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If you or a family member are in a wheelchair, you may think that RVing is not a realistic travel option. Images of unwieldy manual towing equipment, steep stairs and tight spaces probably spring to mind before wheelchair accessible RVs do. But, in fact, RV travel has a lot of perks that are great for travelers in wheelchairs.
You take your home with you, so there’s always a clean and accessible bathroom that’s just yours, ready for use. You have a bed handy if you get tired of driving and need to lie down for a while. If you have special dietary needs, your kitchen is always right there with you too, so you don’t need to worry about finding a restaurant in a strange city. No ADA hotel rooms available? No problem!
Of course, not all RVs are designed with wheelchair access in mind. Most recreational vehicles don’t come standard with ramps or lifts. And size does matter; many smaller units are just not wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. Even large Class A RVs or fifth wheels probably don’t come with a roll-in shower or assist bars.
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So what are the best RVs for wheelchair accessibility?
Joe and I have toured a lot of RVs throughout the years and we’ve attended just about every RV show and factory tour we have come across in our RV travels. So when we started to get questions about wheelchair accessible RVs, we decided to create a list of all the best options we could find.
These are the best resources we’ve found for those interested in ADA-compatible RV travel.
What makes a wheelchair accessible RV?
First things first. What kinds of modifications should you be looking for in a wheelchair accessible RV?
Whether you’re looking for a custom build or an RV made “stock” by a major RV manufacturer, here are the considerations we’ve found that will impact most RVers in wheelchairs.
- Ramp or lift. Most wheelchair accessible RVs include a power lift. Some (like toy haulers) may also have a ramp that’s usable for getting into the RV from ground level.
- Wider doorways. To accommodate the width of a chair, you’ll find wider doorways than standard in accessible RVs. This goes for both exterior and interior doors.
- Open floorplan. Inside, floorplans will be more open and contain wider hallways to allow maneuverability.
- Height adjustments. Heights are lowered for things like counter tops, table tops, appliances and switches. This puts them in reach from a sitting position.
- Adjustable headrest. Some higher-end RVs will have a bed with a headrest that can be raised and lowered with a power switch.
- Extendable dinettes and recessed sink cabinets. Both modifications are designed to allow travelers to remain in their chair while they’re using the dining table or sink.
- Roll-in shower or wet bath. Most RV showers have a raised lip to prevent flooding, but wheelchair accessible RVs will have a roll-in shower and assist bar. Some even have space for a transfer seat or shower bench.
Wheelchair Accessible RVs by Type
Below is a list of all the wheelchair accessible RVs we found broken down by RV type.
Class A Wheelchair Accessible Motorhome
At the time of writing, only two major manufacturers have lines specifically dedicated to wheelchair accessibility: Winnebago and Newmar.
Winnebago Wheelchair Accessible RV
Winnebago has an entire line of wheelchair accessible RVs, which they call their Accessibility Enhanced line. Their goal is “convenience and opportunity without sacrificing style or function.” The idea is that customers shouldn’t have to compromise on what they want in an RV in order to have an accessible travel experience.
Winnebago currently offers two Class A wheelchair accessible motorhomes for sale through their dealer network. These RVs come standard with wheelchair accessibility features.
- The Forza/Inspire is their mid-entry diesel pusher at just under 36 feet in length. The motorhome is designed with wider aisle for accessibility and comes equipped with a BraunAbililty Century-2 wheelchair lift.
- The Adventurer, a 31-foot gas coach, is their mid-range option. There’s no adjustable headrest bed, but the modified countertops, roll-in shower, assist bars and accessible dinettes/furniture are all standard for Winnebago.
Winnebago is very active in the conversation around ensuring that RVing is accessible to all. They even have a dedicated Instagram account for their Accessibility Enhanced RVs and customers.
Newmar Wheelchair Accessible RV
Our first motorhome was a Newmar Class A RV, so Newmar has a special place in our hearts. The Newmar brand name tends to make people think of luxury, and their wheelchair accessible line of coaches is no exception.
They market themselves as “the world’s first and largest wheelchair accessible Class A motor coaches.” At 40 feet and above, it’s true that Newmar’s floorplans are larger than any others we could find. All of their models provide a wide, straight aisle from front to back.
Newmar offers three wheelchair-accessible RV models: the Dutch Star 4311, Northern Star 4311, and gas-powered Canyon Star 3911. These models feature extra-wide aisles, power-adjusted dinettes, lowered counters and switches, roll-in showers, and BraunAbility power lifts.
Newmar has several blog posts dedicated to their wheelchair accessible customers. Some of these contain travel tips relevant beyond the RV industry, like this one on traveling with teens and tweens with special needs.
For the latest wheelchair accessible RV options from Newmar, visit the Newmar Mobility Lineup page.
