Wheelchair Accessible RV Must Have Features

There are several important features that are necessary on an accessible RV that many users can't do without that we have highlighted for your information. Important though many aspects of this type of vehicle modification are, their ultimate usefulness is really down to the needs of the user.

While there are by no means any truly unusable accessories installed in this kind of vehicle, some are less useful than others while some are vital for the comfort, mobility and accessibility of many users. This article takes the more important ones and focuses on them and their value to the user.

Grab Rails and Safety Rails

Of all the accessories you'll see on a handicap accessible RV, grab rails are arguably some of the most important, especially when they are fixed in the right places. There is nothing quite as embarrassing or potentially dangerous as the lack of solid, dependable hand rails in strategic places where a wheelchair user needs to be able to hold on or anchor themselves in place.

Probably the most obvious of these places is the bathroom area. When transferring from chair to facility, a person just needs to be able to grab hold of something solid and safe without having to worry they might slip and fall and hurt themselves.

The rail needs to be fixed at the right height for the user or it can be awkward or downright difficult to get a firm hold and move safely. Being able to lift themselves across from chair to facility and then back again without having to over-reach or stretch is a basic need than must be met.

Another obvious situation is at the top of the entry door where the user needs to feel safe when using the stairlift or motorized ramp. This is a major safety issue so rails need to be solidly anchored and feel robust and safe.

Bathroom Facility

Back in the bathroom, aside from correctly placed and strongly anchored hand rails, the facilities themselves need to be usable and easily accessible by a wheelchair user. Enough space beside the toilet needs to be available so the wheelchair can be brought alongside of the user to transfer from chair to toilet and back again easily and without any hassle.

The wash basin needs to be at the correct height so the user can reach without over-reaching. The faucet should be easy to turn on and off without any undue stiffness or resistance.

A shower should cater for the needs of the individual user and these will need to have been communicated to the rental company in good time prior to delivery of the vehicle. That means if the user requires a shower seat, one of the correct height and dimensions is included. A user's needs vary in this instance, so the individual requirements should be made clear at the outset.

Entry Access

Getting in and out of the RV is an issue that should always be fully covered prior to receipt of the vehicle. Different makes and models as well as individual customized vehicles will invariably have different specification handicap access ramps or lifts installed.

While some users are able to use a transfer stair lift assembly, others require a full motorized wheelchair lift. It is important to insure the vehicle you are renting has the right access installation for your needs. These needs should be communicated when renting a handicap accessible RV.

Comfort Assured

Sleeping at night and relaxing during the day should be catered for with the correct type of bed, mattress, chairs and sofa that are all easily accessible by a wheelchair user and at the correct heights so that they don't have any problems transferring from and to the wheelchair.

We often fail to notice when an RV bed is at the wrong height until it's too late, so making sure that aspect is catered for before the vehicle leaves the rental company's premises is important. The same goes for chairs and sofa, because comfort is an important feature of enjoying and vacationing in an RV for what it is and its ability to provide an exciting and memorable vacation.

Top 10 Features That Make An RV Truly Handicap Accessible

What actually makes a wheelchair or handicap accessible RV different from a regular RV and suitable for people with disabilities to use on vacation. Or when they need a place to sleep away from home with all the creature comforts of home?

That's something that can be answered easily by anyone who has need of this kind of vehicle for an accessible RV vacation of come kind. But for those that are maybe not so well versed on what constitutes a truly accessible vehicle, here are the top ten major features that defines this genre of motorhome.

Ten Handicap Accessible RV Features:

1. Motorized wheelchair lift : This is the first feature you generally see that indicates this is a specially adapted vehicle for wheelchair users. Essential for raising and lowering the wheelchair user without the need to get out of the chair when you want to get in and out of the RV.
2. Grab rails: Abundantly located inside the RV and at the entrance outside to help with keeping steady when transferring from the ramp through the entrance. Inside these are essential to help with maneuvering around the place.
3. Wide access points and aisles: These are necessary to aid access by the chair and its user without getting stuck anyplace.
4. Handicap bathroom fittings including toilet, washbasin, and accessible facets all at low level for ease of reaching from a wheel chair.
5. Accessible shower with seat, wider access and unobstructed floor with water drain channels to keep water inside the enclosure.
6. Non-slip flooring to help prevent the kinds of accidents that slippery floors have a tendency to bring about. You need to maintain a high level of safety at all times.
7. Low level kitchen units and worktops with easy access drawers, units and cupboard doors. If you intend doing any cooking or food preparation in the RV, it should be easy to reach everything you need and be able to work on the worktop in comfort.
8. Adjustable height dining table to suit the height of the wheelchair. Eating at a table that is the right height for your sitting position in the wheel chair is not just necessary, it's essential if you're going to enjoy your meals and eat in comfort.
9. Low level light switches and accessible power sockets. Nothing is more frustrating that having to reach up for a light switch that can be tantalizingly just out of reach!
10. A real comfortable bed. OK, maybe not an exclusive feature of our special RV but this is something you need in everyday life. So when you're traveling a lot during the day you need a comfy place to hunker down at night, right?

