EVC lift question

[ChristineNic]

This is slightly off-topic, but I hope someone can help. My DH received his 3 wheel scooter yesterday! (He's so excited and thrilled to be able to go on excursions that require longer distance walking without stopping to rest, or asking others in the party to slow down for him.)

We will be having a lift installed on our SUV next week. However, we also use our SUV to tow our boat. Does anyone know if we will still be able to that once the lift is installed? DH isn't ready to sell his boat, but if he can't trailer it, we will need to get rid of it.

Can EVC lifts work with other towing/trailering options on vehicles?

 

[DSquare]

You would need to get an interior lift for your SUV. There are a few different manufacturers. Here is the most common.

http://bruno.com/vehicle-lift-joey.html

http://www.pridemobility.com/prideliftsandramps/backpackermv.asp

http://harmar.com/products/11

With an interior lift you will lose the third row of seats. They will either be folded into the floor or have to be removed from the vehicle.

You will be able to tow a boat but you will need to still stay within the vehicles tow limit. The lift and scooter could easily add 200lbs to the rear of your vehicle and then you would also have to add the tongue weight of the trailer.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

To use my outside lift I had to use the tow receiver. And it is wired into the car's wiring system so it cannot be easily removed.

I have not looked at interior lifts, but am considering one for my next vehicle.

 

[peemagg]

We had the same situation of needing to use the car for trailering plus carrying the scooter. You won't be able to use both at the same time, but you can ask to have it wired with a quick disconnect so that you can take the lift off and then use the hitch for the trailer. Be sure that the people who are mounting it are aware that you need to be able to do both things.

 

[I Love Pluto]

We have a Bruno interior lift. It's the best thing we have done for ourselves. We can do so much more now that someone doesn't have to take apart & put together the scooter each time.

It gives us more freedom. When we were at WDW in August, it was so easy to change parks or to go to a resort for dinner because there was no guilt of anyone getting exhausted just from handling the scooter in & out of the car.

You have to put the scooter at the rear of the SUV. I cannot imagine a boat being in the way. However, do not accept my word as your final answer. I am only speaking from my own experience.

 

[ChristineNic]

We won't be carrying the scooter and towing the boat at the same time. I was just concerned that the scooter lift would preclude using the tow hitch. The installer is going to set up the wire harness to be a "quick release", so we can disconnect the wiring, remove the lift from the hitch receiver and replace the tow hitch when we need to move the boat.

Thank you all for help, suggestions, and advice.

DH should probably give up the boat due to his health issues, but he just isn't "ready" to take that step. If I had my preference, we'd sell the boat and buy a DVC contract.

 

[peemagg]

I also have this part with mine. It is a anti tilt locking device, that takes a lot of the bounce and sway out of the lift. Makes smoother ride. I have even found it to be great for using anytime I am hauling anything. It just makes the whole hitch system firmer. Here is a picture of what I have. http://www.discountramps.com/anti-tilt-locking-device.htm

I know it doesn't look like much, but it makes a world of difference with anything I haul.