Class B Wheelchair Accessible RV
Field Van Custom Wheelchair Accessible RVs
Field Van has over 30 years of experience building custom camper vans and they work on all the major van chassis. While Field Van doesn’t have a “stock” line of campers, you can work with them to design a floor plan that will suit your individual needs.
Among their offerings are: support rails, lowered controls, lowered counters with flip extensions, removable transfer seats, large bathrooms, durable rubberized flooring and siding for scuff protection, and an under-van lift.
Pathway Wide Body Wheelchair Accessible RV
The Pathway wide body RV by Maxvan is a wheelchair-accessible RV designed for spacious and comfortable travel. Built on the Ram ProMaster 3500 chassis, it features rear ramp system that allows easy access for wheelchair users. Learn more about the Pathway.
TouRig Camper Vans with Wheelchair Access
TouRig is a Colorado custom camper company that specializes in van conversions on the Mercedes Sprinter and Ford Transit chassis. They did their first wheelchair accessible conversion in 2017. You can read the whole (inspiring) story about that first customer on their website.
Winnebago Roam Wheelchair Accessible RV
Winnebago introduced their first Class B wheelchair accessible RV at the Florida RV Show in Tampa in 2022. The Winnebago Roam is built on the Ram ProMaster chassis with built-in accessibility enhanced features including an under-vehicle wheelchair lift and standard wheelchair tie-downs.
Class C Wheelchair Accessible RV
Born Free Wheelchair Accessible RVs
Born Free went out of business back in 2017, but they still have a bit of a cult following. For many people, Born Free still means durability and quality. They built wheelchair accessible Class C RVs, so you may be able to find a used one on the market by searching for Born Free wheelchair accessible RVs.
We toured a couple of their standard models a few years back if you’re interested in checking them out.
Showhauler Motorhome Conversions
We’ve tour quite a few Showhauler custom motorhomes since we hit the road and even got a chance to check out their factory in Indiana. This company builds custom Super C motorhome conversions for their clients including RVs with a power lift arm. Learn more about Showhauler.
Towable Wheelchair Accessible RV
While motorized options are a bit more common, you can definitely find wheelchair accessible travel trailers out there as well. Toy haulers may seem like an easy choice, since they always have a rear ramp, but don’t forget to factor in interior space and other accessibility features.
Here are some brands we found that make wheelchair accessible travel trailers and fifth wheels.
Harbor View Wheelchair Accessible Travel Trailers
Harbor View is the only RV manufacturer we could find that exclusively makes wheelchair accessible units. All Harbor View trailers come standard with features designed to make travel as easy and enjoyable as possible.
The coolest thing about them is the hand-held remote control system that makes set-up incredibly quick and easy. The remote controls the automatic front and rear stabilizer jacks, slide-outs, electric awning and exterior lights. The tongue jack is also easy-access. The remote-controlled lift and extra-wide power entry door complete the exterior setup.
Inside, you’ll find additional features like accessible countertops, roll-in showers, and assist bars.
Weekend Warrior Wheelchair Accessible 5th Wheels
The Luxe Toy Hauler Fifth Wheel by Weekend Warrior can accommodate customers in wheelchairs with some options offered by the factory. There’s not a lot of information available on their website, but I tested out their chat feature. I got a quick response from someone who was more than happy to answer any questions I had.
Dune Sport Wheelchair Accessible Toy Haulers
Dune Sport also makes custom toy haulers with standard modifications relevant to ADA guidelines. These include a lower trailer stance, widened doorways, ramp gap cover, and enlarged bathroom with roll-in shower.
North American RV Wheelchair Accessible Towables
North American RV lists making wheelchair accessible towables as their specialty. There is some information about their standard options online, but it’s probably best to reach out to them directly for more on your specific requirements.
Wheelchair Accessible RV Upfitters
If you can’t find an RV from a manufacturer that meets your budget, style or functionality requirements, another good option can be to modify an RV. Once you’ve found an RV you like, you may be able to add a lift and make other changes after-market.
Here are some companies that do this type of work. Note that there are many of these nationwide; these are just a few that we’ve heard of.
- Access Unlimited
- BURR Mobility Products
- Creative Mobile Interiors in Grove City, OH
- Adaptive Driving Systems in San Luis Obispo, CA
Wheelchair Accessible RV Rentals
What if you’re not ready to buy? If you haven’t done much RVing yet and want to try it out before making a substantial investment, you can always rent one. The RV rental market has some options available that are wheelchair accessible, so don’t feel as though you can’t take a wheelchair accessible motorhome on a test run.
Rent a Wheelchair Accessible RV
RV rental sites like Outdoorsy allow you to rent RVs directly from owners, so the number of accessible options available depends entirely on who is listing their RV for rent in your area.
