When your mobility becomes harder, either in later years or by a disability, there may come a time when you consider a mobility scooter to help you out. If you ever find yourself in that position, you might wonder whether to go for a THREE-WHEEL OR FOUR WHEEL MOBILITY SCOOTER. What’s the difference? Well, today we’re going to make a case for a three-wheel mobility scooter, showing what the differences are and why you might want to get a three-wheeler.
- Easier To Manoeuvre – Especially Indoors
The first thing to note about three-wheel mobility is how much easier they are to move around. Four-wheel mobility scooters are often stockier and harder to knock over – and they make large turns just fine, but you might have trouble moving through crowded places.
Best three-wheel mobility scooters have smoother, sharper turns, and whilst they might be a little easier to unbalance, their ability to swiftly navigate through busy sidewalks is often considered more than worth it.
Their wheels also work best whilst indoors, over smooth surfaces such as in malls or over concrete. Choosing a three-wheeler means that indoors are going to be much more convenient than outdoors, and whilst they don’t work particularly well over rough surfaces like grass or uneven pavements, if you particularly value your independence and want to make moving around town more convenient for yourself, a three-wheeler is the way to go.
- Takes Us Less Space
One of the major downsides to having a mobility scooter of any kind is where and how to store it. Not everyone has a garage or a home that is big enough for a scooter that takes up so much space. Some who live in apartments may even be forced to keep their mobility scooters in narrow hallways between apartments.
This is not fantastic not only because of the difficulty involved in keeping such a large piece of equipment in a communal space, but this also risks possible crimes or damage on the scooter.
Well, if you don’t have a lot of space, then a three-wheeler is a much more logical choice for you than a bulky four-wheel mobility scooter. Three-wheel models are also more likely to be folded up than four-wheel ones as well.
- Lighter Weight
With a smaller scooter including fewer parts comes a lighter weight, which can be quite an advantage if you or your loved ones ever plan on transporting the mobility scooter anywhere. If you ever have to need to carry your mobility scooter in a car, then a three-wheeler is a way to go for sure. As we said, they are much easier to be folded up than a four-wheeler model.
Three-wheel mobility scooters often weigh about three hundred to four hundred pounds. However, four-wheelers can weigh over a thousand pounds. The weight of the scooters often depends on how much weight the scooter is expected to carry, and due to their stability, four-wheel mobility scooters are often expected to carry more weight. Therefore, they often weigh more.
The maximum carry capacity for a three-wheeler is approximately three hundred and forty pounds (or twenty-four stone), for about thirty miles at a maximum speed at eight miles an hour. On the other hand, a four-wheel mobility scooter can carry as much as five-hundred pounds (or thirty-six stone), for about forty-three miles at fifteen miles an hour.
This also makes a lot of situations a lot easier – not just having the scooter inside a car, but in case you end up stuck somewhere, having a lighter mobility scooter makes it much easier to get yourself, or for others to get you out of trouble.
- More Legroom
Believe it or not, a three-wheeled scooter generally has more legroom than a four-wheeled mobility scooter, even though most would have thought that the four-wheeler would have more space for the rider.
This is because a four-wheeled mobility scooter has two wheels at the front which restricts how far the rider can spread their legs, whilst a three-wheeler scooter has only one wheel below the handles, which means the rider can spread their legs as far as they want. If you are a little bit on the taller side, you might want to consider the extra legroom when you’re deciding.
- Lower Price
Alongside the fewer parts, means less cost to make. This means that three-wheeler mobility scooters cost less than four-wheeler ones. On average, a three-wheeler can be around a thousand dollars whilst a basic four-wheeler can go for around four thousand.
Naturally, this depends on what kind of model you want – whether you want the basic model or a more elaborate configuration, a brand new one or a second-hand one, and whether you feel like you’d like to pay for insurance or not. The prices can range depending on many different factors, and the cost is going to be significant whatever you choose, but the three-wheelers are generally going to be cheaper than their four-wheeled counterparts.
Conclusion
The differences between three-wheel and four-wheel mobility scooters span beyond simply having a single wheel. Lacking that single extra wheel adds a few factors to a mobility scooter that is worth considering – a lighter weight, easier to maneuver, taking up less space, more legroom, and fewer costs. If you have plans to move around indoors, through narrow spaces, and through busy crowds, then a three-wheeler is much more recommended for your needs than a four-wheeler.
These are the top five reasons to consider a three-wheel mobility scooter, but these also consider some downsides, such as their lack of proficiency outdoors, their lesser carry capacity, and their instability or lack of balance, especially when carrying large weights. When picking a mobility scooter, it’s important to factor in all of these different elements, but if none of these disadvantages of a three-wheel mobility scooter affect you, then the choice then becomes obvious.
About the author:
Trevor Fenner is the founder and owner of Mobility Paradise, a one-stop-shop for mobility scooters, electric scooters, electric wheelchairs, wheelchairs, oxygen concentrators, lift chairs, saunas, steam showers, massage tables, exercise equipment, electric bikes, massage chairs, and bathtubs. Years ago, Trevor’s grandma had an accident that made her dependent on a wheelchair; this forced Trevor and his family to put her into an elderly care facility. Since then, Trevor would visit her to take a walk around the neighborhood. Mobility Paradise was created because Trevor couldn’t find an online store that offers a wide selection of mobility equipment and educational resources. What started as a business focusing on mobility scooters grew to include all kinds of mobility products. You can shop for the most reliable mobility products at Mobility Paradise.
