Here at Pete’s RV PA, we love RV camping, and we want as many people to be able to enjoy it as possible. With a few well-placed modifications, most RVs can be made much more accommodating for anyone with a disability, such as limited mobility or sensitivity to sensory output. For more on how to alter an RV to make it more hospitable for all of your passengers, read this article.
Adding Accessibility for Mobility Limitations
Different individuals will require different camper modifications to better meet their particular set of needs. For example, mobility aids like grabbers, crutches, walkers, canes, and wheelchairs may feel unwieldy in the limited space inside an RV.
For wheelchair users, installing a lift or ramp into the RV is a must. Some models come with a ramp already installed, so be sure to do your research.
You can also widen the space inside the camper by removing counters, islands, and furnishings.
Some RV owners modify the bathrooms in their camper to add grab bars near the toilet or special roll-in showers and roll-under sinks to accommodate wheelchairs.
If you have difficulty bending or crouching, lower cabinets and raised countertops are great options. For those with chronic pain or joint problems, seating and bedding are easy to swap out with more comfortable alternatives. If you can only stand for a limited time, shower seats and grab bars are easy to install as well.
Increasing Security
For travelers with intellectual disabilities, you may need to improve the security of your RV. Install locks or guards on the cabinets where you keep potentially dangerous substances, such as medications and toxic cleaning chemicals. Swap out your RV’s door and window locks with combination locks or uniquely keyed locks so that no one leaves the vehicle without supervision and assistance.
Addressing Sensory Processing Sensitivities
Some people are highly sensitive to sensory input, and while traveling, they may experience sensory processing trouble due to the influx of new sights, sounds, smells, and so on. Luckily, it is easy to modify your RV to account for these sensitivities.
Heavy blackout curtains block out the sun and help create a dark space for those who are sensitive to light. As a bonus, they are fairly inexpensive and also help to muffle outside sounds for those who need a quiet environment.
Insulation can be installed in your camper’s walls to further block outside noise, as well as keep things more comfortable for anyone with temperature sensitivity.
Another modification great for anyone with temperature sensitivity is a digital thermostat, as it allows you to carefully adjust the heating and cooling systems in your camper to keep everything at a comfortable temperature.
If you have questions or want to get personalized RV shopping tips, visit Pete’s RV PA. Our expert staff is happy to help however we can. Our dealership is located in Mountville, Pennsylvania, and we also serve those in Philadelphia and Hershey.
