how old are you?

[Almost There]

I'm 62 and I don't need a chair on wheels but a helmet in the van  


However, for the first time ever I have to be careful not to hit my head. You know what they say about new tricks and old dogs, well I'm a living proof that it's true, we don't learn even if the consequence is pain. I keep hitting my head when I go from the back of the van to the front....almost every single time. A few times bad enough to end up with a tender lump on my head where there shouldn't be one.

In the end it's all worth it.  :heart:

-Nicole

Those bumps on the head is what has me padding out all the spots that connect with my skull.

My parents had a van with a high top and mom found what must have been a dog toy - it was a duck with a squeaker in it. She had Dad screw it to the trim in the center of the van roof going in to the cab.

I'm using pool noodles split lengthwise on both the headbangers. You can see it covered in vinyl here:



For the spot above the side cargo doors I'm going with a little thinner foam - pipe wrap!

Check to see if there isn't someway to retrofit the van with some padding.

 

[Canine]

Dusty is 60, age matches girth.
Mid top old G20.
Would prefer a box truck like an ex UHaul 14', I could roll down the ramp to get out! Trouble is the pass thru designs are getting hard to find. I'll make do for awhile longer but the 350 is getting tired with over 200K miles on it. When it collapses I'll think of something else.

 

[ilovemyvan]

Those bumps on the head is what has me padding out all the spots that connect with my skull.

Almost There, When I saw your photos of the pool noodles a couple of weeks ago I thought it was the best. I'll try to work something similar before our next trip.

- Nicole

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I'm 68 & 6'...Margie is 57 & 5'1" and we both have back and leg issues. Our rig is a standard top and we sorta move from one sitting position to another. Cooking and such is done sitting.
This is my 7th van, none of which were hi-tops. We're ok with what we have and don't think a different top would make us any happier.

 

[East]

29, college educated, work online, no prior history of joint or back pain, not been living the low-top lifestyle long enough to report on long-term effects. Nearing the dirty thirty. I'm 5'10" so that's just short enough to sleep sideways in my ford E150. An inch taller and I don't think I'd be able to do it.

 

[karl]

63, 5' 10 and shrinking-degenerative discs....had a number of standard vans, now am happy to have a step van and be able to stand and walk around.

 

[highdesertranger]

58 but no van. right now I am part time when I go full time in a couple years. I will have a trailer. I have to take my hat off to all of you in a standard van, or car for that matter. I could never do it. highdesertranger

 

[sephson]

I'm a 40 year old stage tech. I'd describe myself as a road tripper rather than a van dweller since I live in a small condo and take road trips in my Kia Soul, which I've converted into a decent road trip vehicle. I've got two old back injuries under my belt, one upper, one lower, which come back to haunt me periodically, and I pretty severely damaged my knees in a fall at work fifteen years ago. None of these injuries keep me from living my life as I see fit, though I've had to change the way I do a few things. For the time being, I find that my little Kia is good fit for my road tripping, but I may want to upgrade to something a bit larger at some point down the road.

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

I'm 68.  I'm 5'9", and I  can do jumping jacks in my sprinter van.  I lived in an 89 dodge about 15 years ago, and I swore someday I'd get a van I can stand up in.  That day is now.  I really like being able to stand up in my van.

 

[SoulRaven]

I'm 5'2" and in my 20's. I have various structural problems including back issues, and am disabled by chronic illness - a close comparison would be having the flu all the time.

Living in the 2-door car where I couldn't even sit upright on the bed or stretch my arms and legs out completely wreaked havoc on my body structurally. I did learn to arrange everything within arm's reach, but unable to leave the car most days it was just way too cramped for my muscles to stretch and move and exercise as they should.

Living in the "low top" van feels like plenty of freedom - if I need to stand upright I go outside or, in winter, find a library or a free social event to attend. In my van I'm sitting or lying down like 95% of the time anyway, stooping to walk a few steps or put on clothes doesn't affect me too badly, so long as I do my stretches/exercises and spend at least some time fully upright.

Now living in the SUV where I cannot even straighten my body out to sleep, nor sit upright on the bed, is a shock to my system.

In fixing up the Sienna minivan so far, I've made most of the floor my well-cushioned bed (pics to come) and then "walk" upright on my knees. This allows my back to stretch fully straight with plenty of headroom, and thus far actually feels roomier than my "low top" G20 van.

Younger bodies are typically able to heal faster, but my structural and overall health is far more fragile than most elderly people I know. I've heard "oh you're young, you don't have these problems" way too often and it really bugs me. My neuromusculoskeletal specialist would beg to differ. The things that seem key for me is the ability to 1) sit fully upright on bed 2) stretch both arms and legs at once while lying in bed 3) Have places I can get out and walk around upright in. E.g. doing yoga at a local club was a key component to getting me through the winter.

 

[Wandering]

Dusty is 60, age matches girth.  
Mid top old G20.  
Would prefer a box truck like an ex UHaul 14', I could roll down the ramp to get out!  Trouble is the pass thru designs are getting hard to find.  I'll make do for awhile longer but the 350 is getting tired with over 200K miles on it.  When it collapses I'll think of something else.

 
 
   Dusty , you might consider giving Penske truck rentals a call. Overall their stuff is usually in a great deal better shape than U-Haul sells their's in. I passed on a early '90s 16 foot cube rig from budget a while back , I just couldn't afford a new motor for it even if it was an overall good deal.

 

[DreadHeadDrifter]

23 years old! Traveled in a van previously, a school bus, a travel trailer, and a regular old car. Love it!

 

[Queen]

Chronologically, almost 55, but the mileage on the carcass is pretty high, maybe closer to 80. Lots of injuries and skeletal problems, but still young at heart.

With the recent knee replacement I can still navigate a low top van without issue as my back is fine, but I can't kneel or squat so placement of seating and ability to reach for things is pretty important.