Where to put your CPAP machine?

[Winnipeg]

While looking for a new unit last year, we had several criteria including a location for my CPAP machine. We were amazed at how little thought the designers gave to this. I am sure that a high % of the target market, especially for higher end RV, use a CPAP.

luckily, we saw a Class B that advertised "CPAP ready". All they did was install a large grommet in the floor of the cupboard above the bed.

When we bought our new unit, we made a 1 1/2" hole in the cupboard and installed a plastic bulkhead fitting. Very inexpensive and effective.

[philaura]

The last two new trailers we purchased were bought on the premise of including a 12 volt outlet by the bed wardrobes or nightstands. Most dealers indicate that if you have a 120 outlet by the bed they can install a 12 volt next to it.
I have a Bi-Pap that operates on 12 volt or house current. On our first trailer I had a small bucket I turned upside down by the bed and that is where I kept the machine.
Phil

[Sam_Spade]

romore wrote:

Our old fiver has a shelf next to the bed but without an inverter she couldn't use the machine without shore power.

12 V CPAP machines are readily available.
Some are compact travel models.
Some even have self-contained batteries.

[romore]

2oldman wrote:
Why do so many people need a cpap?

Many people have sleep apnea or partially obstructed nasal passages. Without her machine, neither my late wife or I got any sleep.
Our old fiver has a shelf next to the bed but without an inverter she couldn't use the machine without shore power. I had the nose apart to repair some water damage so wired in a 400W inverter while I was at it.

[campinginthewoo]

I have a 1998 TT and it has little night stands beside the bed and 110v outlets on both sides so I am fortunate to be able to have it where it is. MFG's don't design for medical appliance use you just have to think outside of the box and improvise, adapt and overcome. If you buy premade then you get what has been built no different than buying a home already built and reconstructing rooms to fit your lifestyle vs building a new house built strictly for you. Designers are changing their ways but there's only so much they can do. And they won't spend the money to build a product if there isn't a high enough demand even with a lot us using cpap's now. When the day comes for me to upgrade I'm sure I'll be looking to see what works for me but I'll probably have to adapt to make things work....

[ford_truck_guy]

2oldman wrote:
Why do so many people need a cpap?

Because I am heavy ( 240 ).

actually medically speaking, mine is OBSTRUCTED . .

BUT my DW was tested and also tested positive, buy she is skinny.. so who know ???? Perhaps it's an insurance thing....

[Sam_Spade]

2oldman wrote:
Why do so many people need a cpap?

While sleep apnea is a real problem, I'm not personally convinced that it is not also a cash cow for doctors.

It seems that every doctor in my town is now a "sleep specialist".....heart doctors, dermatologist, etc.

I've been on the program for about a year now and not sure it makes any appreciable difference. It certainly is inconvenient.

In my current RV, I sleep on the "fold out" next to the dining room table......and that's where the CPAP goes. In the previous one, it went into a drawer next to the bed (the drawer stayed open when in use, of course).

[2oldman]

Why do so many people need a cpap?

[ford_truck_guy]

When looking for our new fifth wheel, that did not factor into our decision. As it turns out, we have 110 outlets at the base of the bed, directly under where your chest would be on the bed..

I just lay the CPAP on the floor next to the outlet and forget it....