RV FEATURE
“We had to organise plumbing for the machine
intake and drainage and have another electrical
circuit installed for the machine and filtration
system,” he said.
A special box made from aluminium sheets was
fitted to the rear bumper to house what looks like
an oxygen tank but is actually a carbon particle
filter. This removes dangerous chlorine and
fluoride from the water used for Carol’s dialysis.
Two other filters, one either side of the ‘tank’ are
standard 1 and 5 micron filters.
“The weight of the whole filter system is no
more than 15kg when full of water,” Terry said.
“The idea of keeping the filters on the back was
to make changing filters easier and not to take
up room inside the van. There is also a reverse
osmosis filter in the van, which removes any other
dangerous chemicals that the particle filters and
the carbon filter do not remove, resulting in pure
water running through the dialysis machine.”
Terry also built a ramp that allows him to push
the dialysis machine up into the van. He reckons
that the machine is easy enough to move around,
since it’s on small wheels, despite weighing 80kg.
“I took the caravan to an engineer and after
inspection had the ATM increased for the added
weight of machine and supplies,” he said. “The
only other thing different from home is I have
fitted tie down lugs, so I can strap the machine in
place when we are mobile.”
THE BEST MEDICINE
Travelling makes Carol happy. This, Terry said,
had to be good for her health.
“Touch wood, we have not had any trouble that
we would not normally have at home. Power
blackouts are a risk, but no more than at home.
The machine has a battery back-up for short
outages, but like I say, you have the same risk at
home. Water pressure can be an issue but if I am
unsure, we ring in advance with regards to water
supply and ensure of a good town water supply
with reasonable pressure.”
They current trip will eventually take them from
North Queensland to Melbourne for the birth of
their latest grandson, before she and Terry head
home across the Nullarbor – a hurdle to overcome
due to a lack of power and water between Ceduna
and Kalgoorlie or Esperance.
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