Can Paraplegic Wheelchair User and Girlfriend Convert a Campervan With Limited DIY Experience?!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- Can we convert a van into a campervan with limited DIY experience?
We were supposed to be travelling around Australia and New Zealand in a campervan right now. Since we had to cancel those plans we decided to buy a second hand VW Transporter T6 lwb kombi van and we're attempting to convert it into our own wheelchair accessible campervan. Neither of us have a huge amount of DIY skills and Craig's spinal cord injury brings an extra challenges to DIY so this will definitely be an interesting project! Hopefully we can prove that it is possible to self-convert your own campervan as both a wheelchair user and when you have no DIY experience.
If you're not already subscribed make sure you subscribe now so that you don't miss any future videos - bit.ly/2S3rNRW
Follow this playlist for all our van build videos:
• Can Paraplegic Wheelch...
Subscribed but missed our latest videos? Click on the bell button so you don't miss an episode!
Missed our last video? Watch it here: • First Time on a Canal ...
Check out this playlist for more wheelchair travel vidoes:
• How to Travel as a Whe...
Stay up to date by following us on Instagram: www.instagram....
How we make our videos:
Where we find music, try a 30-day free trial here: bit.ly/2PzEhzs
Our main camera and lens: amzn.to/2uIUg7m
Our microphone: amzn.to/397JTcd
Lighting: amzn.to/397tjJf
Icons by Canva bit.ly/32yLXHH
We are Craig and Claire, an interabled couple rediscovering our love for travel after a cycling accident that left Craig paralysed from the chest down and reliant on a wheelchair. We are self converting a VW Transporter into a wheelchair accessible campervan that we hope to take around the world.
On this channel, we make videos about:
- Accessible travel
- Adventures in a wheelchair
- Campervan conversion
- Wheelchairs, wheelchair attachments, accessories and maintenance
- Travel guides
- Paraplegic life
Our favourite items that wheelchair life easier:
Screwdriver set for wheelchair maintenance: amzn.to/2LrYAOQ
Freewheel Attachment: amzn.to/2XOtyY0
Water bottle holder: amzn.to/2XXeFhx
Water bottle cage mount: bit.ly/399OcDR
How we turn our lights on and off remotely: amzn.to/2Y8C4jX
Tyre pump: amzn.to/32rzMvT
DISCLAIMER: Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with these links we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you do intend to purchase anything please support us by using our links so we can continue to provide you with free content each week! As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
#wheelchair #paraplegic #vanconversion
I'm planning to do the same thing here in Australia. Designing adaptive workarounds are challenging, corflute and plywood is your affordable DIY friend!! Cheering you on down under!
Nice, what van are you looking at converting? Plywood is turning out very useful, not heard of corflute - will give it a google!
I have a VW Transporter myself and I’m really looking forward to see how you convert it.
I just learned somethig about vehicles...I have been trying to get a wheelchair lift for a truck and saw a video where they did just that and apparently there is a bar that goes across the van or truck's ceiling that you can remove. It's under the upholstery, but I never knew this. It will give a few more inches room.
Didn't know that, will have to see what's in the ceiling when we take the panel down
Great video, really looking forward to seeing you guys progress!
Thanks, the first few conversion videos should be finished soon!
LOL...I like the creativity you used to hide the plate number...lol. Kudos for that...I never saw that before. Not only is the Transporter easy to get parts for, it's a VW...a good German car!!! My foster mother's last name was 'Calvi'. My real mother's maiden name is 'Rinderer'...a good, German name. It means 'cow' in English 🤣. I actually read a lettre translated once. It was a letter to her and it said, 'Dear Mrs. Cow'...I get a kick out of that even years later!
I just learned somethig about vehicles...I have been trying to get a wheelchair lift for a truck and saw a video where they did just that and apparently there is a bar that goes across the van or truck's ceiling that you can remove. It's under the upholstery, but I never knew this. It will give a few more inches room. I don;t know if they have these in Wales, but there. is what they call a Bruno lift which will pick your chair up and put it in the vehicle: www.bruno.com/scooter-lifts
Again, this is is in a different country...but it may give you ideas: ua-cam.com/video/Ftcip_malPA/v-deo.html. By the way, they have a facebook group called 'Camping is My life'...life with a small 'l', not the big 'L'. By the way, stay away from Fords if they even have them in Wales, is my recommendation. They'll find out soon enough they may have just wasted thousands and thousands on a vehicle that is known for breaking down.
Haha, thanks! We have always driven VW's and they've overall been great, so it made sense to stick with one. Imagine being called "cow" 😂😂 That made us chuckle. Thanks for the tips, we'll check them out 😃
@@PARALIFE thank YOU for the tips. My first spinal cord injury happened in 1983. I flipped over backwards in a friend's yard and ended up a C4 Incomplete. I got a lot back and really took advantage of it and dismissed it all together and really never gave it a second thought. Because of my lack of sensation though, had a REALLY bad bone infection (which is supposed to be quite painful, but I didn't feel it, nor do I feel my herniated disks) and it caused horrific damage...and got into my spine causing a second spinal cord injury (man, when I do something, I go full force)...and this time I just can't seem to really adjust. It has only been a year and a half and this covid thing really didn't help...so your videos help.
