A trailer for my mobility equipment

[arminnie]

It’s just the two of us - me and DH. We have a Honda Odyssey van, but my medical equipment has grown exponentially.

I now have a rollator, 4 prong cane, ECV, shower chair, elevated toilet seat and wheelchair. All needed to visit WDW. I kind of need to either upgrade my ECV or move up to a power wheelchair.

The lift that we are having installed in our van will take up all of the 3rd row seats and storage. I think I may need to restrict my clothes to the minimum.

Anyone else dealing with this? I’m just glad we are close enough to drive.

 

[mamabunny]

Wow that's a *lot* to bring along... but I totally get it.

I'm close to the maximum now when traveling; my packing list is a bit different, but the net effect is the same; it feels like you have to bring along the whole house!

I find that I need to bring items to compensate for other hotels outside of Disney that we stay at during the trip down and back. The number of hotels that don't have (what I consider to be) adequate accommodations is still kind of shocking to me.

Have you considered using a roll-in shower room at WDW? With the fold down bench in the showers would that at least let you leave the shower chair at home? I typically don't need the elevated seat in those rooms either, simply because of the handrail, and I think those toilets are a bit higher to begin with. (I don't have any measurements on toilet height, but they feel taller than a "normal" Disney toilet to me)

When we drive, I no longer use regular suitcases, but tend to carry Vera Bradley (or similar style) duffel bags for clothing; they fit into nooks and crannies in the cargo area better. I also have taken to wearing clothing (like leggings and soft knit shirts) that can be rolled and packed tightly, simply because I don't want to carry a too much stuff. We also typically do laundry at least once so that we can bring along less clothing. I just pack some Tide Pods in a Zip-Loc bag, and put it in the toe of my shoe so it doesn't get squashed LOL.

My particular ECV is so lightweight and collapsible that we don't need a lift for it, but when I transition to a power chair full time, I will have to have one, and will probably have to give up my beloved little Kia Soul.

 

[DisneyOma]

It’s just the two of us - me and DH. We have a Honda Odyssey van, but my medical equipment has grown exponentially.

I now have a rollator, 4 prong cane, ECV, shower chair, elevated toilet seat and wheelchair. All needed to visit WDW. I kind of need to either upgrade my ECV or move up to a power wheelchair.

The lift that we are having installed in our van will take up all of the 3rd row seats and storage. I think I may need to restrict my clothes to the minimum.

Anyone else dealing with this? I’m just glad we are close enough to drive.

I thought WDW could provide the shower chair and elevated toilet seat?

Instead of a trailer, have you looked into getting a rack to put the wheelchair and rollator, either on the back or on the roof? Or one of those pods that go on the roof?

 

[Bete]

If you need more room in the van for other items you may have to think about renting some items. As the previous poster said you may be able to get some of what you need from Disney if you are onsite. A roll in shower does have a bench, but it's not too large.

Can you get creative with your packing? Can you bungi cord something in the scooter seat? Or use the base of the scooter to wedge something in perhaps like a small suitcase?

 

[arminnie]

I was just kidding about the trailer. I do think we will get a pod for the top of the car. Just lamenting over how much “stuff” I need these days.

I’ve heard very mixed things about the quality of a shower chair and seat from Disney. I like my shower bench with no back. Also my toilet seat attaches very securely which is important for me. Like Mamabunny I use these in hotels along the way while driving.

I fell recently and injured my shoulder and broke my collarbone. It is very painful to pull myself up using the railings in a HC bathroom. My raised seat makes it possible to stand without having to pull myself up.

A year ago I didn’t even need a cane, but unfortunately my condition is deteriorating fairly quickly. I expect that I will be in a power chair within a year or two. At that point I would no longer need the cane or rollator. But TBH I’m glad I can still use these now.

 

[FortForever]

Have you considered getting an RV and staying at Fort Wilderness?

it would be much easier to have your own shower and toilet in an RV rather than dragging all that stuff in and out of hotel rooms.

