Easy safe? Older Folks to get in and out of overcab bed?

[rv4jimnme]

Looking for something creative, thanks...have step stool and grab bars and advice not to use. But still thinking about it..

[rv4jimnme]

Eliminate the back legs so it's only a leaning ladder. Cut top down to where it lines up with the height you need. Figure out the side you'll climb "around" to get in and out of the Loft. Cut that side short enough to not interfere, and leave the other side taller, to serve as a hand grip to get support getting on and off the ladder. Notice one rail is short at the top and one is longer.

Wow this is just the ticket to our quandary about having the two poles in the way so you could not slide into bed. I think we are going to try something like this with hand rails. Maybe...

Thanks so much for posting Everyone!

[rv4jimnme]

Posted By: Lwiddis on 05/05/17 06:42pm


These are good suggestions. However, you aren't comfortable with an overhead bed. Think you will be in five years when you are five years older? Buy an RV you where you are completely comfortable.

"Completely Comfortable" sorry I know after RVing for 35 years plus This is our 7th Motorhome... that is something we have never found! This little Tioga I (the wife) can drive easily that is the main reason we have it. Things change, kids grow up, people get old, grankids come along etc. We full timed for about 10 years in a spacious bath and 1/2 Pace Arrow and recently had a go at an Adventurer 38 foot dream home. We started out by converting a new van with bed and porta potty with pump sink. After our last trip Hubbie was tired and Not only could I not drive it but could not even hook up the Car or handle the huge 50 amp plugs...so yes we have an amazing cab over bed that may or may not work out for sleeping but we have a sofa sleeper and the back makes into a bed as well. Five years from now? I am not worried about that I will be at the beach in my little camper! if I can no longer get into it or drive it My daughters will take me or I will give it to my daughter or sell it...meanwhile we are mapping out a trip to Canada (bucket list) No I will no longer have my washer and dryer, dedicated Office space with computer and printer and tons of room but "completely comfortable"??? is not something I expect.

[j-d]

We had a Class C with Loft-Only sleeping, and a nurse friend recommended getting one with the bed down. Said she's seen how one fall can ruin the rest of a life. That coach didn't have a raised "house" so the climb to bed was a full 05 feet. Still, we went Rear Queen in our replacement coach.

Is your floor carpeted? If it is, a ladder won't slip... Get a wooden stepladder, say 06 feet. Eliminate the back legs so it's only a leaning ladder. Cut top down to where it lines up with the height you need. Figure out the side you'll climb "around" to get in and out of the Loft. Cut that side short enough to not interfere, and leave the other side taller, to serve as a hand grip to get support getting on and off the ladder. Notice one rail is short at the top and one is longer.

[Naio]

For me, it's not so much getting up there at night and down in the morning -- it's getting up to pee in the middle of the night. Don't forget to factor that in.

That's why I have a downstairs bed.

[Lwiddis]

These are good suggestions. However, you aren't comfortable with an overhead bed. Think you will be in five years when you are five years older? Buy an RV you where you are completely comfortable.

[toedtoes]

I use my dinette seat back. I know folks who have built a small platform that sits over the edge of the seat back (sort of an upside down U with a platform on the closed part of the U). It gives them a wider ledge for their foot when they step up or down.

[Tiger4x4RV]

I can get up to the cabover bed just fine, but have problems coming down. Facing toward back of RV leaves me with nothing to hold onto. Facing toward front has my feet hunting for the ladder. I just sleep downstairs. Safer that way.

[rv4jimnme]

That is what I love about this forum! folks helping folks figure stuff out!
DutchmenSport I had not seen the folding aluminum steps great idea!but would need to add handrails I think... also I love the steps and storage idea...room may prohibit that but we will see. Where there is a will there is a way? One thing that will be important is the weight we have to watch each lb as we are just a GVWR of 11,030 and that does not leave a lot of leeway for stuff. Thanks so much all for your replies! Somebody some day may look for this topic and hey I might solve it? lol

[photobug]

Ours came with a ladder that latches onto the edge of the bunk. I can't say I'm the most athletic at 55+ but I can climb up the ladder on the roof or slide underneath the rig. Hard..
est thing I find doing is climbing out of the drivers seat to go into the back. Engine cover to seat distance isn't all that great especially if my back is acting up. Most of the time we use the loft for storage. Hard braking will just push the stuff forward

[DutchmenSport]

I understand space is limited in a CLASS-C, but perhaps one of these ideas will stir your imagination juices:


Click here, something like this. You could incorporate under the steps drawers or cabinet doors for storage space.

How about this:Click here too. Make it detachable so it will fold up and give you all the floor space back.

And then of course, you could always build your own, more conventional ladder: Click here, once again.

Maybe one of these, or a combination of these will help spark your imagination and help you find a solution that works for you.

Good luck.