What is the best lightweight folding hoist on the market is a regular question we get asked at AAL LTD. There are many different styles of portable lift system available to assist disabled people to travel away from home.
Whether its a long or short journey away from home, there are a number of key factors that many manufacturers just dont seem to get. You dont want to read a great long article on the many types of folding hoist there are out there. So were going to highlight the three best solutions on the present market as of July 14.
Which hoist systems are we using?
We look at the following questions often asked:
- Whats the best hoist to easily assemble and fold down?
- What is the most comfortable hoist our customer liked to be lifted by?
- Which is the lightest hoist?
- What?s the cheapest hoist and length of warranty?
- Which has the best accessories?
- How long does the best folding hoist take to charge?
- Which is the easiest folding hoist to get into a vehicle??
Whats the best hoist to easily assemble and fold down
Molift assembles in a smooth, effortless action with no tools required and the mast clamp clicks in easily.
The Advance is a little more cumbersome, as there is a locking pin that has to be unscrewed which seems an age and it?s heavy with battery on, advise to take that off and save 6kg.
The Eastrack comes in separate parts which is a little longer to assemble as posts need to be assembled, rail fitted and pod (lift system) fitted.
The Molift Smart 150 was the easiest to assemble, it was effortless, Advance was easier after a few goes, but you feel the weight difference. The Easytrack is not the quickest but straight forward to assemble.
What is the most comfortable hoist our customer liked to be lifted by?
There was a unanimous preference for the Molift Smart 150, as it?s 4 point spreader bar lifts the user in a more seated position, whether chair to bed or bed to toilet, it was preferred.
How long does the best folding hoist take to charge?
The test was with all 3 batteries being empty of charge.
The Oxford hoist battery use a sealed lead acid battery system which weighs 6Kg, these batteries are an old technology, reliable but it?s imperative they?re kept charged. The have to be managed correctly as they can?t be left to run empty as lead acid batteries don?t regenerate once depleted of energy.
NB If you leave these batteries longer than a Week without charge, they will degrade, or even cease to operate.
These batteries need 8 hours charge when empty, Can take up to an hour to get a few lifts out of hoist depending on service users weight.
The Molift Battery is impressive, weighing only 1Kg, with a 15 minute charge, lifted a 15 Stone person from Chair to Bed, bed to shower chair. Max. 3 hours to completely recharge battery.
Unlike the Oxford battery system, these batteries need to be run down at least every 3 months to ensure they keep their charge memory. When these batteries fail, they?ll stop, unlike oxford batteries, which will gradually get slower.
Which is the easiest folding hoist to get into a vehicle
These were tested in three types of vehicles, a Sprinter van, saloon car and an Estate car.
The Advance and the Smart where similar to fit into estate and van, the car was a little more challenging with Advance due to weight, the FS did not fit in the saloon car. There was no difference really between the passive hoists but FS took a lot more room.
The lightest hoist with battery in order as follows:
Molift Smart 25Kg
Oxford Advance 35Kg
Oxford Easytrack FS is 39.5Kg
Oxford Advance ?1850.00 RRP ? 5 year Warranty
Molift Smart ?2250.00 RRP ? 2 Years Warranty
Oxford Easytrack FS ?2980.00 RRP ? 5 Years Warranty
Which has the best accessories
The Oxford Advance has no extra accessories. The Oxford Easytrack FS has a trolley to fit the system on, but it?s not greatly protected for air travel and the infamous baggage handlers.
The Molift Smart 150 has two varieties of protection. The Molift Smart soft case and the Molift Smart hard case.
- Best mobile hoist hard case for travelling via aircraft is the Hard Case, it?s built like a Samsonite case and protects the hoist. There are handles on all 4 ends and it has wheels to assist you to pull along easily. It weighs an additional 11Kg.
- Molift Soft Bag has been revised and is by far the best bag on the market. Easy to fit, has storage pockets for battery and charger, easily zips up and a smooth roll. Very discreet.
The Molift Smart 150 is the best lightweight folding hoist in our opinion and our customers. However, the Oxford Advance is an excellent and cost effective passive hoist.
The Oxford Easytrack FS is by far the best portable ganty hoist on the market and meets the needs of customers who?re more in need of assistance.
The major USP (Unique Selling Point) of the FS is that you don?t need space under the bed and can be used to access a bath, if it?s a pedestal bath off the wall.