Driving and ECV - Didn't Like It!!!!

[clkelley]

We took a last minute trip this last weekend and stayed off property, which meant driving to the parks every day and dealing with loading and unloading the ECV. Hated it!!!!!!!!

We have a pickup truck and we "can" load and unload the ECV in the bed without dissasembling, but it is HEAVY.

Taking the batteries out every time just to load and unload just seemed like waaaay too much work.

I will take the buses any day over loading and unloading the ECV four to five times a day.

A typical day for us was load the ECV in the morning, unload at the TTC, go visit parks and resorts, reload at the end of the day, then unload back at the hotel cause we have to charge the ECV at night.

One day since we also went to Margaritaville over at USF we had to load and unload it there also.

(FYI, we have a Pride 10)

 

[RaySharpton]

I agree with you. It is just to tiring at the end of a long day. I love WDW transportation.

 

[pmdeve]

I agree. We stayed off site for a few days and my kids had to load and unload my ECV and every time I felt guilty. When we moved to OKW, I felt like I had my freedom. I didn't need anyone to load and unload for me.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

I can totally understand what you are saying!

IMHO any advantages of driving yourself are WAY less than the disadvantages of having to load and unload an ECV or even a heavy manual chair. Only a car or van you can simply drive the aid into would be worth it, if you ask me. Which is a mute point anyway, as I don't drive while in the US.

 

[POOHsie]

I know the Pride 10 is a heavy scooter and taking it apart is not really reasonable for daily use. When I had a Pride Go-Go, I used to take the seat off (18 lbs), and the battery off (20 lbs), then the scooter only weighed maybe 52 lbs. Pride 10 components weigh many times more than that.

Have you considered a scooter lift for the back of your pick-up that you could use a hitch to attach. They have the swing-away kind so you could still operate your tailgate. I have also seen a scooter lift for a truck bed that works like a crane. I am asking because I got a lift for my mini-van and it was some of the best money I ever spent. Now I take my heavy Passport Pacesaver III Jr. Scooter everywhere, by myself, and don't feel held back because of scooter transport problems or needing someone with free time and muscles to come help me.

 

[SueM in MN]

Maybe Cheshire Figment will post a picture of his scooter lift. He has a nice one.

I know that DD’s wheelchair seems to weight more each time we lift it.

 

[clkelley]

For the rare times that we stay off property a lift is not practical. The scooter really only gets used at WDW, or other recreation stuff we may do where extensive walking for DH is required.

As you can see by my avatar and signature there is usually a camper attached to our hitch and we're at the Fort or we stay at a Value or moderate onsite. I was mainly making the comment for folks that loading and unloading an ECV into their vehicle for daily travel to the parks and park hopping can be more difficult than the buses.