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Folding Mobility Scooters Are a Perfect Way to Get Around
There are two kind of mobility scooters, the ones you use for every distance you would normally travel by foot or bicycle and the ones you take with you when you go somewhere by car and need to be mobile at your destination. The last ones are called folding mobility scooters and they are a wonderful addition to the one you can use everyday.
Such a scooter is really a godsend if you have problems with your mobility. When simple things, like going to the mall or taking a small walk in your own neighborhood, have become difficult you might get the feeling you are imprisoned in your own home. With a mobility scooter there is no reason to stay at home any more, it can give you back your freedom to go where you want. It is also great for an elderly couple when one of them is more mobile then the other. To keep an active life together a mobility scooter is a great option.
But a normal mobility scooter also has a downside. When you want to go a bit further then your own neighborhood, for instance by car, then you also would like to be mobile when you arrive at your destination. You are so used to being independent that stumbling around or being pushed inside a wheelchair has become your worst nightmare. You would like to bring your mobility scooter with you in the car, or otherwise you stay at home. A normal mobility scooter will not fit in a normal car, so for this purpose there are folding mobility scooters available. This way you can stay independent and be mobile anywhere you like. Folding mobility scooters are easy to operate, they are safe and prevent you from getting isolated.
Folding mobility scooters are perfect for outdoor and indoor use
Normal mobility scooters are often to big to use indoors, but because the folding mobility scooters are made to fit in a small storage space they are smaller and this means they are also a good option to use indoors to “walk” between rooms because this type is much easier to maneuver around indoor corners. It is folds in to a very handy package and it does not take up much storage space if you live in a small space.
For outdoor use folding mobility scooters are perfect to take with you in a car, they are very easy to fold away in the trunk.
Folding mobility scooters are not practical for rugged terrain.
All the advantages folding mobility scooters have: lightweight, small, folding, become disadvantages when you need to drive it on rugged terrain or go for long distances. This means you need to think carefully about the way you think you are going to use your mobility scooter and make a proper choice accordingly. A bigger model can’t be folded but will have more power, larger batteries and is able to withstand rugged terrain and weather. They are also faster, larger and heavier so it might take you more time to get adjusted to it and you might need some more time to practice.
Great tip
There are very cheap 3 wheel travel scooters available these are not sold under the term folding scooters but they are in fact easy to assemble and they will fit in a car. If you do some research it might be an option to buy both a heavy duty mobility scooter and buy one of the small cheap folding mobility scooters at the same time. This will give you the freedom of both worlds.
Frank Strider loves to talk about motorcycles and all the things related to it. Visit his website if you want to find out more about a folding mobility scooters or maybe motorcycle jackets.
More infomation at WikipediaSeven Tips to Buying an Equipment, Auto, Dump, or Utility Trailer
Looking for the right trailer for your needs can be tough, but following these simple tips will help assure that your next trailer will not only meet your needs, but also be affordable and long-lasting.
1. Have a clear understanding of what your intending to haul - Make sure you know the weight as well as the length and width of what your intending to haul. The weight is imperative because trailers are rated in terms of GVWR (or gross vehicle rate ratio). This simply means that the weight of what your hauling + the weight of the trailer needs to be less than the GVWR the trailer is rated. When you consider what your hauling be sure to include options with the equipment your hauling, such as different buckets, etc.
The width of your equipment is important because usually equipment trailers are manufacturered with 1 of 2 types of deck styles; a deckover and low profile (lowboy). A deckover trailer has the bed of the trailer built above the wheels while a low profile has the bed manufacturered between the wheels.
The maximum width an equipment trailer can be safely manufacturered at is 102″ (legal tolerences), so the deck can be much wider on a deckover while a low profile deck is narrower but is built lower to the ground for easier loading/unloading plus the low deck height makes for a more stable load.
The usual width for a low profile deck is somewhere between 77″ and 83″. Then the fenders use the remaining 102″ width and of course, the deckover is built at 102″ for optimal use of available space.
2. How are you going to haul your trailer? Different trucks have different towing capacities. To towing capacity for your truck is usually included in the documentation when you purchase a truck, but if your using an older truck, call the manufacturer to find out what your towing capacity is. When calling be sure to let them know if you have a towing package and what size engine you have.
3. Look for Factory-Direct Manufacturers- There are two basic ways to purchase a new trailer: A dealer or the manufacturer. The dealer is a person who purchases equipment trailers at a discounted rate, then marks the price up and sells them. Depending on the dealer you may be paying a lot more for the trailer and you essentially have to trust the dealer to charge a fair price.
Factory-Direct means you buy the trailer straight from the manufacturer, which eliminates the middle man, and can save you money. The only problem with finding a good equipment trailer factory-direct resource is some claim to be factory-direct, but in fact, are still a dealer.
A few recommended Factory-Direct Manufacturers are www.kaufmantrailers.com and www.appalachiantrailers.com.
4. Radial Tires - Get radial tires if possible. They may cost a little more but they are worth the cost. There are some trailer manufacturers to claim bias is better, but simply put bias tires are a cheaper grade tire.
5. Look for Standard Options - A common ploy by equipment trailer manufacturers is to offer a cheap price, but not include features such as a lockable toolbox. By the time their adding in all the options that are standard on their competitors trailers, they are much more expensive. This again, is why I got back to Kaufman and Appalachian Trailers. Their products include all the good options you would want as standard option.
