Caravan ensuite for disabled

Barks51 · Member

Caravan ensuite for disabled

Bobdown · Guru

Friend of ours, who is a single amputee above the knee, took the shower door off and put a curtain up. She has a chair in the shower with the hand held shower head.
Also she has what she calls a salon chair, small round seat with wheels on the legs which she can move up and down the van on.

Cheers Bob

hufnpuf · Senior Member

I think a chair and hand shower would be the way to go, if you've been looking at vans, the bathrooms are tiny compared to those in a house, there'd be no room to move a chair if it would even fit in.
surgicalhouse.com.au/Product.php Maybe something like this? It says it's compact, and it's aluminium so it shouldn't be very heavy.
Otherwise, maybe an external "2-room" ensuite tent would be easier? You'd have the "changeroom" part to put your prosthetics and they seem quite roomy. Handheld and chair in the "shower" part.

oldbloke · Guru

Facebook "caravan and camping australia" there is a bloke ( Sharon and William Lane) with a disabled wife. Perhaps look them up. See what they are doing.

But I like the curtain and chair idea myself.

Edit: Come to think of it, curtain on 2 sides perhaps.

-- Edited by oldbloke on Friday 13th of November 2020 08:55:00 PM

Dhutime · Senior Member

Im afraid the current size of most shower units in caravans may be too small for you , however if you are in the position to order a new van and having the ensuite custom made to suit your needs that may be the solution. Im sure that many manufacturers would be able to help you . I admire your vision of wanting to travel our great country. Good luck to you.

Bill B · Guru

This company makes wheel chair friendly vans : https://www.edencaravans.com/myfreedom-21

Barks51 · Member

Heartfelt thanks for the great input everyone. I'm very mobile on my prosthetics, so wheelchair access isn't a hassle. I've looked over a few floor plans and concur that a shower chair combined with handheld shower and good grabrails will do the job. So if in the future you see a 6 and a half foot ex Kiwi on peg legs, come on over and say hi.....and mine's a red.... Cheers David

Greg 1 · Guru

My wife is a paraplegic and our van has been built for the wheelchair. It has a wider bathroom with a showerchair. PM me your email address and I can organise some photos and details.

Greg 1 · Guru

Our van was built by Evolution in Epping Melbourne who specialize in accessible vans. Our van has now done 5 trip across the continent and back, one a complete lap and we have been very please with it.