Everything You Need to Load Roamate Into Your Car
Lifting Roamate into a car can feel awkward at first, especially if you are doing it alone. Fortunately, several Roamate users have tested different methods for loading it onto a back seat or into a trunk.
Whether you need a quick solution or want to explore a more complete lifting system, here are the methods and resources we recommend.
Loading Roamate Onto the Back Seat
For those who would like to place Roamate on the back seat of the car, try Julie’s stool method.
Julie uses a small stool to reduce the lifting height and make the transfer more manageable. You can see how she does it here:
Loading Roamate Into the Trunk
For those who prefer to carry Roamate in the trunk, Tom Manzell has already done all the tests for you.
Tom experimented with several ideas—from heavy-duty winches to sled-style loading systems—to find a practical way to move Roamate into his vehicle.
You can read the full story of his exploration here:
From Godzilla Winches to Sleds: The Making of the TM Lift System for Roamate
Don’t Have Time to Read the Full Story?
For a shorter, step-by-step explanation of the method we currently recommend, read this guide:
The How-To Guide to Lifting Roamate Into the Trunk
This guide focuses on the most useful parts of Tom’s testing and explains how to set up the system without going through every experiment.
More Wheelchair and Mobility-Aid Loading Ideas
Every person, wheelchair, and vehicle is different. It may also help to see how other people load mobility devices into their cars.
The following videos are not specifically made for Roamate, but they may give you ideas for creating a setup that works for your own vehicle.
Boat-Winch Strap Method
Lifting a rollator into a trunk can be awkward. One option is to use a repurposed boat-winch strap together with a bumper cover to create mechanical advantage.
This simple setup reduces the amount of direct lifting required and may make loading easier.
Please note: This is not medical or professional advice. Always consider your own strength, balance, mobility, and vehicle setup. Consult your physical therapist or another qualified professional when necessary.
Bungee Technique
This video demonstrates a bungee-assisted technique for loading a wheelchair more easily:
Watch the bungee wheelchair-loading technique
Ratchet-Strap Technique
A ratchet strap may also provide mechanical assistance and reduce how much of the wheelchair’s weight must be lifted at once.
Mobility-Aid Transfer Without Direct Lifting
Some loading systems use ramps, straps, sliding surfaces, or other forms of mechanical assistance so that the mobility aid does not need to be lifted directly.
A Few Things to Remember
Before trying any loading method:
- Make sure the car is parked securely on a flat surface.
- Remove the Roamate battery and any loose accessories when appropriate to reduce the lifting weight.
- Fold and secure Roamate correctly before moving it.
- Protect the bumper and vehicle interior from scratches.
- Check that straps, stools, ramps, or winches are stable before placing weight on them.
- Move slowly and stop if the setup feels unstable.
- Do not attempt a lift that exceeds your physical ability.
A method that works well for one person may not be suitable for another. The best solution will depend on your vehicle height, trunk shape, physical ability, and whether someone is available to help.
Share Your Method With the Roamate Community
Have you found another way to load Roamate or another mobility aid into your car?
Feel free to share your story, photos, or videos with us. We welcome all practical ideas and would love to collect them into a future community roundup so that more Roamate users can learn from one another.