An accessible RV can open a whole new world of travel and adventure for people with mobility problems. RV traveling has many advantages including an always available, clean, accessible bathroom; a comfortable bed for middle of the day breaks; the opportunity to prepare and eat your own food (good if you require a special diet); a place to stay where there aren’t available hotels and an end to the hassle of carting everything from a vehicle to a hotel room. The major disadvantage is the large size of a RV.  Choosing routes and parking spots requires a little more planning. Finding the right RV and equipment involves a bit of research and experimentation. There are four basic types of RVs – class As which look like buses, class Bs which look like fancy vans, class Cs which have a sleeping bunk over the vehicle cab, and trailers. Larger trailers, also known as fifth wheels, require a full size pickup for towing and have steps up to the master bedroom.  Since all trailers are rather complicated to hook up to the tow vehicle, I wouldn’t recommend them for someone who uses a wheelchair.

Class B are usually  too cramped inside with little room to maneuver a wheelchair. That leaves class As and class Cs. A class can be a huge luxurious home on  a commercial bus chassis with a million dollar price tag or a much more modest model on a Workhorse or Ford  chassis for under $100,000.  Buying used saves a big chunk of money.  Class As usually have a bedroom in the rear section, a living area in the front and a kitchen in between. The cab seats swivel around to become living area seating. The floor is all one level. Many class C motorhomes have a queen sized bunk over the cab but this area can also house an entertainment center. The floor plan is similar to class As but the front seat do not swivel and there is a step down to the driver and passenger seats. All RVs contain everything that you need to live comfortably – a kitchen, a full bathroom, bed, dinette, furnace, air conditioner – a small but complete house. However, a typical RV presents many obstacles for a wheelchair user starting with the entry door. 

Entry door are only 24”- 28” so an accessible RV will need to have a larger door installed. A standard lift can be used but I prefer a Super Arm lift because it leaves the steps in place and doorway usable for able-bodied people. The inside can be changed and designed to be accessible with some of the same features found in houses such as roll-in showers, grab bars, adjustable beds and ceiling tracks.  Some other accessible features that might be more unique to a  RV are remote control window blinds, remote control vent fans and sofa beds that open electrically. Many of the components in RVs are scaled down which makes them easier to use from a seated position. I can easily access the entire refrigerator, the stove top and kitchen sink. Before buying a RV consider how you will be using it. If you plan on staying in a park for long periods of time a larger RV is probably best. You’ll also want an accessible vehicle that can be towed behind the RV. If you travel more a smaller RV without a separate towed vehicle may be a better choice.

My husband and I are fulltime RVers and wanted a fairly specialized RV so we had one custom made. It’s a small 25’ class C built on a four wheel drive truck chassis with solar panels and large water tanks. chair covers for rent in the bronxThis allow us to camp in the forest instead of relying on crowded campgrounds. chair caning supplies pittsburghTo make it accessible for me and my wheelchair we had a wide entrance door and Super Arm lift installed. table chair rental bakersfieldOur dinette seats one person. wheelchair accessible vans for rent in orlando fl

The opposite side is left open so that I can pull up to the table in my chair. We have a folding door in place of one bathroom wall and grab bars and a chair in the shower. There are a few companies who will work with customers and make a RV that fits their needs. chiavari chair rental southern californiaI recommend Winnebago if you prefer a class A  and Born Free if you prefer a class C.  metro pushchair 3-in-1 full travel systemBorn Free Class C RVs are a little different than a typical C because they’re all one level and the passenger seat swivels to allow an easy transfer to and from a wheelchair. Buying new can be quite expensive but fortunately there are used accessible RVs available.  This site usually has a good selection. New listings are added often so check back if you don’t find anything suitable.

I hope to be adding more articles about accessible RV traveling. Find Your Ideal Vehicle. Search New & Pre-Owned Inventory. Our Services Advantage Mobility Outfitters is committed to developing, installing, and delivering the highest quality mobility solutions possible. Always sensitive to the unique needs of our customers, we dedicate ourselves to design solutions that fit your individual needs. New & Pre-Owned Vehicles Dealing with mobility issues can be complicated and even overwhelming and very expensive. We understand that and promise to work very hard to make it as easy and understandable and affordable as possible. Our facility boasts more than 11,000 square feet of dedicated space so we can provide you with superior service and expertise. Come by and take a look. We promise you’ll love it. Service & Support Whether you purchased your vehicle and mobility equipment from us, or someone else, rest assured that our Mobility Auto Service Center will provide a first class experience.

Our automotive service technicians have been factory trained by the top manufacturers in the mobility industry and can customize your van, minivan, car, or truck to best accommodate your needs, whether it be the installation of a new mobility scooter lift, electronic driving aids, turning automotive seats, or a custom conversion mini van package. Mobility Consultants Our certified technicians have hundreds of hours of training, and our staff has more than one hundred years of collective experience in the mobility industry. We appreciate and respect our customers and love it when we’re able to get folks back on the road. We were chosen by the Detroit Zoo to install a wheelchair ramp and make their zoo trains barrier free and wheel chair accessible. If you need a custom mobility solution, call us! We'd be happy to share our knowledge. New & Pre-Owned Vans and Van Conversions Whether you're looking to buy a new or pre-owned handicap accessible and/or operational van, or if you want to have one customized for your needs, you've come to the right place.

Advantage Mobility Outfitters are the experts when it comes to vans and conversion vehicles. Honda Van Conversions With the addition of the Honda Odyssey Entervan, BraunAbility now offers a lowered floor conversion on each of the three most popular minivan chassis on the market. The newest member of the fleet offers the same accessibility and convenience of every BraunAbility vehicle – the automatic kneeling system lowers the rear suspension and allows for a low ramp slope and 54-3/8″ of sliding door height. As always, the lightweight aluminum side-entry ramp folds out for convenient and easy wheelchair or scooter access. Dodge Van Conversions Designed and engineered for the best in safety and reliability, it’s really no wonder the Dodge/Chrysler Entervan has been the star of the BraunAbility fleet for over 20 years. This classic conversion is easy to operate and offers a spacious interior for greater maneuverability. The Entervan features a power auto-kneel system, lowered driver side sliding door sill, easy-out front passenger and driver seats using the Step-and-Roll system, 50/50 ramp design allowing for greater viability through the sliding door window, and more.