Handicap grab bars in RVs?

[Bear415]

I'm strongly weighing the purchase of a Forest River/Rockwood 20 foot bunkhouse travel trailer. They look really nice for the price.


However, I have a disability, for which bathroom grab bars would be extremely useful, especially in the bathroom.


After looking at many videos, it seems that all RVs, no matter their type, have horribly flimsy wall construction.


Some online research has led me to products like Moen's "Secure Mount", which claim to be able to securely mount things like handicap grab bars to walls where no studs are present, and to be able to handle up to a 300 pound load.


Is this hogwash?


Or might it actually be possible for me to have securely mounted grab bars in a travel trailer?


How do other people that need grab bars deal with RVs?


Thanks!

[learntorv]

If it were me, I'd go through the wall to a backer board. Seal it properly and monitor it so that water isn't an issue.

[Bear415]

Originally Posted by learntorv

If it were me, I'd go through the wall to a backer board. Seal it properly and monitor it so that water isn't an issue.

I don't understand by what you mean as far as "backer board".

[Mr_D]

A thicker, larger board to spread the load rather than just on the thin wall.
If you order things like a seat in the shower they install a backer behind the wall to secure the seat.

[Bear415]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

A thicker, larger board to spread the load rather than just on the thin wall.
If you order things like a seat in the shower they install a backer behind the wall to secure the seat.

So, if I understand this correctly - and I doubt I do - the suggestion is to essentially go all the way through the interior RV wall to the exterior, where a supplemental piece of wood or metal would be attached to try to give the grab bar additional support?

[Mark_T]

I put in several for my wife, MR D is correct you must have support behind the wall. I have used a stud find to find the 1x2 that was used to frame the wall. I have found the suction cup type will let you down when you need it the most.

[Loydmeeks]

When we had our Idle Time built they built a 2x6 into the back wall and installed 2 of these




https://www.harneyhardware.com/produ...oaApGuEALw_wcB

[rkresge]

My wife is slightly handicapped. Our first TT had a tub and shower combo, so the first thing I did was get in there with a stud finder and located the studs in the wall. Then I went to Home Depot and bought a fairly short (18" or thereabouts) handrail. Since it didn't match the stud spacing, I just mounted it to the studs at a slant and caulked under the mounting flanges. Whole job took 15 minutes at the most, and my wife had a handrail for safety. Yay!


Have not felt a need to do that in our newer TT, but if it's needed, it's a no-brainer. You just get creative about how to mount securely to the internal framing. The backer board mentioned above is another solid approach. Good luck!


Roger

[Bob_C]

Where in bathroom would you want a grab handle?

[Bear415]

Originally Posted by bob caldwell

Where in bathroom would you want a grab handle?

If it were possible, I'd want one in the tub/shower, and a higher one along the wall to the side of the toilet.

[Bob_C]

The wall is easy.....the shower one would be a little harder.....I'll take pic of a handrail we use, be back in a minute...

[Bob_C]

This is our inside steps....

[Bob_C]

The shower, due to not nowing what's behind it, to be safe, I'd contact the factory and ask if there's any blocking one from adding a handle

[Bear415]

Thanks.


Bob, those handrails look like they might not support the full weight of a ~200 pound person.


Also, how exactly is their support provided? Are they literally drilled all the way through the wall, with a support - Like, maybe, a piece of metal, or thick wood - on the other side, even if that other side is the outside of the RV?


I ask because I am still not understanding how they are braced, and without support, they're dangerous to me.