The family has taken up a hobby called kayaking. At the same time, the youngest boy is also in Boy Scouts and enjoys the camps immensely. Most likely because he too has taken a fancy to go fishing. Mixing the two together has been easy, we can go fishing and kayaking at the same time to many of the same places. The problem lies in how you pack your equipment. An easy question for many to solve: Throw the camping gear and fishing tackle in the car, the kayak on the roof, and head wherever you want to go. It’s not that easy for me. The problem is that the Scout has a disability and uses a wheelchair as his main means of transportation. And kayaks also tend to be quite long. Since we live in Florida, the heat and humidity can also wear you down. The child is also more susceptible to heat than anything else. He has osteogenesis imperfecta, which is brittle bones in layman’s terms. But he still likes to go camping, even if he is in a wheelchair most of the time.
We own a 30 foot travel trailer that we have used a few times to go camping. The problem is that loading the kayaks makes the trailer even higher and is really a headache. I needed a better way to make sure we can do what we love and not have to drag ourselves to death with round trips or climbing 10 foot ladders strapping kayaks to a roof. Enter the last idea I had of using an enclosed trailer. I borrowed a friend’s enclosed trailer for a day as a trial and put all of our gear out on the lawn. The idea was to figure out how to pack all the equipment so that everyone could access it even in a wheelchair. I used just some scraps lying around to figure out a basic plan of what would work. It was a godsend having the trailer closed because the kid could swing around the trailer to pick up his things and put them away as well.
Using the original idea of an enclosed trailer, I designed the longest boat we had, which was 12 and a half feet. So that needed a 14 foot trailer. With that in mind, I went online and searched for 14 foot trailers and found several providers. I ordered one with a rear ramp door so we could get the wheelchair and any other items up on the wheel. I also made sure there was a side door that had a flush lock, like a regular RV door. Since most of our camping is done in RV type parks where there are usually water and power hookups and toilet facilities, I modified the side of the trailer with water and power hookups. I don’t have a flush toilet in the trailer, just a camp toilet that is used only at night. I like rustic experiences so I have hooks on the outside of the trailer for a solar shower. Although I think a 110 volt point of use heater might be in order at some point just for convenience.
The longest boat slides into the rear of the trailer under a bunk with shelf space above the rest of the boat that is not covered by the bed. The trailer is not as spacious as an RV, but we do have an a/c unit if needed, as well as 2 bunk beds and a queen mattress. I went to the RV store and asked for two windows so if we sleep in the trailer we have some natural light if needed. We also have a sink in the trailer for washing dishes. I didn’t put any holding tanks in, but RV stores have portable holding tanks that have wheels that empty when full. All of my connections are quick disconnects with off-the-shelf products available from RV equipment dealers or big box stores.
I would definitely do the project again, there are numerous articles on the internet describing how to turn a trailer into a home and I hacked ideas from many of them. We still like to pitch a tent, but if the weather is bad, we have a dry place we can go. We have met some people who have taken the concept to family and friends who have people in wheelchairs. I’d like to do it again, but just with a wider trailer to give me a little more room to move around. The rear ramp allows wheelchair access but also serves as a ‘patio’ if required. We cook with a propane stove outside and have the full RV ‘experience’ at no cost, and the wheelchair can roll right into the trailer as needed.