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davehultin's avatar
davehultin
Explorer III
Mar 19, 2024

In search of perfect Class C camper for a stroke survivor

Last year about this time my brother-in-law had a stroke, it changed everything. He's lost a lot of function on one side of his body. He's no longer able to drive and requires a small walker to move around.

He and his wife were avid campers, pulling  a small fifth-wheeler. We're hoping they can camp again, but it won't be the same as before. We think a Class C will be the most practical for them, and we're helping my in-laws build a list for their next version of a perfect camper:

  • It needs to be on the smaller side to make it comfortable for his wife to drive.
  • It needs to have a floor plan that will accommodate his movement.
  • It needs to not have any carpeted areas, his feet can't get caught up in any carpet/floor transitions.

I'm looking for advice from anyone else that has had to navigate a change like this. What features were important to include? What should be avoided? Any specific brands/models that worked well?

After trading in their fifth wheel they'll have a budget of about $90,000, so they expect they'll be looking for a used camper.

  • I don’t have any suggestions but I do have the hope for your brother-in-law to have the fastest and most completely recovery humanly possible.

  • Just in case this thread catches the attention of anyone else in a similar situation, my brother-in-law's wife found a perfect rig for their needs: a 2018 Winnebago Fuse. Here's why it's a good fit for them:

    • A flat floor plan: no steps to navigate once my brother-in-law is inside.
    • No carpet: Nothing to catch his feet as he moves. (One leg will always drag.)
    • Twin beds, one on each side: No awkward crawling over my brother-in-law once he's in bed for the night.
    • Low entry from the outside: Easy to get in to the vehicle

    Those are the biggies; I'm sure I'm missing some of the smaller nuances. It's not very long, but it's surprisingly roomy and it drives really nice for them.