I can see where getting into a pickup truck could be a problem for you. My 89 year old MIL has difficulty getting up in my F150 and she has two legs but little strength in either. Are you a Vet; perhaps their prosthesis dept. can point you in the right direction?
Not knowing you and your capabilities, I would lean more toward a single floor RV rather than a FW since using the bath and bedroom (in most units) would require another 2-3 steps beyond the usual 3-4 steps to get in the RV. I'm thinking it might be easier for you to pull into a CG and just sit while extending the leveling legs, and then only have to go outside for the WES hookups. I have noticed recently a few CGs who state they have handicapped spaces so perhaps you will find some that allow you reservations.
And, good for you for getting out and using your abilities.
2002 Keystone Cougar 286, 8,400lbs loaded, pulled with a 2004 F150 Supercrew, 5.4, 3.73 gears. Retired and enjoying life
We are nnot sure if we are going to go new or used at this time---depends on what we can find that suite our needs.
We are waiting to see a new brand that the local dealer is going to be handling that is a flat chassis tow behind with a Toy Hauler. This might suit the RV needs---still leaves the TV need!!!1 LOL!!!!
I have been looking around for trucks to "try out" and of course there is much discussion on exactly WHAT you need to buy to pull what you WANT to buy!
BTW I am the wife and probably will not be driving unless we can find a user friendly set of hand controls. The ones i have altho moveable to another vehicle scare the carp outta me and so don't get a lot of use. The fear of hitting the gas when you mean to brake and vice versa is SCARY.
I do NOT use a wheel chair and the stand on lifts might be an answer. Buying something used to mod in that line is a GOOD IDEA that we had not thought of.
The biggest thing on the trucks is that I would have to be in and out all day as we stop for meals, bathroom breaks, sight seeing---In the Class A or C this would be a lot easier. But the Class C --about the ONLY one we have so far seen!--has the bath and bed up above the cab. Think this would be hard altho you could make a different set of steps for that area and add some grab bars.
I also saw a set of steps that the guy from LITTLE PEOPLE BIG WORLD makes and sells--he sells a whole package of aids with the steps for $350---but (without stealing his idea I have seen similar for handicapped people) I can see some clever people with very basic carpentry or metal skills copying this --it's just two steps with a lift handle on the side. Could be used when ever and where ever needed and easily stowed behind PU seat or in RV. This way you could also use it to get into or out of some one ELSES RV if wanted or if you change models etc.
I will have to see if there are any other mobility aids out there---or maybe start making them! I already use a step stool to get on the bike--people look at us "funny" when we pull into a HANDICAPPED space but we DO have a tag and then they see me get off---and some even get to see me get on. We get a LOT of comments on this and some one always has a friend who could get back on their bike IF they used such a system.
Oh---if you ar reading here this might be of interest----I use something called a TRAVEL WALKER. This not only folds in 3's to bring the sides in but ALSO uses bungy cords in the legs to FLIP THE LEGS UP AND FOLDS IN HALF VERTICLY. This means it stows in practically NO space and can fit in an airline overhead. I have NOT found this at ANY mobility or health aid store--the only place I have found them is on EBAY and they are something like maybe $30 plus shipping. Nothing fancy but they get the job done, come in a few colors, are sturdy, and very very useful. We fold ours up and strap it onto the tail bag of the bike and off we go. Might be useful to some one here to know about.
My wife suffers with arthritis and has had both knees replaced with complications that left her unable to climb stairs. We had a running board lift installed on her side of the truck that didn't work properly. After missing a season of camping and traveling, we replaced it with one built by Startracks lifts ( http://www.startrackslifts.com/uvl_lifts.html ) Contact: Bob Helvie,Owner, and it works well so now we can finally look forward to a cross country trip this year.
Look at their web site and you will see a lot of different options to help those who have handicaps join the rest of us and enjoy RVing.
Good Luck and Happy trails,
ArizAl
* This post was
edited 02/22/12 08:06pm by arizal *
Here's the clicky's for the websites mentioned. I think the first one looks interesting. I agree with the Class A's being much easier to get in and out of, especially diesels.
Halleycomet wrote: Thanks for all the suggestions!
But the Class C --about the ONLY one we have so far seen!--has the bath and bed up above the cab.
I have been RVing since 1969 and have never seen a Class C with the bath above the cab. If you look at the short ones you will find the bed up there but the ones over around 27' will have a rear bedroom. All of the bathrooms I have seen were on the same level. I still vote for a Class A for all of the convenience. We have had everything from TT, Hi-LO, popups and a couple each of Class C and A. From my viewpoint you will find a lot of water leaks in the Class C cabover due to the flexing they get. Only the ones with a full fiberglass skin seem to avoid that problem.
2003 Newmar Mountain Aire, Workhorse W22, 2008 Saturn Vue, Falcon 5250, & US Gear Unified Tow Brake
I am a paraplegic and have a bunch of toys, so lifts & ramps are a way of life for me. We have a 40ft MH with UVL wheelchair lift, I drive a T&C ramp minivan, have a wheelchair sidecar motorcycle I drive it from side car, and I adapted a CoachLift RV lift onto our bass boat trailer.
We just bought an F-150 4x4 Supercrew for my wife, and I am working on getting me into it. You mentioned some of the options I have looked at like the Turney seat and stuff. The option I plan on using, is the XL Seat made by Adapt-Solutions in Canada. Though still very expensive, at ~$5K it is thousands less than the others, and the interior is still stock.
Hand controls are very easy after you get used to them. I will say I had an Oh S**t moment the first panic stop I had, my brain went LEGS!, then NO, ARMS!!! But I have been using them now for 8.5 years without issue in both my van and motorhome. I like the SureGrip rock/push type best:
Good luck on your quest, we have put 25K miles on our motorhome, towing my van most of the time, and have had a blast.
edit: Oh yeah, if you buy a new car/truck, most automakers have a rebate for adding mobility products, Ford for instance provides a $1200.00 rebate. Also, in TX, there is no sales tax on ANY vehicle that will be used by a disabled person, so check your laws.
edit2: A decent website to check for used mobility items is Disabled Dealer, I see some used Turney seats there now for instance, and a couple Rv's.
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