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Subject Topic: Issues faced by caravan users
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PersonLoughboroughdesign
27/2/2017 at 11:00pm
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Hi everyone!

I am a Loughborough University design student in my second year of study. I am currently undertaking a re-design project to enable easier access & use of wheelchair users in a caravan. However, as a starting point I was hoping to get an insight into some of the key issues that caravan users face! I was therefore hoping that some of you may be able to provide me with a few of these issues that I may be able to address. In particular, if you are yourself a wheelchair user, I would greatly appreciate your input. Thank you very much!


moorlander999
27/2/2017 at 11:22pm
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which course and what qualification will you receive on completion


PersonLoughboroughdesign
27/2/2017 at 11:30pm
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I am studying product design & technology, and I will receive a BSc. This is for an ergonomics module I am taking. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


Personoldham
27/2/2017 at 11:50pm
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Hello Lough,

We will start with

is it Static or tourer ?

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Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.









PersonLoughboroughdesign
27/2/2017 at 11:54pm
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Hi Oldham,

So we are essentially looking at both. We want to consider this design for a couple that are both potentially in wheel chairs. Therefore we need to consider how they might be able to drive the vehicle, as well as how they can move around and change tasks whilst it is also static.


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Persontango55
28/2/2017 at 12:05am
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Getting through the narrow doorway maybe a good place to start as all wheelchairs are a standard width. The restricted width access can only be achieved by the manufacturer's re-designing of the doorway to make it wider which will reduce the internal space needed. The caravan manufacturers won't make a major alteration for just a minority of people so it's a waste of time asking for input when a disabled person can't even be wheeled through the entrance.


Personmarg6
28/2/2017 at 12:05am
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I don't think you have any knowledge whatsoever regarding the differences between a static and a tourer and the construction of either! I suggest that you go and look at how each are built (totally differently) this will present different problems from each other and until you know what your talking about then you are highly unlikely to get much of anything useful on the like of here!


moorlander999
28/2/2017 at 12:09am
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Is this a spammer


Personmarg6
28/2/2017 at 12:11am
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aren't they all?


moorlander999
28/2/2017 at 12:13am
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I am a member of several forums and these type of questions pop up up regularly


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PersonLoughboroughdesign
28/2/2017 at 12:19am
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Hi moonlander999 and marg6, apologies if you feel this is spam, however I am simply trying to find out some of the primary issues that regular caravan users face. In response to the static vs tourer question, we are focusing on a tourer. We are looking at something similar to a class A and class C van around 7-8 m long and 2.3-2.6m wide. If you have any suggestions or common issues you face, any input will be useful! Thank you!


PersonHacksaw Bob
28/2/2017 at 12:47am
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Loughboroughdesign, can we clarify what kind of leisure vehicle you are referring to?

You mention "...Therefore we need to consider how they might be able to drive the vehicle..." and later mention Class A and Class C, so presumably you mean what is legally a Motorcaravan but is generally referred to as a Motorhome, as opposed to a towable "touring" caravan or a semi-permanently sited "static" caravan?



This company (exhibitors at last week's NEC show) might be of interest.


Post last edited on 28/02/2017 01:23:46


PersonOpensauce
28/2/2017 at 8:12am
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Quote: Originally posted by Loughboroughdesign on 28/2/2017
We are looking at something similar to a class A and class C van around 7-8 m long and 2.3-2.6m wide.

You are from the USA, yes?



Personqueensmessenger
28/2/2017 at 9:40am
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Even before redesign is the problem of siting the van when arriving at a touring site. If all occupants are disabled this is a major problem as van needs to be moved into final position and corner steadies wound down. Collection and disposal of fresh and waste water has to be considered. After that it is the creation of wide entry, internal space for movement and storage of wheelchairs. Sleeping arrangements by use of a fixed bed to avoid bed making up. Finally a large enough toilet/shower/washing cubicle for wheelchair entry. I gear a giant size caravan is needed for this. I would concentrate on static caravan conversion.
Good luck

-------------
Doug


Personchrisn7
01/3/2017 at 1:41am
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Quote: Originally posted by marg6 on 28/2/2017
the primary issue that regulare caravan users of this forum face is that someone with no idea and never set foot in a caravan of any sort would be given a project of this kind an then come here expecting info on their project!

what the hell is a class a or class c? and 2.3 -2.6 wide? go read up on the dvla towing regulations!


Why the need to be so rude? As mentioned students post on various forums to seek help - we all had to learn at sometime.


PersonJohn4703
01/3/2017 at 4:40pm
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The Swift Base Camp caravan is different as the door is at the rear and is wider than many. I'd suggest looking at that layout as it might be a good place to start for a wheelchair.
The height of the floor in all caravans would mean a very long ramp to comply with the maximum gradient of 1 in 20 recommendation. I wonder if a chair lift could be built into the caravan, but then weight is a problem.
A short steep ramp might be usable if there was an electric winch that could be used to put the wheelchair up it and lower it slowly down, that would require an able bodied helper.

-------------
We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.



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