We found it...

Months of searching paid off.  We found a 2004 Thor Windsport based on a Ford truck chassis with a V-10 gas engine.  The camper has a roll in shower and wide aisles for easy access.  Best of all it has a lift that stores under the camper, not in the camper.

The access door and Braun UVL lift can be seen in the photo.  It is a huge thing 8.5 feet wide and 36 feet long bumper to bumper.

We drove down to Key Largo Florida on Labor Day weekend to inspect and make the purchase.

A couple of notes here.  A busy holiday weekend in Florida, the last big holiday of summer.  On top of that Hurricane Irma is in the Atlantic and headed for the Florida Keys.

Linda and I visited the Kennedy Space Center while spending the night in Cocoa Beach.  Then we drove down to Key Largo on Labor Day to check out the camper.   I inspected everything.  It was exactly matching the photos and description provided by the owner.  Then the scary part.  I took the Behemoth out onto the public roads and drove it around.  I have driven large trucks, U-Haul trucks, vans and I have even driven an 18 wheeler once.  This thing is huge, it feels like I am driving an apartment building while sitting on the balcony.  I loved it. Once I got the hang of making turns and maneuvers I was set.

We made a deal and the owner threw in a tow-dolly that we planned to purchase.  During my inspection I found some damage on the rear bumper that was not mentioned in the ad.   I was going to overlook the damage because I was already happy about the price we agreed on.  I feel the owner did the right thing as we all should.  On Tuesday the day after labor day we signed the papers.   Linda and I are now the proud owners of a beautiful motor home we can both enjoy.

Next up:  Evacuation from Hurricane Irma

The search is on

My wife Linda and I have long talked about getting a camper.  I enjoy getting away from home to new places.  Hanging out and relaxing.  My wife was an avid camper when she was younger and often camped out in a pickup truck with a cap on the bed.  Sleeping in sleeping bags on the ground, in a tent or in the back end of the truck.  When I was younger I camped out in tents and carried a ton of gear.  I also enjoyed hiking trails and many of my trips involved hiking trails.

Now we are both much older and my wife is disabled.  It doesn't slow her down much.  We have traveled a great deal since we were married.  We dislike staying in motels because they are so inconsistent.  What one motel advertises as an accessible room bears no resemblance to a room in another motel.  Even in the same chain there is no rhyme or reason.

We decided we need a camper.  It has to be accessible.  It needs to have a roll in or easy access shower.  It needs to have the proper bathroom equipment, accessible sink, toilet of the correct height, etc.  The bedroom should be accessible and my wife needs to ride in a comfortable seat and not sit in her power chair for the whole trip.

So the search began.  We found two websites that advertised campers for sale and especially we could search for accessible campers.   We had a set budget and a loose set of criteria for what we wanted.