These are aspects of a truly accessible motor home that you would expect to have available should you decide to rent a wheelchair accessible RV for a vacation or long road trip. There are other cosmetic additions that can enhance the overall experience of using this type of RV and it really depends on what you need in an individual basis.

Do These Features Exist on All Accessible RVs?

It depends on the manufacturer or customizing workshop where the modifications were made, so the short answer is, "It depends." In other words, while the core features will be evident on all truly accessible recreation vehicles, the type and placement will naturally vat according to the model and design layout.

You often find that the best and most evident of these features are found on commercially available vehicles such as handicap RV rental models, or those that are for hire in some form or another. This is probably because the hiring company wants to put out a fully featured vehicle that they expect to gain revenue from and then word of mouth will bring in more recommendations for future business.

Whether you buy or rent a handicap accessible RV, the whole idea of an RV is to have a fully convenient and functional home away from home. Just because it is on wheels doesn't mean it shouldn't contain all the handy and useful features you have become accustomed to in your home.

With that being said, it is pretty clear that the best accessible RVs will have everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable vacation on the open road.

Wheelchair Accessible RV Rentals California

If you're searching for wheelchair accessible handicap RV rentals in California, this article may help you find what you're looking for or at least steer you in the right direction. While fewer and fewer rental companies are offering these specialized accessible motorhomes for rent, it is still possible to find prospects.

At the end of this article you will find a short list of RV rental companies in the State that may be able to help you. The best way to get what you want is as always to do it yourself. No arguments there! But a little help in providing some resources that you can cross reference will I hope go some ways to getting you to where you need to be.

Renting an Accessible RV in General

Whether you live in a particular state and need to locate a reputable auto rental company in your state or perhaps in another state that you intend to visit, finding the best resources is not always as easy as picking up a book, but here's a thing. There's nothing stopping you using the Internet to find what you're looking for and there are actually some great resources on there that will help you not only in your own state but in remote ones too.

In general, I find the best starting place are existing RV rental companies. That's because even if they don't provide handicap accessible RVs for rent, they may know of another company that does, or that may be looking to start this service in the near future.

Out of state businesses can also be helpful, but they are less likely to know of any local businesses you can contact for more information. So to start with, I say stick with the local people and if you don't find what you want then extend your search to neighboring states.

Resources

Below I've listed some resources that are well worth your while checking out to find the information you need or a suitable rentals company that may be able to help you.

The first port of call I prefer to recommend to folks is the Handicap travel Club. That's because they are probably best placed to know if there has been a recent change to the situation and which company may now be providing rentable wheelchair accessible RVs and motor homes

Top 10 California RV Rental Companies

Failing that, here are the top ten local auto and RV rental companies in California that you might want to visit the websites for the following:

1. Cruise America RV Rentals and Sales
2. El Monte RV
3. Corona Motorhome Rentals
4. Expedition Motor Homes
5. Budget RV Rentals
6. 1st Choice RV
7. Vacation RV Rentals
8. Camper USA
9. Family RV Inc.
10. San Diego MotorHomes & RV Rentals

From time to time, there will be companies that advertise their services online in a variety of formats. It pays to keep an eye out for these web-based ads that show up every now and again as they might just be from companies that could provide what you need, or at least point you in the right direction of the information that will help you.

Vacationing in a Wheelchair Accessible RV

How would you feel if you were given the choice of taking a very different kind of vacation to those that you have always taken in the past? Would you embrace the idea as a way of breaking out of the rut that you have been restricted to all these years?

Or would you reject the idea because you have grown accustomed to what you have been used to and don’t understand why anyone would want to do anything that might be slightly dangerous or extravagant? Let's tackle these options and look at why you might be interested in breaking free of the "usual thing" and try something a little more exciting.

A More Exciting Vacation Option

Well, if you fall into the first category, then you might be really interested to hear about a really great way to see places you would no normally get the chance to visit on a regular vacation. I'm talking about renting a handicapped modified RV and hitting the open road!

This really is a very cool vacation option for wheelchair users. This is especially so when they have always been used to resort style vacations in places that have all the facilities for people with disabilities but who want to try something more exciting and different.

Not Dangerous

OK, it may not be all that dangerous for the user, but there is the exciting element of taking yourself out of the comfort zone of the special needs vacation resort and trying something a little more off the wall. You can easily rent a handicap RV and pick it up wherever you want your journey to begin and drop it wherever you think it might end.

The major benefit of this type of vacation is that you get to see stuff that you would not get to see any other way. Traveling the road from one place to another opens up small towns and off the beaten path sights that you only get to see in this way.

Getting out into the great outdoors and seeing some of what the United States has to offer is not exactly going to risk your life, but it is going to give you the opportunity to see sights and visit places you might never have seen or visited had you stuck with the comfort safety net of the same old vacation resort for the rest of your life. Think about that one!