ECV and Towncar Service

[Mazzy]

We will be staying at the Dolphin but also visiting Universal, Islands of Adventure, Discovery Cove and Sea World.

I am renting an ECV from Walker Mobility and according to their website it is easily dismantled to put into a car boot (trunk).

Has anyone actually dismantled an ECV and is it as easy as they say? And once dismantled would it fit into any towncar boot? We would probably be using Tiffany Towncars.

Thanks for any help with this.

 

[Nanajo1]

I have not needed to dismantle my Walker ECV but I have one I use at home and it is easier than I thought to take down. It fits in the trunk of my DH's car, a sedan, I would think if you told the Town Car folks of your need to take the ECV they would send an appropriate car. As these are day trips you wont have luggage that would need to be stored in the trunk(boot) so you should do fine. Have a great trip and let us know how it goes.

 

[SueM in MN]

One of the medical equipment websites (sorry I don't have the links with me) has pcitures that show how the ecv is taken apart.
I'm not sure, but I think the rental companies have some models that are easier to take apart than others, so you may want to let them know when arranging your rental that you will be transporting it in a car.

 

[Mazzy]

Thanks both of you for your advice.

Sue - the photos are on the Walker Mobility website which is the firm I'm hiring from, it does look quite straightforward doesn't it?

I have just emailed Tiffany Towncars for their advice on this so hopefully I will get an answer shortly.

 

[JudithM]

I rented for the first time last week from Walker & all went well. However, no one told us the directions were in the zippered bag in the back! Fortunately for me another couple was with us & the husband was more than willing to help my husband lift it into & out of the car. At the end we learned we could have taken it apart more . Live & learn!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The ECV's from Walker come apart in five pieces. When disassembling you first lift the seat straight up and set it aside.

Then you disconnect the two battery packs (which have quick-connects). Normally they will go in the trunk of the car, as far forward and to one side as possible, with one behind the other.

Then you disconnect the cable from the main part to the motor/rear wheel assembly and pull up on a "T" Handle to separate the last two parts. The motor assembly then goes in the trunk next to the battery packs.

There is a little lever on the left side of the tiller; this lifts up which allows the tiller to fold down. You fold down the basket and then put this part in the trunk, with the front piece as close to one side as possible.

Then there is plenty of room next to the back to put in the seat.

Normally any full-size sedan has enough room in the trunk for the ECV. A town car should have lots of additional room.

Some tricks when reassembling. The rear of the main assembly fits in a slot on the motor/rear wheel assembly; once it is in you lift up on tyhe "T" Handle to allow locking into place. There normally is a small yellow spot of paint on the plug which goes from the main assemble to the motor; when putting it back together this spot goes on the top. When you put the battery packs back on the frame, the advertising side goes to the outside and the connectors toward the center.

As long as you are using a car service, the driver should offer to assist you with disassembling and loading the car and unloading and reassembly. If he does assist, this should influence the gratuity; if he does not even offer to assit, this should affect the gratuity even more.

 

[Mazzy]

Judith - when I rang Walker yesterday I asked if there were instructions and they said they were in the back pocket, but if I hadn't asked I don't think they would have said - never mind, it sounds like you had a good trip anyway!

Cheshire Figment - thanks for those detailed instructions - I will print them off just in case we need them! Let's hope we get helpful drivers as we have 4 trips to non-disney parks booked!

 

[JudithM]

I'm going to print out the instructions from Cheshire Figment, too! Thank you! I plan on renting from Walker again, so it is helpful to know the scooter comes apart even more ! We took the arms off, removed the seat, folded the basket & then lifted the rest into the trunk. Guess it could have been easier & lighter, huh ? Live & learn! And, yes, Mazzy, we did have a good trip!

 

[Nanajo1]

One time I actually emptied the pocket on the rear and found the instructiions as well as small packets of sun screen! I don't know if they were left over from someone else or not but they came in handy.

 

[Mazzy]

Judith - it's good to know you still had a great trip despite the confusion!

Nanajo - that was a good find! LOL!!!