Hi guys and gals.I have a pretty good case of RA so have limited strength and joint movement. I'm considering a 16' toy hauler to tow out west for camping. Are there any of you with RA or similar ailments that can give me advice about how you deal with medication on the road or overcoming physical obstacles?I plan on getting a power tongue jack and a power awning. On a unit similar to the one I'm looking at, I was able to reach the dump station pipe and the valves just by bending over. I can't kneel down. I figure I can carry the spare inside the toy hauler since I can't crawl under the thing. The unit has tandem wheels and I was looking at a curved plastic ramp to get a flat tire up without a jack.Whatever I can't do, my wife or traveling buddy will have to do. She won't let me go alone and I don't blame her. I have doubts about this myself.Any advice would be appreciated.

I,m in the same boat ,get a good road service and just take things as they come. nothing I hate more than watch some one else do jobs I once handled with ease.

Your pain meds are going to be a major obstacle, we have to see our pain dr, every month to get refills. I have a chronic nerve condition and my DW has fibromyalgia and RA. We talked to him about skipping a month when we go to Oregon and MT this summer and he said that he could not do that, and that it is illegal to send pain meds through the mail. So we are having to cram a 2-3 month trip into 30 days so we can see our new great granddaughter in Oregon and still be back home in time to get out pain meds refilled. Most of our trips end up being 1-2 weeks in nearby areas. Not what we had planned when we got our MH, but what we have to live with if we are going to enjoy traveling and keeping our medical conditions in check.Changing a tire on your truck or toy hauler is going to be the least of your problems. Get Coachnet or AAA RV Premiere to handle that part for you. If your RA is as bad as you describe, having an RV may not be the best choice for you. There are ways around problems, but it usually involves lots of money. I hate to sound so pessimistic, but those are the cold brutal facts dictated to us by Big Brother.

You'll probably need a weight distributing hitch. Lightest one on the market is Andersen anti sway WD hitch.Other hitches run 80 to 110 lbs. Andersen weighs 60 lbs.Some states / municipalities have ordinances / laws against leaving your WD hitch in the receiver, when not towing. The hitch also hurts quite a bit if you run into it with your shins.Doing the in and out of the receiver, less weight is good.

I'm still relatively young at 50, but I also have RA. We have a smaller TT, and the most difficult part is dealing with a W/D hitch. It's heavy, though it can be left in the receiver. But the spring bars (solid steel) must be removed, and they are somewhat heavy too.My trailer is small enough, and my truck has a very long wheelbase. I could tow without a W/D hitch, and if my health was worse, I'd have to consider it. My truck actually has a fancy anti-sway system (alternating the tow vehicle's brakes) built-in.There are electric dump valves available, so you could easily have those added. You'd still need to hook up the stinky slinky manually.Don't mess with changing tires. Call your insurance company. Some offer roadside assistance for as low as $5/month.I can't answer the meds question, but will be paying attention to the answers. I would "think" my prescriptions at Walgreens would be to be filled any any of their nationwide pharmacies.

Thanks for all the info.My main goal is to get out west to high elevation, remote areas & set up my telescope and photo equipment at primitive dark sky sites.I need to talk to my doctor about meds. I think my trips will be limited by my 30 day prescription cycle.For the WDH, I've been looking at the Anderson, which appears to be the easiest to handle. I'm hoping to keep the trailer & tongue weight light enough to not need the WD function, but just use it for anti-sway. If I can get by without a WDF, then there is also the option of an electrical anti-sway device. I would have problems handling a 60lb chunk of steel. Heck, I have problems handling the full pot of coffee in the morning. However, I was able to lift my 5 gallon diesel can into the pickup last week. I just can't bend my wrist while lifting any weight at all.I'm going to rent a trailer, probably a Camplite 14 or 16 and try it out. If my truck tows it fine and I can survive a week in and around the trailer, then I'll go from there.And roadside assistance will be purchased.

Travel trailer with Rheumatoid Arthritis | Good Sam Community

cadman70454
Explorer
Apr 26, 2015
The class C rig is a good suggestion, especially when I become more feeble. At 62, I'm still mobile, most of the time, just limited. I reserved a 16' TT for a week in Co. I figured it was better to rent there rather than tow to and from S. La. I'll see how things go for 5 days in a remote primitive location. I also rented a 2000w Honda generator to keep things somewhat civilized.

The trailer is listed at 2600lbs and I'll get a brake controller installed on my truck. Our load will be light, I told my wife she couldn't collect any rocks till after the TT is dropped off in Denver.

There will also be 300 or so fellow amateur astronomers with all their telescopes, camping out so it should be fun. Even my wife is looking forward to it. I told her I'd take her to the Denver Botanical Gardens and she got on board.

We'll see how it goes. I expect it to go well.
xxjanaleexx
Explorer
Apr 29, 2015
I, too, have RA, fibromyalgia,and spinal stenosis (lots of chronic pain) which forced me to give up towing a TT w/WD bars..DH has dementia and has lost the ability to understand the procedure, so I sold my 24' trailer and van and recently bought a 25' used class c...Now I find myself with another kind of problem--getting up the step into the coach! The rise from the step onto the first "flat spot" is much higher than a standard riser so right now I am entering on my hands and knees until I find a better way. Exiting is a whole other problem..first the high rise situation,and the step tread itself is small,extending in such a short way that I have to turn sideways to exit safely which is VERY painful for me. I have researched online for step stools,etc.,but all seem to have the same heights which do not work in this situation.I am hoping someone can offer a lightweight,easy to store,solution for my problem...PLEASE! Our traveling will now be to local parks but at 74 and 82, we have "been there, done that, and even have the shirts for proof!" I am "too young" to give up my love of rving! (28 years of it,and many kinds of units,and thousands of wonderful miles of memories!! Janalee
bsinmich
Explorer
May 03, 2015
If you get a TT you can use a cordless drill with a socket to set the stabilizers.
AlanTbird
Explorer
May 12, 2015
Due to arthritis and a brain injury we went class a motor home.

Got a chair lift installed at the door. Works great.

Planning a possible month long trip and got his dr to give us two months worth of pain med scripts. If you use a national chain to fill them they are ok out of state as long as you are in the database.

Sleeping on our maiden voyage was changed each might till we got him settled in the front jackknife with lost of pillows to, raise his head and feet. In the house he has adjustable bed that won't fit in the coach!

Forum Discussion

Travel trailer with Rheumatoid Arthritis

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

Trailer Sway

Lance Travel Trailers

Stabilizing trailer

Travel Trailer

Travel Trailer Tires