I have been using a scooter since 1995. My first scooter I still use at home in the yard. It gets hard use. My newer scooter stays in the van for use away from home, shopping, touring, enjoying outdoor activities. Getting one into a vehicle is an issue as they are heavy. We have a special lift that does all the work.

My DH is a very handy guy and keeps these scooters in good shape. He (and I) would highly recommend Pride Scooters to anyone needing such help to enjoy getting out and about.

Your biggest problem would be in transporting a scooter.
My scooters are somewhat heavier/bulkier than you may need. There are lighter and easier to transport (and of course less costly) scooters in Prides selection.

Look at the site I have included and click on the "Find My Go GO " selection.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pride Mobility Scooters

Double post eliminated

This post was edited by gazania on Sat, Jul 19, 14 at 17:27

Stan has the one shown on the website that gazania posted. He has had it for more than 4 years, and no problems at all with it. It is just used indoors and on the porches. It is too heavy for me to load into the truck or car, so he uses a walker with a seat when he goes out (which isn't often).

We just purchased my 3rd (DH's first) scooters and I am waiting info from him (may be napping). My first was a 3 wheel that was easy to load but not as stable as a 4 wheel one...plus it went thru batteries way to quickly. If riding on grass or parking lots they can tip over (yes, I did) . # 2 is a heavier one, two batteries which I never ran down... or even used much because it came apart into 3 pieces (plus batts) so it would fit into our CRv and the pieces were a heavy beast to load, and would be needed for a heavier person. A go getter, for sure. Our newest are smaller, single battery, come apart so that one will fit in one of the cargo spaces in the motorhome, while mine rides in the CRv along with my walker.

My lower back problem/pain, like yours, got bad 13 years ago and I began to use a walker. Even today, if it is short distances (as well as in the house) I prefer the walker, one that I can easily sit in to give my back a rest. I also like the exercise part of it..... you do get some that you don't get on a scooter. Scooters (to me) make me too short when shopping or even in crowds. Have you used them in stores to shop? You probably should try that out. I have friends who are great at zooming around on them.... I'm not good at it. I will follow up on the 'on-line' company we got ours from.

I love mine, I only wanted a 4 wheel model with the larger wheels that allows you to go over more types of terrain. We do have a lift for it that can mount in the back of the pickup or something similar. What we use though is a ramp carrier that mounts into the trailer hitch. It will fold up flat when not in use. You drop it down and let the ramp down, use the scooter to drive itself up onto and off of the carrier. It is super easy to use which is why we use it all the time. I can take some pictures.

Here are a few pictures of the scooter on the carrier.

With the ramp down in the load and unload position

The whole carrier will fold up flat against the spare tire carrier on the Hummer which is how we leave it when not using it.

I got my carrier from Evan at Titan Attachments, he is a super nice guy. He gave me the best price. There are all kinds of these carriers out there just look on ebay but you have to make sure you are getting one that actually does fold up some don't and that has the anti wobble device included this one does and the price was excellent.

Hitch Mounted Wheelchair Scooter Mobility Carrier Medical Rack Ramp MC400 SC400

These are easy to use and I can actually do it myself if I have to.
My scooter is by shoprider.

I am trying to find a good link to mine but I keep finding them in the UK.
Anyway mine is the Shoprider Deluxe Coach but it looks just like the pictures on here of the Sovereign.
Shoprider Deluxe

Try checking the Craigslist in your area, you can often times find very good deals and shops that sell them advertize on craiglist with special prices.
I also have the heavy duty all weather cover with mine which you really need because you don't want it to be uncovered in a rain storm.

The three wheel ones can be less stable than the 4 wheel ones which is why I only wanted one with 4 wheels. The bigger the tires or wheels the easier it is to get around in more types of terrain like on the ground or grass or even sand.

I told my husband we need to get this one so that we both can ride! But he said no way we would be fighting over who was driving LOL
Sprinter 889-4DXD (Two Seater Heavy Duty Scooter)

Lots of good info here. We got our two new ones from SpinLife.com. DH had no problems with the company, from Columbus, Oh The scooters are Pride-GoGo Elite Traveller Plus. We also peeked at some of the 'double rider' ones.... which would be great sometimes, but we often go in different directions (on purpose, really) I WOULD like a tow-bar,tho. The walker just gets me into places more easily and towing it would be cute!

I saw attachments for the Scooters that carries a Walker on the back. I have the attachment that holds a cane and a safety flag. I don't have a flag instead I have an orange rod, like the flag poles, which has a wide band of reflective glow in the dark material near the top, it's not as tall as the flags but it is tall enough to be seen going through the parking lot.
I really need mirrors for mine and am having a hard time finding ones that will work. My handle bars don't have the screw in mounts like some do.

Here is a link that might be useful: Walker holder

I also wanted to mention the Zappy, if you have a Camping World store around you they have them there and you can ride one. It is the only 3 wheel style I considered because of the bigger wheel. I rode it and it was so much fun and it can go very fast. You can ride it sitting with the seat or standing with the seat removed. It folds and is easy to handle. You can get a seat back too. For the price it is a good first choice.
There's others similar, if you Google for Zappy images you will see some others.
I have seen several of them being used by security guards in parking lots and grocery stores. They kinda look like a version of the Segway.

