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 Topic: Caravan adaptations
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25/7/2014 at 9:38am
Location: N. E.
Outfit: Swift conqueror 650 lux
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Hi I am pretty new to this forum. I am now the very proud owner of a sift conqueror 650 lux and I cannot believe my good luck.
She is my third van in about 5 years. I'll tell you why we've gone through so many.
Our first van was a 2 berth coachman. As I'm a permanent wheelchair user you literally couldn't swing a cat in it. So the hunt was on to find something bigger as we just loved camping.
A chap I contacted who was selling a similar van to mine on eBay said it was no bigger than mine but he was thinking of converting his own van to make it accessible. This used to be his profession. Three months later I got a message, while I had forgotten all about it I had still been looking. I was delighted. The pictures looked good annd I couldn't wait to see it.
I wasn't disappointed. It was a swift challenger 550 and as the little dinette had been removed by the door I had loads of space and turning room.
We've had 18 happy months with it but as OH and I are getting on a bit pulling out the bed on a night is a bit of a bind so all this year I've been looking again.
Of course with a spare £18,000 we could have got an already adapted new one but sorry we are not in that club.
So, it's been make do and mend. Then this one came up. It has the end bedroom which will be perfect for our fixed bed but I'm driving myself nuts as to how to do it.
In the challenger, apart from the two sofas at the top, the kitchen/ bathroom along the side and the dinette across the rear end the rest of the space was mine.
Here, the previous owner had taken all the furniture out of the end bedroom apart from the upper storage and one sleep sofa that runs down from the bathroom. I've had my first night on it and I've not had a good night at all. On my left side my knees have been digging into a back rest that felt like a lump of rock. So making a fixed bed is number one priority. Shame as I have loads of space in the bedroom.
All that lovely space in the bedroom has now been reduced to a channel running from the bedroom, past the kitchen and between what must be classed as a deluxe bathroom as it sticks out more than usual but reduces my passageway to about 64 cms. My chair is 60 cms
This passageway continues down through the two sleep sofas at the bottom meaning that when the fixed bed is in place I will have no easy turning space.
Still with me. So my plan is to
A) make a fixed bed at the rear. Now then
Option one) buy one . A store in town makes them and we can get a divan measuring 54 ins wide by 60 ins long. This bed will go across the width of the van which is 72 ins wide. This will leave a bit of space near the door for me to back into so I can pass down the narrow passageway into the rest of the van. The bed works out at £280, so possibly the cheapest option and quickest option.
PROBLEM
The rear wall of the van is not straight . For some daft reason the last 12 inches slopes inwards so I reckon a bought bed won't fit flush against the wall so we will lose 3-4 inches of vital space.in effect making our 54 inch bed 57-58 inches wide.
Option two)
Make a base using the existing sofa bed. This will fit snugly into the rear wall as the mattress will be above the slope and it will only take up 54 ins of space.
PROBLEM
my OH is not a very competent joiner. He only has 0 level woodwork and has never made furniture before.If he does the work it will take longer. The mattress will cost £175 plus £50 delivery plus the cost of wood.
Or
We hire a joiner. The caravan is sited. We do not tow. We wouldn't know who to employ .
My home town joiner is very good. I trust him implicitly . He is also very busy right now and this would incur an hour and a half round trip to get here and back.
This I can see as being the costliest option.
Adaptation number two
The bathroom. It's lovely. It's a shame to pull it apart but having ' made do ' with my other two vans I would at least like to use this one. Plus I need the space
The bathroom partition is made up of several sections. There is a narrow flat door in the centre with a curved section on either side.
Option one)
Remove door and one curved section near the bed and replace with a shower curtain. This will kill two birds with one stone. I will have more space and will be able to get into the bathroom.
Option two)
We might get away with hinging the curved section near the bed so that it swings open. It's what a lot of the disabled caravan manufacturers do. This is why the bed must not take up any more space than necessary ie it must hug the wall as much as possible.
This is what I would prefer. It's such a pretty caravan I'd really like to keep it that way. It should be quite simple for someone with the right skills. Sadly not my OH. Would need a joiner.
Finally. I had a brainwave last night. Remember the two sleep sofas at the front end of the van. Again I just to say can squeeze my narrow chair between them. Well I remembered that a lot of adapted caravans have L shaped lounges, so if we take one sofa and turn it at right angles to the other I will get some turning space back.
PROBLEM
we don't know what is under the sofas . We don't want to mess with moving water heaters and so on. We would need to employ someone suitable and competent who could do the work efficiently, quickly , reasonably and not mess us around.
This is getting expensive .
Or
We could just live with what we've got which sort of negates why we've put ourselves through all this hassle and expense in the first place and I've had a very uncomfortable night! I've skinned my knee on what appears to be the base of a bunk.
Thank you for reading. Any helpful advice appreciated.
If anyone knows anyone with a disability who is looking to purchase an old but smashing little van please do get in touch.
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25/7/2014 at 8:31pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo
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Sorry to hear of your problems. Where is the van situated? That will help someone suggest a suitable carpenter.
Or send OH on a carpentry course at the local school. Many local authorities run them.
Age Concern may have a volunteer who may be able to help.
Sounds like a fairly major refit with rear bedroom, bathroom and front dinette.
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26/7/2014 at 8:03pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo
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I understand this chap converts dandy folding campers for disabled use and folks are delighted with his work.
Dandies are low to the ground so only need a small ramp. The rear entry into a space 4'x5' gives good turning space for a wheel chair and they have 2 double beds. But they need erecting but can be done by one person.
However he may be able to hep you with the caravan mods. His contact details are in the ebay ad.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gas-Struts-Fitted-to-Riva-Dandy-Campers-Trailer-Tents-Folding-Campers-/131233572171?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_HikingCamping_Tents_JN&hash=item1e8e21654b
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