We are looking at buying a Class A gas or Class C motor home,wheelchair accessible, and capable of towing a minivan.My question is can a high-functioning quadriplegic handle braking with hand controls without a problem? My brother-in-law thinks we should add air brakes if my husband (the quad)drives with hand controls. We would have all the usual braking systems in place including on the toad (planning to tow four down).Any thoughts?Thanks

Totally impossible to tell. In most cases a motorhome has no greater physical requirement than any other vehicle. The steering is as light, the brakes are similar as well. What I think is different is the need to move the head quite a lot to gain the required view out of the windows, the mirrors, and so on, to tell what is going on around the vehicle. You can't "add" air brakes, the vehicle either has them or doesn't. But they don't require a significantly different effort than any other brakes. Brian

Gas motorhomes have the usual power brakes, and in my 30 years of motorhome driving I have never, to my recollection, felt I required excessive force to control the brake function. Adding a proportional braking system to the towed car, expecially a heavy van would be a must. I currently have the ReadyBrake, which actually pulls the towed vehicle brake peddle using a surge device. There are many options on the market. A minivan is a rather heavy vehicle, I am guessing over 5,000lbs, maybe by a lot. This greatly exceeds the Gross Vehicle Combined Weight capacity of many if not most Class A motorhomes. Be very careful in choosing a motorhome that can handle your anticipated towing needs. I am guessing that a Class C with a with an F450 or diesel or a Super C would be a way to go. (I am not an expert in this field at all, but there are plenty of well versed people on this website).Can you do this: Why not. I've seen wheel chair modified motorhomes with lifts replacing the front recliner. If you can drive a van you can drive a motorhome. Often the greatest barriers are the ones we create for ourselves.Happy Trails

Thanks for the good info. Yes being able to move around and see out the mirrors is a concern but think we can address that. Also thanks for the info on air brakes--my brother-in-law misled me.We have researched towing options and capacities extensively. Had our minivan weighed with both of us in it and a few other things (including the wheelchair lift)-- came out at 4500 pounds.I like the Class C's better myself--just feels more like driving a van.Haven't heard of the Readi-brake--will check that out.Thanks.

By the way you don't see many quads/paras driving motor homes here in Iowa--don't know why. But my husband just retired early and we plan to travel extensively. And hopefully move to a better climate at least in the winter.

If you can drive a E-350 Ford van with those power brakes and gas controls, the E-350/450 minimotorhome and F-53 motorhome (class A) use the same power steering, and other controls. I think one of the modifications is to raise the power steering pressure, so it turns with less feedback, but is really easy to turn, and might even lessen the power braking effort required. Before making the final decision on a RV, you might want to get the controls company involved that installed the hand controls on your minivan. They might say that any E-450 based motorhome will use the same controls as the E-150 and E-350 full sized vans, straight off the shelf parts. Those some controls might fit on a class A and might not. It depends. My motorhome is a 97F-53 chassis, same as the Ford van steering wheel of that model year, same chassis as the F-450 truck of that model year. Raising the power steering pressure should be the same as the F-350 van. They do this so you can steer with one hand, and use the other hand on the brake / gas lever. (some reading this might not have driven a handcontrolled van). Try looking on RvSearch.com for a RV with handicap access. Sometimes I see them. I have also been typing in Handicap to the "For Sale"section of my local Craigslist.com and sometimes a motorhome will show up. Check with Roadmasterinc.com for possible baseplates for your minivan. If the van based motorhome is short enough, it might mean taking along the minivan is redundant. Good luck!Fred.

Can a quadriplegic driver handle braking-Class A gas/Class C

18 Replies

Rough_nit
Explorer
Aug 09, 2013
I am a high functioning quad(C6-7). We have a 36' Southwind A that we had modified. Actually widened the original entry door with a 30". Wider door fit with no cabinet mods inside. We added a Braun under vehicle lift. It is not the typical way to modify but we wanted to avoid a second door for the lift.

Braking with hand controls is no problem. I found the steering at low speed a bit difficult. Parking, maneuvering, etc. We had reduced effort steering installed which worked out great.
I've driven full size and mini vans with no steering mods.

