Just like mobility scooters, scooter trailers help people live healthy, active lives. Mobility scooters help seniors and people with mobility limitations get around safely and be active, and electric scooter trailers are vital for transporting scooters when traveling. If you run an assisted living or other health care service for patients with mobility issues it is vital that you are equipped to handle scooters and their equipment properly and safely.

Trailers for scooters are as unique as the scooters they tow, but there are some important basic details that will make them easier to purchase, explain and use. Learn the following scooter trailers basics to help you understand what your residents need:

1. Each scooter has a weight capacity and dimensions that should not be exceeded.

2. Trailers for scooters have safety features to prevent accidents.

3. Every mobility scooter trailer should be inspected for safety purposes and adhere to safety regulations.

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Learn weight capacities and dimensions for all scooter trailers

Every scooter trailer has a maximum weight capacity corresponding to the type of scooter it is designed to tow. Know the weight capacity for each scooter trailer that will be needed to haul the scooters of your residents and learn the differences between them.

I recommend: Keep track of weight capacities of some mobility scooters made by the top brands in the industry at 4 Medical Supplies. SpinLife offers a step-by-step guide to measuring your scooter to find out which scooter trailer will fit the models or brands used by your residents.

Find scooter trailers with safety features

Motor scooter trailers often feature safety mechanisms that make loading the scooter easier and prevent the trailer from tilting or tipping. Buy scooter trailers that are equipped with safety features to keep your clients and scooters safe.

I recommend: Buy a scooter trailer from Motorcyclecarriers.net. Its trailers feature a locking mechanism to make it easy to load and a tilting feature to help the scooter tow get over curbs and bumps easily. Hitches Online offers weight-distributing trailers that will keep the scooter tow from jackknifing, along with installation and hitching instructions.

Determine towing scooter safety regulations

It's important that the scooter trailers you use are safe and in good shape. Tires should be well-maintained, nuts and bolts should be secure, and the trailer should be properly fitted to the hitch. Your vehicle and trailer should follow local safety regulations.

I recommend: Safely secure your scooter onto the scooter cargo trailer with the special safety straps featured in the ramps at Wheelchair Lifts And Ramps. The Tilt-A-Rack scooter carrier can be raised into a vertical position when not in use, keeping it safe from damage. This model can be raised and lowered manually, reducing accident risk.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always double check to make sure the scooter is securely and safely positioned on the electric scooter trailer and that all hitches and locks are in place.

Mobility scooters extend the range of people whose infirmities limit their mobility within their neighborhoods and assist them with their daily tasks. Scooter trailers extend the usefulness of mobility scooters by allowing their users to take their units with them when they travel outside of their neighborhoods, whether within their home city or on the road.

A mobility scooter trailer provides an inexpensive alternative to buying a van and lift gate to carry an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter, provided the scooter user has the mobility to get in and out of the chair with minimal assistance. Scooter trailers ride low to the ground to make them easy to load and unload the scooter; electric scooter trailers feature power doors and winches to further assist with the loading process.

Scooter trailers provide these further advantages:

1. Eliminate the need to mount hoisting equipment to your vehicle.

2. Let you transport your scooter without having to disassemble it for travel and reassemble it at your destination.

3. Free up space in your vehicle for luggage and other travel items with a towing scooter rig.

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Haul it around with a scooter trailer as mobile as your scooter

Towing a scooter, or anything, in a trailer requires adjusting driving habits. Some electric scooter trailers and other models of trailers for scooters feature innovative designs to make the trailer more responsive to the vehicle's driver.

I recommend: Discount Ramps.com offers the Smart Trailer, an electric scooter trailer whose single swivel wheel and dual hitch mount keep it from jackknifing. California Speed Sports provides an alternative to towing a trailer with the Versa Haul Modular Carrier System, available in single, double and quad carrier models.

Lighten the load with a lightweight scooter trailer

With the rising price of gas, scooter trailers that weigh less are welcome news for people of limited mobility on limited budgets who want to take their scooters with them to better enjoy their trips.

I recommend: Motorcyclecarrier.net sells lightweight scooter trailers designed to be towed comfortably behind smaller vehicles at speeds up to 75 mph. The Scootatrailer weighs only 285 pounds, 335 with the optional aluminum top, and carries up to 600 pounds with a maximum tongue weight of 75 pounds.

Cover the place you put your backside

Electric scooter trailers make loading and unloading your scooter a breeze, but open-top models expose it to the elements--not a good idea when you're hauling the scooter in bad weather, and certainly not when you sit down.

I recommend: MobilityAmerica.com sells covered Easy-Go wheelchair and scooter trailers in black and white, with fully electric locking rear door and wind deflectors standard.

Tow your scooter in style with a replica scooter trailer

Trailers for scooters doesn't have to look boring to do its job. Many people like to travel the road in style, and custom designed motor scooter trailers let their scooters travel in style, too.

