Date:         Tue, 5 Oct 2004 15:13:01 -0700
Reply-To:     Rocket J Squirrel <j.michael.elliott@ADELPHIA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rocket J Squirrel <j.michael.elliott@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject:      Assist bar for getting into bed
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I've got a metal knee with a limited range of motion. Can't bend it much
beyond 100 degrees. This means that if I want to climb in or get out of
Mellow Yellow's bed, it's hard to do so without disturbing my lovely
wife sleeping beside me. Try climbing feet first into bed without
bending one knee very far, it's tough.

I have been looking at the underside of the roof right above the bed,
thinking that if I faced the bed, grasped the lip of the roof above the
bed, I could lift both legs up and swing myself straight into bed. With
the greatest of ease. But the combination of upper bunk mattress and
roof are just too thick and provide nothing to grab onto.

So I have been considering fastening some kind of metal crossbar above
my side of the bed. Like what they sell for bathrooms as safety
handles/rails for disabled folk.

Standing in my 84 Westy with the top popped, facing rearward, I see what
appears to be a structural support piece that goes crossway, from side
to side, across the roof. It is forward of the over-bed cabinet, right
where the roof ends. Above this structural crossmember is forward edge
of the lower portion of the upper bunk. I hope that makes sense.

Does anyone have any sense about whether that crossmember might be
strong enough to bolt the proposed crossbar to, and whether it will
support a 200lb person?

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westphalia: "Mellow Yellow (The Electrical Banana)"
KG6RCR