Mobility Scooter advice - 4 wheel or 3 wheel?

[Carl in Tampa]

My slow progress in regaining the ability to walk after spine surgery has moved me to go ahead and get a mobility scooter so I can get out and socialize.

I envision using it on cruise ships from Florida ports in order to avoid the hassle of airline travel. It would also be used for such things as outings to the Town Squares and visiting restaurants.

A salesperson at one place advised getting a 4 wheel scooter for stability. Another recommended a 3 wheel to allow a bit more stretching out of the legs into the area where the presence of the wheels would be confining on a 4 wheel. Of course, a 3 wheel would have a tighter turning radius and be more agile in close quarters.

There may be a limited audience for this question, but are there any scooter users reading this who could make a recommendation one way or the other in this area?

Opinions on the make and model of scooter to obtain would also be appreciated.

I will be putting an electrical lift on the back of my car that will accommodate either style.

[Carl in Tampa]

I probably should have mentioned in my first post that I cannot rise from my wheelchair and take so much as one step without the use of a walker. When getting seated in the scooter I am not sure whether the 3 wheeler might be more subject to tilting than the 4 wheeler. Stability would be important.

I may need to go to the dealership and do some "sit tests" or even rent one of each for a few days.

[Bizdoc]

There are a number of places in Orlando that rent a variety of styles. Keep in mind that as important as 3 versus 4 wheels is tire size and ground clearance. If you plan to use it outside, larger wheels/more clearance is a must as you can hang up on uneven ground.

[KayakerNC]

Power Scooter Review
"When you're searching for the perfect motorized scooter it's important to keep a few key things in mind. The initial thing you'll want to consider is where you plan to use your scooter. Will you be using your scooter outdoors and on rugged terrain or indoors for short distances? This will determine a number of other factors that you'll need to keep in mind such as design, battery life, how portable the scooter is as well as how fast it can go."
Power Scooter Review 2014 | Best Mobility Scooters | Motorized Disabled Scooters - TopTenREVIEWS (http://power-scooter-review.toptenreviews.com/)

[skyguy79]

Carl, I've been using a mobility scooter for about 9 years now and I would definitely recommend a 4 wheeler. I've used both and I found the 3 wheeler was less stable. I'll send you a PM with more info, my email address and a personal deal you can't refuse.
(No horse heads in your bed involved) :0000000000luvmyhors

[Carl in Tampa]

Carl, I've been using a mobility scooter for about 9 years now and I would definitely recommend a 4 wheeler. I've used both and I found the 3 wheeler was less stable. I'll send you a PM with more info, my email address and a personal deal you can't refuse.
(No horse heads in your bed involved) :0000000000luvmyhors

It was late when I got back on the computer, so I responded by e-mail rather than phoning.

Your offer is most kind. Gracie had told me you were a great guy. Hope to meet you soon.

Carl

[Carl in Tampa]

Power Scooter Review
"When you're searching for the perfect motorized scooter it's important to keep a few key things in mind. The initial thing you'll want to consider is where you plan to use your scooter. Will you be using your scooter outdoors and on rugged terrain or indoors for short distances? This will determine a number of other factors that you'll need to keep in mind such as design, battery life, how portable the scooter is as well as how fast it can go."
Power Scooter Review 2014 | Best Mobility Scooters | Motorized Disabled Scooters - TopTenREVIEWS (http://power-scooter-review.toptenreviews.com/)

A great link with a lot of information. I didn't realize there was such a variety to choose from. Thanks for the link.

Carl

[nanajc54]

I probably should have mentioned in my first post that I cannot rise from my wheelchair and take so much as one step without the use of a walker. When getting seated in the scooter I am not sure whether the 3 wheeler might be more subject to tilting than the 4 wheeler. Stability would be important.

I may need to go to the dealership and do some "sit tests" or even rent one of each for a few days.

I have a large Pride 4 wheel Wrangler mobility scooter for sale. It is listed here 1,500. obo it's only 3yrs old.

Three wheel scooter is great for in house use, I had one but sold it and now have a power chair.

My husband bought the scooter for camping. My husband has passed away and I no longer camp. I am buying a golf cart for around here, hoping to bring my two dogs with me around the villages.

Phooey it won't let me attach it twice, anyways it is in the sell and buy section.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/attachments/items-sale-villages-florida-83/36752d1396354498t-wrangler-mobility-scooter-sale-unnamed.jpg


https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/attachments/items-sale-villages-florida-83/36723d1396277214t-wrangler-mobility-scooter-sale-wrangler-scooter.jpg

[Carl in Tampa]

I've learned a lot with information from Skyguy and will be testing a four wheeler for a while. I may still rent a three wheeler to see how that goes, but I'm thinking I need the stability of four wheels when I transfer to and from the scooter.

This will be a new episode in my life. Never expected to be mobility challenged.

Thanks for all the advice.

[Carl in Tampa]

I want to give a shout out of appreciation to Skyguy79 for generously loaning me his old scooter while I was involved in deciding what I needed for my personal use. He offered it with no strings attached, although of course it was for sale.

I finally purchased a smaller one for my potential travel needs. However, Barbara and I decided it would be nice to have a second one so I could have companionship for short rides around the neighborhood. So, we made a deal with Skyguy79 to acquire his scooter too.

But, again, the loan was made with no strings attached, and I appreciated it very much.

It's great to interact with nice people.

:thumbup: