Handicap lift install??

[Rcyoung]

We have a class A 2001 Damon Intruder. 349.

The back bed is too tall ( it is raised do to a slide out mechanism) for wife to transfer easily since she uses a wheelchair. Have a used Handi-Lift but interior walls are dubious as they lack strength to support a normally wall mounted system in my opinion.

Has anyone else tried installing a handicap lift in these situations?

I am thinking of adding a pole for mounting that would run floor to ceiling. May even look at other lift options if nothing comes to mind.

Have added an outside lift already that can lift her into RV adequately.

Any suggestions or thoughts appreciated.

[theroc]

Several years ago, I got into a conversation with a nice couple who pulled into the spot next to us at an RV park. I had noticed that they had a lift installed on their coach and was intrigued to see it work. They invited us over later in the day and as we again started talking about their accessibility needs and it turned out that the wife could walk just fine but had issues when it came to negotiating stairs but especially getting into and out of bed.

They weren't hesitant to show us what they used to assist her in this task so they took us into their bedroom and demonstrated the lift they used.

I can't remember the name of it or even exactly what it looked like but it was similar to this:

Bestcare Lifts (Model No. PL400H)



However, they didn't use a sling but he had built a small chair-like hanging platform for her to sit on to be lifted so she could slide on and off the bed to the platform.

Again, my memory isn't sharp enough to remember exactly how it worked but when they showed it to us we though it was ingenious. It also was relatively light, maneuverable in a small space, and could be folded up --or disassembled quickly, can't remember which-- so to be put out of the way when traveling.



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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJkcNDVzUWU

[oscarvan]

Although I have not actually performed mods along these lines (yet), I have some structural knowledge of how these coaches are built and I can give suggestions as to how I would proceed.

You are correct in that the walls are not a straight forward point of attachment. There ARE aluminum frame structures in them, and you could install a mounting point across multiple. Not unlike a house there are vertical "studs" as well as horizontal "headers" at the top of the wall you may be able to tie in to.

You can try contacting the manufacturer for any drawings they may or may not be willing to share. Since they are generally aluminum a traditional "stud finder" is not very effective. Tapping may work, and then there's those dewy mornings where you can see the "skeleton" outlined on the outside wall.

All somewhat tricky and involved.

I think the floor is an easier support. One, it's already stressed to carry quite a bit of weight, two it's accessible from below in a lot of locations.

So I would be thinking along the lines of a gantry using welded tubular aluminum. You can have it go side to side over the spot where the person sleeps, and use a trolley and small hoist to lift a sling type "bosun's seat". Standard size tubing, draw it up and have a local shop weld it. A few base plates with bolts through the floor with backing plates.

With a little creativity you can even work it into a "four poster" type look and dress it up with a velcro secured padded fabric or wood trim.

Hope this train of thought has helped.