The family has taken up a hobby called kayaking. At the same time, the youngest boy is also in Boy Scouts and enjoys camping immensely. Most likely because he has also gotten the desire 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 to pack your gear. An easy question for many to solve: throw your camping gear and fishing tackle in the car, kayak on the roof, and head off 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 mode of transportation. And the 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 simple 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 taller and is really a pain in the ass. I needed a better way to make sure we can do what we love and not have to drag ourselves to death traveling back and forth or climbing 10 foot ladders tying 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 test drive and put all our gear out on the lawn. The idea was to figure out how to pack all the equipment so that we could all access it even in a wheelchair. I used just some scraps that were lying around to figure out a basic plan of what would work. It was a godsend to have the trailer closed because the kid could go around the trailer to pick up his stuff and put it away too.

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 vendors. I asked for one with a rear ramp door so we could get the wheelchair and any other items on the wheel up. I also made sure there was a side door that had a flush lock, like a normal RV door. Since most of our camping is done in RV type parks where there are usually water and power hookups and restroom facilities, I modified the side of the trailer with water and power hookups. I do not 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 sun shower. Although I think a 110 volt point of use heater might be in order at some point just for convenience.

The longer boat slides into the rear of the trailer under a bunk with shelf space above the rest of the boat not covered by the bed. The trailer is not as roomy as an RV, but we do have an AC unit if needed, and also 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 in any holding tanks, 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 suppliers 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 a few people who have brought the concept to family and friends who have people in wheelchairs. I’d like to do it again, but only with a wider trailer so I have a little more room to move. 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.