Showering in my van as a wheelchair user + horror stories | VANLIFE |

[@johnallen148]

What a wonderful strong woman you are I remember watching you on the tv ,you are a inspiration to lots of people I’m in a wheelchair after losing my leg in a work accident it’s hard but I was 63 at the time now 75 ,I wish you well on your travels I will be watching your blogs from now on great story about how you managed in the camper van ,till next time take care keep safe,John 🧑‍🦽🌹🇬🇧🙏👌👍😘🙌🛀🛀

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Great to have you along John!

[@juliava605]

Wow. I just happened upon this video. What a completely amazing human being you are. Your spirit is beyond extraordinary. You have my utmost respect and admiration. 💙

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Thank you so much! Your kind words mean a lot

[@elainedunn9539]

Thank you for sharing your journey, you are an inspiration. I commend your bravery.

[@Keepinitwheel306]

I appreciate you coming along on the journey 😊

[@spidrawebster]

No need to apologize about excitement levels. For some of us, it *is* exciting going through logistics of how to shower when on a trip. Good tips here.

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Ha, I suppose that’s fair. I probably just find it rather routine since it’s what I deal with all the time - I’ll keep it in mind that not everyone has to find creative ways to shower! 😂

[@barbaraday1]

Yes ...beautiful view outside after your shower. Love your experiences and helpful ways to make it van living which can help sooo many folks! 💗👍🏽

[@Jaj-zz3oj]

Great info that is rarely heard. Most people assume the glamorous camping life but it's for the few the brave and for all craving freedom. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT!!! YOUR SPIRIT ROCKS. Keep doing wheelies.

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Thanks!!! It’s certainly not glamorous all the time but soooo worth it 😄

[@georgeradford3020]

You are such an inspiration, when I start to feel sorry for myself because I have to use a walker to get around, I watch one of your videos and I see how brave and courageous you are traveling by yourself and you always get me the motivation to carry on , thank you !

[@AmpuTeeHee]

Brilliant set up. Thank you for sharing!

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Thanks for watching!

[@sankissjuicetan9319]

Thank you for sharing and educating us ❤❤❤

[@jimh.2466]

We are retired RV'ers, and have had to use public restrooms at campsites when we had an issue with our water heater, very resourceful and amazing to see your success.take care, Jim and Michelle 😊

[@zanthornton]

Thank you for autocaptions! So free

[@ATouchOfCharmed]

Hi from New Zealand! If I may mention, I envy your spirit and confidence. I personally would be worried to be 'Van Lifeing' without a dog at least. Hat off to you my friend. You inspire me xx PS Your fucking awesome 🥰

[@Keepinitwheel306]

🥰 thanks!! I’ve certainly gained confidence with the journey - my first night in the van I didn’t sleep a wink haha

[@ATouchOfCharmed]

@@Keepinitwheel306 🥰🥰

[@VictoriaGetsVocal]

I love this shower idea, perfect solution ❤ well done. I look forward to following your adventures. 🤩

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Thank you, happy to have you along!

[@scubaguy007]

Modern problem deserve modern solution. 😉 I’ve been an L1 paraplegic since 1986. I worked hard for years, now I’m retired so I’ve switched to the van life with lots of exploration in my future. Maybe I’ll see you on the road. Until then live free! 🖖🏼😎🤙🏼

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Happy travels to you!! 😎

[@m.l.e.8956]

My cousins sister was in a terrible car accident, when she was about 18 on her way home from work on the snowy icy roads of BC. She was lucky to be alive. amazingly through her own determination. & family support, she ended up becoming one of Canadians Para Olympians as she learned to race her specially made wheelchair. 🦽 most of us never think how difficult some of the small intricacies of one’s day, like showering, that become so hugely difficult for people in wheelchairs. Thanks for sharing 🤗🇨🇦

[@Keepinitwheel306]

@@m.l.e.8956 oh really? I raced for Canada at the Paralympics…I wonder if I know your friend.

[@m.l.e.8956]

@@Keepinitwheel306 Jessica F

[@m.l.e.8956]

@@Keepinitwheel306 Jessica F. I met her at York University when they held the Para Olympics there. That was before Covid. I can’t remember exactly when that was so proud of watching her and seeing her up on the podium I can’t remember what class she was in.

