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David Sherrer is a paraplegic man who loves to travel. During his travels he has built up a writing business reviewing the hotels, attractions, casinos and cities he’s visited. However, he wanted to see more of the U.S. and Canada on a solo road trip and recently customized a 2005 Wildwood toy hauler to accommodate his wheelchair and his new adventures.
David is planning a four-year road trip in his adaptive Wildwood toy hauler
“I like the ability to go all over the U.S. and to much of Canada filming accessible areas for others to see,” David told DIYRV. “This is more than a sightseeing trip for me. Hopefully it will meet the trip goals of encouraging more people with mobility impairments to try RVing, to bring more universal design features into the RV industry as a whole, and to encourage destination, campground owners, and the general public on the need for accessibility and the benefits of becoming fully accessible.”
The trailer features a $300 wheelchair ramp and winch
David’s non profit organization, Qchair Travelers, is designed to help bring awareness and disability issues in the travel industry to the forefront while serving to increase awareness and bring about positive change through increased access to travel and recreational opportunities. The organization is funded entirely by donations and grants by companies like Battlefield Tire Pros, Furrion RV appliances and Libbert Components.
The 29-foot trailer (towed with a 2004 Dodge Ram 25500 diesel truck) was chosen because it offered the greatest usable space and the easiest way to create a wheelchair accessible entry while staying under budget. The interior doors were widened or removed, the bathroom was completely gutted, the dinette had one bench removed, one shortened and the table turned sideways to allow more room and wheelchair accessibility. The queen bed was moved from the center of bedroom to the left side to allow roll-in access to the side of the bed, and a winch was added for loading David and his chair up the ramp as well as closing the ramp door. Many other modifications are are still being made, such as adding a remote controlled exhaust fan.
The “garage” of the toy hauler will be David’s living space
“I don’t think I will ever be through modifying it because when a good idea or new product comes along I will incorporate it into the RV,” David said. “All of the work was done by myself, my uncle Bill Brown, and my cousin Brian Brown and many family friends. We also had some great local help from fabricators and welders when we needed it in the TV mods.”
David mentioned that he would love to have a roll-in shower from a Terry Hiser built travel trailer. He may have a custom one made for his smaller budget.
“I think my favorite area will be the old “garage” area of the toy hauler,” David said. “It will be my living area with TV, a screened back door that opens to the ramp, and a relaxing indoor area. I have a portable A/C unit in that area as well, so it will stay cool.”
The bed in the wheelchair accessible bedroom was moved from the center of the room
During his travels, David is planning on visiting places like the monuments and museums in Washington D.C., Yellowstone National Park, the Great Lakes, the Rocky Mountains, New York City, historical sites in New England, the Florida Keys, the Great Plains in the U.S. and Canada, Texas, the Pacific Northwest, San Francisco, the California Redwoods, the Canadian Maritime, Niagara Falls, the Southwestern deserts and the wilds of Alaska.
“I look forward to meeting many new people and spreading the word about how, in many cases, simple changes can open up new customers to businesses, and also new travel and recreational opportunities to those with mobility impairments,” David said. “I want folks to enjoy life!”
Photos courtesy of David Sherrer/Qchair Travelers
