measurement is taken at the width of the boot at its narrowest point.

Boot Hoist width
Weight

The total weight of the mobility device must be less than the maximum load of the hoist. If the total weight is close to the maximum load then the hoist may operate slower as it is at full capacity. The weight limit of the hoist may also be restricted for some vehicles.

Boot Hoist weight


We would always recommend that you check the compatibility of the vehicle, mobility device and boot hoist with your installer before committing to an order.

For a product demonstration, please watch our product demonstration video.

Please download our Boot Hoist Guide for initial guidance and contact your installer with the make/model of your wheelchair/scooter and vehicle before ordering so they can carry out a compatibility assessment.

Our latest pricing guide is available to download here:

Apex Assist Car Boot Hoist FAQs

Q: Can I remove the battery from my mobility device?

A: This depends on where we need to fit the bracket to lift the mobility device. On some mobility devices, once the bracket is fitted there is not enough room to remove the battery and therefore the battery must be charged whilst still on the mobility device. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to remove the battery until after the lifting bracket is fitted.

Q: Can I use the parcel shelf once the hoist is fitted?

A: On almost all vehicles it is highly unlikely that you will be able to use the parcel shelf after the hoist has been fitted.

Q: Can I use the seventh seat once the hoist has been fitted?

A: If you have a seven seat vehicle your seventh seat will be permanently unusable once the hoist is fitted.

Q: Can I load more than one item with my hoist?

A: The price of the hoist includes the lifting of one mobility device. It may be possible to also lift a second mobility device but there will be an additional cost. It is not always possible to load a second item once the hoist is setup for the first mobility device so please check on an individual basis.

Q: Can I load a manual wheelchair with a hoist?

A: Although a manual wheelchair is often the lightest of mobility devices, they can be difficult to load using a hoist. When folded the wheelchair is generally quite tall and therefore does not easily fit through the boot opening of most vehicles. If you are wanting to load a manual wheelchair, please check the compatibility with your installer.

Q: Will the fitting of a hoist cause any damage to my vehicle?

A: Safety is our primary concern when we install adaptations, however we pay great attention to the integrity of the vehicle. Any cutting or drilling is kept to a minimum, ensuring an aesthetically pleasing result. On most vehicles, there will need to be cuts made to the side trim and boot floor to enable the hoist to mount securely so it is safe throughout its operation. If you have a Motability Scheme vehicle, you will return the car with the adaptations installed.

Q: Will the car boot hoist lift my mobility scooter?

A: Most mobility scooters can be lifted using a boot hoist as long as they meet the weight and dimension criteria in comparison to your chosen vehicle. An overview of compatibility criteria can be seen in the above information but we would always recommend speaking to your hoist installer for confirmation and advice regarding the combination of mobility scooter and car before going ahead with an order.

Q: Which cars are suitable for a boot hoist?

A: MPVs, large SUVs and Estates are more commonly able to have a hoist installed but the shape and dimensions of the boot opening along with the shape of the tailgate and internal boot features can all prevent a car from being suitable for a hoist. Some cars may be suitable for certain model of hoists but not all. We would recommend contacting us to check the possibility of a hoist in your preferred vehicle so we can also check the compatibility with your mobility device too.

Q: Can you fit a car boot hoist into an electric car?

A: As long as the dimensions of the car are suitable for a car hoist using the same considerations as with a non-electric car, a hoist to lift a mobility scooter or wheelchair can be fitted into an electric vehicle.

Swift Lift Car Boot Hoist

The Swift Lift is a 60kg 2-way powered boot hoist manufactured by Des Gosling Mobility Ltd.

This boot hoist is designed to load lightweight mobility devices and due to the folding arm, it can often be installed into hatchbacks and smaller SUVs.

The 2-way powered operation means that the hoist will electrically operate up/down but will require manual operation in/out of the vehicle.

The arm has a two-stage folding mechanism which enables the arm to be folded out of the way for the boot to close.

This hoist is designed for specific models of vehicle so please contact us to check availability for your vehicle and so we can carry out an assessment on how your mobility device would load into your chosen vehicle.

Swift lift operation
Swift lift operation
“I picked up my car last night, and just wanted to say thank you for such a great service. Your communication was excellent, and the hoist has been fitted neat and tidy and does the job fantastically. Thank you once again and I will definitely be recommending your services to my friends.”
Mr Rush, Blackpool

We recommend the following products to compliment our boot hoists.