 

[BethCPTSD]

Good luck to you! I just started using my new lift today. Overall, I'm able to get my chair in and out of the car, but with a few bumps along the way!! Best wishes...

 

[mamabunny]

Have you considered getting an RV and staying at Fort Wilderness?

it would be much easier to have your own shower and toilet in an RV rather than dragging all that stuff in and out of hotel rooms.

I know you were talking to @arminnie, but our family has considered this strongly for a while now. We love the Fort *so* much! I have 2 primary problems that I don't know how to overcome with an RV: First, I won't be able to do the steps in and out. And second, I have to have a place to sit while showering. (Not to mention the toilet seat height would probably be issue #3)

I know that there are companies (including a very famous one right here in Oklahoma) that will custom fit coaches, and can even make them totally wheelchair friendly/HA, but that's way outside my price range.

 

[FortForever]

I know you were talking to @arminnie, but our family has considered this strongly for a while now. We love the Fort *so* much! I have 2 primary problems that I don't know how to overcome with an RV: First, I won't be able to do the steps in and out. And second, I have to have a place to sit while showering. (Not to mention the toilet seat height would probably be issue #3)

I know that there are companies (including a very famous one right here in Oklahoma) that will custom fit coaches, and can even make them totally wheelchair friendly/HA, but that's way outside my price range.

Have you looked at toy haulers? They have a ramp on the back for people to load motorcycles, 4 wheelers, and things of that nature into them. The rear of them is kind of a "garage" area, but almost always have flip down couches or beds of some sorts in case you are not using it for that.

There are many, many RVs made with showers big enough to accommodate a shower chair. Even our daughter's hybrid (hard sided trailer with canvas beds that fold down on ends) has a shower sizable enough. The problem would be if a person could not walk at all, it would be impossible to get to without a custom build. If you could walk into the bathroom, should be easy enough to find a big enough shower.

While I have not looked for one, I'm sure seat risers are available for RV toilets. We are avid campers and the handicapped accessible sites, in Florida State Parks, area almost always all in use. Most often by people in wheelchairs. They must have some sort of adjustments made to the bathroom. Come to think of it, in my daughter's hybrid, it's possible that a residential toilet seat riser may fit. Her toilet looks very much like regular toilet.

One of our sons lives in a big RV on our property. His bathroom has a full bathtub and residential looking toilet as well. He has two slide outs, making plenty of floor space for a mobility device.

 

[mamabunny]

Have you looked at toy haulers? They have a ramp on the back for people to load motorcycles, 4 wheelers, and things of that nature into them. The rear of them is kind of a "garage" area, but almost always have flip down couches or beds of some sorts in case you are not using it for that.

There are many, many RVs made with showers big enough to accommodate a shower chair. Even our daughter's hybrid (hard sided trailer with canvas beds that fold down on ends) has a shower sizable enough. The problem would be if a person could not walk at all, it would be impossible to get to without a custom build. If you could walk into the bathroom, should be easy enough to find a big enough shower.

While I have not looked for one, I'm sure seat risers are available for RV toilets. We are avid campers and the handicapped accessible sites, in Florida State Parks, area almost always all in use. Most often by people in wheelchairs. They must have some sort of adjustments made to the bathroom. Come to think of it, in my daughter's hybrid, it's possible that a residential toilet seat riser may fit. Her toilet looks very much like regular toilet.

One of our sons lives in a big RV on our property. His bathroom has a full bathtub and residential looking toilet as well. He has two slide outs, making plenty of floor space for a mobility device.

We have a friend with a custom RV; he has the "garage" (I guess "toy hauler" area?) in the back end for their outdoor equipment, and he had the manufacturer make a door made between the main part of the RV and the garage part. The floor is sprayed with the same stuff they line pickup truck beds with so he can just hose it out, and he even had a laundry sink and a washer/dryer combo plumbed in there so that if they come back all muddy or dirty they can throw clothes right into the laundry. It's basically a man cave on wheels LOL

I haven't been able to do the steps to get up inside an RV for years - it sounds like the shower and toilet seat won't be as big an issue as getting in and out is!

