Wheelchair and Scooter Hoists
Des Gosling Mobility Derby offers a superb range of scooter hoists. Hoists are a very easy way of lifting your wheelchair, scooter, or powerchair into the boot of your vehicle. We install a wide range of scooter hoists, meaning we can provide a solution for most combinations of vehicle and scooter. Hoists are designed to use as little boot space as possible, and when not in use most hoists are either partially removable or foldable to reduce the amount of boot space they take up.
When installing your hoist we will require access to your wheelchair, scooter, or powerchair. Most scooters and powerchairs will have to be slightly adapted to allow them to be lifted; they are also required to allow the hoist to be adjusted for your specific use.
If you have never used a hoist before, or would like advice on which would best suit your needs, why not book a Demonstration?
If you need to lift a heavier chair without leaving the driving seat, our platform lifts offer a fully automatic alternative, and if loading independently is too difficult even with a hoist, a wheelchair accessible vehicle may suit you better.
Every vehicle is different, and getting the fitment right matters as much as choosing the right hoist. Before booking, it helps to check a few things: the height and width of your boot opening (we typically need around 5 inches of extra height and 6 inches of extra width beyond your scooter or wheelchair's own dimensions for the hoist mechanism to operate), whether your boot floor is solid enough to take a fixed mounting bracket, and whether a nearby 12V power point is available for the hoist's electrics. Estates, hatchbacks and SUVs with a wide, low boot opening are usually the easiest fit, while some smaller hatchbacks may suit a compact model such as the Carolift 40 or 40kg Folding Hoist better than a larger unit. If you're unsure how your car and scooter will work together, send us your vehicle registration and scooter or wheelchair model, or book a free vehicle assessment and we'll confirm exactly what will fit before you commit.
Apex Assist
100kg and 150kg Boot Hoists
With two lifting capacity options, the Apex Assist can lift a wide range of scooters and powerchairs into the boot of your vehicle.
Swift Lift
60kg Boot Hoist
The Swift Lift, from Des Gosling Mobility, is a compact boot hoist which allows for quick and easy loading of mobility devices weighing up to 60kg into the boot of a vehicle
40kg Folding Hoist
40kg Boot Hoist
A reliable and compact hoist that can be used to lift small motorised scooters and manual wheelchairs.
Smart Lifter LC
80kg and 100kg Boot Hoists
The Smart Lifter LC range is the medium size out of our three hoists, lifting up to 100kg of weight, with both 80kg and 100kg hoist options.
Smart Lifter LM
40kg and 80kg Boot Hoists
If you’re looking for a hoist for your wheelchair or mini scooter, the Smart Lifter LM range would be perfect for you.
Smart Lifter LP
125kg, 150kg and 200kg Boot Hoists
Capable of lifting all types of scooters or powerchairs, the Smart Lifter LP range is perfect for users who possess bigger or heavier devices.
Carolift 40
40kg Boot Hoist
The Carolift 40 provides excellent reach, even around to the side of the vehicle to pick up a wheelchair from the pavement. At the same time, it is easy to guide a load through narrow openings.
Carolift VSL 6900
180kg Boot Hoist
A telescopic wheelchair hoist with powered lift and swivel for loads up to 181 kg. The offset arm gives the hoist the ability to reach around to the side of the vehicle to pick up a wheelchair from the pavement.
Ceiling Hoist
40kg Side Loading Hoist
The Wheelchair Ceiling Hoist is a new product from Des Gosling Mobility that aims to maximise the user’s independence. It allows the user to stow away their wheelchair in the back of their car from a seated position in the driver’s seat.
