Stooping

[Mouldy]

Curiosity question here. How do you guys and gals like/deal with having to always be stooping in your van or cargo trailer? Seems like it would be a major pain in the butt to me. The only thing I can relate too is one of my backpacking tents. I try to spend as little time as possible. Do you do the same, or are you in your bed most of the time you're in there reading, watching tv, etc? Just curious <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br>

 

[cyndi]

The biggest reason I am not looking for a van is the stooping.&nbsp; It was fine while&nbsp;I was younger, but it wouldn't work for me now.<br><br>Cyndi<br><A href="http://rvlyeverafter.blogspot.com/" target=_blank>RVly Ever After</A><br>

 

[Les H]

Mouldy, my bus is 5'11" inside, and I'm 6' tall. Just a little bend of the head and I can walk around freely. One of the pluses in the pro/con of any vehicle. My gas mileage is crap, around 14.
Les

 

[Suanne]

When I travel, I live out of my Prius (mid-size car).&nbsp; When I stand up inside (to dress), I have to bend at the waist.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'm 5'2".&nbsp; When not driving, I could be in it writing, sleeping or cooking ... none of which require me to stand.&nbsp; All that said, I really don't consider myself living <U>in</U> the Prius.&nbsp; Rather, I live <U>out of</U> the Prius ... exploring, sometimes hiking,&nbsp;always enjoying&nbsp;the outdoors.&nbsp; <br><br>My joy is driving and exploring the back roads, so it makes sense for me to have a vehicle that gets great gas mileage (avg. 45 MPG).&nbsp;<br><br>If I were full-timing and stationary in uncomfortable weather, having a vehicle that I could stand up in would be important to me.&nbsp;&nbsp; Also, if I were full-timing, having a rig that is&nbsp;big enough to have&nbsp;a dog and visitors&nbsp;would be important.&nbsp;&nbsp; But, given that I'm part-timing, the Prius&nbsp;affords&nbsp;me the&nbsp;freedom and joys of&nbsp;a mobile lifestyle when&nbsp;my feet start itchin'.<br><br>Suanne ... content to be in my stick-and-bricks at the moment<br><A href="http://SuanneOnline.blogspot.com" target=_blank>http://SuanneOnline.blogspot.com</A><br>

 

[akrvbob]

I have numerous friends who live in regular height vans that say the stooping doesn't bother them. But I can't imagine it, I would never do it. I've full-timed in three different rigs, all tall enough for me to stand up. There are lots of conversion vans with high tops. Some you can stand up in, some you have to bend your neck a little. Either are better than a normal height van. Bob <br>

 

[Tara]

I think all the stooping contributed to my lower back issues. &nbsp;It was fine in warmer places where I really did live out of the van, but in Alaska at 40 below it was a little too much.

 

[VanFan]

We are short-term, fair weather campers, but the low top has not been an issue.&nbsp; I am 5'2", and my husband is a bit under 6'4".&nbsp; I don't really know how he can be comfortable, but he doesn't seem to be bothered by the low clearance.<br><br>We have a pop-up shelter just outside the side doors, and it's not like we dress for black-tie affairs or anything.&nbsp; Rather than bending or stooping, I just do most things at floor or seat level.&nbsp; I put a thick rug over an unused seat mount for my knees' sake, but so far, so good.<br><br>Vickie<br><br>

 

[twokniveskatie]

<font class="Apple-style-span" size="4">i have always gotten along just fine in the astro, but stooping is becoming way less desirable and i have been pondering options as i get older. creaky is just around the corner, i fear! &nbsp;that and the reality of what falling out of trees and hammocks has done to me.&nbsp;</font>

 

[Alcatraz]

Curiosity question here. How do you guys and gals like/deal with having to always be stooping in your van or cargo trailer? Seems like it would be a major pain in the butt to me. The only thing I can relate too is one of my backpacking tents. I try to spend as little time as possible. Do you do the same, or are you in your bed most of the time you're in there reading, watching tv, etc? Just curious <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br>

I like it fine, beats busting your head open... Actually I auto adjusted to it and don't even notice it.
Unless I am driving or sleeping , I spend no time in it.

 

[LeeRevell]

I am 6'4", with a midtop van. I don't stoop any longer than necessary to climb in and get seated. A rolling stool with padded seat works well.

 

[TrainChaser]

I have had two vans, a Ford and a Dodge, and I am having trouble trying to remember WHY I would have to stand, other than getting in and out. I sat to cook inside on a propane stove -- the bed platform was eight feet long and 38" wide to fit a twin mattress. The mattress was pushed nearer the back door, and the bare 20-24" part of the platform was the end behind the driver's seat. The bare platform was were I used the propane stove (a 3-legged Grasshopper). I sat on the bed and stirred the pot when I was cooking inside.

I took birdbaths with a baking soda solution, sitting on a bath towel on the bed, and washed while sitting. I laid on the bed to pull my pants up. I didn't do any calisthenics or dancing in the van. If I needed something in the storage boxes under the bed platform, I either sat on the bed and pulled one out at a time, or stood outside and leaned in, pulling them out. I read or sewed or did stuff sitting on the bed or in the front passenger seat.

What is it that you plan to be doing that requires you to stand inside the van?

 

[jonsun]

Im 5'7" and my current van is about 6'5"

my first was a stooper, no thanks

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I have numerous friends who live in regular height vans that say the stooping doesn't bother them. But I can't imagine it, I would never do it. I've full-timed in three different rigs, all tall enough for me to stand up. There are lots of conversion vans with high tops. Some you can stand up in, some you have to bend your neck a little. Either are better than a normal height van. Bob <br>

Hmmm.......never say never as they say!

 

[ArtW]

I plan on traversing mine 'monkey style'
Probably I won't do that

 

[TMG51]

Hmmm.......never say never as they say!

I was thinking something similar.

Thread resurrected from the past.

 

[bullfrog]

My family all have backs that wear out as we get older. I've gotten 2" shorter in the last 10 years, pretty soon I'll be able to fit in almost anything if I can still stand. How's that for positive thinking!

 

[grandpacamper]

I considered the height restrictions, then felt the 'stealth' factor, gas mileage & usability of the roof rack. I'm 6'2" with a normal height van. I thought it would be an issue with my age & back. But it's all in what you get used to. I noticed the last few days that moving around in it has become easier & less painful. It really helped to remove that above head dome light, the extra 3/4 of an inch is nice. I still plan to do the fair weather camping, using the outside for all my activities except sleeping & private needs.

 

[ArtW]

Grandpacamper, i joked about traversing my van 'monkey style' but I actually do some 'monkey style' locomotion in the gym, as well as 'frog walking' and 'bear crawling' as hip / knee opening exercises prior to squats or deadlifts, and it does actually free me up, so it's not surprising that moving in challenging ways makes them less challenging

 

[WanderingScribe]

A rolling stool with padded seat works well.

I've come up with an idea I hope works, but have yet to test it. I know I want the Reliance Hassock Portable Toilet (and will use cat litter with it), but I also think it might be a little short (my knee's been giving me trouble), so I was thinking of ways to raise it -- and it occurred to me that I could put it on a heavy-duty plant caddy with casters and keep a cushion on top, giving me a rolling stool and toilet in one. Will definitely need to secure it before driving, though.

 

[MrNoodly]

I'm 6'0" in a standard height van. The time I spend bent over is probably less than a minute a day. I mean, it's not like there are a lot of places in the van I need to walk to.