I chuckle with the 'Mrs. Cow' thing too. German was her first language, so I'm not sure if she ever heard that...but what a hoot.
There is lift plate that fits next to the driver or passenger seat similar to the autochair transfer plate. I can't remember the name of it but am sure I saw it in the SCI Owners Club on FB. Here is a link to the transfer plate. www.autochair.co.uk/products/person-transfer-into-vehicle/autochair-transfer-plate
Looks interesting, pretty simple and not too bulky. Will definitely look further into it. Hopefully it's not too expensive. Thanks for the link 👍
I wondered how it was going? We are parents of a wheelchair user and we are designing and building a campervan for families with a disabled child. It's not an easy undertaking would love an update.
We've just released the final video of our van conversion series, check out all the videos here - ua-cam.com/play/PLcVWESDy1CGTRHHVnUxK6Vh1zoQGppDje.html
To help with transferring, would it be possible to install a swivel seat & clear out the consul space?
Thanks for the tip! We have actually installed swivel seats since this, check out our recent video on transferring 😀
I like vw but part is expensive in Thailand.
From our experience, VW do make very reliable cars, it's a shame they're so expensive though!
I have just ordered a campeven T6.1 on SWB as a campervan and day van (changing toiler, etc) for my 5yr old son who used a wheelchair. I did include an expensive F6 Evo cassette electric side access lift. But am now getting worried about what you said earlier - it may keep breaking/requires a lot of maintainance. If you have any further info on it or something similar, hope you can share. I could still change mine into a manual ramp instead but we initially thought getting the lift will make it long term for him. Been searching the internet about what is possible and very seen very few options as well. In fact some campervan conversion company declined us.
Here is the link to the lift - aandsmobility.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Underfloor-LIfts-EN.pdf
Sounds like you're having the exact same trouble as us. We still haven't found a perfect solution yet. If you have a look at the other comments on this video there some good suggestions, unfortunately a lot of them are too expensive for us and the one we like the most (the superarm lift) doesn't seem to be available in Europe. We have spoken to a couple in France who have built their own version which was much more affordable so we're looking into that but otherwise it'll be either a manual ramp or we'll have to one of these under vehicle lifts even with their problems. We do know one couple who have the braunability version and are happy with it and have had no problems but they are the only people we've heard from who haven't had problems.
We'll let you know if we find anything better and if you find anything please let us know too 😀
hey guys great video. I see this video is quite old and probably you have found a solution about getting in the van? hope you're now doing well.
how is your wound on your back? did it get better?
It's not gone yet but it is slowly getting better thanks. Changing wheelchair seemed to help. Hoping it won't be too much longer
I’m looking at converting a Ford Transit to a camper van and using a Handicap Inc SuperArm wheelchair lift. You can see the SuperArm lift installed on Kirk’s van at @impact.overland on Instagram. I don’t know if you can get the SuperArm lift where you live, but Kirk says it’s very reliable. How much head room do you have in the cargo area with you sitting in your wheelchair?
We've looked at the superarm lift and spoken to Kirk, but unfortunately you can't get the lift in the UK! Craig doesn't have much headroom when he's in his wheelchair which makes it more difficult.
I wish there was a Superarm place in TN because I want to see it in person before spending money, but CO is s long ways away.
May not check all of the boxes you need, but I've recently discovered this compact hoist for vans that is pretty cool looking. Several FaceBook posts about guys travelling around the world using these. handicapsinc.com/ www.rjmobilityservice.com/products/occupied-wheelchair-scooter-lifts-for-vehicles/handicaps-inc/#Superarm%202000
Thanks, this would be actually be pretty much perfect. We've seen a couple of people such as Kirk from Impact Overland with them and it looks great. Only problem is we couldn't find them at all here in the UK (and no idea about the cost). We are thinking about shipping the van over to the US at some point once travel has opened up again so might be able to get it done then
Excellent! I first saw it in Kirk's van too, hard to find much information. I did see pricing a while back, someone stated that it was about $4200+install. I assume this was the short one.
Here is the link to FB have a look at the videos in the comments by Chris Starsmore. facebook.com/groups/sciownersclub/permalink/3386851431373605
Can't wait to see the progress of this also not sure how much these are but maybe something like this would be of use www.braunability.eu/en/products/getting-seated/turny-evo/
Looks like it could be quite good but we'd guess it might be quite expensive. Will definitely look into it though. Thanks for the link!
@@PARALIFE no problem im sure there are less expensive options out there