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Roy_Lynne's avatar
Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Jul 07, 2015

Wheelchair assessable

A friend of ours is interested in RVing but is wheelchair bound. Are there any RV's that are better than others to modify and what are some of the things that we should tell him to look for and consider. He is a couple so there will be someone to manage the dumping, etc.

Thanks so much.
  • My wife is an amputee and is restricted to a wheel chair or scooter. We installed a burr handi-lift on our Outback 277RL. It has worked great for her. She will ride her scooter up to the lift, transfer to the lift and ride it up to the thresh hold. Originally we were going to place her wheelchair inside the door but she didn't like taking up the space (though there was plenty of room). Instead I installed oversize wheels on a craftsman mechanics stool. Our total cost was just over $2000.00. The lift with a 45" shaft version was about $1400.00 delivered and $600.00 to install at our dealership. The only thing we would change is a motor that speeds the lift up. It takes about 1 1/2 minutes to go from ground to thresh hold level. In our opinion, it was worth every penny.
  • Wife restricted to a scooter . With a trailer she would have to exit the truck and go to trailer for bathroom stop. That was not going to work. We spent 3 months in a class c and while she could get her legs over the engine hump it was a pain We bought a class a and went to Alaska and back very easily. I did add a burr to get into with the higher floor. Two consideration for the burr. Put an additional cover on it to keep it dry. It will knock over road hazard cones, I average one every 6 thousand miles
  • thestoloffs wrote:
    Born Free makes very high quality, fully customizable Class C Mobility (their term for wheelchair accessible) RVs.

    The advantage of these units' size is that it's possible to travel without towing a wheelchair accessible vehicle -- which often requires a four-wheel dolly.

    Also, their steel roll-bar cage design allows for easy installation of a Hoyer-style internal lift.
    The disadvantage of a class c is the step down into the cab, and the lowered front window. If confined to a wheelchair, a class c just will not work.
  • Pirate wrote:
    thestoloffs wrote:
    Born Free makes very high quality, fully customizable Class C Mobility (their term for wheelchair accessible) RVs.

    The advantage of these units' size is that it's possible to travel without towing a wheelchair accessible vehicle -- which often requires a four-wheel dolly.

    Also, their steel roll-bar cage design allows for easy installation of a Hoyer-style patient lift.


    The disadvantage of a class c is the step down into the cab, and the lowered front window. If confined to a wheelchair, a class c just will not work.


    Not in our unit, Pirate. For the record, BF has built units with Q'Straint QLK electric tie-downs in the cab, so they've dealt with your concern.

    Any actual transition between the cab & the coach floor is so short that it can be covered by a piece of 1/4 round molding or a short threshold ramp.

    But, then, we don't try to bring the chair into the cab; DW uses a B&D transfer seat from the dining area to the front passenger area.
  • thestoloffs wrote:
    Pirate wrote:
    thestoloffs wrote:
    Born Free makes very high quality, fully customizable Class C Mobility (their term for wheelchair accessible) RVs.

    The advantage of these units' size is that it's possible to travel without towing a wheelchair accessible vehicle -- which often requires a four-wheel dolly.

    Also, their steel roll-bar cage design allows for easy installation of a Hoyer-style patient lift.


    The disadvantage of a class c is the step down into the cab, and the lowered front window. If confined to a wheelchair, a class c just will not work.
    Thanks. I would like to see pictures of that.

    Not in our unit, Pirate. For the record, BF has built units with Q'Straint QLK electric tie-downs in the cab, so they've dealt with your concern.

    Any actual transition between the cab & the coach floor is so short that it can be covered by a piece of 1/4 round molding or a short threshold ramp.

    But, then, we don't try to bring the chair into the cab; DW uses a B&D transfer seat from the dining area to the front passenger area.
  • We just switched to a Hurricane 33G because it is easier for my wife to move around in her wheelchair. The differences from our older Class A are: there is no carpeting, which makes it easier for my wife to move around. It also has a wider hallway and wider door to the bathroom. Lastly, there is no step up to the rear bedroom, so she can get the wheelchair closer to the bed.
  • Pirate wrote:
    thestoloffs wrote:
    Pirate wrote:
    thestoloffs wrote:
    Born Free makes very high quality, fully customizable Class C Mobility (their term for wheelchair accessible) RVs.

    The advantage of these units' size is that it's possible to travel without towing a wheelchair accessible vehicle -- which often requires a four-wheel dolly.

    Also, their steel roll-bar cage design allows for easy installation of a Hoyer-style patient lift.


    The disadvantage of a class c is the step down into the cab, and the lowered front window. If confined to a wheelchair, a class c just will not work.


    Not in our unit, Pirate. For the record, BF has built units with Q'Straint QLK electric tie-downs in the cab, so they've dealt with your concern.

    Any actual transition between the cab & the coach floor is so short that it can be covered by a piece of 1/4 round molding or a short threshold ramp.

    But, then, we don't try to bring the chair into the cab; DW uses a B&D transfer seat from the dining area to the front passenger area.


    Thanks. I would like to see pictures of that.


    There are 3 sets of photos & floor plans shown on that link; ours is "Mobility RV 3". Also, DW is videoed showing "Elsa" (it is a Born Free, after all) -- her tape is the right-hand link at the bottom of the page. She's a retired rehabilitation counselor -- Masters in Rehab Counseling, CRC board certification -- and a polio patient since 1955.

    The key point in this "boast" is that, as BF's commercial division (Dodgen Industries) makes mobile units that are required to be ADA-compliant (medical clinics, etc.), they are already Ricon lift and Q'Straint certified dealers / installers. Furthermore, each member of the Mobility RV design team happens to have a mobility-impaired family member, so they have a personal motivation to make the coach work for you.

    PM me if you (or anyone else) want more details. I don't want to make this thread seem like an advertisement for a particular firm.

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