Handicapped Access Upgrade

[Jim T.]

I traded in a 2005 Winnebago Brave, factory modified with a Braun Millennium wheelchair lift, for a 2013 Newmar Canyon Star 3911 with a Braun Century II wheelchair lift. The Millennium had both a wired & a wireless hand controller. The Century II only came with a wired hand controller. Why does this make a difference, you ask? This means I must have an attendant to operate the lift for me to enter or exit the motorhome. I called Braun for information about upgrading, but was told impossible. I then began researching for solutions & found a company that manufactures a radio controlled device for commercial applications like tow trucks & wreckers. I called their technical support department,was connected to a technician, explained what I was trying to accomplish & emailed him the Century II service manual, which contained the electrical wiring diagram. After he reviewed this information, he said that his company did have a unit that would fit my needs. He even emailed me the wiring color codes for both his unit & the match-up color codes on the Century II.

To shorten the narrative, I ordered the unit & when it arrived, I asked a knowledgeable friend (who brought an even more knowledgeable friend) & within 2 hours on Sunday afternoon, I had a working wireless unit installed. I can now enter & exit my Newmar Canyon Star 3911 without an attendant (my wife)!
Also, when I'm not around & she needs to use the lift to load or unload supplies from the motorhome (easier than using the steps), she can use the wired unit.

Life is good!

Anyone interested in brand & contact specifics can private message me.

[Sky_Boss]

WOW...can't believe that a company that is in the business of accessibility doesn't do the full job.

Congrats on finding a solution!

Perhaps the mods can tag this so it can be found in https://www.irv2.com/forums/f248/dis...rs-150101.html

Pictures of your set up would be nice!

["007"]

Thanks for that information Jim T. will add post to the handicap sticky in Class A Forum.
Which links to all Disabled forums.


Please add information of Company to this thread also for people interested in the remote control thank you again.

[MJFZ]

Originally Posted by Jim T.

I traded in a 2005 Winnebago Brave, factory modified with a Braun Millennium wheelchair lift, for a 2013 Newmar Canyon Star 3911 with a Braun Century II wheelchair lift. The Millennium had both a wired & a wireless hand controller. The Century II only came with a wired hand controller. Why does this make a difference, you ask? This means I must have an attendant to operate the lift for me to enter or exit the motorhome. I called Braun for information about upgrading, but was told impossible. I then began researching for solutions & found a company that manufactures a radio controlled device for commercial applications like tow trucks & wreckers. I called their technical support department,was connected to a technician, explained what I was trying to accomplish & emailed him the Century II service manual, which contained the electrical wiring diagram. After he reviewed this information, he said that his company did have a unit that would fit my needs. He even emailed me the wiring color codes for both his unit & the match-up color codes on the Century II.

To shorten the narrative, I ordered the unit & when it arrived, I asked a knowledgeable friend (who brought an even more knowledgeable friend) & within 2 hours on Sunday afternoon, I had a working wireless unit installed. I can now enter & exit my Newmar Canyon Star 3911 without an attendant (my wife)!
Also, when I'm not around & she needs to use the lift to load or unload supplies from the motorhome (easier than using the steps), she can use the wired unit.

Life is good!

Anyone interested in brand & contact specifics can private message me.

Necessity is the mother of invention, especially when told something is impossible! Good job!! Would love to see photos of your set up.

Mike

[Dog Folks]

You may be "handicapped" but you certainly are not limited! Carry on.

[Keitha]

Excellent work around.
Braun's take is probably an attendant is required.
We looked at a '13 accessible CS this summer.
Lots of room and well layed out.
Now to get them to do a DP accessible coach.
Keith

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by Keitha

Excellent work around.
Braun's take is probably an attendant is required.
We looked at a '13 accessible CS this summer.
Lots of room and well layed out.
Now to get them to do a DP accessible coach.
Keith

While it is not advetised, I saw a Essex at the factory that was hadicap accessible. Midway on the drivers side was a lift that allowed wheelchair access and Newmar made the isle wider for easier wheelchair maneuvering

["007"]

Keith, they have made conversions for people in other than the CS coach read this link for the info.

[davidco33]

Hi Jim,I am new here, my wife and I just bought a 2012 "3911" and would like to hear your solution to the wired lift

["007"]

Welcome David to the forum & irv2.
You can send JIM T a PM by clicking on his name in post and a menu will drop down and a PM message can be sent to him.
Maybe he can post on forum so I can add information in the Handicap forum threads.
Here is the series lift they talk about a remote for a lift.
In my signature below are three links with information about your Newmar coach.
Enjoy the forums.

[akadeadeye]

Originally Posted by Jim T.

I can now enter & exit my Newmar Canyon Star 3911 without an attendant (my wife)!
Also, when I'm not around & she needs to use the lift to load or unload supplies from the motorhome (easier than using the steps), she can use the wired unit.

Life is good!

Anyone interested in brand & contact specifics can private message me.

Jim, we are in the same situation with our 2009 Allstar Wheelchair Accessible Mid Engine Diesel (which they quit making after they made our unit). If you are outside how do you get the door open before operating the lift?

Don

[donrusher]

I have been trying to respond but have been havin errors. If this work
I will post my solution to these issues. I own 2014 3911.

[donrusher]

Well it worked.

I have adapted my 3911 with wireless remote lift, automatic door for both entry and access lift with remote. These have been done without outside input and I needed more than manual methods since I travel solo.

The remote lift was done with a simple four channel wireless unit ($25) from the large online store. The wiring was simple since the manual remote switches on my lift was just a closing contact. Any momentary switch wireless or wired spliced into the corresponding wire in the lift control panel would perform corresponding function. There are 6 wires necessary to T splice and the remote will work.

For the door opener at the lift I ended up using a gate opener since the ones designed for stick built houses were expensive. The opener was a GTO unit, about $700. The opener has it own remote but have wired the controls to another wireless to control both doors with one remote. The door opener for the main door was a $180 unit adapted to fit without the screen door to allow me to open the door to be able to easily get my dog in and out without going to the trouble of getting the door unlatched and then opened from the wheelchair.

I was able to manually open the access door from the outside and close from the outside, but pushing the door open from the inside was difficult. I used originally a retractable dog letch to pull the door shut but this was also difficult.

I have also added hose reels to sewer and water, and a cord reel for the electrical. Fortunately I still can move some with the chair, and have been trying to get things setup for the future, since I anticipate have less abilities then.

I can explain in more detail but would prefer doing so individually since everyone situation would be different and it would be impossible to explain for all possible conditions.

Donald

["007"]

Welcome to the forum & irv2 Donald.
Thanks for your input to this thread if I can be of help let ne know we will try to put something together.
You can PM me click on "007" where it appears.