Here is a link that might be useful: Zappy

As stated in others posts, 4 wheels are more stable, but also a little harder to maneuver in tight spaces like through the aisles in most stores at the mall. The 3 wheel smaller/lighter weight scooters would be fine if you are only going to be using it on smooth paved surfaces, but I would definitely go 4 wheel if buying a the smaller type for the added stability. And, the bigger the wheels the better the ride and stability

My Prides are both 3 wheel heavier weight styles and you wouldn't believe some of the places I have been with them.

Ravencajun has a really nice set up with the carrier for hers, but here in the PA winter weather, not a way I would want to have to transport one.

The ideal set up would be to have a van and a lift like I have, but it can be expensive. Fortunately my willing and able DH has installed the 2 different second hand lifts we have had in the two vans we have had. Let me tell, you it takes an inventive mind to get it to work smoothly and with safety in a possible crash a must. He just recently bought a used Pride Scooter, refurbished it for a friend, then installed our spare lift into her van for her. She is good to go now and a very happy camper.

thanks, everyone for all your input. one of my concerns is battery life. since they (batteries) are quite expensive i would like one to last awhile. i would probably only use it 5-6 times a year, at about 2-3 hours each time. should a battery last a year or more?

It depends a lot on the scooter and the batteries. For example mine takes 2 batteries which last charged forever. In fact I have still not had it drop a single bar of the charge. I have a charger for it here in the house where I keep it and if I have taken it out and done a long drive with it I will put the charger on it.
Some only take one battery and it is a smaller battery so therefore it will have less of a charge and not last as long. The actual battery life will depend on the battery itself. Most of the descriptions for them in the specs will tell you the type and number of them and the strength and charging times etc.

When buying a used one that is important to make sure it still has good functioning batteries and a charger because those items are not cheap.

I made slip on covers for my arm rests because I don't like having my arms on the plastic. They were so easy to sew up, I am going to make several pairs of Gloves for her in multiple colors. lol

We don't have much of a winter here so I should be ok using my carrier even in winter because the cover that came with it is a super thick heavy duty cover. We can use the lift in the pickup but it would still be outside. It might work in the Hummer but then we would have no extra room in the back of the Hummer at all, it is not very spacious back there even with the seat backs down.

Mine is a larger model scooter but my husband and neighbor easily lifted it in and out of the back of the pickup.The overall weight of the Shoprider Deluxe scooter without batteries is only 176lbs,and has a maximum range of 25 miles on a charge.

one feature that I had not really thought about but now I don't think I would consider one with out is the seat that swivels for easy in and out, plus lift up arm rests. I do wish my seat had up and down adjustments which some do. It does have a nice headlight and tail lights as well as a horn but the horn is not very loud. I have one of those bulb horns on my three wheel bike that is much louder.
I have added a nice cup holder that will hold my metal Bubba insulated water bottle. I got that at walmart for $8 in the bike dept.I use one that is made for a bike on my wheelchair and bike. The ones they try to sell for scooters are priced too high in most cases.
I put a zip tie in my basket in a loop through the weaves and I have a carabiner hooked to it, when I put my purse in the basket I hook the straps into the carabiner and that way it is secure so no one can just come by and grab it out of my basket. I put my mailing labels with my name and address on it in various places so I can always identify it.
We bought a heavy duty bike lock up system with a strong cable and lock at harbor freight so I can use the cable to lock it onto the carrier if we will be leaving it on there for a while, like at a restaurant. People are so brazen these days it would not surprise me to come back out and find it has been unloaded and stolen. With the cable locking it to the carrier it would at least slow them down.
My husband gets kind of obsessive with the tie downs he put on it to carry it on the carrier but that is just him. I think one good tie down across the center floor of the scooter and around the carrier would be enough. The carrier has tie down areas all over it.

thanks, raven....i really appreciate all the info!! :)

Hubby has MS and has some mobility issues, mostly tires very easily, and lack of balance, he can only walk for short distance. He has had several diffrent scooters, but we came across the "travel scoot" the nice thing is, it only weighs 35 lbs, and can fold up small enough to fit in a car truck, it will actually fir into an overhead airline compartment !! This thing has been a blessing for both of us! He normally drives a pick up with canopy, I can easily lift it , simply lower seat.
I drive a Ford Edge and fits fine in the rear. We have a 66 mustang that we take to outings and car shows, in just a few seconds it fits nicely in the trunk..
No longer do we worry about ramps, or trailers.
The battery in the scooter is about 14 in long, and 4 in wide. probibly weighs 2 lbs.
We have gone into shopping malls, goes in and out of elevators just fine.
The battery will last all day, we have never ran it out of battery, and believe me, have used all day, we like going to flee markets, sight seeing, museums, etc.
The scooter goes up to 6 miles an hour ( faster than I care to walk ) I just cannot say enough good... this really has been a blessing for us! I have added link.http://www.travelscoot.com/