Forum Discussion
Bedlam wrote:
I saw the smaller F-series SuperCab (like mine) with a wheel chair lift. The suicide doors remotely opened and a floor platform deployed out the side and down. Once the chair was on the platform, the driver was hoisted inside and the doors closed. It was a slick system but I did not want to stare or take pictures making the driver uncomfortable.
He might have been happy to show you if you asked. I worked for a retired farmer with MS who became wheelchair bound. He bought a minivan with airbag lowering suspension and a power door and ramp. I lost track of the number of people he had me operate it for as i drove him various places.- From your picture, regardless of where it is mounted, it looks to be manual or used as a stabilizer.
- No disrespect intended, but...................
It sure looks like they're mounted to the camper to me. :)
Just from experience with my TC, I know it doesn't take much slope on the ground to make it start leaning hard on the jacks on the downhill side. Having to lift it high for the truck makes it even worse. I doubt those front jacks can take much of that with the attachment area being designed the way it is. Spread the attachment point out a few feet up the front corners, and it would be much stronger. You might even be able to do away with the center jacks altogether.
Without knowing what the inside is like, that's really my only critical observation about this rig. The person who dreamed this up apparently has the financial means, I would have dreamed up a safer, stronger, more stable, non-folding system for the front corners. Happijac would not have been my brand preference though.
:):) NRALIFR wrote:
Despite its "small" size, I bet that thing is HEAVY, and it has to be lifted pretty high to get it on the truck.
For those reasons, I don't like the folding front jacks. At all. Some of the pictures in the gallery show the camper without the middle landing-gear jacks, which makes me think they were added after having an "Aaughhhh!!!" moment loading it. They're so far back from the COG of the camper that they won't keep the camper from falling over if a front jack decides to fail. At least they're keeping the camper as low as possible on the truck by doing away with the cabover section, and any type of bed for the truck.
Also, imagine how difficult it must be to keep all six jacks synchronized while lifting the camper, even if they're all electric. Just four jacks can get out of sync easily enough, and you end up with the camper standing on three legs once in a while. I'd be very concerned about putting too much sideways pressure on the front jacks and having one fold up with very little warning.
I'd bet the camper isn't going to come off the truck as often as the owner may imagine. With it on the truck, the departure angle is going to really limit where the truck can go.
:):)
The middle set of jacks appear to be mounted to the truck chassis. I would think they are for stabilizing the truck...not the camper. Perhaps for when the chair lift is in use...- I saw the smaller F-series SuperCab (like mine) with a wheel chair lift. The suicide doors remotely opened and a floor platform deployed out the side and down. Once the chair was on the platform, the driver was hoisted inside and the doors closed. It was a slick system but I did not want to stare or take pictures making the driver uncomfortable.
- Wheelchair person and 3' off the ground isn't computing in my head. I don't see a lift to the drivers seat.
- I am glad who ever has the camper was able to afford to have it built, camping companies campsites and sometimes the general public are not as interested in disabled people (they are a small segment of society) finding campers is next to impossible for especially a wheelchair patient unless they can afford to have it purpose built. and from a personal perspective I do everything possible to hide my limitations from people I do not know and usually never ask for any accommodation just being accepted for who you are as a person, not being looked at as a disabled person means a lot. I
- That unit was custom built by the "old" Eagle Cap factory in Le Grande, Oregon for a wheelchair bound person.
The extra wide door and chair lift shown on the opposite side (see link) illustrate that special need.
I saw that camper while visiting the factory and really never understood it. Apparently, someone had a LOT of money and a desire to participate in the truck camping experience.
That was back in the day when Eagle Cap would build almost anything for anyone with the cash. - Despite its "small" size, I bet that thing is HEAVY, and it has to be lifted pretty high to get it on the truck.
For those reasons, I don't like the folding front jacks. At all. Some of the pictures in the gallery show the camper without the middle landing-gear jacks, which makes me think they were added after having an "Aaughhhh!!!" moment loading it. They're so far back from the COG of the camper that they won't keep the camper from falling over if a front jack decides to fail. At least they're keeping the camper as low as possible on the truck by doing away with the cabover section, and any type of bed for the truck.
Also, imagine how difficult it must be to keep all six jacks synchronized while lifting the camper, even if they're all electric. Just four jacks can get out of sync easily enough, and you end up with the camper standing on three legs once in a while. I'd be very concerned about putting too much sideways pressure on the front jacks and having one fold up with very little warning.
I'd bet the camper isn't going to come off the truck as often as the owner may imagine. With it on the truck, the departure angle is going to really limit where the truck can go.
:):) - Very interesting purpose built rig.
There is a very active group of handicapped adventurers on Expo...wonder if we will see this rig there?
Quite a unit!
