Accessible RV Modifications: A Guide to Custom Features
We all love spending time outdoors and hitting the road in our RVs to find the perfect campground. Our motorhomes and travel trailers offer us the comforts of home while we explore the natural world.
But for those in the RV community with disabilities, a standard vehicle may not have enough accessibility features for truly comfortable travel. Every individual with a disability is, of course, unique. We aren’t here to tell you what you need. That’s up to you, your family, and your healthcare team.
What we can do is give you an overview of what’s possible and what’s available. Our team has extensive experience with custom RV builds, and we can help you create the home on wheels of your dreams.
Wheelchair Accessible Custom RVs
At Leisure Coachworks, we aren’t strangers to improving accessibility. When we partnered with Chico State University to build a mobile classroom, the team installed a wheelchair lift. On another project, a custom lift was removed and reinstalled to update flooring.
If you or someone in your family uses a wheelchair full-time, additional modifications make travel easier and more enjoyable. Most of these features are similar to changes you would make in your home. Custom RV accessibility modifications for wheelchair users may include:
- Height adjustable counters and tables
- Swivel captain’s chairs for easier transferring in and out of the vehicle
- Height adjustable beds
- Accessible control panels
- Wide doorways and an open floorplan
- Roll-in shower
- Custom bathroom with support bars
- Roll-under sinks, tables, and counters
- Custom tie-downs to secure the wheelchair while the vehicle is in motion
You can purchase an RV designed for wheelchair accessibility. Newmar makes three Class A motorhomes with features like motorized beds, height adjustable tables, and accessible appliances, mirrors, and controls.
Winnebago offers one Class A motorhome with features similar to Newmar and a Class B camper van. The van comes with a lift, an accessible kitchenette, a bathroom, and storage that’s easy to access when seated.
Standard motorhomes and travel trailers generally fall short for wheelchair accessibility. But at Leisure Coachworks, we know that a custom RV can improve every aspect of your RV trips.
Converting a bus or Class A motorhome for full wheelchair access gives you control over design choices, floor plans, and features like custom storage for medical devices. You can select the specific accessibility features that you want and need.
Even if you purchase a wheelchair-accessible RV you may find that it doesn’t quite fit your needs or lifestyle. Bring your ideas to our skilled team and we’ll help you customize your motorhome or travel trailer to be exactly what you want for your RV travels.
Accessibility for Diverse Mobility
If you or a travel companion have a mobility disability but do not use a wheelchair, there are many custom modification options available.
We’re all familiar with support bars to make using the bathroom easier. You can also have them installed throughout an RV to make it more comfortable to move around the bedroom, kitchen, or living spaces.
RV flooring can be challenging if you have trouble with balance or use a cane, crutches, or a walker. Honestly, uneven or slippery floors are hard for everyone to navigate. You can have non-slip surfaces installed on entry stairs and in bathrooms. Ask your custom RV team about eliminating bumps and cables beneath carpeting, making sure slide out entrances are level, and choosing the flooring that works best for any mobility aids you use.
Your RV doorway may pose significant barriers if you have mobility challenges. You can have extra lighting and customized grab bars installed along with those non-slip surfaces to help navigate the stairs.
There are other ways to customize your entry without installing a full wheelchair lift. Some people choose a ramp with railings. A custom-built ramp can be portable and easy to use if it’s designed properly. Having whoever will be setting it up confer with your custom RV team helps optimize accessibility and decrease set-up time.
If you decide on a ramp, talk to your team about storage. A long ramp may require a creative solution for stowing when you’re on the road.
Other RVers with mobility disabilities don’t want a wheelchair lift or a ramp. Chair lifts are available that are installed on the outside of your RV next to the door. The vertical lift raises an attached chair and slowly turns into the vehicle at the top of the entry stairs.
Talk to your team about trying a chair lift before you buy and install one. They’re pricey and won’t be right for everyone.
Some of the wheelchair adaptations above can make life easier for anybody with mobility conditions. Adjustable beds and swivel captain’s chairs might be just what you need for a comfortable vacation.
Modifications for Visual Impairments
If you have a visual impairment, additional, brighter lights may be the ticket to a more enjoyable RV trip. Lights near control panels, more powerful reading lights, and extra lights in the kitchen and bathroom can make life much easier for someone with limited vision.
Tactile markers—think stickers with raised bumps or dots—can assist travelers with significant visual impairments. These are especially useful for control panels and switches, offering an easy way to know if a switch is on or off.
And by all means, take advantage of technology! Voice-activated systems are great for turning on music or TVs or adjusting the temperature.
Modifications for Hearing Impairments
If your hearing is impaired, RV camping may be more enjoyable with visual alerts. Even if you don’t need them at home, a campground is an unfamiliar place where it’s hard to predict background noise levels. A visual alert can let you know when someone is at the door or if an alarm sounds.
Creativity in Accessibility
Custom RV upgrades are our specialty. When you need increased accessibility due to a disability, your team has to consider space, budget, and requirements.
Design and implementation of custom features is both an art and a science and requires training, skill, and experience. Our dedication to this level of quality craftsmanship shows in every build. Take a look at some of our YouTube videos to learn more about our team and our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
Contact Leisure Coachworks to discuss how we can help make your RV travels more accessible for you and everyone in your family. If you’re in Fontana, CA, stop on by our full-service RV shop and see how we can help you live your best RV life.
