Getting a wheelchair is the first step to regaining your freedom of movement, but if you’re constantly traveling, you’ll also need a wheelchair carrier or a lift.

To make things easy for you, I’ve compiled a list of recommended wheelchair carriers available.

This is based on my experience with patients and also from what I’ve researched while compiling this article.

To help you make the right choice, I’ve also included some important features to keep in mind before making your purchase.

The Best Wheelchair Carrier

MaxxHaul Aluminum Cargo Carrier Folding Ramp

The MaxxHaul Folding manual ramp will hold 500 lbs of evenly distributed weight. It is made from lightweight aluminum and should be wide enough for most mobility aids, including scooters.

What you get is an open floor platform with a 60’’ folding ramp that is rust and corrosion-resistant.

What customers are saying

One of the things customers appreciate the most about this carrier is the 8’’ high side rails it has to help keep their wheelchair in place.

The rails give them numerous spaces to strap or tie-down their cargo and are all kept balanced with the help of its steel under-support.

The ramp comes with an anti-rattle adapter that stabilizes the platform and two reflectors that are placed in the back.

What people didn’t like about this ramp were the poor assembly instructions that came along with it.

What We Like

• High side rails.
• Rust and corrosion-resistant.
• Stabilizing adapter.

What We Don’t Like

• Poor assembly manual.

Second Favorite Hitch Carrier

Titan Ramps Hitch Mounted Wheelchair Carrier

The Titan carrier is made of aluminum and should be mounted on a 2’’ receiver. The construction is resistant to rust and corrosion.

This carrier is 28 inches wide and 46.5’’ long. The depth of the tray is 4 ¼ inches and you can use the carrier to load a power chair, wheelchair, or scooter.

It can also be transported horizontally onto the back of your SUV.

Weight

The Titan is definitely on the heavy side and weighs around 86 lbs. Due to its weight make sure you’ve got someone strong around to manage it.

Also if you wish to unmount it from the SUV you’ll need to remove a pull pin and loosen 3 screws attached to the stabilizer for the hitch.

This is the only downside to the ramp; the bolts on the stabilizer are a bit flimsy so we recommend replacing them with M 12 x 1.5 bolts.

What We Like

• Long platform.
• Fits most trucks with a 2’’ receiver hitch.

What We Don’t Like

• Bolts holding the stabilizer flimsy.

Best Mobility Scooter Carrier

Freedom Freedom Mobility Automatic Scooter Lift Carrier

This lift carrier will allow you to lift 3 and 4-wheeled scooters with a total weight capacity of 350 lbs.

It comes at a hefty price, but many customers refer to it as a life-saver.

The lockdown arm is a safety feature that gives you an extra sense of security on your travels and you get a license plate holder that is mounted high and not covered when the carrier is folded.

Automatic

This is a fully automatic scooter carrier that also has a backup system. If for any reason you lose power supply you can use a wrench.

It is easy to install and use this carrier, just don’t try to swing it away while it’s loaded. This carrier will not work with power chairs.

What We Like

• Safety arm.
• License plate holder.
• Swing-away function.

What We Don’t Like

• High price-range.

Best Electric Carrier

Silver Spring Electric Powerchair Scooter Lift and Carrier

The Silver Spring electric carrier will help you safely transport scooters and power chairs that measure 42’’x 27” or less, at their wheelbase.

The gauge wire needed to connect your carrier to the power supply is included in the package.

Automatic folding mechanism

If your wheelchair is not loaded the automatic folding mechanism makes sure it stays out of the way.

Once loaded, secure your mobility aid with the tension retractor. Then you simply flip a switch and raise it in position.

This carrier was made in the US and costs less than the model mentioned above. The company behind the product has excellent customer care as well.

To use this product you’ll need a 2’’ class 3 receiver or larger.

What We Like

• Durable design.
• No need for tie-down.
• Connection wire included.

What We Don’t Like

• High price-range.

Carrier Option For Inside Cars

Harmar AL055 Micro Inside Lift

The Harmar lift will assist you in lifting a wheelchair or scooter vertically, but then you’ll have to manually rotate the equipment into your car.

The assembly can be quite difficult for beginners and will take you at least a few hours, luckily, there is an instructional video from the company to help you out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FRcDZatqPI

Installation

Inside the package, you get a universal wire that’s 23 feet long and should only be connected to the car battery.

To mount the lift you’ll need to drill 3 holes into the floor of your vehicle. After you install it into a certain car you can’t move it from car to car.

Once mounted and ready to use, you’ll be able to control the Harmar lift with a remote hand control.

The entire lift weighs 40 lbs and is a great option for people that use mobility aids and weigh less than 200 lbs.

What We Like

• Ideal for elderly users.
• Remote control.
• Weighs 40 lbs.

What We Don’t Like

• Difficult to assemble.

Best Cheap Carrier

Ecotric Hitch-Mounted Cargo Carrier

The Ecotric cargo carrier comes with a 42.5’’ long mobility ramp to help you transport your wheelchair or scooter.

The ramp can be folded into 3 different positions: Closed flat, semi-open L-shape, and open flat.

It does not come assembled, but assembly is easy and should take around 20 minutes to figure it out, even though the user manual is unusable.

