Campervans and Motorhomes?

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

I am just curious how many folk on here who are disabled have a campervan or motorhome.

I read in the Caravan Club magazine that over the last 10 years or so they have become very popular with disabled people and also the elderly.

Not simply for the fact you can go on a holiday but even if you go out for the day you can simply park up and pop the kettle on and relax.

I and also my friend who has ME quite like the thought of that. To take the creature comforts about with you. As people with ME know you get quite tired so the ability to park up and catch some zeds until you feel more rested to continue your journey has a real appeal to me.

Some real beauties here:

http://www.vwkampers.com/classic-campers/

cattermole

This is great

I'm not disabled (but I was a carer).

But I love Caravanning and it's really a wonderful opportunity for disabled people to get out and about more.

Many of the larger sites with the Caravan Club and the Camping & Caravan Club have pretty good disabled toilet/shower facilities as well.

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

cattermole wrote: »

This is great

I'm not disabled (but I was a carer).

But I love Caravanning and it's really a wonderful opportunity for disabled people to get out and about more.

Many of the larger sites with the Caravan Club and the Camping & Caravan Club have pretty good disabled toilet/shower facilities as well.

Even 2nd hand campervans and motorhomes seem expensive. I guess you are getting a mini house you can take around with you.

cattermole

They are very expensive. Which is why we have a caravan because they are much cheaper and a lot of them are now adapted. You can get a portable riser for getting in and out.

We see a large number of disabled people out and about in caravans and motorhomes/camper vans when on site.

nannytone_2

are you considering one for your twitching

anout 15 years ago, my parents bought a campervan. they thought that they would spend their summers roaming the country and seeing new things and generally having a rare old time.
but it didnt quite work out that way.
my dad is the only driver and sites to park up generally seem to be away from towns etc. so unless you take a car with you as well, once you connect your van to the 'facilities' you are pretty much stuck on the site until the next morning. so no dinners in nice little restaurants unless you want to drag the camper with you and connevt it to the facilities potentially late at night.
it is do able, but not quite the simple nomadic lifestyle that they expected.

slightly off topic ...
what ive always wondered about easy access baths ( the ones with the doorss in ) whats the point if you have to sit in it, getting cold, while you wait for the water to drain in order to open the door?

cattermole

tinkledom wrote: »

What makes me laugh are those that are supposed to be disabled yet manage to hook up a caravan to a car.
We are caravaners, have been for years. For those that claim to have joint problems (arthritis and the like) how they manage to pull a loaded caravan up to the hitch I just don't know. many go red in the face. Then we have those that can manage to lift the hitch to connect/disconnect it from the car. The deadweight of a caravan hitch is approx. 75kgs!!!
Then we have those that can bend and stretch in trying to put the electric plugs into the plug under the car.


The disabled on a caravan site are a sight to behold.

By the way our caravan has an electric motor that allows you to move the caravan to and from the car.

You do surprise me that you are a caravanner!! :eek::eek:

Exactly "movers" make it easy!

Glad you and wife are well enough to get out and about in your Van!! Like many other disabled people.

Nothing like the great outdoors to lift people's spirits

cattermole

nannytone wrote: »

are you considering one for your twitching

anout 15 years ago, my parents bought a campervan. they thought that they would spend their summers roaming the country and seeing new things and generally having a rare old time.
but it didnt quite work out that way.
my dad is the only driver and sites to park up generally seem to be away from towns etc. so unless you take a car with you as well, once you connect your van to the 'facilities' you are pretty much stuck on the site until the next morning. so no dinners in nice little restaurants unless you want to drag the camper with you and connevt it to the facilities potentially late at night.
it is do able, but not quite the simple nomadic lifestyle that they expected.

slightly off topic ...
what ive always wondered about easy access baths ( the ones with the doorss in ) whats the point if you have to sit in it, getting cold, while you wait for the water to drain in order to open the door?

That's the downside of large motor homes Nanny as opposed to a caravan. A small camper van you could park in most places though.

Although on the continent particularly France it is much easier because many towns/villages have free (except for electric hook-up) places to stay. So you can just park up right by all the facilities.

Agree about the baths! A shower with a chair always seems the better option but I guess some people just like to still have a bath.

tinkledom

nannytone wrote: »

are you considering one for your twitching

anout 15 years ago, my parents bought a campervan. they thought that they would spend their summers roaming the country and seeing new things and generally having a rare old time.
but it didnt quite work out that way.
my dad is the only driver and sites to park up generally seem to be away from towns etc. so unless you take a car with you as well, once you connect your van to the 'facilities' you are pretty much stuck on the site until the next morning. so no dinners in nice little restaurants unless you want to drag the camper with you and connevt it to the facilities potentially late at night.
it is do able, but not quite the simple nomadic lifestyle that they expected.

slightly off topic ...
what ive always wondered about easy access baths ( the ones with the doorss in ) whats the point if you have to sit in it, getting cold, while you wait for the water to drain in order to open the door?

The only 'twitching' I do is in bed!!!


Hence why our choice has always been a caravan. We bought our latest ( a 4 berth Hobby similar to this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009-HOBBY-EXCELSIOR-TOURING-CARAVAN-GOOD-CONDITION-/171228721290?pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item27de06f08a)late last year so really haven't had much of a chance to get out as yet. As soon as Spring comes - off we go - there is so much to see and do in England.


Why bother with one of those baths. We have an electric riser seat fitted to the bath my wife uses. You just sit on it, lower the arms, the seat turns 90* and lowers you into the water. To get out you reverse it using the push buttons on the controller.

tinkledom

cattermole wrote: »

You do surprise me that you are a caravanner!! :eek::eek:

Exactly "movers" make it easy!

Glad you and wife are well enough to get out and about in your Van!! Like many other disabled people.

Nothing like the great outdoors to lift people's spirits

Yes it does. You can go for a day or a week. Everyone is on board CH, H&C, flush toilet, and the best bit - a fixed bed. We had to get a 4 berth as not many if any 2 berths have this facility.


We love the life - so relaxing, and the sites nowadays are 5*.


Our first trip is to a site close to Chipping Sodbury http://www.littlewoodcaravanpark.co.uk/about-us/ It used to be a private members site but now it is open to the public.

bloolagoon

Where do people store them

Can you pay for hard standing and what is the cost?

cattermole

Chipping Sodbury know it well I'm originally from that area. My Dad lived there until he passed away 2 years ago.

Looks a nice site

Perhaps we could keep this thread so people can use it to give feedback on facilities for disabled people and how accessible it is or not?

We have a new Coachman, only used it once as we got it just before Christmas. Yes we have fixed beds, we did have an island bed Lunar but found it a bit of a pain shuffling around the bed area. So fixed twin beds with an end wash room give you a lot more space, ideal for disabled caravanner's as well.

What vehicle do you tow your Hobby with then?