Gil-Lynn
Ontario
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Joined: 10/12/2009
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Hi, I just bought a 2009 32.ft holiday rambler class c. I love it.
It does however seem to be a little weak at the rear suspension.
I need to install a Platform at the rear to carry my wheelchair, the chair is 350pds and it will sit on a platform that will be attached to the hitch, that will then raise and lower the chair for me.
Should I be looking at airbagss ? how do others carry there electric wheelchairs or scooters around.
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clydedoerr
Hardeeville SC
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Joined: 06/23/2005
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I think you will find that the extra 350 pounds added to the back will take a lot of load off of the front wheels, perhaps making driving more difficult. A 32 footer will probably be close to maximum weight empty. I carry a scooter, a 125cc yamaha that weights in at about 200 pounds on a hitch mount, and have no real steering issues, and mine is 29 feet. I would think as far as the steering characteristics, it would be what you are comfortable with. I dont think air bags will do anything to increase the carrying capacity of the rear axle, but they may help level the load some. The real downfall with a clazs C is it low carrying capacity. Whatever you decide, good luck.
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Dusty R
Charlotte Michigan 48813
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Joined: 04/05/2003
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You might consider putting a front hitch on and carrying wheelchair up front. I have a Draw-Tite hitch on the front of our E-350, that we carry our bicycles on. The hitch is rated at 500 lb. tongue weight.
Dusty
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j-d
Sunny Florida USA
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Joined: 09/04/2003
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Weighing your coach would help you decide where to hang your scooter. You don't want to overload your rear axle or underload your front axle. I don't have the spec myself but if I recall correctly, 32% of your loaded weight should be on the front axle. Another thing to remember is the long overhang from the rear axle to the rear bumper. 350# at the rear bumper is gets a lot of leverage to load the rear axle and unload the front. There is very little overhang between the axle and the bumper. Where would you like the chair to be? In front might be more convenient for you. Certainly easier to connect the power lift to the chassis battery.
God Bless, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100
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Bordercollie
Garden Grove, CA, USA
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Joined: 03/07/2002
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I carry a much lighter Pride "Go Go" mobility scooter disassembled in our Tioga 26Q's rear cargo bay. If you or a helper are able to lift and assemble the separate pieces that may be a solution for you. I also carry mine disassembled in the back of our Toyota wagon and use it often for hobby activities, theme parks,dog walking, etc. Cost me a little over $1000, gets around hilly San Diego Zoo well. On flat ground at slow pace will go all day.
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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IMO get a little ENCLOSED cargo trailer for your scooter/chair, and tow it.
We ONCE put wifes scooter on a flatbed trailer to tow behind our SUV and go to a show several hundred miles away. Just in case, we had scooter covered with custom outdoor cover. We hit rain, then slush, then snow. It wasn't too bad getting cover off and unloading scooter. BUT ... The mess putting the messy wet muddy cover back ON was enough for us. We bought a little enclosed trailer.
Note on long vacations we actually use a toyhauler, but anything within a days drive we use the little enclosed cargo trailer.
So, if you travel much, IMO you will be sorry unless you get a enclosure of some type, ESPECIALLY with an electric chair or scooter.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded)
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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Gene in NE
Omaha
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Joined: 09/15/2003
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Gil-Lynn - "j-d" has the correct answer, weigh your RV either fully loaded for travel or make a good estimate. Get a front and rear axle weight, compare that to the door pillar sticker on the GAWR (gross axle weight rating) front and rear then compare to your actuals. Also the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) should not be exceeded. As "j-d" mentions the overhang will cause more weight to be added to the rear axle than the scooter weighs. It is like a see-saw on the rear axle. The 350 lbs can easily turn into over 500 lbs because it lifts weight off the front axle. If you take too much weight off the front axle, you loose control - imagine the extreme if you would lift the front wheels off the ground. If the weights prove you can carry the load, go for it. Be sure your receiver hitch has a 500 lb load rating.
2002 Trail-Lite Model 211-S w/5.7 Chevy
Gene
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flibmeister
Gold Canyon, Arizona
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Joined: 03/03/2006
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Gil-Lynn wrote:...how do others carry there electric wheelchairs or scooters around.
We bought a nice little attachment to tow behind the motorhome-- a 2009 Honda Odyssey minivan. 
It has a Pride Mobility Silverstar lift installed in place of the third row seating, so the chair rides inside, but can be unloaded with the touch of a button.
Before that, we used the same Go-Go type scooter mentioned by someone else, it fit in one of my compartments, or it rode in the luggage area of the HHR we were towing.
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jakedaddy
Kentucky
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Joined: 07/27/2009
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I have a Shoprider Echo 3 scooter. It fits in one of our basement compartments and the heaviest part (the frame/handlebar assembly) is 29 pounds. It weighs 70 pounds overall.
Even with upgrading the seat to a Walmart boat seat ($38), it still fits beautifully.
2000 Jayco Designer 2730W
6.8L V10/4R100 (Ford E450 Chassis)
Owensboro, KY
"Livin' Large on a Small Scale!"
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WilleyB
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Joined: 12/02/2005
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DW has an "Auto Go 550. It folds flat for storage in the trunk of a car,there is a 12v hoist for this. It also does a vertical fold for carrying on it's rack on the back of the RV. In the folded position, it will serve as a powered walker. As far as weight goes I also added a little generator to the back for this years outing. The hitches on the back of the RV are class 2 and are attached to the frame. It didn't seem to have much or any effect the front end or steering on our rig. Picture of it on the rig at the Woodstock ON. Wally.
It folds up under it's own power Just do a Google search for Auto Go 550, they're not cheap.
Cheers
Willey
Vanguard VXL2000
2000 Ford V10 Triton, E350 Super Duty
Just for me,the Mrs and the mutt
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