Picking up Wheelchair Friendly RPG Research Trailer Prototype Thursday September 29, 1:00 PM

UPDATE 20160929: I am at the dealership now (3:00 pm Pacific Time, since arriving at 1:00 pm). I finished the walk through and orientation. They are now attaching the brake controls and setting up the weight distribution hitch.

Hopefully will be ready to drive off the lot within an hour or so. :D

16:43 - Arrived at home with the trailer. Now setting up for RPGing. Without modifications it will comfortably seat 3 people in wheelchairs AND 4 other people not in wheelchairs. Over time I hope to make modifications so that is can handle 4 or maybe even 5 people in wheelchairs, but this will do for now.

I will have more photos and updates over the next few days.

The first gaming group session in the RPG Trailer will be this coming Tuesday, October 4th, 2016 from 6 pm to 10 pm.

Here are pics of the actual trailer:

After 18 months of searching and re-searching, I will be picking up the prototype Wheelchair Friendly RPG Trailer Thursday, September 29th at 1:00 pm.

While last week had some significant complications: http://rpgresearch.com/blog/just-purchased-rpg-trailer-prototype, this week I went ahead and took a second stab at buying a prototype of the Wheelchair Friendly RPG Trailer.

Monday September 26th I completed the purchase process of a Forest River Vengeance 19V Toy Hauler Travel Trailer from ClickItRV. Here is an example video walk through of a similar trailer: https://youtu.be/hwez34_1YHU?t=6 

I did not dip into the Wheelchair Friendly RPG Trailer GoFundMe campaign donation funds, since this prototype isn't as ideal as the final vision I used my own funds. I am still saving the campaign donation money for the more optimal (and more expensive) custom-built version down the road, while I use the prototype to work out logistics, legal, modifications process, and other legal hoops.

For an example of things I'm learning going through this prototype process, Washington state (a severe "nanny state") Labor & Industries finally called me back Monday regarding my questions about purchasing a custom built trailer, and it was clearly going to be a very complicated & expensive messy bureaucratic red-tape morass for the custom-build company from Arizona, one of the only to specialize in wheelchair-friendly RVs. Washington state L&I requires all RV manufacturers to submit every new floor plan for approval if brought into Washington state, unless they have a special certification/reciprocal relationship. The state has worked out deals with the larger RV manufacturers, but their requirements are overly burdensome to smaller manufacturers. The L&I manager did state there might be a workaround as a "commercial mobile office" for the custom build from Arizona, that is slightly less onerous, but the manufacturer has to handle that, and it is a year-long or so process.

Additionally if I have the RV dealership make modifications to a recognized trailer, L&I has to become involved as well (average minimum of $1,000+ for each change process submission, inspection, acceptance, etc.).

So I have gone ahead with the prototype approach for now, without added modifications from the dealer, and have learned from the L&I manager which modifications I can make myself without permit hassles (much like on your own home). 

Without modifications, this prototype will seat 3 people in wheelchairs around a gaming table, and 5-6 without a table (drum circle for example), plus potentially 3-4 more on the "extend-a-room". With a slight modification of the floor rear garage area, that should add capacity for 1-2 more people in wheelchairs. For participants not in wheelchairs, it should comfortably seat 5-6 people around a game table, and with the extend-a-room maybe around 10 people for a music circle.

I am scheduled to pick up the _new_ trailer this Thursday 1:00 pm (September 29th (assuming nothing else unforeseen happens). It has definitely been quite a learning process!

The monthly payments, even with 7+ extended warranty and damage protection, are less than the monthly rent for the RPG Research & RPG Therapeutics offices, so I am making up the cost of the trailer by reducing my office expenses. I am also considering moving my mailing and business address out of Spokane City and into Spokane County (or maybe even over to Post Falls, Idaho) to significantly reduce other business costs (taxes, fees, and more taxes, are so much higher in Washington state alas) since I am providing these services for free I need to keep the costs down as much as possible.