[@Keepinitwheel306]

@@m.l.e.8956 Frotten? If so, I know her. She lives in my home province now.

[@m.l.e.8956]

@@Keepinitwheel306 that’s her👍🏻 I think she might be a little older than you?

[@dixielambrecht7009]

Very smart 👌, I'd never even heard of a puppy pool. Thank you

[@Pastorlinda54]

Holy mackerel, you are amazing!!!

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Ha! Why thank you 😊

[@blueamenaa749]

Great video.❤❤❤❤❤

[@christinabryant5725]

Great idea!

[@hdtravel1]

You found a wonderful bathing solution - so awesome - and what a view while you bathe of the great outdoors !! Thanks for sharing !!

[@Keepinitwheel306]

I’m glad you liked the video, thanks for being here

[@williamnighthawk6630]

You are such a inspirational woman thank you for your sharing. Fact is I'm a disabled man with terminal non cancerous mass on my brain stem. I've fought cancer twice and survived but I was wondering if you could suggest any 501 c charities to help me with obtaining a handicap van?

[@Keepinitwheel306]

I’m Canadian so we don’t have the same charities but I think the Kelly Brush Foundation might be able to help?? I don’t know their exact criteria though.

[@mindshelfpro]

Thanks for sharing the possibilities

[@JuliusCampbell-gv4xn]

Love your videos 🙌🏾👊🏽

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Awesome to hear!

[@sandibran3420]

Bless your heart hon., You're so inspiring to me., I subscribed other night after seeing you on that older mans channel., I can't think of his name., even though I'm subscribed to his channel too., but anyways so far I've enjoyed a few of your videos and you're just so very inspiring to me and have a very sweet and positive attitude., I'm thankful for your channel., You're really KeepinItWheel and I love it., love you., love Sandi.. ❤🫂🙏

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Thanks for finding me! And thanks to Bob Wells for introducing you to my channel

[@susanw8471]

Yep, that's where I ran into you as well about a week ago. Watched a couple videos and subscribed. Van life can often be difficult for able-bodied people; so it makes your van life travels quite impressive, to say the least. Hugs

[@dd1394]

Great idea, thanks for sharing ❤. Can you link the shower tank etc. thanks

[@Keepinitwheel306]

They should be in the description, but they’re also found here: amzn.to/3nSDxdo

[@marshallbaldwin395]

It did help i kept wondering how i was going to do the shower i had part of it figured out you gave me the final piece

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Glad to help! It’s a bit of a puzzle at first, isn’t it?

[@petervandergugten]

I find it very fasicinating te see how you live your life in your own way After watching this video I have a Question After a few years you are ready for another van Would you also consider getting a small schoolbus ? choose more space and perhaps a private shower adapted to your needs looking forward to your new video Have FUN and be SAVE 💝

[@Keepinitwheel306]

I don’t think I could go with a bigger vehicle like a bus. I spend a lot of my time on the coast to surf, which means I dwell in cities and my van drives (and parks!) really well in the city. If I were boondocking in the middle of nowhere and not driving from Canada to the Southern US each winter a bus would be stellar.

[@MommaC1106]

☕️☕️☕️Came from VanCity Vanlife channel been watching him for years💘💘

[@Keepinitwheel306]

He's a great guy! I'm so glad you made your way to my channel after watching his video. Welcome!

[@sankissjuicetan9319]

❤❤❤

[@aaroncates7924]

Those are definitely some horror stories. I use wipes in between showers as well. I find it hard to find accessible showers in places that state they have them as well. For some reason people believe we can just roll into a shower with our wheelchair or out the seat on the other side of shower where you are unable to reach the controls.

[@Keepinitwheel306]

@@aaroncates7924 totally! I encountered that exact scenario in my video titled “Challenges on the road”

[@garyonnen7634]

Make do is the way of vanlife, great idea. Thanks.

[@Keepinitwheel306]

So true! Gotta compromise on certain things.

[@moacirschneider5096]

have a nice weekend

[@jimh.2466]

Wow, my wife would cringe on the public shower #2 incident. She freaks out on bugs at a public shower 😱 you're very brave 😊👍

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Yeahhhhh it’s seared in my memory. I learned my lesson to inspect every shower carefully.