I recommend: The Little Trailer Company offers affordable replica scooter trailers styled like classic car bodies or a stylish motorcycle trailer scooter. They’re one of several companies that sell the Transporter scooter trailer, which looks like a custom street rod.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Be sure you have adequate automotive hardware to tow your scooter trailer and that your rear suspension is up to the task. Use a hitch rated for the maximum towing weight of your vehicle. Typically, the suspension on a sport utility vehicle is closer to that of a car than a pickup truck.
• •  Consider not only the vehicle's rated tongue weight but also the design of the scooter trailer. The further the scooter's weight is extended from the trailer hitch, the more force it exerts on the hitch.

Mobility scooters are a great piece of home healthcare equipment that help people get where they need to go, and a mobility scooter trailer is necessary for moving scooters for travel purposes. A scooter trailer functions in much the same way as other trailers, but is specially designed to protect and transport a mobility scooter.

Electric scooter trailers come in a variety of sizes and weight capacities, and it's important to use the right trailer for towing a scooter. When using or working with scooter trailers, remember the following:

1. Load scooter trailers properly and safely.

2. Use the appropriate scooter tow for each vehicle.

3. Stock scooter trailers from discount wholesalers.

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Properly load a scooter trailer to ensure secure transport

The average mobility scooter weighs between 80 to 200 lb. when fully assembled, so it's important that you load the scooter onto the scooter trailer safely and make sure it's secured correctly. Always have assistance when loading the scooter trailer in case the scooter rolls off, and use tie-downs or straps that will secure the scooter safely.

I recommend: The scooter cargo trailer available from GB Elliot allows you to simply drive the scooter onto the scooter trailer's deck, secure it, shut the gate and go. The simple loading process will ensure safety for you and your residents. Scooter Direct offers a fully enclosed electric scooter trailer with a door that automatically raises and lowers, offering your residents the independents of loading their mobility scooter themselves.

Hitch the scooter tow properly

Different motor scooter trailers will require different hitches to be properly attached to the towing vehicle. Always use the right scooter tow and hitch to avoid damage to the scooter or vehicle.

I recommend: Use the Hitch Selector feature offered by Discount Ramps to find the right hitch for the mobility scooter trailer being used. ETrailer offers custom fit scooter trailer hitches.

Put safety first when using trailers for scooters

Inspect all scooter trailers for rust or holes on the platform. Check that the tires on scooter trailers are in good condition and that the hitch is the original hitch for the scooter tow. Any tampering with the hitch could make the scooter less than reliable.

I recommend: View the instructional video offered by Harmar Mobility for loading and unloading a scooter trailer. The scooter cargo trailer featured in the video is similar to most available scooter trailers on the market. Opt for the inexpensive ramps from ScooterMobility.com instead of a used ramp to ensure safety, but inspect it for safety features and stability before using it.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Have someone assist you the first time you load your scooter onto the scooter trailer just in case you need help adjusting the scooter or trailer.

As our population ages, more and more people are using scooters to get around. And, since scooters are bulky, a lot of people are looking for ways to get their scooter from one place to another. If you own a pickup or a large SUV, it's a relatively simple matter to load a scooter in the back. If you own a smaller vehicle or need pickup or SUV storage space for other things, however, a scooter trailer may be just what you're looking for. Before you start shopping, familiarize yourself with some scooter trailers key terms.

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Fold-out, fold-down, or folding ramps

Many scooter trailers have fold-out or fold-down ramps for loading. These ramps attach to the trailer and are folded onto the ground for loading and unloading the scooter. Make sure that the ramp is wider than your scooter by at least a few inches.

I recommend: Several fold-out ramps are illustrated at USA Ramp.

Cargo door

If the scooter trailer is enclosed, it will have a cargo door. To ensure that you'll be able to load your scooter with ease, make sure you have plenty of clearance all around or you'll be pinching and banging things when you load and unload.

I recommend: All Pro West Truck & Trailer shows several examples of enclosed trailers suitable for hauling scooters. Find out the cargo door size before you buy.

Weight capacity

Simply put, weight capacity is how much weight the scooter trailer is designed to handle. Make sure that you consider the added weight of accessories when shopping. Capacities range from just a couple of hundred pounds to well over 1,000 pounds.

I recommend: DiscountTrailers.com shows a scooter trailer with a weight capacity of 1,200 pounds. AmeriGlide describes weight capacity.

Wiring harness

When you use a scooter trailer on public roads, you're required to have functioning brake and turn lights. Trailers come with these lights, but you must hook them up properly. This is accomplished by means of a wiring harness, which couples your vehicle's lights to your trailer's lights.

I recommend: Find out more about wiring harnesses for your scooter trailer at Automotive Accessories Connection.

Hoist or lift

Some scooter trailers utilize electric hoists or lifts, which electrically raise and lower the scooter, instead of ramps for loading and unloading the scooter. These are more expensive than ramp-equipped trailers, but they're also easier to use.

I recommend: DiscountRamps.com shows several different lifts and hoists.

Tongue weight

The tongue weight is the amount of weight that the hitch on your car or truck must bear when towing your scooter trailer. Tongue weight isn't a big issue with scooter trailers if you have a pickup or SUV, but it's a major consideration if you have a smaller vehicle.

I recommend: etrailer.com discusses tongue weight and other weight-related trailer issues.