Hoist Weight Capacity Comparison
Use this table to compare the lifting capacity of every hoist we supply and fit, so you can quickly see which models can handle your wheelchair, scooter or powerchair.
| Hoist | Type | Weight Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| 40kg Folding Hoist | Boot Hoist | 40kg |
| Carolift 40 | Boot Hoist | 40kg |
| Smart Lifter LM | Boot Hoist | 40kg / 80kg |
| Ceiling Hoist | Side Loading Hoist | 40kg |
| Swift Lift | Boot Hoist | 60kg |
| Smart Lifter LC | Boot Hoist | 80kg / 100kg |
| Apex Assist | Boot Hoist | 100kg / 150kg |
| Smart Lifter LP | Boot Hoist | 125kg / 150kg / 200kg |
| Carolift VSL 6900 | Boot Hoist | 180kg |
Scooter and Wheelchair Compatibility by Weight
Every scooter, powerchair and wheelchair has a manufacturer-published weight (usually excluding the battery), and this is the figure that matters when matching it to a hoist. Below are some of the most popular UK mobility scooter models grouped by weight, alongside the Des Gosling hoists that can lift them. Always check your own device's weight plate or contact us to confirm before ordering, as models and specifications change.
Up to 40kg – compact folding and travel scooters
Suits our 40kg hoists: 40kg Folding Hoist, Carolift 40, Smart Lifter LM, Ceiling Hoist
Examples: eFOLDi Compass (11kg), eFOLDi Lite (14kg), CareCo LiteFold (18kg), Drive DeVilbiss AutoFold (27.5kg), TGA Minimo (28kg), TGA Minimo Plus (30kg)
40–80kg – larger portable and mid-size scooters
Suits: Swift Lift (60kg), Smart Lifter LC / LM (80kg)
Examples: TGA Maximo Plus (47kg), Pride Colt Sport (68kg), Quingo Plus (72kg), Pride Colt Pursuit (78.5kg)
80–100kg – compact road-legal scooters
Suits: Smart Lifter LC (100kg), Apex Assist (100kg)
Examples: Drive DeVilbiss Envoy 8+ (80kg), Shoprider Explorer (93kg), Rascal Vecta Sport (100kg), Drive DeVilbiss Envoy 8 (100kg)
100–150kg – full-size road scooters
Suits: Apex Assist (150kg), Smart Lifter LP (125kg / 150kg)
Examples: TGA Breeze Midi 3 (110kg), Pride Colt Executive (117kg), TGA Supersport (119kg), Drive DeVilbiss Viper (120kg), TGA Vita S (134kg), Invacare Orion Pro (136kg)
150kg and above – heavy-duty scooters
Suits: Carolift VSL 6900 (180kg), Smart Lifter LP (200kg)
Examples: TGA Breeze S3 (142kg), TGA Breeze S4 / X (148kg), Drive DeVilbiss Royale 4 (149kg), TGA Vita X (150kg), Drive DeVilbiss Royale 4 Sport (165kg)
Not sure which category your scooter falls into, or can't find your exact model? Get in touch with your make and model and we'll confirm the right hoist for you, or book a Demonstration to try before you buy.
Hoists work in different ways depending on the make and model selected. If you have never used a hoist before we would advise you to contact us to arrange a free demonstration, with no obligation. You can either visit us at our premises in Derbyshire or we can arrange for one of our specialists to come to your home.
Prices for Hoists can vary depending on vehicle make and model. Through the Motability Scheme these are also subsidised. To quickly get an accurate price please contact us on 01332 863742.
This is one of the most common questions we get asked here at Des Gosling Mobility, and the easiest way to find out is to simply contact us and ask. Our staff are familiar with all different types of scooters and cars, and can usually give you an answer straight away. If you would like to figure out for yourself if a scooter will fit inside a car then have a look at this quick guide below:
- Decide whether or not you are willing to lose two back seats of the car. If you are then you can load the scooter lengthways and usually don’t need to worry about the width or length of the scooter.
- Decide whether you want to load the scooter unfolded, folded, or seat off. Generally you would have to load the scooter folded or seat off, depending on the height of the boot.
- Take measurements of the car boot and the scooter, or search for them online (you can generally find the scooter dimensions on the manufacturer’s website).
- Remember to account for the size of the hoist (add about 5 inches for the height and 6 inches for the width).
- Make some calculations and you should be able to figure out if the scooter will fit into the boot of the car
The Motability Scheme provides an affordable, worry-free way for people with disabilities to lease a car, scooter or powered wheelchair in exchange for their mobility allowance. Des Gosling Mobility are proud to be a Motability Accredited Company which means we are fully licensed to fit vehicles with all manner of adaptations. The Scheme is operated by Motability Operations Ltd, under contract to Motability, a registered Charity.