6. Never Trust the Trailer Dealer or Manufacturer to do the Work for You - I know its easier to call and ask the dealer to put together a quote for you, but if you don’t research your truck’s towing capacities and verify your equipments weight, length and width, you could end up buying more trailer than you need or worse, less than you need.
7. Compare “Apples to Apples” - Sometimes manufacturers will use cheaper tires, suspension or wood decking to make their equipment trailers seem like a better deal. Make sure to compare the following for similar quality:
* Suspension - Slipper spring is better than double eye.
* Tires - Radial tires are better
* Decking - treated hard woods are better
* Hitch - I personally recommend an adjustable couple. Fixed couplers can be troublesome.
* GVWR - Make sure the rating is what you need.
* Options are similar
* Jacks - Drop Foot better than top wind
* Fenders - fenders are a big problem and some collapse very easy. Fenders are best made with Channel or diamond plate.
* Welding - Make sure the welding is strong. Some manufacturers don’t regulate this enough.
* Frame - Make sure the frame is made from similar size steel.
Using these simple tips will help you find the best trailer for your needs. There are a couple of new sites being developed as well to help consumer pick the right trailer for their needs: GooseneckFlatBedTrailer.com and EquipmentProTrailers.com. Good luck on looking for your new trailer.
Jim Builder is involved directly with trailer manufacturers and enjoys writing articles that help consumers find the right trailer for their needs. Jim’s preferred trailer vendors are Kaufman Trailers, Appalachian Trailers, EquipmentProTrailers.com, and Mini-5 Trailers.
More infomation at WikipediaToday’s Automotive Engineer: A Technology Guru With Connectivity Solutions
Technology gurus are hiding in a variety of places these days. Say, for instance, the automotive industry.
The automotive industry has produced some of the most advanced and user-friendly technologies publicly marketed in recent years. We can now not only operate our cars without keys, but we can also map our next trip, download information from our desktops onto a “carputer,” assess the state of the vehicle, watch movies, arm a security system inside and out and be alerted when others are in our blind spots.
Take, for instance, an entry-level map-based integrated navigation radio, which uses a flash-based secure digital card color map database to provide high-performance navigation. A single, state-of-the-art navigation kernel and map data compiler used in the European market help shorten Original Equipment (OE) innovation cycles, and a range of options allows for entertainment and ease-of-use features. Integrated into a single unit, a map navigation system can be used in parallel to the audio system.
Such a system can include AM/FM radio, navigation tools, playback mechanisms like compact discs and MP3s, and connectivity options for portable electronic devices. Of course, customers can add nearly anything a techy heart could desire, like a digital tuner, USB, touch-screen interface, voice recognition, steering wheel control and audio codec options.
And that’s just the basic model. Touch-screen navigation radios are full-featured audio and navigation systems in one unit, using onboard computers that interact with the Global Positioning System (GPS), vehicle sensors and a DVD-map database. Such personal travel assistants minimize travel time, make travel more convenient and increase peace of mind. Benefits include multiple functions in one compact unit, the ease of a touch screen, voice prompts, entertainment options, state-of-the-art navigation, the ability to remap locations if the driver misses a turn and intersection views for detailed maneuvering guidance.
Active safety systems, like active night vision, lane departure warning systems and infrared side (blind spot) alerts, are other excellent examples of automotive engineers’ ability to connect advanced technologies in a manner that makes the driving experience both safer and more enjoyable.
Active night vision uses near-infrared headlamps to illuminate the road scene ahead and displays an enhanced image in the vehicle. This system provides high-beam visibility without blinding oncoming traffic. Components of the active night vision system can be shared with other safety features, such as a lane departure warning system.
When lane departure warning systems utilize a camera, the camera can also be used for multiple features, such as active night vision, pedestrian recognition, rain sensing and intelligent headlight control. The lane departure warning system uses a monocular camera mounted behind the windshield to track lanes in front of the vehicle. Accompanying software estimates lane width and road curvature, and determines the vehicle’s heading and lateral position within the lane. When the driver strays from his or her own “dotted lines,” an audible, tactile or visual alert is issued. According to an automotive magazine, ninety-five percent of all vehicular accidents involve some degree of driver behavior — such as swerving. Systems like lane departure warning provide hope of reducing the approximately one hundred deaths that occur every day on American roadways, as reported by the Public Broadcasting Service in 1995.
Side (blind spot) alerts provide the same hope. These systems help drivers be aware of vehicles in side blind spots when changing lanes and making turns. Sensors integrated into mirrors, taillights and side fascia measure the adjacent lane temperature over time to detect if vehicles are entering the side blind spot. If detected, the system provides visual indications within the mirrors. If this proves ineffective and a turn signal is activated anyway, an audible alert follows. These warnings give drivers more time to react and, hopefully, help avoid the more than 200,000 lane change accidents that occur every year according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
It’s amazing how easily they hide those geniuses of technology. We never hear their names, see their faces, or even, in most cases, acknowledge they exist. Yet it is the knowledge, safety and connectivity solutions of automotive engineers that are helping save lives and helping make sure the rest of us don’t get hopelessly lost on the way to that next great adventure — at least not too often.
Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer.
Delphi Corp. is poised to apply its expertise and know-how to provide vehicle manufacturers and consumers with in-vehicle connectivity. To learn more about Delphi Corp., please visit www.Delphi.com/4Connected.
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