Discover how we managed an off-grid caravan adventure with a fractured ankle, proving that a last-minute injury doesn’t have to stop your travel plans.

Overview – Why This Matters

This article shares a real-world lesson on caravanning with a moon boot. It follows a journalist’s journey of adapting her van life after a pre-trip injury threatened to cancel her plans.

You will learn specific mobility tips for navigating small spaces, from using ‘hoppers frames’ or folded walking frames to modifying caravan shower setups, proving that an injury doesn’t have to end your holiday.

Words Alison Huth Photos Alison and Peter Huth

Assessing Your Mobility Before Hitching Up

Well, this was one complication we didn’t see coming. The trip was planned, the van and car were serviced and our departure date was set.

Sadly, a couple of weeks before that, I slipped over and fractured my ankle.I had two weeks with a back slab plaster on, then I was given a moon boot so at least I could walk.

So how did I manage on the road?

Navigating Uneven Caravan Park Terrain Safely

I practised getting in and out of the van, out was best going backwards, and that was all good. I made good use of a walking stick, it became my very best friend.

Staying at caravan parks meant that we had access to disabled facilities, and I have never appreciated their need so much until now.

Our journalist appreciated the extra space communal disabled facilities offered at caravan parks like Tingha Gems while travelling with an injury.

But, one park did have disabled facilities, but you honestly had to drive there, they were a very long way away. We had bought a couple of things with us so I set about working out how to live well in the van without driving to those disabled facilities.

Setting Up Your Van Interior for Leg Elevation

You need to elevate your foot and we have Nowhere Flip Stools from Navigator. They were brilliant inside and outside the van. As we have armchairs in our van, I needed something because I couldn’t put my foot on the seat opposite, I don’t have one. The Flip Stool folds up and is easy to store away.

Why a Folded Walking Frame or ‘Hopper’ Beats Crutches for Camping

Ok, let’s admit that we all need to go for a walk in the middle of the night. So, once the moon boot was off, I needed the folded walking frame to get from bed to ensuite.

I crawled off the bed, hopped along and back and crawled back on the bed. No way was my bad foot hitting the floor. We collapsed the hopper during the day so it didn’t get in the way.

Storage Solutions and Bathroom Setup

Last thing was an old chair in the shower. It worked. I could use the hopper to get to the ensuite, or put the moon boot on so I could fiddle around and get my clothes. Into the shower, moon boot off, and the shower rose down to the level I wanted.

It was so good to shower in my own shower. When we were travelling we simply collapsed the chair and laid it on the bathmat.

Partner Support: Teamwork!

I still needed a little help from Peter when it came to drying my legs as it’s hard to do that without putting your feet on the floor. But, all things considered it wasn’t too hard moon booting in our caravan.

It’s not my preferred way of caravanning, but we did want to do this trip because we were catching up with friends all over the place. All it took was a little imagination and help when needed. My moon boot is now displayed in my office perhaps to remind me to be more careful in future and not slip over on a wet veranda!

Highlights:

✅ Use a walking stick for safe van entry/exit
✅ Navigator Flip Stools work great for elevation
✅ Shower chairs allow for independent washing
✅ Hopper or folded walking frames offer better stability than crutches inside the van

FAQ

Q: How can I shower in a caravan with a broken ankle?
A: Using a collapsible chair in the shower allows you to sit safely. You can lower the shower rose to the desired level and keep your moon boot off during the wash.

Q: What is the best way to move around a caravan at night with a leg injury?
A: A folded walking frame or ‘hopper’ is an excellent solution for getting from the bed to the ensuite without putting weight on the injured foot. It offers more stability than crutches and can be collapsed during the day to save space.

Q: How do I elevate my leg inside a caravan?
A: Folding stools, such as the Nowhere Flip Stools from Navigator, are brilliant for inside the van. They provide necessary elevation and are easy to store away when not in use.