seat lift for RVs and other applications

There are companies out there that make wheel chair lifts, and human lift seats, that attach to the sides of RVs.

S & S Mobility Products, http://www.coachlift.com/, makes a nice seat lift that could be used indoors and out.  It requires very little modification to the RV. I visited them at the end of December '05.  If we ever decide to go with a 5er I think I will adapt the Lectra Aid for the interior steps as well as the outside access.

A wheelchair lift requires a door wider than most RVs come with, and  may require major changes to the RV floor plan and frame.

third question

Could you tell us how you reach your conclusion?

We wanted the largest RV we could fit in state and federal campgrounds. We decided that this required an overall length of no more than 33 feet. Because we didn't want to waste part of our "33 feet" on MoHo cockpit space or the A frame on a TT that left us with a 5^th wheel.

To illustrate the point, our MoHo is 38 feet stem to stern. We think that we could stand it a foot maybe a foot and a half shorter. It has a single slide, about 16', for the living and galley. Compare that to my favorite Americana floor plan that is 32 ½' overall with 2 slides. I consider it to be the optimum FP if you want to make use of federal, state, and local campgrounds.


About the same usable square footage, much shorter package.

What do you think? I would like to hear your opinions.

second question

If she did not have the stroke effects, if you had it to do over, do you think you would have stayed with what you had before or do you think a DP is preferable to you regardless?

If Terri could have managed the steps after her stroke I don't think we would have re-visited the idea of DP. We spent a lot of time deciding on a 5er. It is very much a 6 of one – a half a dozen of another thing though. We made good cases for both a 5er and MoHo. New vs. Used, and the separate home and engine/drive train were the winner.

Again, to us the floor plan thing is a big, big player.

I think we will really enjoy the MoHo for what it is, already I liked stopping for the night, deploying the jacks and going to bed (after walking the dogs).

first question

So now that you have experienced both types after the stroke, was the decision to change to a MoHo the right decision given your situation?

Yes, we think so. Ask us again after a year and again after 5 years. A 5th wheel has 2 or 3 steps between the living area and the bathroom and bedroom, we couldn't think of a practical way to deal with that obstacle.

We feel that for the people in the mid and lower income levels, that includes us, an under 16,000 pound GVWR 5th wheel and a “one ton” pick-up is the way to go. But after taking a trip in our MoHo and getting right at 10 mpg I think the cost of fuel is comparable. The difference is, we bought the MoHo and a towed both used for a total of about $80K. We figured a new 5er at $38K and our Dodge Ram 3500 diesel was $31.5K new for a total of $70K. Also on a diesel pusher, check out the cost of an oil change (about $200) and the cost of other maintenance. These things are BIG Truck based, and have costs to match.

More than any thing else you will find it is the floor plan makes it or breaks it for you in any RV. If you can find floor plans in both a MoHo and a trailer you like, then you decide based on how well a trailer or MoHo fits your lifestyle in other ways.

a webite asks

First, I'm using the term webite like trailerite used in the movie "The Long, Long Trailer"

The question
So now that you have experienced both types after the stroke, was  the decision to change to a MoHo the right decision given your situation?  If she did not have the stroke effects, if you had it to do over, do you think you would have stayed with what you had before or do you think a DP is preferable to you regardless?  Could you tell us how you reach your conclusion?  Thanks much.