Difficult but serious question

When we had out TT, we were in a seasonal campground with a permanent spot. One of our neighbors was 350+ and had a 23' Layton. She could fit into the bathroom to use the toilet but could not use the shower. She could also not fit into the dinette. The stairs did not seem to be a problem. Don'y know what they were rated for but they were just the standard ones that came with the camper. It was really hard to get around her if multiple people were in the TT. Her TT did not have any slides.

I would take the suggestion of "showing him around" the TT to get an idea of how things will work. If seems OK, then a weekend trip before you go for an extended time.

I believe you are in Florida which is fairly low altitude. Be careful about where you go with your friend...even 3,000 feet may cause distress.

I've been trying to think how a similar sized person would do in my 25 footer.

Providing that he could make it up the steps - mine also rated for 300 lbs:

He wouldn't be able to use the toilet as it is squeezed in between the vanity and the wall.

He would not be able to use the shower.

He could not fit on my jackknife sofa, nor could he fit in my dinette.

Provided the bed could support him, that's the only place he could occupy in the entire camper.

His weight is an issue for camping in a small TT. My hope for this person as he struggles with grief over his loss is that he gets a new lease on life and decides to move on to a more healthy lifestyle in order for him to enjoy the things he wants to do in life. If he were my friend, I would have a conversation with him.

good luck to all involved.

bigred1cav wrote:
Take him to an RV show they will have all tpyes to look at and try on for size.

I agree - an RV with chairs and a table should accommodate someone of *size* better than a dinette, for example; and I know the entrance door to our 5th wheel was considerably wider than the door to our Class C. So I'm sure there's something out there that would work?

But if the gentleman simply wants to try the camping experience, then I agree with others who recommended renting a camping cabin and putting the TT nearby. Sharing a TT would probably be awkward simply from a "privacy" standpoint

Take him to an RV show they will have all tpyes to look at and try on for size.

Anmacc2 wrote:
A close friend of mine is a recent widower after 38 years together with the last 18 years being home bound care taking. It has been a long and difficult journey. Today he said that he would love to go on a camping trip with us as it has long been his dream. We would love to share this experience with him. However, he is nearly 400 pounds. My first concern is his safety, my second concern is his comfort. My third concern is if he can actually fit through the doors, manipulate his way in the tight spaces, sit at the dinette, use the bathroom... I have a 25 ft TT. How can we make this work? Any suggestions? Is there anything I need to be aware of? We're really good friends and can address the necessary issues but I want to be sure to treat him with the caring, dignity, and respect he deserves. Thanks in advance for your help!

I would go with a decent sized tent for him to put up next to your camper. No steps to get in and out and with some research you should be able to find a heavy duty cot for him to sleep on. Get sites near the bath house.

I too would let him help make the decision, but I would do it a little differently. I would invite him over to "look at the camper" as the first step of your trip. While the two of you are "touring" the camper he will get a true feel for the tight confines of an RV. If the space is a struggle for him I think he would immediately recognize it and bow out. The only preparation I would suggest is adding a pair of step stabilizers based on the rating of your steps. Some thing like this: step stabilizer I've had three different guests in our MHs that were over 350 lbs and never had an issue.

If the two of you decide against him staying in the camper with you, you can always take a trip somewhere that has cabins that would allow him the privacy of his own space combined with the structural rigidity of a permanent dwelling. (as another member also pointed out)

Hope this helps.

Doug

The steps on my trailer are rated at 300#.

True story.... My neighbor and his wife are gospel singers and had a band bus in the 45 ft range. I had never been in it. They decided to sell it and get a small mh. I asked to see the bus just out of curiosity. It was nice inside but definitely a band bus and not a mh. While showing me the bath, he related that the bus was originally built for Wynona Judd but when she saw the size of the bathroom she rejected the bus stating she would never be able to use it.

A 400 pound individual with two more people in a 25 footer is a non starter in my opinion. No one will be happy.

How about a weekend at a campground with cabins? He could plan to have a cabin to sleep in, but you could do a dry run together sitting together inside, preparing dinner, eating and watching TV for an evening, then making up his bed and seeing how tight the space is if he were getting up in the middle of the night, and so on..., just to let everybody see how the space works.