ECVs and taking them in a car - how?

[Puffy2]

If we ever stay off site and rent a car - is the ECV easy to fold up and take in a trunk?

What if you use a town car service? Can they put these in a trunk easy too? Or a taxi?

Anyone have any experience with it?

 

[teri]

I just bumped a thread for you about disassembling scooters.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Puffy2

See thread 'What is the best with wheelchair? Car or bus? ' in this forum

Andrew

 

[Cheshire Figment]

For the last couple of years I have rented ECVs for my Disney trips. You have to reasonably strong or have someone who is able to assist. I have rented from Walker, and the ECV breaks down into five parts. None of them would be considered light, but according to Walker the heaviest piece is 39 pounds.

It helps to have a full-size sedan for this, so all pieces will fit in the trunk.

Step one is remove the seat. It pulls directly up; sometimes it takes a little twisting side-to-side to help get the post out of the socket.

Step two is disconnect three cables. Two of them go into the battery packs; the third has a knurled knob where it goes into the motor/rear wheel assembly. Be careful to only turn the knob near where it goes into the assembly and not the connector itself.

The two battery packs just lift up, with straps to hold them. I will put them as far to the front of the trunk as possible one one side, with one behind the other.

There is a "T" bar between the seat socket and the motor assembly. Pull that straight up and the entire front, including the seat socket, will separate from the motor/rear wheel assembly. Put the assembly in the front of the trunk, next to the battery packs. Note there is a toggle switch and knob on the assembly. If the switch is forward, and the knob is pulled up (about 3 inches) the assembly will "freewheel", which makes it easier to move.

There is a rod sticking out on the left side of the tiller post. Pulling that rod up will allow the tiller post to fold back against the seat socket. Pick up the entire section, which includes the front wheel, floor, and seat socket and put it in the trunk. Get the front end of the section against one side of the trunk. Then put the seat in the trunk, folding the seat back forward.

Note if you do not have a full-size sedan it may be necessary to put the seat in the back seat of the car and everything else in the trunk.

For reassembly take the seat out of the car and set it aside. put the main section on the ground and the motor/rear wheel assembly behind it. The back of the main section fits into a slot in the assembly. Note that you have to pull up on the "T" Bar to allow the two sections to latch together.

Move the tiller bar to an upright (or other comfortable) position, holding up the small lever until you decide how vertical you want the bar. Release the lever and the bar will lock into place. Sit the two battery packs into the spaces for them. Note that there is advertising on the outer side, and the connector jacks go toward the center.

Plug the battery cables in; they go in straight. Plug the main connector into the motor assembly. Note there will be a yellow dot on it, that goes up. Turn the knurled ring until it locks into place. Make sure the freewheel knob is down and the switch next to it is in the back position.

Put the seat post in the socket. It helps, until you get used to it, to have someone kneel down and guide you.

At this point everything should be OK. If the ECV will not run when you turn the switch on, make sure the switch and knob on the assembly are in their correct positions, and that all three cables are firmly connected.

If you happen to be at the resorts which have valet parking, the valets are fairly experienced and will be able to assist you. Note that tips are a primary source of income for them. I don't know about town cars or taxis.

Hope this information helps.