Section 3 - Vehicle Preparation
To install the lift on a vehicle, it must be capable of accepting a hitch. If you are unsure about the hitch required,
there are different places for you to check.
Hitch Shops
- Check your local area for shops that specialize in trailer hitches.
They will normally have in stock the hitch that would be required for use with the lift.
Internet
- Some web sites list the compatibility of hitches with vehicles.
These include the following; www.hitch-web.com, www.reeseprod.com, or www.draw-tite.com
These sites have areas where you can enter your vehicle information and it will list the types of hitches available to be installed.
Remember, not every vehicle is capable of having a hitch installed. Each type of hitch is capable of bearing a different amount
of tongue weight. Remember that you must add the weight of the lift to the weight of the chair/ scooter that you are purchasing
and make sure that the total weight does not exceed the recommended tongue weight of the hitch. The AL010 Micro Scooter
Lift weighs 70 lbs, and the AL030 Manual Wheelchair Lift weighs 60 lbs. Add 40 lbs. when using a swing away.
Your lift is equipped with a license plate holder and light. If possible, have the installer of your hitch run a standard 4 post
trailer light harness to the hitch area. This will allow you to simply plug the license plate light wiring into the trailer plug
with no additional wiring required at the time of lift installation.
IMPORTANT NOTE
:
A trailer light wiring plug is good only for the license plate light and not to power your lift.
All lifts must be wired directly to the positive pole of the battery using the wiring harness
supplied with the lift.
Any attempt to wire the lift into
ANY
secondary harness will cause the lift to run poorly and possibly damage the motor. The
trailer light wiring simply does not carry the proper current to power the lifting motor.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If applicable, the receiver tube on the hitch must be installed so that it is parallel to the ground. This is
not a recommendation, but rather a requirement. If the hitch is not installed properly, it may affect the working of the lift.
Some vehicles will require that the rear suspension be supplemented by the addition of air adjustable shocks, air bags in the
springs or other devices to keep the vehicle level.
See Diagrams below to determine which Hitch Adapter install applies to your application
Bumper Mount
( Be sure to comply with
vehicle's bumper rating )
CLASS 1
( Flat Bar Style )
CLASS 2
( 1.25 x 1.25 Solid Bar )
Omit stabilizer
CLASS 3
( 2 x 2 TUBE )
Do not attempt to
mount up from under
Refer to Section 4 or 5
for proper orientation
( right side up or upside down )
Determines lift's height from
the ground
OR
OR
PINCH BOLT
SLEEVE
FOR AL030 ONLY
( CLASS 1 )