I don't have any visibility issues. The mirrors and the rear camera are fine for me.
silvercorvette
Explorer
May 16, 2013
I am guessing the one of the biggest problems will be moving around to get a better look at the mirrors when the driver needs to maneuver, in addition to the need for the driver to move their head shifting the body around for a better view is also necessary.
thestoloffs
Explorer
May 03, 2013
Sorry, Brian, from a rehabilitation professional's perspective, we'll have to agree to disagree.

To the OP's question, if he is having difficulty operating the gas &/or brake pedals due to his condition, then this is sufficient.

Whether it's an air brake or air over hydraulic brakes doesn't matter; what does matter is if he can operate the pedals with reduced force sufficient to slow / stop the vehicle.
wny_pat1
Explorer
May 03, 2013
thestoloffs wrote:
VintageRacer wrote:
You can't "add" air brakes, the vehicle either has them or doesn't. But they don't require a significantly different effort than any other brakes.

Sorry, Brian, I hate to disagree slightly, but Wells-Engberg makes a pneumatic hand control which uses a compressor to activate air cylinders to depress the accelerator and brake pedals proportionally to the level of effort applied. (We have this on my wife's Astro van, using a set of pedal switches originally designed for use by little people. It's very delicate.

But that is not air brakes in the sense of what a RVer thinks of as air brakes. That would be more like air over hydraulic brakes.
thestoloffs
Explorer
May 01, 2013
VintageRacer wrote:
You can't "add" air brakes, the vehicle either has them or doesn't. But they don't require a significantly different effort than any other brakes.

Sorry, Brian, I hate to disagree slightly, but Wells-Engberg makes a pneumatic hand control which uses a compressor to activate air cylinders to depress the accelerator and brake pedals proportionally to the level of effort applied. (We have this on my wife's Astro van, using a set of pedal switches originally designed for use by little people. It's very delicate

COCO2009, if your husband requires such controls, your local NMEDA van modifier can install them, in addition to any other extra mirrors, "zero effort" power steering, electric parking brake, spinner knobs, etc. If you think the "air" system is necessary, a local SCI center may have a driving evaluation service available, that could also make recommendations and even write prescriptions (for insurance coverage, if any).

By the way, we have one of the Born Free Class C's without the step down which Tony & Karen referenced in their reply. Ours isn't set for DW to drive, but the front half floorplan can easily be reversed to provide the clear space for him to access the driver's seat.

Another suggestion: if your husband has difficulty turning his head / neck to view outside mirrors, you might want to consider a triple rear-view camera system (left & right sides, rear), like the bigger Class A's use.
tonyandkaren
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
Welcome to the forums COCO2009! Tony and I have been fulltiming since 1993. A few months after we started I was in an accident and am now a paraplegic. I haven't driven since the accident although I know I should so I think that it's great that your husband will be driving the RV. I can't offer any advice about that but I do have some about actually buying a RV. A class A would probably be better than a C because most Cs have a step down to the driver and passenger seating. If you do decide on a class C Born Free makes accessible custom class Cs that don't have the step.

Check out my blog - link below. I post short reports about wheelchair accessibility at all of the places that we visit.

Good luck with your plans!
COCO2009
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
Francesca Knowles: problem is years ago my husband and his dad started a mobility business, then my husband got a master's in engineering. No longer have the mobility business, but my husband would probably do it himself with help from friends. He modified a Braun lift for our minivan and built his own electric chair. Never thought about the insurance issue--will have to check. I have always been the one to question safety--have to think about myself and others on the road--he usually listens.
COCO2009
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
Ya I know--in my case I get to listen to NPR--which gets a little tiring. LOL
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
COCO2009 wrote:
Mostly because my husband insists on driving and being super-independent 36 years post-injury (hang-gliding) which is great most of the time but adds a lot to my worries and stress--you would think I would be used to it by now! Thanks though--and my husband does not like my driving!

I get it...

You know, it might be worthwhile to ask the folks who'll be doing the hand control mods what they think about adding air brakes. Presumably, since they're specialist they'd know what to advise for safest operation.

You insurance company might have an opinion, too.
Steve_Martin
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
He who drives controls the radio; therefore, I drive! :)