Community Forums

Grimesy · 09-07-2011, 01:05 AM

My wife is handicapped and has trouble getting up the last step into our 2005 Itasca Horizon pusher. The dash board is of fiberglass and would not support a grab bar without a lot of backing. I am sure it is a not uncommon problem but so far I can't get a handle on how it should be done. Any ideas or even better photos.

Don WIT 70041,

okmunky · 09-07-2011, 02:05 AM

Check these out

A handle that uses tpo of the door

Amazon.com: Standers CarCaddie: Health & Personal Care

A handle that slips on the door latch

Amazon.com: Standers Handybar: Health & Personal Care

I find rolling the window down so I can push myself up using the lower window ledge helps.

FIRE UP · 09-11-2011, 08:30 PM

Grimesy,
Without getting too personal, if your wife's of medium build, that dash/kick panel area should support a grab bar with an appropriate amount of backing behind it. I've not had that section off so I can't comment on how to get it off so you could preform the work. But, if you get it off, and look around some, see what you think on using that area.

After all, she's not hoisting an engine out of a car with it, just using it as an ASSIST while climbing in correct? Just a thought here.
Scott

skigramp · 09-13-2011, 09:50 PM

Don ...

I do not know exactly what the inside of your Horizon looks like ... but I would guess it has some similarities with our Journey ...

On our Journey there is a small grab bar on the right side (on the way in) that you can grab for the first couple of steps ... I have never had it off but I am quite sure it can be temporarily removed ...

My suggestion would be to temporarily remove that grab bar and the cowling ahead of your dash.

It would seem to me that you could use metal conduit or have a muffler shop bend a pipe that would fasten "behind" the small grab bar and to the framework behind the dash ...

If this seems too complicated then try some nylon rope with some knots in it that run from the dash to the small grab bar ...

I am just trying to give you some ideas ... I have done none of this ...

Keep us posted on your progress ...