Wheelchairs and tent camping

[Theophania]

Do you do it??

I miss it terribly. My ex-bf and I found a tent I could roll into. We never purchased the Eureka Freedom tent, which is made especially for chair-users...(too spendy, but cool though).

What kind of tents have you found work the best?

There's this badass para from the UK who can set up a regular tent, transfer down into it and get back up in his chair ALL ON HIS OWN (jealous) and he recorded a video of it here: http://www.spinalpedia.com/blog/2012...-can-co-exist/

[sjean423]

I just use the tent we always had, and we stake it slightly loosely, so that I can roll over the zipper and into the opening.

Trickiest part is out of bed and back into the chair. Pretty much have to be picked up, my floor to chair transfer is pretty non-existent.

We don't always stay at "accessible" sites either, as long as I can wheel to the bathroom, and get in, we are happy.

[trekker6]

I stayed in a tent for the first time since injury, don't use a chair, but can't get up off the ground, used a cot, which may be doable for a wheelchair transfer, I used two chairs one inside and one outside, for stability getting up off the cot and getting out of the tent, there are lots of large cheap tents you can buy, make sure they have adequate flys for inclement weather.

[offroaderswife]

I just camp in a regualar tent and stake it a little lightly also so I can roll over the little lip/zipper part. It works out fine. We sleep on tall cots with roll out thin memeory foam layed over it. Perfect for us.

[GL]

Hi Gang
I use my old large Tent What I do is keep a leather boot string tied in a big loop around the ( thru ) sipper Eye it helps zipping / closing it up and same goes for the Zippers
on the windows sides Same thing I can grip the leather boot shoe strings easier .

Also I like a Army folding cot to sleep on
I carry all my necessary belongings clothes in a Green old Army duffle bag
Have a good safe Weekend
GL

[allenstevens]

My family and I are going camping for the first time since my injury last august this coming up week. We are not staying anywhere with special facilities doin it the hard way. Going to bring my shitter chair somewhere I can wheel too, dig a hole, and bath in a lake just like I used to. As far as sleeping goes we have a pretty big air matress so I might be able to transfer from that. If not my floor transfers arent to bad. Wish ME Luck

[Diego360]

A small pop-up tent away from the main camp site makes a nice toilet. I use a commode type chair over a 5-gallon plastic bucket lined with a thick trash bag partially filled with either cedar chips or cat litter. Keep the bag of chips/litter nearby to add a scoop to the bucket and wet wipes for cleaning. Much more pleasant than a dodgy public toilet and allows for more adventurous choices in camp sites.

[Adrian]

I just use a normal. small tent. I have to have one that I can fit in a sea-kayak and I use this cushion for hauling myself around on the ground:
http://www.dlf-data.org.uk/product.p...uct_id=0040670
I can do a reasonably good floor to chair transfer.

I have the thickest Thermarest avaialble and if I am wilderness camping, to do a bowel routine I fold it in half, then in half again, put it in a plastic bag and then I sit on it with my backside hanging over the edge, above a strategically dug hole and this works well enough.
In the right place just using a tarpaulin instead of a tent is great as in this picture with the tarp in the background behind the sea kayaks.

[sjean423]

Originally Posted by allenstevens

As far as sleeping goes we have a pretty big air matress so I might be able to transfer from that. If not my floor transfers arent to bad. Wish ME Luck

Even a big air mattress is really squishy, be prepared that it will be almost like a floor transfer.

Have fun!

ps .... have you been swimming since your sci? Even if you were a good swimmer, it is different. Consider bringing a pfd or a pool noodle or such for balance.

[allenstevens]

Originally Posted by sjean423

Even a big air mattress is really squishy, be prepared that it will be almost like a floor transfer.

Have fun!

ps .... have you been swimming since your sci? Even if you were a good swimmer, it is different. Consider bringing a pfd or a pool noodle or such for balance.

I have been swimmin I live very close to the river and have always been a water rat so I had to swim as soon as I could. Yeah it is kinda weird not knowing what my legs are doin but still feels great.