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Wheel chair or scooter in the trunk
With the wheel chair folded up, it is approx. 12″ high and weighs about 35-40 lbs.
It must be lifted and moved into the trunk.
In looking at the end of car, it looks like the opening is about ~12″ from the end. This is quite a distance to lift over to get into the trunk.
It might be easier to lift over the side into deeper area of trunk.
Using a heavy blanket over the car would have to be done to protect surface.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Suggestions? Even possible without breaking ones back?
Thank you!
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10 Replies
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Wheel chair or scooter in the trunk
updated 2 months, 4 weeks ago
8 Members
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10
Replies
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Well Aptera You Tube video on Debunking shows some typical larger items packed inside.
An old Pet Kit rendering shows what looks like a protective pad in that area.
I plan on trying to get my old 76# dog in the back by just flipping the seat forward to let her in and out. Not sure that is an option for you…
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Perhaps lifting it onto the tail upright and then “wheeling” it into the cargo bay before flipping it onto its side?
Trying to do a “dead lift” over the side of the vehicle – which is taller and wider than the tail – might be very difficult…
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That’s a good idea! Fold it… Load / wheel it… Lay it down… !!
With a good tough blanket for protection!
Thank you very much! You have made my day… perhaps, my purchase!
🙂
🙂
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This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by Joe Lyddon.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by
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I had to load/unload a wheel chair in the back of a Toyota Sienna. I got used to a spin-hoist maneuver, but it was a real pain. I can’t imagine getting it in/out of the back of the Aptera because of the extra height and wider lip. Use a ramp? I wonder if you can find an ultra-light aluminum chair? I think a ramp would be the only way.
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It looks like it may be easier, per new design.
I sure hope so…
If I cannot easily put it in, I just may be forced to leave it in San Diego! 🙁
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Lifting the wheelchair is common for all sedans/hatchbacks for loading it into any trunk area. What is the challenge is getting it over that back lip. A folded harbor freight moving blanket could be used. Lift the chair and rest/balance it on a blanket placed on the rear lip of the opened hatch/trunk. Slide it in. Reverse the procedure to get it into the same position for removal.
Keep the folded moving blanket tucked away in the back or under than rear cubby.
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I had to life a wheelchair in/out of a Honda CRV. One trick I used was a stiff bungee cord (left in the trunk when the wheelchair was in use) run around/through the arms to keep it in a closed position while lifting. I would do the swing-sideways lift to get the large wheels into the car and then slide it into the final resting place. An old blanket with a smooth woven surface (not fleece) on the carpet and over the lip helped with sliding and protected the car. The blanket would move on the carpet and be all bunched up, but would unbunch when you pulled the wheelchair out, so get a twin bed sized or larger, not a baby blanket.
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I realize that it would mean reduced aerodynamic efficiency, but since my normal driving is very low miles and mostly just “around town”, at low speeds between 30 to 45 mph (primarily between traffic lights) where the aerodynamics really don’t have much effect on driving range. My problem is that I need to transport my less than 250 lb, 4 wheeled “mobility scooter”. (I have a hydraulic lift gate on my pickup for transporting the “scooter” at the moment.) I was thinking about a sliding winch on an arm installed under the hatchback that would be extendable to the rear to lift the scooter and then slide into the rear cargo space to carry the “scooter” under the open hatchback? I realize that it would be too tall to be carried with the hatchback closed, but there is sufficient clearance with the hatchback opened to carry it. (I checked the dimensions under the hatchback and it is more than large enough for the “scooter”.) Placing a carrier on the rear of the car would place too much weight on the rear suspension, ruining the car’s handling and the scooter would block the view of the road if mounted to a carrier on the nose of the car.
Buying an Aptera would be out of the question if it could not transport my “scooter”. My wife and I have already gotten rid of our small 2nd car, because it couldn’t carry the “scooter” and we don’t need, nor can we afford 2 vehicles these days.
Thanks to all in advance
D.P. Allen
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This reply was modified 2 months, 4 weeks ago by David Allen.
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This reply was modified 2 months ago by
Gabriel Kemeny.
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This reply was modified 2 months, 4 weeks ago by
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At least at the start, there is no trailer hitch, but if one gets added later then as long as it is purely town driving, with no highway driving, then I would suggest a trailer would be a better option than a power lift.
The two reasons I would be wary about a power lift are: 1) would it lift from the side? If so, that would unbalance the vehicle while it is being loaded. If it is directly from the back, then that’s quite a bit of leverage on a light vehicle. 2) All the weight would be on the back (both the power lift itself and the mobility scooter.
The final option is a folding mobility scooter that you always keep in the Aptera, no lift or towing hitch required. Here’s an example of what I’m thinking of:
https://www.wheelfreedom.com/products/tga-minimo-autofold-mobility-scooter
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This reply was modified 2 months, 4 weeks ago by Michael Marsden.
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This reply was modified 2 months ago by Gabriel Kemeny.
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This reply was modified 2 months, 4 weeks ago by
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Well you know the dimension and geometry:
https://youtu.be/vZQ70xijCts?si=Yt2PZrw9VkwQlnSY
The total payload is 500#
There will be no towing options with the initial production. Future? Is your scooter foldable?
I hope that helps.