large weekender with pullout ramp for wheel chair

[tbeau]

I have been looking around this site for a while. I really like the super size weekender. I want a trailer that is about 10 feet long by 6 and a half feet wide. I would like it to be a little over 6 ft at the highest point. I have drawn plans for a dining set the converts to a bed. I do not plane on having a galley. I also need 2 more sleeping spaces for my two children.
O.k enough of that, my problem is this I need to figure out the best way to deal with getting my youngest daughter in and out of the trailer in her wheel chair. I know I will need to make the door wider. I can envision a pull out ramp under the door, something made out of expanded metal. what would be some of the idea on attaching and securing the ramp. Also where would the best location for the door, in the front or behind the axle.
my pull vehicle is a minivan so I am trying to keep weight below 2500 pounds. I might have lucked in to a free frame, a 10 x 5 old popup frame.

[Juneaudave]

Your in the right place...and welcome!!!! I've never seen the designers on this board stumped and I am sure someone can come up with an idea for a wheelchair ramp. Someone talked about a fish-house axle a couple weeks ago that might work very nicely!!!!...

[ARKPAT]

You might look at Warpony's first trailer with the door at the back ( my stand-up trailer will be like this when I get it that far ).




Warpony I hope you don't mind me posting the pictures.
You could add a ramp like is on "U-Haul" "Low-Boy" Box Trucks have at the back using ATV ramps to the door.


Just a thought!


Good luck on the search and build.

Maybe Mike or Andrew will chime in and offer somemore ideas.


Merry Christmas



Pat

[tbeau]

I think i like the rear door design. I also like the idea of a pop top design like the compact 3. that would allow my pull height to be lower. My father mentioned about the uhall ramp, but i dont know how to go aout doing it. the fish house frame would be ideal but my on hand budget is next to nothing. one of the reasons I am building is I can buy things as I get money. Buy the way what size tires would be best for a trailer of this size?

[Miriam C.]

TBeau, this is as good an idea for a large ttt as I have seen.





http://tnttt.com/viewto ... c&start=15

Your daughter will be best served on the lower bunk so she can move around. How old is she? Is the ride powered and heavy. Good luck with the build.

My build will also make bunks and a table set up without the galley. It is 5 high and a lot more room than we expected. There is another 25+ inches to the left and the hall is 30+inches.

[Miriam C.]

Tires---as big as you can manage You need the weight to match the tires. Have you got pictures of the trailer frame? What size is on it now?

Mine has 8" but I got some from the farm supply that have a higher weight rating than Walmarts.

If it has 8" and you can change the hubs to do 5 hole, 12" but again watch the weight cap. of the tire. They are not all equal. That means stay away from Walmart.........

[ARKPAT]

The ramp attachment could be a set of ATV ( wood , metal, aluminum and or plastic - you can catch Harbor Freight ramps on sale or other place also ) ramps with two holes drilled in them at the end the trailer is on and drill two holes in the front of the door where the ramps will set. Drop two nails in the holes and the ramps should stay in place on the trailer side. That way you could walk up behind and push while you are on the ground between the ramps the chair thru the door. You will also want to make a small rise at the door so the chair if it rolls backward will not exit the trailer without the ramps being there.

Trailer frames look at the posting at the top "sdtripper2's Index" and as :

Miriam C. Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject:

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Tires---as big as you can manage You need the weight to match the tires. Have you got pictures of the trailer frame? What size is on it now?

Mine has 8" but I got some from the farm supply that have a higher weight rating than Walmarts.

If it has 8" and you can change the hubs to do 5 hole, 12" but again watch the weight cap. of the tire. They are not all equal. That means stay away from Walmart.........





Pat

[tbeau]

don' know all the details about my trailer. I have been given one, but have not seen it. do not know if I will use it as is or just use metal from frame. I do not know what type of axle and wheels it has. I realy like that super size weekender. I am now thinking about moving seating, bed area to the front and have fold down beds on sides. My youngest one is 4 anddoes not move much, so as long as i have rails she will be ok. The wheel chair is nonmoterized and fairly light for know but that could change as she gets bigger. I have a bunch of bifold doors of different sizes I plan on using for some shelving and maybe bed if properly supported. Like I think i said in my last post I like the idea of a push up roof to make it taller, so when I am towing it is not so tall. I wish I had cad skills so i could get a better picture of what it would look like. I will try to draw it out later, this is starting to get away from my original design enough I need to do that.

[Miriam C.]

A drawing is always helpful. It will help keep you on track too. The side bed in the super size weekender folds too.

Pat is right about ramps. You could also make a wooden ramp that stores under the TTT. Playing with paper works great for me.

If your trailer is anything like mine the first thing you want to check is for "square and level." Then it should work great.

You might also want to consider a side tent to keep the chair in and have dressing room.

[tbeau]

In my original plans with side door, i was eventually going to get one of those add on rooms used by RVs that way I could have it a screen room or closed tent/room. I suppose if my trailer is wide enough I still might be able to do that off of the back. I have always envisioned a one piece ramp. but I could have seperate ramps. I even already have a set that I had originally had made for our van before we got a wheel chair lift.

[Miriam C.]

Personally I think a back door will interfere with bunks. I really wish I had put the double bed in the back and left the wheels lower. That would have given me almost 5 1/2 feet up front.

Try a cardboard mock up and that will let you know what you can do in a small space. Mine is only Ten long but the base is 8' and it is 6' 4" wide. Not as much space as it could be but I wanted a galley.

If you look at Scott's "rolling stone" in the Hall of fame, it is on an old pop up too. He has 8 inch tires and left his axle short. Much lower profile. His is also only 4' tall I think. It also has 8" tires.

[tbeau]

I started drawing out the trailer. I think I can get my oldest daughters bunk across the front above the dining area/ bed. That was the way I was going to do it to begin with, but placed in the back. She is like a monkey so she would love to climb up in to bed above my wife and I. My youngest bed needs to be around waste high so my wife and I dont kill are backs ,picking her up and putting her down. How about something that acts like a bed or if needed counter top. I could use 1 " or 2" memory foam, that could be removed if counter top is needed. I do plan on having a counter, my neighbor gave me a base from a kitchen remodel. I do not have the hieght of the base with me as I am out of town.

[ARKPAT]

You can still do a side door trailer. If you can get a tape and measure the overall frame ( outside to outside ) edges and the center of tire to center of tire underneath ( center of tire tread to center tire tread ). Then get the height of the trailer is above the ground to the floor. This is to get an idea of the trailer frame. Also what kind of springs and how many leafs in the bundle.

I know a lot of questions.

I know I'm delinquent but pictures would help also of the frame or trailer. The more the better.



Pat

[Miriam C.]

I understand monkeys. Raised a few that took after their mom. I don't know any reason a counter won't work. If you look at a lot of TD builds you will see pretty much anything goes. Remember that a bunk over your bed means you need it to fold down to make way for a table.

In a TD you won't be standing unless you build it tall. Mike is 6'2" and stands on his knees in ours. Or he is bent over. Remember you are only talking about a few feet across too. My point is you won't be lifting her from a standing position very often.

Cardboard or some sheets and chairs.

[tbeau]

This will not be a small TD, it will need to be a standy, i think that is the term I have seen. Because of my daughter's immobility and the need to place her in bed i want a standing height. The more I look at the push up top the more I like it. What is a good height for a door, I do not mind a little ducking. I am around 5'10.