When you see folks at those HA sites, how are they getting in and out of their RVs? Do they have ramps? or elevators? I can't imagine ever traveling solo with an RV; I don't think I would be able to do the hookups required, let alone get in and out!

(also to @arminnie please forgive me for hijacking your thread! )

 

[arminnie]

No problem with the "hijack" - I really liked reading all of this myself. I would have the same problem with the RV entry as you Mamabunny. Plus we leave for Disney from New Orleans where we have a condo with one tiny parking place. Not only would we have to purchase and RV we'd have to find a place to store it. All of that is out of our budget.

A little over a year ago we were invited to DH's sister's 2nd home in Hot Springs, AR. We'd all visited the condos as rentals a couple of years earlier where there were elevators. Her unit had what seemed like a million steps down a stairway from the parking lot to get to her front door with no elevator. I made it - slowly - and even more slowly getting back up. But there is NO WAY I could do it today.

Now when I get invited to someone's home I will check out what their home looks like on Google maps to see how many stairs there are. I can (at least today) go up 3-4 steps with a railing where I can pull myself up. One of my good friends has front and back steps that are steep with no railing. I cannot go up those stairs anymore. Her spouse (also a dear friend) has COPD and does not leave the home. I have joked that I am going to come into their backyard and wave at her at the top of the stairs.

This is all so new to me. But I consider myself blessed that I have no pain and can still take a couple of steps while holding on to something.

I think I just hijacked my own thread.

 

[FortForever]

When you see folks at those HA sites, how are they getting in and out of their RVs? Do they have ramps? or elevators? I can't imagine ever traveling solo with an RV; I don't think I would be able to do the hookups required, let alone get in and out!

(also to @arminnie please forgive me for hijacking your thread! )

I honestly can't answer that question. I have never paid any attention. However, we have a week coming up at a state park in April, and I am going to find out for you. All the sites are booked, so there will be people at them.

The hook ups are super easy. The electric and water connections are about 3 ft off the ground on both RV and campground posts. The septic is ground level, but I can easily hook it up (just a a twist) leaning over from a chair. The disconnecting of septic is the only thing that may get tricky because you need to move around quite a bit to get the clear water rinsed through the entire hose.

As for the OP, I don't think it's bad to have too much information. It may be helpful for them as well, since it's always an option. There are lots and lots of disabled RV'ers out there. I belong to a facebook group with many thousands of them. It's an easier way to travel because it can be set up to meet your needs, rather than rearranging every hotel room.

 

[Orangeandwild]

We are on our way to WDW now and like you I must bring a lot of medical mobility items, My needs include a shower stool, manual wheelchair, walker and full size scooter. All of this plus luggage would not fit in a car or van so we now have a Ford F150 truck with a scooter carrier on the back, All of it fits just fine and no more worries over lack of room,

I always bring my own shower stool due to stopping over night on our way to Disney and the inadequate shower chairs most hotels provide. I am a heavyset person and the ones in the hotels have a very low weight limit and way too flimsy for me to use. Disney has good wooden benches in their roll in shower rooms, but not sure all their accessible rooms have them.

 

[mamabunny]

We are on our way to WDW now and like you I must bring a lot of medical mobility items, My needs include a shower stool, manual wheelchair, walker and full size scooter. All of this plus luggage would not fit in a car or van so we now have a Ford F150 truck with a scooter carrier on the back, All of it fits just fine and no more worries over lack of room,

I always bring my own shower stool due to stopping over night on our way to Disney and the inadequate shower chairs most hotels provide. I am a heavyset person and the ones in the hotels have a very low weight limit and way too flimsy for me to use. Disney has good wooden benches in their roll in shower rooms, but not sure all their accessible rooms have them.

Welcome from another 3L! (Large Lovely Lady!)

I told my hubby we need a TARDIS - bigger on the inside! - to bring along all of my stuff on every trip! LOL