Outdoorsy used to have a blog post all about finding wheelchair accessible RVs including tips on working with owners to ensure that you get what you need out of a rental experience. Unfortunately, this resource is no longer available. However, you can still use the “Keyword Search” box under the “More” filters section to look up terms such as “wheelchair” to find an accessible RV for rent.
>>Use this link to browse RV rentals<<
Wheelchair Accessible RV Clubs and Resources
In the course of writing this article, we came across a couple of resources dedicated to helping those with physical disabilities expand their travel horizons. As lovers of travel ourselves, we were thrilled to find these resources and hope you’ll find them helpful.
Handicapped Travel Club
The Handicapped Travel Club has been around since the 1970s. The founding members had such positive and therapeutic experiences through travel that they wanted to encourage others with disabilities to meet each other and do the same. Their motto is G.O.A.L. : “Get Out And Live.”
The HTC website includes some great information on RVing in accessible vehicles. With over 250 members, it’s also a great community resource if you have questions you just can’t seem to get answered online otherwise.
They publish a newsletter, hold an annual rally, and have local get-togethers as well. Membership is low-cost (annual dues are $10) and available to everyone.
Wheelchairtraveling.com
Wheelchairtraveling.com has articles and resources related to all types of travel, not just RVing. But they do provide an excellent overview of RV travel in a wheelchair. Their article goes very in-depth on things to consider if you’re looking to rent or purchase an RV.
One of the writers also publishes a blog specifically about her RV travels, which contains tips and information along with stories of her experience. She’s even written wheelchair specific destination guides for RVers.
Curb Free with Cory Lee
Curbfreewithcorylee.com is a blog all about “sharing the world from a wheelchair user’s perspective.” Cory shares travel tips, interviews and also his experience in one of Winnebago’s wheelchair accessible RVs.
Summary
We hope this article has given you some inspiration and tips on how you can make RVing a part of your life even if you live with a physical disability. We can’t say enough about the good this lifestyle has done for us, and we hope to see you all out there on the road.
*Note: This list is specific to RVs made in the U.S. and Canada, but there may be options available in other countries too. If you know of any, please leave a comment below and let us know!
I am looking for a Class C motorhome (not Super C) manufacturer or dealer that sales or makes accessible RV. Mostly need large bathroom and perhaps a standing lift. Any suggestions?
Thank you for explaining to us that most wheelchair-accessible RVs have a power lift or a ramp to get into the vehicle from the ground level. My sister is paralyzed from the waist down, so she uses a wheelchair to move around. I’ll have to consider this when looking for used handicapped vans for sale to use for our road trip next month.
Hi there. I love what your doing! Can you help me find someone who will rent me a nice wheelchair accessible camper/RV for Gillette WY?
Hey Renee – we updated the post with a link for you to find rentals in WY or anywhere else in the country. Unfortunately there aren’t many accessible RVs out there and even fewer for rent so it will be hard to find something.
We have a 40′ destination unit. My husband and can’t get onto our shower it is a step up. Can we have a step in shower Installed
We are interested in renting an ADA compliant RV. We have an adult daughter who requires wheelchair and other equipment and we feel this is the best option for us to be able to take a trip a couple times a year. We are trying to find rentals.
Hello Russo’s,
I am looking to add the power motor assembly to my 2014 Canyon Star 3911 accessible RV, the lift door only has a manual door shock. Would like to add the powered unit if its within my budget. Newmar has not been very helpful.
Thank you,
Tim
Could you recommend a company to build a custom wheelchair accessible class b rv? Thanks
We’re looking to buy a class A motorhome with a wheelchair lift. Our budget is up to 30k. Like looking for a needle in a haystack!
I am looking to rent a ADA compliant motorhome with a lift for my family.
I have a son with a spinal cord injury
I live in port saint lucie, florida
I am having a hard time finding one
I have a travel trailer down in Florida when I could still walk.now I’m in a wheelchair and won’t be able to get one until March just was looking for a rental thanks Jim
Hey Jim, you can search RV rental sites to find a wheelchair accessible RV.
I am in a wheelchair and are looking for a travel trailer that we can use a wheel chair in and a way to load it
Hi looking to research handicapped accessible rev to rent. If you have info that would be great. Thanks
If you follow this link to the RV rental site, you can use the filter function to search for keywords such as wheelchair or accessible to narrow down the results.
Thank you for the informative article. One correction, I just checked the Outdoorsy site, and chatted with a rep, they no longer have a filter for handicap accessible. I don’t know why they removed it, but it doesn’t seem feasible to find one without a filter.
Thank you for passing along the update Kelle.
I recently bought a wheelchair accessible class B camper van built on the Ram 3500 ProMaster chassis. You can check it out on YouTube by typing in “PATHWAYRV”. It is made by Adaptive Vans near Atlanta, GA. We love it!
I am looking into a Pathway. Glad to hear that you are happy with it. Thanks for the review.