[@FiatVoluntasTua888]

Your shower setup & mine are similar! Well except your sprayer is way more advanced.😂 Very nice! My sprayer is a rechargable one I have to submerge into a bucket full of water. I can warm it using this drop in water heater device like what they use for horses water tubs. Hey, whatever works right?😂 I haven't tried it yet, but anyway, it's an option if I want warm water. Still need to paint my roof & add the solar panels. Once the weather warms. Love your videos & hugs from me & my dog☺️🐶💕✝️🌻🌻🌻

[@tomas5376]

It’s amazing what a person can accomplish. From leading a very active life to solving problems like showering, you shine! Congratulations 👏👏👏👏👏

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Thank you! I’ll do anything to escape the cold winters back home 😂😂

[@pmcallister]

As always, great info! We are going to try the puppy pool but with a shower chair. Will use a Whale gulper gray water pump to get the water into our gray water tank since we will often be in places where dumping on the ground would be irresponsible, like near a lake. Even biodegradable soap can be damaging in delicate environments. The best accessible campground shower we’ve ever seen was in a public campground in Alberta. Deluxe! Thirty years later I can still picture it. Thank you for your channel!

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Haha was it in Banff?? The campground there has an accessible bathroom when you even need to get a key to be able to use it! I hope the shower chair works. Just make sure you have something under the leg so it doesn’t puncture the puppy pool. It’s pretty fragile.

[@pmcallister]

⁠@@Keepinitwheel306Banff it was! A whole building, heated, clean, what a treat. Thanks for the warning about the legs, I was wondering about that. We may actually make our own pool out of heavier material.

[@Keepinitwheel306]

@@pmcallister too funny! It is true how those accessible wins stick in our memory, hey?

[@DonWolferd]

Can do. you can do anything you set your mind to,,

[@Keepinitwheel306]

That is the truth!

[@jeffjohnsisland5551]

Wow, your biceps are huge. I see why you won gold.

[@Keepinitwheel306]

haha and they used to be even bigger lol

[@cherylyorek9238]

Amazing! Great work

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Thanks a lot!

[@DustinMaki]

Useful. My rear ramp van has rear kneeling suspension to encourage any leaked water out the back door. I'm going to try an ice plunge bath in my van thanks to your idea. A little deeper (enough to float, unloading spine), padded bottom, sides, cover(retains heat). Not easy to transfer from wheelchair, but easy from bed. Overhead rope to assist transfer from floor to bed.

[@Keepinitwheel306]

I think I need to see this set up! Please share when you do it 😊

[@markkimmerling4251]

I had doggy pond with sink drain and drain hole in floor of my cargo trailer. I used hula hoop with shower curtains. I used tea kettle for hot water. I only used it a couple times because wipes were easier than setting shower chair and doggy pond. Im transitioning to wash cloths and soapy water and just wash the wash cloths. I gave my doggy pond away to a van lifer. I have right below knee prosthetic. So just seems easier to take leg off and do bed bath.

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Ah, good ingenuity on your part. I do need a real soak after a few days or I just feel so grimey. Maybe I should try harder with more wash cloths? 🤷‍♀️

[@EYEMISSSEINFELD]

I can think of one thing worse than dropping your nail brush in that shower,…..Toothbrush! Mmmm this toothpaste has a nutty flavour!

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Haha oh man!!! Needless to say, that nailbrush went into the garbage 🤢

[@joejennings1432]

How far does the wheel chair lift go inside the doorway? Couldn’t you rig a harness to lift you in and out of the tub?

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Sometimes I do use it a little bit to help with the transfer after showering, just adjusting its angle for a better leverage point. But it doesn’t pivot to the back of the van so wouldn’t really help me with your idea. Good suggestion though!

[@lookoutpath6520]

Hi Lisa 🌷🌈🌞 Kind Thanks for this information!!! A bed question - is your van bed a custom mattress (?) , or what? As - I've been quoted crazy high $prices$ for custome/ smaller mattresses.... Very kind thanks for any advice on this 🫨👍👍👍

[@Keepinitwheel306]

It’s just a regular queen mattress from IKEA. I added another 1 inch mattress topper because it wasn’t soft enough for me.

[@notme751]

LOl. Wheelchair adventures in pubic showers.

[@Keepinitwheel306]

Ha ha and that’s just two stories

[@Celeste0415]

❤

[@mariettakovecses2825]

❤