Design

This basket-style carrier was made of steel and features pull locks for safety. The steel was also powder-coated for durability.

The design of this platform was made to open the ramp at the passenger side, but you can reverse it at assembly if needed.

Once you load your mobility aid onto the platform you can tie it down at 11 different points.

You also get a 3’’ safety rail and needs a 2’’ hitch receiver with hitch class 2 or 3. The total weight of this carrier is 73 lbs.

What We Like

• High weight capacity.
• Budget-friendly.
• Easy to use.

What We Don’t Like

• Poor assembly manual.

Other Recommended Carriers

Silver Spring Manual Tilting Wheelchair Carrier

The Silver spring manual wheelchair carrier can be used with any type of vehicle as long as it has a 2’’ hitch.

You don’t even have to use the ball mount, simply bolt it onto the receiver hitch with the help of the clip that comes in the kit.

If the carrier is mounted on the trunk of a car you’ll be able to open it fully, if it’s mounted on a back hatch you won’t be able to open it with the carrier attached.

Manually operated

To use this carrier you’ll need a folding wheelchair as it doesn’t work with rigid wheelchairs, and it doesn’t support weight over 100 lbs.

Also have in mind that this is a manually operated carrier where you’ll have to physically pull a knob, so if you can’t lift your wheelchair’s weight this product might not be good for you.

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The Guide Gear carrier was made to help you transport mobility devices.

The fold-down ramp is made of rugged aluminum and has 1.5 inches of distance between the slats making it secure for anything on wheels.

This carrier has a 500 lbs weight capacity and will fit a standard 2’’ receiver, the platform also comes with three 8’’ side rails to keep your mobility equipment secure

What customers are saying

Most users didn’t like the large-sized bolt that was included for the hitch. Some opt for a drop pin; others drill it and replace it with a US bolt.

Regarding assembly, the Guide Gear carrier is a bit of a pain to assemble the first time, but after that, it is very easy to use.

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The Harmar hybrid gives you the option to lift your mobility aid and place it inside the vehicle.

It doesn’t require any drilling in the floor of your SUV as you’ll simply use the third-row seat hardware.

The Harmar hybrid will work with any kind of mobility aid, and you can operate it with a remote control.

Size and warranty

The size of the platform is 28.5’’ L X 38’’ W and the width can be adjusted up to 50’’. The lifting capacity is 350 lbs, and you’ll need 32’’ of headroom.

The manufacturer offers a 3-year warranty for defects on material, mechanical and electrical components provided that the warranty certificate is filled and returned within 10 days of purchase.

Goplus 500 Lbs Capacity Wheelchair Carrier

The Goplus carrier was made with heavy-duty steel that can hold up to 500 lbs of weight. The product looks nice with a black powder finish and weighs 70 lbs.

To mount it you’ll use a standard 2’’ hitch receiver, and it fits all Class 3 and 4 trailer hitches.

Size

What you get is a wide platform with a hook-on ramp (26.5’’ wide) that will accommodate the transport of wheelchairs, power scooters, and other similar equipment.

The platform is 28 inches wide and comes with steel safety rails and 7 different points to tie down your cargo.

The safety rails feature red reflective panels to increase your safety at night. The carrier is easy to assemble and should last you a long time.

Prohoists Carrier Loading Ramp

The last item on our list comes with smart design features.

Most of the carrier ramps on the market are inconvenient to pick up, but not the Prohoists. This loading ramp actually has large hand cut-outs that are padded and allow easy lifting.

Anti-wobble

This model also comes with an anti-wobble device that prevents the trailer hitch from receiving any damage.

The carrier has a 5” ramp that can be folded and unfolded quickly. You can also detach it if needed, or tilt the carrier upward and lock it for transport. To mount the ramp you’ll need a 2’’ Class 3 hitch.

Features To Consider

Type of wheelchair

When getting a wheelchair lift, consider the dimensions and type of your wheelchair.

Some racks only work with fold-down wheelchairs, while others will require a certain kind of a wheelchair to work.

The width of your wheels is important as well if you’ll be pushing the chair up a ramp.

Manual or electric lift

The major difference between a manual and an electric lift is the price point.

Manual lifts are less expensive, but you’ll be physically pushing your wheelchair up a ramp.

The electric lift is in the higher price range, but only requires a push of a button. So an electric lift would be a much-preferred option for the elderly that lack strength and dexterity.

Outside or inside lift

Outside lift

The outside lift means you’ll be traveling with your mobility aid secured at the rear or side of your vehicle.

In this case, you might need a weather-proof cover to protect it on the road. This method is cheaper but doesn’t really protect your mobility device.

The outside lift connects to a 2’’ hitch that can be easily removed when not in use.

Inside lift

The inside lift option usually means you’ll need to drill some holes in the floor of your cargo area.

This method is usually more expensive but it also means that your mobility aid will be transported securely inside the vehicle.

Weight capacity

Each lift has its own recommended weight capacity, so make sure you don’t go over it or you’ll damage the lift.

Also before purchasing your wheelchair carrier take into consideration the size and power of your own vehicle.

Some larger SUVs can handle extra weight in the rear, but in some cases, you’ll need to upgrade your vehicle’s suspension power. Never lift the mobility aid with the person inside.