opnyn8d
Michigan
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Joined: 03/24/2003
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We were curious what other handicappers use as an RV. Is it modified, or do you just make do? Where did you get it modified? What changes did you need made in order to RV more easily? What do you wish you had done?
I am sure many disabled RVers, and potential RVers, would benefit from knowing what others have done.
We recently lucked into a new Itasca Sunrise 32H motorhome with a wheelchair lift and roll-in shower. God was watching out for us, I guess. Now we need to find a new home for our old Sunline trailer with a ramp and widened doorways. But we are hopeful the MH wil eliminate me having to lift my wife and her 'chair in and out of the pickup truck. And allow us to take her power 'chair with us. We are looking forward to finding time to take it out for our first trip soon. Sure is pretty; pretty dang expensive! We are gonna miss our nice little trailer some, too. But this MH should be so much easier for her, and keep us camping for more years.
So what do you use? Or plan to get?
Oops, gotta change my signature
Sierra 2500 6.0 Auto 4X4, K&N, Gibson catback
Tekonsha Prodigy, Hensley Arrow, McKesh mirrors
Sunline 2499 modified
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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Everyones handicap is different. My wife can walk some, maybe a quarter mile, but stairs are hard. We carry a ramp to walk up in place of TT stairs. Use a toyhauler so we can just drive her BIG handicap outdoor scooter in and out. "Standard" scooter carried sideways in inside rear of SUV for museums and stuff.
For those on oxygen, be sure to look at an Sequal Eclipse concentrator. What a wonderful invention for traveling. As far as I could find, they are WAY ahead of all other solutions. Runs off 120 VAC, or 12 VDC, or internal battery. Outputs in continuous or puffer mode. Wife LOVES hers.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded)
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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Peg Leg
Anderson, IN
Senior Member
Joined: 06/20/2004
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My biggest problem is watching where I hop so I don't end up landing all my weight on the registers. I try to use leverage and ramps for loading and unloading heavy things. Next mod will probably be adding a hand rail at the door.
KA9ATV
K2500 7.4 3.73
Michelin 245/70R19.5 XDS2 on Vision Type 81's
31' Dutchmen
Yamaha EF3000iSE
retired gadgetman
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javaseuf
Southern Cal
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Joined: 03/30/2005
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We have a 31' TT and I designed and built a roll-out 6' x 8' patio deck. I then use a one-piece ramp up to the patio deck for easier access with our daughter's wheelchair. After access with her chair, we then have use of the deck for a patio.
We opted for this rather than block the entry door with a lift mechanism.
I actually have built a number of accessable coaches and even with my wholesale pricing on lifts, our finances wouldn't allow one but the deck is perfect for our use.
The pic below shows our old ramps before we got the one-piece.
Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
2003 F150 King Ranch
2001 Dodge Van w/Wheelchair Ramp
1991 Palomino Mustang PUP
Eureka Timberline Tent
Yamaha IF2400isc
Yamaha EF3000iSEBC
"Politically Incorrect And Proud Of It" 
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tonyandkaren
pennsylvania
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Joined: 05/15/2005
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I think that both you and your wife will love the convenience of a motorhome. My husband and I started full timing in 1993. Only a few months afterwards I was in an accident and now use a wheelchair. We have a small class C which was modified at the factory. It has a widened door , a Super Arm lift , one bench seat removed from the dinette and a shortened table to open up the isle. We also had the bathroom door and a wall section eliminated and a folding door installed in it's place. I have enough room to turn completely around at either end of the motorhome which is very important.
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GrammaAnn
Benbrook, Texas
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Joined: 06/08/2003
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A 1988 Shasta 31ft MH. Full lift, gutted interior for turning and accessability. Modified Bath ( all shower effect. sit on toilet and spray with shower, drain in floor with perimiter water stops ).
Specially built L shapped beds in back ( allows a full 5ft turning radius)
Works very well for us.
Gramma Ann
The Texas Gypsy
New to us - 1988 Shasta 32ft with full handicap accessibility. Move over world Gramma and Grampa are on the road!!
One OLD Hubby, Logan the dog, and Baby the cat ( both left over from the granddaughter !!)
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spike99
North America
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Joined: 01/15/2004
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For us, no special "structure" changes to our trailer is needed. We have a 2006 Jayco 29FBS at our seasonal camp site. It has a deck, 3rd support post for its large awning and 2 sets of stairs on pur deck. About as normal as normal can be. However... Our deck did need special lighting. My son (who has has high mental disability) didn't want to go up the deck stairs at night. He didn't want to walk around our deck at night either. He couldn't see the deck or stair's depth and thus, didn't walk on it at night. To eliminate this situaton, I installed lots of 12V "orange" running lights on our deck. They are on the `inside facing` side of the deck. And, they are installed on the `inside facing` area of the stairs as well. For visual, surf: - Click Here -
This deck lighting dramatically helped my son's night vision. And for normal eyes, the orange glow across the floor and stairs looks pretty cool as well.
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PattieAM
Maryland
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Joined: 08/03/2005
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I'm still in my PUP, and with the RA and bum leg, I have slowed down dramatically, but can still do set up, etc., and enjoy it. The placement of the counters, etc., inside make it fairly easy for me to be mobile.
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maggie00
Dallas Fort Worth
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Joined: 05/22/2006
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We have '99 Fleetwood Flair with two slides. I use handicap scooter, but can walk some. But our MH is wide enough from end to end (open bathroom plan with chair access to sink even) that if I need to use wheel chair inside I can. Mostly inside I use a walker if assistance is needed. As for getting into the MH, I just go slow and steady and take my time getting in/out. We didn't want a lift to take up space/add weight. When we were looking (and we spent MONTHS looking) salesmen kept trying to point us to other coaches, but we took our time to find one that would accommodate my current needs.
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pete42
Jamestown, Ohio
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Joined: 09/21/2007
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I have two a pop-up I'm getting rid of and a TT Forest river.
Like others I too can walk a little on my own at this time I carry a 4 wheeled
scottor in the back of the truck.
The trailer is large enought thay I can get around inside ok.
Hooking up and unhooking takes longer but I manage.
nothing has been done to TT at this time, I may modify the bed later on to
make getting into and out of easier.
PETE
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